Author: Denise Coley
Korean-Inspired Christmas Gifts Christmas holiday is here and it’s time to pamper and show affection to our friends and loved ones. A thoughtful gift would go a long way in expressing your desire to be part of your loved ones’ life journey. It would ooze your support towards their dreams, even in the little things such as hobbies and likes. For your friends and loved ones who are obsessed with all things Korea, we’ve got you covered with Korean-inspired gift ideas that will blow their minds this holiday season. Foodies For food and drink enthusiasts, the choice for…
This third full-length album from Red Velvet is a sonic adventure that truly displays the group’s evolution as professional artists. The incredible soundscapes created show their explosive dynamic as a collective and the lyrics of some songs provide a means for down-to-earth reflection. Red Velvet is unafraid to push the boundaries and break conventional molds. Chill Kill is a testament to their continual growth and artistry. Here’s how I rank the songs! Chill Kill: 8/10 This song had surprises around every turn! It was anything but predictable. “Chill Kill” starts with a mysterious feeling–echoing vocals, anxious bass, and synths.…
Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to put away the turkey and bring out the Christmas films. There are always tons of choices, but when it comes to representation of the Asian community within Christmas movies, the choices are very slim and they’re a bit hard to find. So, I decided to put together a list of a few such projects. 1. “Dash & Lily” (2020) Streaming on Netflix, 7.5/10 IMDb Technically, “Dash & Lily” is not a movie, but rather a limited series. There’s not a Christmas where I don’t rewatch all eight episodes, I…
Wonderego is a well-crafted album with 19 tracks, each having Crush’s signature on them. He was heavily involved in this project, from the lyrics to production, and this proves he is successful at his craft on multiple levels. Here’s how I rate each song! New Day: 10/10 “New Day” is an intro track, with only 72 seconds! But what a great minute and 12 seconds it is. Crush enters confidently with his vocal groove and rap. It doesn’t take long to get excited to see what this talented artist is going to do in Wonderego. Hmm-cheat: 6/10…
The November list is out and the competitor amongst K-Pop artists is a chaotic beauty to uphold. With new ‘artists joining this month’s top five list, others have barely managed to hang on but at lower positions. As expected, this month’s top K-pop act has taken the world by storm beating their seniors to shine and reign. 1. New Jeans This bubbly fresh-off the boat K-pop act has yet again proved its sovereignty by taking the lead in this November’s Top Korean Singer Rankings with a brand reputation index of 7,323,578. Up from last year’s 4th position.…
The Dallas, Texas Concert was really jumping and ecstatic!! The girls performed their iconic songs with a mixture of some cover songs too, which they did a cover on one of my favorite songs I like to listen to. It’s awesome to see how the girls have grown from their rookie days to now doing their first ever USA tour! It was cool to see a mixture of Plories alike there from kids to young adults to adults. The Plory were really happy to be there and showing their support for the girls; shouting their names, saying “I love…
It’s not often that I have the opportunity to speak with and interview directors of films I’ve seen, and even more rare to be able to speak to those who’ve produced one of the best action films in the last few years like A Man of Reason directed by and starring Jung Woo-sung, the found-family dramatic feature Broker by Japanese film legend Hirokazu Kore-eda, or The Guest, the intense psychological thriller feature debut by Yeon Je-gwang who’s work premises a very successful career following a successful premiere at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) The Guest…
This is my time learning of Vince, but it wasn’t my first time encountering his work. You likely have listened to some of the famous hits he has contributed to as well such as SUNMI’s “Gashina”, LISA’s “MONEY”, and BLACKPINK’s “Shut Down.” Though he has released a handful of singles over the past few years, The Drive is his first EP Album. With a mix of R&B, hip-hop, soul, and pop, Vince truly displays his artistry and skill as a solo artist. Let’s dive into how the tracks rank! Work: 8/10 “Work” is the first solo song I’ve…
She Her Her Hers is an alternative band consisting of the trio of Hiroyasu Takahashi, Tomasong and Taiki Matsuura. Despite the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the group continued to work hard, releasing music and streaming performances online, and since the start of 2023 they have appeared in numerous events and festivals both domestically and internationally, expanding their activities proactively both at home and abroad. Against this backdrop, their new album ‘Diffusion of Responsibility’ was released on Wednesday, November 15th. In tandem with the release of the new album, they also announced a tour to accompany the release. It…
Not every guest is welcome, and certainly not those at a creepy motel located in the middle of nowhere. Written and directed by Yeon Je-gwang, The Guest is a psychological thriller that asks what would you do if you see someone’s worst nightmare begin to unfold before you. Based on his original short film which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won Best Thriller at the LA Independent Film Festival, The Guest had its world premiere at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival, and is Yeon’s feature debut. It stars Oh Hye-won, Jeong Sook-yo,…
Stray Kids don’t miss! I had high hopes for their latest album drop, ROCK-STAR, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Stray Kids brought their A-game and were as bold as ever! This group always has at least two or three hype tracks, as well as a sincere ballad, on their full-length albums. And don’t forget the incredible choreography that goes along with them. They met that quota on this album for sure! Here’s how I rate the album. MEGAVERSE: 10/10 Opening up the album with a bassy track and Felix’s classic deep vocals, I…
The Golden Maknae has released his debut solo album. With an all English tracklist, and plenty of features, I was curious how GOLDEN would display who BTS fans already know to be an unstoppable force. Jung Kook is a treasure, but I was disappointed with how some of this album played out. 3D (feat. Jack Harlow): 1/10 This track might feel a bit jarring to BTS audiences that are used to only the slightest hint of suggestive lyrics. “3D” is filled with sexual references and carries an explicit warning. Jung Kook has fully broken the “wholesome” mold and…
From playing the trendiest hits to endlessly streaming performances by various K-pop acts, Music Bank has become the global go-to for K-pop gurus and rookie artists in South Korea. Fashioned back in 1988, this record chart has grown to become a global sensation broadcasted in over a hundred countries through KBS World. Music Bank took over the then famous Top 10 Songs (가요톱10) show which had debuted in 1981 and was done away with owing to a controversy. Lee Hwi Jae and Song Hye Kyo (hosts – 2000) Airing on Fridays at 6:30 (KST), Music Bank took Korea…
Ruda (Sungjin Kim) is a professional dance coach specializing in hip-hop, with 17 years of coaching experience. He is also a popular YouTuber, running a channel named Rudakris, which features dance and K-pop. 1. Hello, Ruda, could you provide a brief introduction about yourself and share your experiences with us? Hello! I’m Kim Sungin, and I’ve been teaching dance for 17 years. I also go by the name Rudakris on YouTube. I’ve helped over 20 to 30 students pursue dance-related majors, and in 2015, I was responsible for choreographing the hip-hop section of the Gwangju Summer Universiade. 2.…
November 10, 2023 — South Korean Singer-Songwriter Vince marks his comeback with “Get Out”, the first single and music video from his upcoming debut EP, [The Drive]. Out today via THEBLACKLABEL, “Get Out” is a blend of R&B and disco-based EDM, the track sends a dual message, implicitly urging someone who can’t break free from the past to “get out” and also come “with me” (Korean translation of the title “나와”). Both charming and witty with a progression that builds up to a climatic drop, this song has an undeniable groove that makes you want to dance. Vince also announces the release of his…
Celebrating its fourteenth year of celebrating Korean dance and dancers, the Busan International Dance Market (BIDAM) which was held October 13th – 15th at the Geumjeong Cultural Center, is a program that brings the world of Korean dance and music culture to the world and the world to Korea. Created by critically lauded dancer and choreographer Shin Eun-ju whose acclaimed work spans decades, BIDAM seeks to show that creatives of all ages, backgrounds, and interests come together to showcase their abilities to speak their experiences in a medium that needs no translation. During my trip to Korea…
The not so cool kids in the corner Mike and Sav of the indie pop duo corner club, are back with a new EP. Some of you KCrush readers may remember listening to their interview on Candid Conversations back in August. Following up their 2021 freshman EP “little love lullabies” with “in the rearview mirror.” A beautiful rollercoaster of life’s ups and downs. Sav and Mike are no strangers to writing about experiences and man are they sharing some good ones. In the two years following their first release there has been a cross country move for both of…
On October 30, 2023, former Royal Pirates bassist James Lee announced his upcoming marriage on Instagram. Lee wrote, ” I have some great news [I] am excited to share with you. I’m getting married!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by james lee (@jamesjhl) In the post, Lee introduced his fiancé, Fafa, but did not provide details about who she is since Lee tries “to keep parts of my life private to remind myself to appreciate the experiences and moments we have [face-to-face,” but he added, “Fafa is a beautiful person inside and out…
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/532452770265974741 We are back at the absolutely fantastic Deep Ellum Art Co, they really have a proper environment for us, 10/10 venue we can’t say enough good things about them. Let’s see you there, we’ve got so many new songs to play! *****Contest time!!!******* https://www.instagram.com/p/CywtcAlATv1/ Tag 2 friends in the above instagram post who you would want to go party with and you could win a prize pack with 3 free tickets! Like and share the post on your story for an extra entry. Contest ends Nov 3 at midnight. Winner will be drawn on Nov 4. This…
Korea has become the center of global attention not only from the flashy and mesmerizing K-dramas and K-pop realms. Korean food is increasingly gaining global acceptance owing to the associated health benefits. These dishes are from centuries ago and are embedded deeply within the Korean culture, The dishes have been fused with a pinch of modernity giving them a refreshing and comforting vibe. Here are some of the healthiest Korean foods. 1. Kimchi Kimchi is Korea’s most globally acknowledged food. Kimchi is a fermented and salted vegetable infused with other vegetables, seasonings, and chili powder. Although there…