Author: Denise Coley

Mari Kim, is a contemporary Korean artist, renowned as a digital fashion designer, music video director and pioneer of the “Eyedoll” style of art. She currently serves as the CEO of Japanese immersive entertainment studio Cocone N.Y, where she is the key visionary of their innovative digital fashion offerings. At Cocone N.Y. Mari leads a team at the forefront of digital fashion and social networking with over 15 years of avatar styling experience and over 16 billion digital items sold. Prior to her role as CEO at Cocone N.Y. Mari directed the critically acclaimed music video ‘Hate You’…

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 In this interview, Carolyn speaks with Park Sun Young, Programmer of Asian Cinema at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), about the importance of promoting Asian cinema at international festivals for local and visiting international guests and industry insiders. As a programmer Park and her team have a very difficult job of sifting through hundreds of submissions each year to decide on their final selections for platforms such as the A Window on Asian Cinema platform, the New Currents platform which highlights first and second films of up-and-coming filmmakers like Pawo Choyning Dorji (The Monk and the Gun), and…

 Set in 2006, a pivotal time of change for the people of Bhutan as they prepare for the dawn of democracy, The Monk and the Gun director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s second feature film is a whip smart comedic drama about the ways westernization and modernization can both negatively and positively impact indigenous communities. There’s a fine line between satire and pure comedy in film. Satire is used to poke fun at the expense of the subject to reveal the absurdity of their behaviors and even philosophy, whereas pure comedy is about showing the natural humor that arises through the…

With recently released dramas and others ongoing as well, the September Korean Drama Actor Rankings have seen a reshuffle. As compared to the August rankings, some of the actors and actresses have been dethroned as others leap closer to the top of the list. Below are the actors and actresses who made it to the top 5 list of the September Korean Drama Actor Rankings. 1. Nam Goong Min Nam Goong Min took the crown in this September’s Korean Drama Actor Rankings topping with a brand reputation index of 4.824,141. His role in “My Dearest” K-drama, whose first…

2023 kicked off with a blast, especially for K-Drama fans around the globe. With the unveiling of new dramas hitting the charts and the release of new seasons for ongoing series, life could not get any better. Here are some of the most thrilling series released in early January this year that ought to be on your must-watch K-drama list. 1. Crash Course in Romance Crash Course in Romance tells the story of sparkling chemistry fighting to rise above overpowering societal pressures. Nam Haeng Seon is a side dish store owner whose handball career was thrown under…

New Jeans is the newest K-pop act in town that has everyone talking. Barely two years after their debut, the quintet girl band dethroned BTS of a Guinness World Record with their mesmerizing singles. What’s more, New Jeans members are among the youngest in the K-pop entertainment industry which further accentuates their trendy fresh vibe fused in a 1990s girl next door aura. Some of New Jeans’ most popular songs include “Ditto” (over 400 million Spotify views), “OMG” (over 500 million Spotify views), and “Hype Boy” (over 400 million Spotify views). New Jeans debuted in July 22, 2022…

Dynamic Duo is a seasoned Korean hip-hop group. Choiza and Gaeko debuted in 2004 with their album, Taxi Driver. This record became one of the best-selling Korean hip-hop albums of all time. They’ve done many collaborations in their years of music, from IU to Epik High. Their popularity and longevity in the music world is impressive. They recently dropped a mini album, and their song, “Smoke” has become a trending tune. Let’s explore both of these offerings from Dynamic Duo. “HUNT” (feat. PSICK UNIV): 8/10 For those unfamiliar with Dynamic Duo, some of the rap style in this track…

There’s something uniquely special about seeing people receive accolades for the years of hard work, dedication, passion, and love. To know that they know they’re appreciated for their craft, as happened at the 2023 Asia Content Awards & Global OTT Awards. Created in Held on the night of October 8th at the 28th Busan International Film Festival, the Asia Content Awards & Global OTT Awards honored the work of Asian actors, directors, writers, and professionals in the technical fields of the globally expanding regional OTT (over-the-top) platforms and networks, and those of American origins. For the Asia Content Awards…

Celebrate HarryBigButtons’ 12th Anniversary with us!  Tell everyone you know!! Korean Rock band HarryBigButton celebrates their 12th anniversary with the highly anticipated release of their third full-length album, “Big Fish.” This album, like a collection of ten vibrant movies, draws inspiration from a diverse range of cinematic worlds, infusing each track with distinctive styles and a myriad of emotions. Despite the challenging backdrop of the pandemic, HarryBigButton overcame the obstacles to deliver a remarkable musical offering. The album’s final track and title song, “Big Fish,” stands as a heartfelt tribute to those who have experienced the pain of bidding…

The septet released its first mini-album on September 27th and, since then, has conquered its position in worldwide prestigious rankings XG – PUPPET SHOW (Official Music Video)  – https://youtu.be/VFeRPM7Sm6c XG released their long-awaited mini-album “NEW DNA” and the addicting track “Puppet Show” on September 27 and reached the top of the Billboard Japan Hot Albums Chart. The achievement of the septet was doubled since the track “NEW DANCE”, from the same album, also stayed on the same chart for six consecutive weeks. The CD BOX of “NEW DNA” brings XG’s characteristic innovation. With two versions, the “X Ver.”…

(Japan – 6 October 2023) BMSG, a trailblazer in Japan’s music industry, has just concluded BMSG FES’23, a two-weekend music extravaganza which took place in Tokyo and Osaka to celebrate its third anniversary. Building on the success of last year’s BMSG FES’22, BMSG ALLSTARS dropped a surprise release “New Chapter”. This year’s festival expands its horizons, introducing a fresh concept with two venues and two new songs, marking a significant milestone in BMSG’s journey. BMSG FES’23 took place in both Tokyo and Osaka, Japan’s two largest cities, showcasing the depth and diversity of Japanese music culture. BMSG has just…

Nothing beats the satisfaction that comes with an enchanting K-Drama storyline with mesmerizing OSTs topped up with the refreshing and hypnotic faces of our beloved K-Pop artists. Here are some of the most captivating K-dramas to binge on while drooling over the talented and alluring cast of K-pop artists. 1. Business Proposal Business Proposal is a romantic comedy series that involves a rich workaholic whose blind date turns out to be a roller coaster of unexpected and thrilling developments. Kim Se Jeong, former member of Gugudan and I.O.I groups, plays Shin Ha Ri; the female lead who…

With BTS members releasing solo projects and singles, I was excited to hear what V had cooking. I personally wasn’t thrilled with some of the past solo releases from other members. Would Kim Taehyung provide a breath of fresh air, or would his EP be in line with the previous themes and style? I sighed with relief that Layover met my hopes. It’s very “V” and c’mon, the album cover with Yeontan?! This is one I enjoyed for sure. Here’s my reaction to each of the tracks. Rainy Days: 7/10 Such a mellow intro, with lo-fi vibes, ambient…

True Beauty has everything I’d ever want in a drama. It’s filled with romance, comedy, suspense, family interactions, amazing character arcs, and an extremely satisfying ending. All of the characters added to the plot and each episode was an absolute joy. Did I watch the entire season twice in two weeks? Yes, I did, because this show is a feel-good, warm hug. It is my go-to drama and here’s why! (Spoilers ahead). Plot: 10/10 True Beauty centers around a high school girl named Ju-Kyung. She’s a fun character–down to earth, loves comic books, and blasts rock n roll. However,…

Legacy K-POP Artist Kicks Off Tour in the U.S. with Two Shows K-pop legend and international phenom THE RAIN (Jung Ji-hoon) is making his return to the United States with the highly anticipated STILL RAINING tour. The US leg of the tour includes two stops: November 22, 2023 at the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City and November 25, 2023 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. RAIN, one of the world’s most influential K-pop stars in the 21st century, was Time’s 100 Most Influential in 2006 and 2011 and has won multiple awards in…

The Rose presents a unique blend of pop-rock, memorable ballads, and unique vocals. HEAL did not disappoint! Here’s my album breakdown. ~: 9/10 I love a good intro. “~” builds a dreamy soundscape that invites listeners into the world The Rose has built in this album. With whimsical harps, imaginative strings, and natural sound effects, this track drew me in immediately. It’s calming yet the music builds with excitement, leading perfectly into “Definition of ugly is.” Definition of ugly is: 10/10 Coming from “~” into the reverbed acapella vocals from Woosung nearly sent a shiver up my spine. He…

This album was my first encounter with BOYNEXTDOOR, and perhaps yours, too! They debuted a few singles on a mini album in May 2023, and are relatively new as a group. ZICO helped produce this group, and the music’s aim is to be relatable to the daily lives of their listeners. I believe they hit the target with WHY… It’s easy listening, and full of fun choruses and memorable hooks. Here’s the album breakdown. But I Like You: 8/10 “But I Like You” is an excellent opening to the album with an energetic groove, bright vocals, interesting musicality, and…

Rising K-pop boy group CRAVITY unveil a new song and music video “Cheese;” listen/share HERE and watch/share the video HERE. The track—which illustrates the band’s idea of a fun and special day—will be featured on their much anticipated upcoming sixth mini-album, SUN SEEKER, set for release September 11. Pre-order/pre-save the album HERE. The nine-member K-pop boy group are taking the world by storm. Debuting as a group in 2020 with Starship Entertainment, they have been rapidly growing in popularity and gaining global recognition. Learn more HERE. Last year they released their landmark English-language single “Boogie Woogie,” which Forbes raves…

Japanese rock band I Don’t Like Mondays. released their new album ‘RUNWAYWednesday, September 6). The album features five brand new songs. One particular highlight is ‘conversation’, a collaboration with South Korean creator DPR CREAM. The members of I Don’t Like Mondays. are longtime DPR fans, leading to them finally working together. Combining the signature I Don’t Like Mondays. laidback mood with DPR CREAM’s uniquely beautiful sonic tone, the result is a sweet-sounding song. It also marks the first time DPR CREAM has collaborated with an artist from outside Korea. In addition to a domestic tour that will take in…