The odds of making it in the music industry and into a listener’s playlist are so small that a career in the entertainment industry is a long row to hoe. But singer-songwriter Junny’s “Thank You” sat at No. 17 on the Apple Music R&B Chart in 2018, even before his official debut. And now the singer is embarking on a journey of tunes and songs. ‘Hide & Sick’ As a famous saying goes, musicians don’t hold back on emotion in their songs. The same

K-pop Nov. 19, 2021

Samuel Seo’s artistic identity could be a little understated. He dons black from head to toe, large portions of his body are shaded in pitch-black ink and the look is completed with several piercings. Yet in contrast to his simple look, the singer-songwriter draws upon a wide range of musical genres to produce songs worth the listen. Scavenging for music Six years ago, a budding rapper in his mid-20s introduced fresh tunes to listeners that were somewhat offbeat. But now his distincti

K-pop Nov. 5, 2021

Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind boy band BTS, announced its plan to augment its business portfolio and garner more people to engage in the process. The label held an online YouTube event Thursday morning to share its futuristic visions and strategies to lead the entertainment industry. Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of Hybe and founder of the label, said, “Hybe has always used the terms like ‘global’ and ‘connected,’ but now, these words are common and easily found els

K-pop Nov. 4, 2021

K-pop sensation Seventeen welcomed the fall foliage, autumn breeze and the romance of October by dropping their ninth EP, “Attacca,” on Friday afternoon, returning in nearly four months after their previous work. “Attacca” is a follow-up to the band’s previous album and its “Power of Love project.” The EP is aptly named -- attacca is a direction in music at the end of a movement to begin the next without pause. In a press conference on Friday, the 1

K-pop Oct. 22, 2021

As an early cold snap gripped South Korea, with record-low temperatures for mid-October, Nam Woo-hyun of boy band Infinite welcomed the cool weather. The singer dropped his fourth EP, “With,” Tuesday evening nearly two years after his previous work. The six-song package talks about thanking the fans who waited so long for the artist’s music. As the title suggests, it is about being together with someone or doing something together, the singer said Tuesday during an online pre

K-pop Oct. 19, 2021

K-pop sensation BTS debuted in 2013 with high-top sneakers, bandanas, shades and snapbacks. While the boy band style in the K-pop scene was all about putting on glad rags, little did the industry know the septet would be leading creative hijinks in the fashion industry. And apart from having among the highest net worths in the South Korean A-list, the seven bandmates are also known for their tastes for adventurous fashion. Last month, South Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed the globetro

K-pop Oct. 19, 2021

On Sept. 12, Goyang City unveiled a new tourist attraction after weeks of painting: a mural of K-pop star RM of boy band BTS. The rapper grew up in Ilsan, a district within Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the outskirts of the capital. In August, Goyang City Hall said it was partnering with the artist’s fandom, MoNiJunNi, on a special project to celebrate his 28th birthday. The city and MoNiJunNi jointly announced that they would paint an 18-by-12-meter mural on the side of the Goyang Touris

K-pop Oct. 7, 2021

After N. Flying teased a snippet of their promotions on social media, the South Korean rap-rock band who hit it big with their megahit song “Rooftop” is back with another album after nearly four months. The five-member rock band dropped “Turbulence,” a repackage of their first full album, which was released Wednesday evening. The repackaged album talks about how one can always take a leap of faith after wandering through reality and confusion. If the first LP, “M

K-pop Oct. 6, 2021

As the fall foliage is imminent in South Korea, singer Woodz welcomed the golden-orange landscape of October with his warm glow of love. Cho Seung-young, better known by his stage name Woodz, is back with another love song. The singer-songwriter returned after nearly seven months with his third EP, “Only Lovers Left,” which was released Tuesday evening. The six-song package is an album that talks about “emotions of love.” It’s all about being head-over-heels in

K-pop Oct. 5, 2021

As the days are shortening, the leaves are starting to change, people are pulling out their sweaters, and rookie boy band Ciipher is hoping to capture the mood of the season. The septet has returned with their second EP “Blind,” released Tuesday evening, a follow-up to their debut “I Like You” which dropped in March. The seven-member group said their title track, “Blind,” is a song about how a guy succeeds in confessing his love to his crush and how one cou

K-pop Sept. 28, 2021

After rumors of BTS and Coldplay teaming up for a song circulated months ago, two of the world’s biggest acts revealed the much-anticipation collaboration “My Universe” on Friday. The song talks about putting love first. It touches on the difficulties two people may face “because we come from different sides,” but provides hope by adding, “I just want to put you first,” likening the person to the singer‘s universe. Adding to the excitement, Par

K-pop Sept. 24, 2021

Seoul’s posh Gangnam district is known for its private educational institutes, called “hagwon.” Seeing students rushing to hagwon after school is nothing new for Seoulites. But the number of private academies that offer dance and vocal lessons has mushroomed as more youngsters aspire to K-pop stardom. Private training systems Lee Jae-won has run a dance academy in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, for eight years, training young idol-wannabes. Lee’s institution system

K-pop Sept. 24, 2021

A week after South Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed musical sensation BTS to a cultural diplomacy role, the band accompanied Moon to New York for the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. As “special presidential envoys for future generations and culture,” their first official duty was an appearance at the SDG Moment, the second meeting devoted to the UN’s sustainable development goals. Each band member stood at the podium on Monday (US time) and opened

K-pop Sept. 22, 2021

A year since Yang Yo-seob of boy band Highlight announced his discharge from the military, he has fans brimming with excitement that new music was on its way. The singer is finally returning to the stage with his first-ever solo LP, “Chocolate Box,” released Monday evening. The 31-year old talked about how dropping new music and showcasing his voice and songs to the public gave him butterflies and agitation at the same time. “I had always set my heart on releasing a full-len

K-pop Sept. 20, 2021

  As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic continues to persist, opportunities to meet and greet fans across the globe in person have been shuttered. But Hybe, the company behind megastars like boy bands BTS and Seventeen, has come up with a pop-up event in the South Korean capital for fans who reside in the nation.  The pop-up retail shop is based on Hybe’s “In the SOOP” content, a reality program that allows the company‘s groups to unplug from their busy

K-pop Sept. 15, 2021