CNBlue came out with its ninth EP, “Wanted,” on Wednesday and hosted a talk show to mark the release.   　 For the first time since the band debuted in 2010, the bandmates opted for a theme and fashioned themselves into hunters.   　 “We’ve looked back at the albums so far and realized that we didn’t have a visual theme yet. ... We thought it would be nice to be fuller in terms of appearance,” said Jung Yonghwa.   　 They went for looks tinged wit

K-pop Oct. 20, 2021

Nam Woohyun of Infinite held an online showcase to present his fourth solo EP, “With,” Tuesday.   　 It has been almost 2 1/2 years since he left to serve his military duty as a social service agent.   　 “I might be slightly nervous since it’s been a while, but I’ve put a lot of effort into this album,” said the singer. For the last three weeks, he had trouble sleeping, he confided, thinking and worrying too much. Even though he did not completely s

K-pop Oct. 19, 2021

Lee Jinhyuk held an online showcase Monday to discuss his fourth EP, “Ctrl+V.”   　 Even though it has not been long since his previous EP, “Scene26,” he acknowledged he was full of excitement.   　 “I am working in a range of areas but am most excited when I get to present a new side of me as a singer,” said the singer and actor.   　 “The expectant feelings for the first solo album are still vivid, but it already is the fourth,” he s

K-pop Oct. 18, 2021

The Boyz will come out with new music in November, agency Cre.ker Entertainment announced Friday. 　 It has been only three months since it rolled out its sixth EP, “Thrill-ing,” which brought five trophies from television music chart shows. The title track “Thrill Ride” topped iTunes’ songs chart in 36 regions. 　 Local media reported last week that the band was shooting a music video in Seoul. 　 Earlier this month, the boy band was named artist of the year at 20

K-pop Oct. 15, 2021

Lisa of Blackpink will team up with DJ Snake, Megan Thee Stallion and Ozuna, the French-Algerian producer/DJ announced via his Instagram on Thursday. 　 He shared a 30 second teaser that showed number plates -- with the names of the singers and himself -- on black cars, with the caption, “Coming Soon.” Label YG Entertainment confirmed the news. 　 Lisa left for Paris on Oct. 4 and is currently in France, reportedly working on the project and shooting a music video. She is due to be b

K-pop Oct. 14, 2021

Lee Hyori will become the first female host of the Mnet Asian Music Awards, Mnet announced Wednesday. 　 She will be the messenger that links artists and music fans across the world at the 2021 MAMA, slated for Dec. 11, it said. Titled “Make Some Noise, this year’s annual music award ceremony aims to deliver the power of music through respect for differences and to challenge prejudice, it added, describing her as the “singular person” who is aligned with the ideas. 　 MAMA

K-pop Oct. 13, 2021

Twice entered Billboard 100 at No. 83 with its first English-language single, “The Feels,” according to the newest tally from the publication that became available on Monday in the US. 　 This is the first time the female band hit the chart although its 10th EP, “Taste of Love,” ranked No. 6 on Billboard 200. Twice became the fourth K-pop band to make it on the singles chart, after Wonder Girls, BTS and Blackpink. 　 The single positioned itself as No. 10 and No. 12 on Bil

K-pop Oct. 12, 2021

Twice will come out with its third studio album, “Formula of Love: O+T=<3,” Nov. 12, announced label JYP Entertainment on Friday. 　 In the poster, the nine band members sit in rows of three at tables filled with lab equipment. Chemical symbols and formulas peek out from underneath the picture along with “You + Me -> Love.” 　 The release, along with the news of an upcoming tour, was hinted at in the video for “The Feels,” the band’s first English

K-pop Oct. 8, 2021

Jo Yuri, formerly of disbanded IZ*ONE, held an online showcase on Thursday to put out her first solo album. 　 “I’ve been so nervous preparing the album, but feel calm at the actual showcase,” she said admitting that she is feeling the right amount of tension and worry. 　 The mini album “Glassy” consists of three songs, including the main track of the same-title. 　 “[The title track] made me think of a fairy tale. And I tried to express the ambience both thro

K-pop Oct. 7, 2021

N.Flying held an online talk show on Wednesday to discuss their repacked first full-length album. 　 The bandmates reassured fans that they all are healthy and ready for the upcoming activities. All five of them returned after being infected with COVID-19 last month. 　 “It was (like going through) ‘turbulence’ for the members as is the name of the new album,” said Yoo Hwe-seung. He apologized for worrying many and recalled their first gathering after recovery. 　 As the

K-pop Oct. 6, 2021

Youngjae of GOT7 hosted an online showcase event to introduce his solo debut EP, “Colors From Ars,” Tuesday. 　 He is taking his first steps as a solo musician seven years after debuting as a member of the band. 　 That feels good, said the musician, but makes him nervous at the same time. 　 “But I’d rather take this as a challenge and would like to focus more on the fact that I’ve done it than trying to figure out if it was a failure or a success,” he said.

K-pop Oct. 5, 2021

Twice will release its third studio album next month followed by an international tour, after celebrating its sixth anniversary month with a week-long event. 　 The news came at the end of the music video for its first English-language single “The Feels” that was unveiled Friday. Some of the group’s songs -- including “More & More” from 9th EP, “I Can’t Stop Me” from 2nd LP, and digital single “Cry for Me” -- have English-language v

K-pop Oct. 1, 2021

The members of Seventeen gave fans a glimpse of their shared history divulging episodes from the last six years in a video uploaded on Friday. 　 Members of vocal unit -- Junghan, Joshua, Woozi, Dogyeom and Seungkwan -- were in the first part of the three-part series. 　 “There is no need to worry when we’re doing activities as units,” said Woozi, “I think we’re on the same wavelength.” 　 Every recording is a challenge, admitted Junghan. He almost thought abo

K-pop Sept. 30, 2021

CL unveiled the second single from her debut studio album in advance on Wednesday. 　 British singer/songwriter Anne-Marie co-wrote the song, titled “Lover Like Me,” which exudes confidence as the narrator coolly lets go of a partner who tried to cheat, saying the cheater will never meet anyone else like her. “Lover Like Me” highlights her vocals, while the previous single, “Spicy,” focused on her rapping and performance skills. 　 The first single from her u

K-pop Sept. 29, 2021

Key of SHINee landed atop iTunes top albums charts in 32 regions with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” which came out Monday. 　 The EP also topped a series of charts in Japan and China as well as at home. 　 The album consists of six tracks and he wrote the lyrics for two. “Hate That ...” featuring Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation was dropped in advance last month and topped iTunes top songs charts in 11 regions. 　 The title track was performed for the first time a day

K-pop Sept. 28, 2021