Mnet Asian Music Awards 2015 Results

On December 2, 2015, Hong Kong hosted the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs) for the third year in a row. This year, the show was held at the AsiaWorld-Expo Center. Like with past years, the show was a bit on the predictable side with only a handful of surprise winners. The evening had some highlights, but it also had plenty of lowlights and awkward moments.

Highlights

2NE1 Returns- The moment many Blackjacks hoped for finally occurred at MAMA: 2NE1 is back together! Following months of speculation regarding whether they disbanded or if Park Bom would ever return, the girls are better—and prettier—than ever. Minzy slayed during the performance and Park Bom sounded good. It was a happy moment that fueled speculation that 2NE1 will release an album in early 2016. Of course, that depends on if Papa YG uses the calendar the rest of us use or his own special calendar.

BIGBANG-EXO Interactions- During BIGBANG’s stage, the best part came when Seungri sat in EXO’s Sehun’s lap to perform. The sight of legendary performers mingling with the rising idol group was one to behold, and VIPs and EXO-Ls had a brief “Kumbaya” moment. Sehun was a good sport too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmX4gM4aHNE

PSY- PSY made his return with “Bell Bottoms” and “Daddy” to close out the show. He was his usual colorful self and brought much-needed life into the performances this year.

Fanchants- This year, the crowd was livelier than past MAMAs. While the enthusiasm waned from time-to-time, whenever EXO and BIGBANG appeared, the arena was deafening! Thankfully, this helped keep home viewers engaged and awake during the wee hours in the US.

The Stages- The performance stages were BEAUTIFUL this year! The use of the screens and high-definition technology made a huge difference from the basic performance stage. Taeyeon opened the show with “I,” and the scenery was ethereal and larger-than-life. However, the best stage goes to Crush and Zion.T for “Yanghwa Bridge” for the interactive imagery.

SHINee- One thing that can always consistent for MAMA is SHINee performances. SHINee usually have dynamic stages and great vocals; this year was no exception.

Lowlights

Everyone Left During the Artist of the Year Award- When BIGBANG won the UnionPay Artist of the Year Award, all the seats were empty except for Monsta X. Fans were already quick to defend SM artists citing busy schedules and needing to catch flights, but SM artists stayed throughout the entire awards show up until that point; an extra few minutes wasn’t going to kill anyone. The gesture seemed rude and even Taeyang noticed during BIGBANG’s speech. Would the scene have been different if EXO won?

Innuendo Everywhere- From CL to Jolin Tsai to J.Y. Park, sexual innuendo was everywhere, even to the point where J.Y. Park simulated sex on stage and the K-idol audience even looked a bit embarrassed. K-Pop has gotten sexier over the years, but this year’s show made it clear that double-standards exist. Wasn’t it just last year and the year before 4Minute’s HyunA and BEAST’s Hyunseung’s Troublemaker subunit was chastised for their “sexy performance?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjgO2xc-oWc

Sound Quality Issues- As with Hong Kong-held MAMAs past, the sound quality was terrible. Some stages had good sound, like in the cases of BIGBANG and iKON; but others weren’t so lucky. Poor f(x) were almost inaudible during their stage with the Pet Shop Boys.

EXO Win Best Asian Style Before Arriving- They arrived toward the end of the Red Carpet show; yet, they won the award before they exited their vehicle. Here again, we have proof that viewers aren’t actually voting for what is there but just out of popularity. Monsta X and Seventeen looked sharp though.

Awkward Presenters- The presenters for the awards this year were off-kilter. The banter lacked flow and cohesiveness, so it was clear everything was scripted (especially since they were reading from cue cards) from the beginning. Some of the presenters, without naming names, were just painful to watch. Plus, the fake surprise over the winner-reveals was way too obvious.

Advertising V-App- Throughout the show, V-App advertising kept popping up on the screen to show viewers can watch live behind-the-scenes interviews during MAMA. Viewers are either going to watch the awards or the BTS material, but not both. This was a fail.

Winners

Next Generation Artist: Monsta X

Best Asian Style Award: EXO

Best New Female Artist: TWICE

Best New Male Artist: iKON

Best Collaboration Performance: Zion.T & Crush “Just”

Producer Awards: J.Y. Park (Korea), Gao Xiaosong (China), & Phuc Bo (Vietnam)

Best Asian Artist: Jolin Tsai (Mandarin), Dong Nhi (Vietnam), AKB48 (Japan), Stefanie Sun (Singapore), Potato (Thailand), & RAN (Indonesia)

Best Engineer: Hyun-Jong Ko (Korea), Yoshinori Nakayama (Japan), & Lupo Groinig (China)

Best Live Entertainment: Wu Qan Da (China), In Jae-Jin (Korea), & Vit Suthitnavil (Thailand)

Best Vocal Performance (Male): Zion.T “Eat”

Best Vocal Performance (Female): Ailee “Mind Your Own Business”

Best Band Performance: CNBLUE “Cinderella”

Best Female Artist: Taeyeon

Best Male Artist: J.Y. Park

Best Music Video: BIGBANG “Bae Bae”

Best Rap Performance: San E “Me You”

Best Solo Dance Performance: HyunA “Roll Deep”

Best Male Dance Performance: SHINee “View”

Best Female Dance Performance: Red Velvet “Ice Cream Cake”

Best Female Group: Girls’ Generation

Best Male Group: EXO

Best International Artist: BIGBANG

Song of the Year: BIGBANG “Bang Bang Bang”

Artist of the Year: BIGBANG

Album of the Year: EXO EXODUS

SONY MDR Worldwide Performer: BTS

SINA Weibo Global Fan’s Choice (Male): EXO

SINA Weibo Global Fan’s Choice (Female): f(x)

Worldwide Inspiration Award: Pet Shop Boys

iQiYi Worldwide Favorite Artist: BIGBANG

What were your favorite performances during MAMA? Do you agree with the winners? Let us know!

—-Joelle Halon

In recent years, V-pop has been influenced by so many young singers. And among them, the top 4 prominent names are: Son Tung M-TP, Dong Nhi, Tuan Hung, Ho Ngoc Ha, whose many popular songs and fan clubs with millions of people.

Son Tung M-TP, a young singer, songwriter and actor. Born in 1994, he is considerably the most favorite singer of teenagers. He can combine the fusion of Vietnamese traditional music, K-pop and US-UK pop in his songs to create a unique style himself. He has 8 million followers on his Facebook Fanpage (M-TP), and each of his new songs always reaches million views and achieves the top position on Z-Chart. His latest song named “Buông đôi tay nhau ra” (Leave Your Hand Away) attracted more than 5 million views in just 10 days on Zing MP3 website. His hit songs from 2012 are Cơn mưa ngang qua (“The Rain Gone By”), Em của ngày hôm qua (“You of Yesterday”), Chắc Ai Đó Sẽ về (“Someone Will Come Back”), Không phải dạng vừa đâu (“I’m Quite Something”), Âm thầm bên em ( “A Silent Love”).

 

Dong Nhi, born in 1988, has a longer singing career and is known for many songs composed by herself. From 2007, with 2 songs named “Chàng Baby Milo” (Baby Milo Guy) and “Đu quay tình yêu” (Love Wheel), written for teen, she became the singer whose top requested songs on radio of the year. Since then, she has always maintained her fame as she can follow different music trends. She received many awards of MTV Video Music of Vietnam, Yan Vpop 20 Awards, Zing Music Award for her songs. Dong Nhi also starred in some teenager films and she was a judge for many music competitions in Vietnam. Now she has a fan club of 6.5 million people on Facebook. Her latest song “Vì ai vì anh” (Stop Loving You) reached more than one million views and became the top song on Z-Chart within the first day of release on May 15, 2015.

 

Tuan Hung, born in 1978, is not a young singer, but he still has many hit songs for the youth. In 1998, he started his career as a member in “Quả dưa hấu” (The Watermelon) musical band with three other members (one of them is Bang Kieu – another famous singer), which gained a lot of love from fans in Ha Noi. Then he decided to leave the group and go to Ho Chi Minh City. In his 17 years of singing, he still holds a stable place in the hearts of fans with his gruff voice in many romantic songs like “Dĩ vãng cuộc tình” (The Past Love), “Cầu vồng khuyết” (Half Rainbow), “Tình yêu lung linh” (Sparkling Love), “Vẫn nhớ” (Still Missing You), “Tìm lại bầu trời” (Back To The Sky),… Tuan Hung has released over 12 albums in his whole singing life, with the first album named “Vũ điệu thần tiên” (Fairy Dance) released in 2001 and most recently is “Tìm lại bầu trời” (Back To The Sky) in 2012. Now he has a Fan club of 3.8 million people on Facebook.

New music video from September 2015

 

Ho Ngoc Ha, born in 1984, became famous when she won first prize in the supermodel contest of Vietnam in 2003 and 2004. From 2004 to 2009, she was an actress in many films: “Hoa cỏ may” (The Foxtail), “Chiến dịch trái tim bên phải” (Heart-on-the-right-side Campaign), “360 độ yêu” (360 Degree of Love), and released her first 4 music albums: “24 Giờ 7 Ngày” (24 Hours 7 Days), “Và Em Đã Yêu” (And Then I Love), “Muốn Nói Với Anh” (Want to Talk with You), “Khi Ta Yêu Nhau” (When We Love), but she got little attention from the audience. Her fame started just after she got married to Cuong Dollar in 2010 and got financial support to create many outstanding albums: “Sao ta lặng im” (Why We Keep Silence), “Sẽ mãi bên nhau” (Invincible) as well as many beautiful music videos which reach international standards, and then she really became the top famous singer in Vietnam. Recently, she was the judge in many musical competitions: The Voice, Got to Dance and X Factor. She also has more than 4 million fans on Facebook page.

New music video as of November 2015

–Nhu Hoang

Do U Wanna B? Block B!

In early October, it was announced that Block B would be coming to America for a special, three date tour. Block B’s last appearance in America was at KCON 2015 in Los Angeles.

 

BBCs in Chicago were treated to a 22 song long setlist including “Nice Day”, “Her” and “Very Good” and several special stages. Zico performed “Okey, Dokey” while Bastarz(B-Bomb, U-Kwon and P.O) performed “ (Conduct for Zero)” from their Bastarz special album.

 

Fans from many different states and even countries all travelled to see the group.

“BLOCK B are so amazing in real life, all members were sexy and talented, I screamed a lot, danced a lot, sang a lot as well. Since I’m a French BBC and Kpop fan over 9 years, I will always bring my French flag to represent FRENCH BBC in USA! I enjoyed the show so bad which I could be longer and forever but hope to see them really soon. FRENCH BBC always to support and love them!” – Jen Jenni Jennifer Dzenana, Iowa/France

One of the best parts of the show was seeing the absolute joy on the faces of fans as they sang along to the final song performed during the encore, “Movie’s Over.” Block B could definitely feel the love from all of their fans.
Block B’s “Block B in USA” tour kicked off in San Francisco before travelling to Chicago and finishing off in Los Angeles.
Thanks to SubKulture for putting on a great show and bringing Block B state side once again.

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

B.A.P made their triumphant return to the K-Pop scene November 15, 2015. For the Baby fandom, it was the moment we’ve all been waiting for since the lawsuit announcement last November. While the wait was long—perhaps too long for some fans—B.A.P did their best to remind their fans why they’re one of the strongest male groups in the industry due to their power and unique color.

International fans had an opportunity to watch the comeback showcase at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Art Hall 2 on V-App. While watching on V-App didn’t provide the same rush as being in the actual crowd, it provided an opportunity to experience the show without feeling crushed or without dealing with poor acoustics that some concert venues have. Watching the show on the mobile app, however, did bring some glitches given how many people were watching, but the computer version was far more stable, enhancing the experience.

Prior to the show starting, there was a strong sense of anticipation from worldwide Babyz viewing the app and the 3,000-or-so fans at venue. This anticipation exploded when the opening segment began and the green Matoki lights switched on to create an ocean of light. Then, B.A.P appeared and started the hour-long showcase with their debut track “Warrior,” which was followed by “No Mercy” and the swagger-heavy “Excuse Me.”

Even though B.A.P have been gone for one year and nine months (this excludes concerts and appearances that occurred through October 2014), it was like they never left. Choreography was still sharp and vocals were clear. B.A.P didn’t miss a beat. Watching them on the stage was bittersweet because of how healthy and happy they all appeared. Yongguk flashed his trademark gummy smile, while Himchan exuded his cheery charm. The usually chill 4D member Jongup was chattier and glowing. Zelo looked thrilled to be able to dance and rap again, while Youngjae’s smooth voice and Daehyun’s signature honey vocals floated across the sea of light sticks effortlessly. Fan were treated to the hardworking B.A.P they all knew and loved.

During the talk segments, B.A.P expressed joy and gratitude their fans. Watching them, it was clear they missed their fandom and the stage, especially since they looked teary-eyed at some points during their conversations.

After some older hits, fans were treated to the new MATRIX tracks. The excitement over hearing the new tracks caused the V-App chat to freeze temporarily, and hearts (V-App’s “like” system) soared from three million to 10 million in just minutes.

The set started with their title track “Young, Wild, & Free.” The track, which has strong rock and hip-hop elements, got viewers pumped. Jongup and Zelo worked on the choreography, so kudos goes to them for a strong sense of musicality and well-maintained moves. The song is a strong comeback hit that has an anthem quality. One of the best moments was when Daehyun and Youngjae’s voices combined to create a super high note.

The next track to be unveiled was “BLIND.” “BLIND” is highly emotional and beautifully composed. The one element that stood out is the well-done vocal distribution. Each member got ample opportunity to shine, including Himchan who has the raspiest vocals out of all the members and often doesn’t get enough lines. The track shows his growth as a stronger singer. Jongup, too, has more opportunities to shine, and it’s clear he’s a stronger vocalist as well. “BLIND” quickly established itself as a fan favorite on V-App.

“Take You There” was the third new song. B.A.P revealed the song is for the fans, and that radiated in their stage presence. The track is more poppy than the usual B.A.P-flavor. It has hints of R&B as well. It was fun watching how B.A.P performed the song because they looked legitimately thrilled. The choreography was also cute and charming, adding more depth to an already enjoyable track.

The final new song was “Be Happy.” For “Be Happy,” the B in B.A.P stands for babo since the group became loveable dorks. The youthful dancing and flat “la, la, la” parts made the song an easy earworm. It’s impossible to not feel happy with “Be Happy” because it has addictive instrumentals and a catchy chorus. “Be Happy” was just too adorable.

The showcase wrapped with other classic B.A.P songs, “1004 (Angel)” and “With You,” a fan-favorite. There was significance with wrapping the show with these two songs: “1004” brought B.A.P some music show wins, and “With You” is dedicated to fans.

The one downfall of the event included too much focus on video montages. While it was nice to see footage of past B.A.P MVs, it would have been better if one or two more songs were incorporated in the montages’ place. While I’m all for seeing my boys’ precious faces, after not seeing them for over a year, hearing the music was more of a priority.

With the above considered, the MV for “Young, Wild, & Free” could have waited until the end of the showcase instead of playing directly after the live performance of the track. This created a sense of repetition that disturbed the flow of the showcase. By unveiling the MV at the end, there could have been a deeper sense of anticipation and elation. Fans could have absorbed the imagery better instead of seeing it and moving forward to other new material.

Even though there were some moments that impacted the showcase, it was well-done overall. The flaws could be easily overlooked because of the enjoyment. Their return made a lot of people happy, and in the end, that’s all that matters.

Welcome back, B.A.P!

—-Joelle Halon

Timed perfectly with a ‘UFO’ sighting in the US, B1A4 landed in Dallas on their B1A4 Great Adventure Tour for a special one-night-only performance November 8^th. This special concert took place just one year after their last visit to Dallas and gave BANAs a good night to remember.

Before the show, 50 lucky BANAs were chosen for a special Meet & Greet with the group. There was a special Q&A session where fans were able to have their questions answered directly by B1A4 and got to take a photo with them as well!

B1A4 performed a 20 song setlist including “O.K”, “Baby Goodnight” and “이게무슨일이야(What’s Going On?”. The crowd was very excited to greet B1A4 after the amazing stage they put on last year. One of the best parts of the show was B1A4 performing “You Are My Girl” in animal onesies.

B1A4 promised they would be back soon and I hope they make a Dallas performance a yearly occurrence.

Thanks to Jazzy Group for bringing them back and putting on a great show!

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

Photo Credit: Jazzy Group

On October 30, 2015, Mnet unveiled the nominees for the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs) which are to be held December 2 in Hong Kong. Like with past years, fans can vote for their favorite artists on Mnet’s designated voting page. So who are you voting for this year? Here is the list of nominees!

Best New Male Artist

• iKON
• Monsta X
• Flying
• Seventeen
• Up10tion

Best New Female Artist

• CLC
• GFriend
• Oh My Girl
• TWICE
• Lovelyz

Best Male Artist (Soloist)

• Y Park
• T
• Kyuhyun (Super Junior)
• Jonghyun (SHINee)
• Jung Yonghwa (CNBLUE)

Best Female Artist (Soloist)

• Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)
• Ailee
• BoA
• IU
• HyunA (4Minute)

Best Male Group

• BIGBANG
• EXO
• BTS
• SHINee
• Super Junior
• Shinhwa

Best Female Group

• SISTAR
• Wonder Girls
• AOA
• APINK
• Girls’ Generation
• Miss A

Best Dance Performance (Solo)

• Y Park “Who’s Your Mama?”
• GAIN “Paradise Lost”
• Niel “Lovekiller”
• Amber “Shake That Brass”
• HyunA “Roll Deep”

Best Group Dance Performance (Male)

• BIGBANG “Bang Bang Bang”
• EXO “Call Me Baby”
• VIXX “Love Equation”
• SHINee “View”
• Infinite “BAD”
• Got7 “If You Do”

Best Group Dance Performance (Female)

• AOA “Heart Attack”
• Girl’s Day “Ring My Bell”
• Red Velvet “Ice Cream Cake”
• EXID “Ah Yeah”
• Sistar “Shake It”
• 4Minute “Crazy”

Best Male Solo Performance

• SGWannabe “Love You”
• Kyuhyun “At Gwanghwamun”
• T “Eat”
• Huh Gak “Snow of April”
• Lim Chang Jung “Love Again”

Best Female Vocal Performance

• Taeyeon “I”
• MAMAMOO “Um Oh Ah Yeh”
• Davichi “Cry Again”
• Baek A Yeon “Shouldn’t Have”
• Ailee “Mind Your Business”

Best Rap Performance

• Gary “Get Some Air”
• Mad Clown “Fire”
• Dok2 “I Will”
• Jay Park “Mommae”
• San E “Me You”

Best Band Performance

• Hyukoh “Comes and Goes”
• CNBLUE “Cinderella”
• FTISLAND “Pray”
• JJY Band “OMG”
• Nell “Green Nocturne”

Best Collaboration & Unit

• VIXX LR “Beautiful Liar”
• Block B Bastarz “Zero for Conduct”
• T & Crush “Just”
• Soyou & Kwon Jeongyeol “Lean On Me”
• Infinite H “Pretty”

Best Music Video

• SHINee “Married to the Music”
• F(x) “4 Walls”
• BIGBANG “Bae Bae”
• Infinite “BAD”
• Wonder Girls “I Feel You”

Union Pay Artist of the Year

• Seventeen
• AOA
• Kyuhyun
• iKON
• Apink
• BIGBANG
• EXO
• Lovelyz
• Monsta X
• Miss A
• CLC
• TWICE
• Flying
• T
• Y. Park
• BTS
• BoA
• SHINee
• Sistar
• Shinhwa
• IU
• Girls’ Generation
• Super Junior
• Ailee
• Up10tion
• GFriend
• Oh My Girl
• Wonder Girls
• Jung Yonghwa
• Jonghyun
• Taeyeon
• HyunA

Union Pay Song of the Year

• Taeyeon “I”
• AOA “Heart Attack”
• BIGBANG “Bang Bang Bang”
• CNBLUE “Cinderella”
• EXID “Ah Yeah”
• EXO “Call Me Baby”
• FTISLAND “Pray”
• Gary “Get Some Air”
• Got7 “If You Do”
• SG Wannabe “Love You”
• T “Eat”
• T & Crush “Just”
• GAIN “Paradise Lost”
• Girl’s Day “Ring My Bell”
• Kyuhyun “At Gwanghwamun”
• Nell “Green Nocturne”
• Niel “Lovekiller”
• Davichi “Two Lovers”
• Dok2 “I Will”
• Red Velvet “Ice Cream Cake”
• MAMAMOO “Um Oh Ah Yeh”
• Mad Clown “Fire”
• Jay Park “Mommae”
• Y. Park “Who’s Your Momma?”
• Baek A Yeon “Shouldn’t Have”
• Block B Bastarz “Zero for Conduct”
• VIXX “Love Equation”
• VIXX LR “Beautiful Liar”
• San E “Me You”
• SHINee “View”
• Soyou & Kwon Jeongyeol “Lean On Me”
• Sistar “Shake It”
• Ailee “Mind Your Own Business”
• Amber “Shake That Brass”
• Infinite “BAD”
• Infinite H “Pretty”
• Lim Chang Jung “Love Again”
• JJY Band “OMG”
• Taeyeon “I”
• 4Minute “Crazy”
• Huh Gak “Snow of April”
• Hyukoh “Comes and Goes”
• HyunA “Roll Deep”

 

—-Joelle Halon

For many visiting the Chicago area, especially fans of Asian culture, Chinatown is often on the list of must-sees. The welcoming Chinatown gate that reads “Tian zia, wei gong”—“Everything under the heaven, for the people”—is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Chicago area. Located between Wentworth Avenue and Cermak Road, Chicago’s Chinatwon has been around for 103 years as of 2015. The 30-block town has plenty to see and do, and it’s easy to spend a full day here… it’s also easy to drop a lot of cash! If you choose to visit, here are some recommendations for some must-sees and experiences.

SHOPPING

The K-Pop Store

2223 S. Wentworth Avenue

Chicago, IL

 

If you’re a K-Pop fan, this is the shop for you! The K-Pop Store sells just that: All things K-Pop. Here, you can find clothing, CDs, posters, and official goods like light sticks without having to deal with the shipping costs and wait associated with ordering out of the country. The staff is generally friendly, and they are knowledgeable about what they have and what’s expected to arrive in-store. Be warned: Staff are strict about having bags and cameras in-store, so don’t take these items inside.

 

AJ Housewares & Gifts

2125 S. China Place

Chicago, IL

AJ Housewares & Gifts is one of the most chaotic stops in Chinatown. Narrow aisles are stock-piled with gifts and treasures for anyone looking for traditional or eclectic items at affordable prices. Patrons can find anything from kitchenware to lanterns to plushies in this store—but it’s not easy given the cluttered appearance. Anime and manga fans may be surprised to find a lot of goods related to those hobbies, too. Just to see what this store has to offer can easily kill an hour or two.

 

Evergreen Jewelry

2263 S. Wentworth Avenue

Chicago, IL

Evergreen is opened every day but Wednesday, so it’s worth fitting into your itinerary. Evergreen is a fitting name since the pretty adornments are fad or costume jewelry, so this isn’t a place for patrons looking for an inexpensive present. Evergreen has a nice selection of jade and diamond necklaces, rings, and bracelets fit for engagements, weddings, and collectors. Their gold and watch selections are something to behold as well. Additionally, the Buddha statues are something to see and one of the most affordable gifts.

 

Giftland

2212 S. Wentworth Avenue

Chicago, IL

 

If you have kids in your traveling party, Giftland (along with Aji Ichiban) is a must-stop! While there are gifts like Beanie Babies you can purchase elsewhere, there are some really sweet surprises in-store. For the Hello Kitty-lover, there is a nice selection of dolls, pillows, and collectibles that are oh-so-cute. For fashionable tots, the brightly colored parasols and traditional Chinese dresses and shirts are too delightful. Even for adults, the range of wall scrolls, fans, lucky cats, and other wares and statuary make this a kitschy, exciting stop.

 

Judy’s Cosmetics

2136A S. Archer Avenue

Chicago, IL

 

For beauty lovers and fans of Shiseido products, Judy’s cosmetics will make you delirious. Face masks, mascara, foundation, lotions, and serums from China, Korea, and Japan can all be found here. Products from Shiseido and their sub-companies are the most prominent items; Judy’s proudly state they are one of the largest Shiseido carriers in the Midwest. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable about products and skin and what products work well for different skin types, which is a definite plus. But, just like the K-Pop Store, they’re not too fond of bags in the store.

 

NIGHTLIFE

POPKTV

2002 S. Wentworth Ave.

Chicago, IL

 

From 2pm to 2am, enjoy karaoke with friends and strangers alike in this futuristic karaoke lounge. Staff and patrons are encouraging and enjoy a good laugh, so sing as well or as terrible as possible—no one cares! If you’re less adventurous, you can rent a room for under $50 to sing alone or with a small group of friends. If you don’t want to engage in karaoke and just want to watch from the sidelines, do so while enjoying chicken and beef dishes. No regrets here!

 

Sakura Karaoke Lounge

234 W. Cermak Road

Chicago, IL

 

Sakura is a true nighttime destination where spirits and bar food flow and near-drunken karaoke is encouraged. Visitors can experience a good mix of Asian and Western music to help further the karaoke shenanigans. For $50 an hour, private party rooms can be rented and are highly recommended for bachelor and bachelorette parties.

 

FOOD

Lao Hunan

2230 S. Wentworth Avenue

Chicago, IL

Lao Hunan is as quirky as it is tasty. The Mao Zedong-themed restaurant features servers in Mao-era military uniform, and images of Mao are seemingly everywhere. Signature dishes are made from free-range chicken and pork and smoked to mouth-watering perfection. Food is affordable and plentiful.

 

Lao Sze Chuan

2172 S. Archer Avenue

Chicago, IL

Perhaps one of the busiest restaurants in Chinatown, Lao Sze Chuan provides inexpensive fare for heatseekers. The orange beef tenderloin is the stuff dreams are made of due to its sweet, spicy, tender, juicy goodness. Egg-drop soup is a perfect comfort food on a cold day. For more adventurous palates, squid, frog, pork blood, pork intestine, and octopus dishes reside on the menu.

 

Aji Ichiban

2117A S. China Place

Chicago, IL

Brightly colored candy all in a row! Aji Ichiban is every little kid’s dream of the ideal candy shop with candy lined up by color and type in adorable bins. Caramels, cookies, Japanese sodas, savory crackers, and chocolates are everywhere. Visiting here is enough to tempt visitors to try anything placed in front of them.

 

Chiu Quon Bakery Chinatown

2242 S. Wentworth Avenue

Chicago, IL

Established in 1986, Chiu Quon is the oldest bakery in Chinatown, and they’re set to open another location on Archer Avenue. The bakery specializes in cakes, buns, dim sum, and a variety of other baked goods, and you may even get an opportunity to watch them get made. Wedding cakes, especially, are delicate and beautifully crafted. BBQ pork buns are one of the many reasons to visit, but the mango mousse cake may tempt you to never leave. There’s a strong sense of love and family at Chiu Quon between staff and patrons because the staff really care about their customers.

 

PLAY AND LEARN

Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute

2121B S. China Place

Chicago, IL

One of the top must-experience locations in Chinatown is the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute, which strives to help Chicagoans learn and understand more about Chinese culture. The exciting element is that visitors can take classes to learn more about the Chinese language and culture including how to cook Chinese dishes. Visit to learn something new while making friends in the process.

 

Chinatown Square

The ‘Town Square is the hub where everything happens. Chinatown Square features statues of the Chinese zodiac animals and is designed to look like an imperial court. On any given day, visitors may experience otakus sparring, families chatting in their native language, and college students cheerfully sipping bubble tea and catching up. It’s the perfect place to experience how East-meets-West.

 

Ping Tom Memorial Park

300 W. 19^th Street

This peaceful park is one of Chinatown’s—and Chicago’s—gems. Enjoy kayaking on the Chicago River or take advantage of the fieldhouses. There are plenty of places to sit and lots of trees to enjoy. It’s the perfect spot to unwind.

 

Chinese-American Museum of Chicago

238 W. 23^rd Street

Many experiences in Chicago cost a lot of money, but the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago only charges $3 to $5 for admissions. The exhibits are educational and well thought out. One of the current exhibits—Chicago’s Families: Rites of Passage—looks at Chinese and Ethiopian (yes) marriage, death, and birth rituals; another insightful exhibit focuses on China’s influence and spread into the Midwest. The museum also hosts different film, music, and cultural programs throughout the year, so it never gets old.

 

Of course, there is plenty more to do in Chicago’s Chinatown. While these were our favorite experiences, yours may be vastly different. Just head out and explore and have fun!

 

—-Joelle Halon

As we head into the fourth quarter of the K-Pop season, it’s time to look back on the third quarter and its highlight songs. The third quarter (July-September) gave us comebacks from BIGBANG, HyunA, 9Muses, Girls’ Generation, Infinite, Girl’s Day, APINK, Ailee, Got7, SHINee, Wonder Girls, and Red Velvet among others, as well as debuts from LoveUs, Unicorn, April, Up10tion, iKON, and Day6. However, were their songs good enough to make our top 30 for the third quarter? Read on to find out!

29. GD&T.O.P “Zutter” | August 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8t8A8E_Tqc

“Zutter” was a nice return for the GD&T.O.P pair many love. “Zutter” has a more old-school hip-hop vibe to help it be a memorable song. T.O.P has the right tone which tempers GD’s sometimes off-putting sound. GD’s lower tones do match T.O.P better so everything balances.

28. BIGBANG “If You” | July 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WJZkfw19TM

T.O.P’s voice is perfectly imperfect; Seungri is raw and heartwarming; G-Dragon’s chorus is on-point. “If You” has issues with pitch and tone with Daesung and Taeyang feeling like they’re yelling more than singing and the lines being slightly shaky overall. The song is supposed to be emotional with many praising it for being one of BIGBANG’s best. The song is good, but it’s not great. However, it shows BIGBANG’s softer side, earning a spot on the list.

27. D-Holic “Chewy” | July 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-a8lPAphSE

D-Holic’s comeback wasn’t widely announced, so it went unnoticed for the most part, which is a shame because “Chewy” is a strong song with a great beat. The one downfall is the music tends to drown out the girls’ vocals. The overall composition made “Chewy” a legit summer track.

26. Super Junior “Devil” | July 15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOwERHxXcTs

Super Junior can still do youthful, relevant music even though their vocals have matured. The combination provides a strong dynamic to help “Devil” stick around as an earworm of epic proportions. While it’s obvious there are voices missing due to military obligations, the remaining members do a great job covering for their absences.

25. Infinite “Bad” | July 12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1oTSAhdzNQ

“Bad” tends to be one-note during the chorus. However, it maintains Infinite’s signature sound and gives each member enough time to shine. It’s a powerful dance track that gives fans the appropriate Infinite fix.

24. Wonder Girls “I Feel You” | August 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9QXQz6uE0M

The 1980s are alive and well for “I Feel You.” Wonder Girls’ much anticipated comeback sported amazing vocals by Lim, Yenny, and Sunmi. Lim’s slightly breathy, sweet vocals somehow make the song feel more retro, while Yubin’s rap provides a modern sound. “I Feel You” is good, but other songs on Reboot were better.

23. April “Dream Candy” | August 23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2T1yZbTMzo

April’s sweet vocals and adorable song make them a breath of fresh air. The song feels like an opening to an anime, but that’s part of the charm. Songs that have innocent charms have more appeal because they feel more nostalgic. “Dream Candy” has the right amount of vocal strength and cuteness that made it stand out in the rookie rush.

22. Purfles “A Bad Thing” | September 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN4F02aA6rU

Purfles are one of 2014’s most underrated groups, which is a terrible tragedy given how amazing “1, 2, 3” was. They show how underrated they are again with “A Bad Thing.” The tone and feel of the song is perfect for their vocal abilities, and enough to keep their cult following thirsting for more.

21. Ladies’ Code “I Smile Even Though it Hurts” | September 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtIqA6TY8Q4

Zuny, Sojung, and Ashley perform a lovely tribute to EunB and RiSe in this highly emotional song. It’s easy to feel their heartbreak one year following the accident that took their friends’ lives. Ladies’ Code’s vocals are just as gorgeous as always, but the song does hit the heart hard.

20. Up10tion “So Dangerous” | September 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBQ9DzpQRk

“So Dangerous” is a nice debut for Up10tion. The song isn’t too complex, so it provides a chance for fans to learn how to distinguish their vocals. The track follows a similar beat as LU:KUS’ “So Into U” at times, so it isn’t 100 percent original, but it’s enough to help Up10tion get noticed.

19. Monsta X “Rush” | September 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSo7gYXp-bA

This is Monsta X’s first comeback since debut, and it’s a good one! Their first song was more hard-hitting, while “Rush” is slightly lighter while maintaining their hip-hop abilities. Each member is talented and helps carry the group well because they are multi-faceted. Monsta X proved they have staying power.

18. Red Velvet “Dumb Dumb” | September 8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGdbaEDVWp0

“Dumb Dumb” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s part of the appeal. Red Velvet tend to take songs and concepts that probably shouldn’t work and manage to turn them into hits. Yeri’s addition only strengthens the team, so we can expect more hits in the future.

17. Hello Venus “I’m Ill” | July 21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtSS4xcdXpI

It’s amazing how Hello Venus became a relevant group in a matter of a few months, even though songs like “Would You Like Some Tea?” will always be a cornerstone of cute perfection for them. But, as the saying goes: Sex sells. “Wiggle Wiggle” and “Sticky Sitcky” helped get them noticed and earned them fans, so it worked. “I’m Ill” tones down the sex while providing a fun dance track that’s impossible to ignore. Hello Venus found their groove, so here’s to hoping they continue to gain traction.

16. The Legend “Shadow” | August 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nSisgBXPlw

Taking out the “lose your head now” portion, “Shadow” is a solid song with one of the best choruses in a K-Pop song this year. The higher notes in the chorus are like warm, smooth honey. “Shadow” is easily one of the best songs this summer.

15. BIGBANG “Sober” | July 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBNQgq56egk

G-Dragon’s vocals tend to be too high-pitched for the song. However, everyone else steps up to the plate to provide power and fun. The lyrics are interesting and ear-catching. The subtle rock elements strengthen the song nicely.

14. GFriend “Me Gustas Tu” | July 22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-CKVr6Z1Tw

GFriend caught a lot of flak from SONES when they debuted with “Glass Bead” due to its similarities to SNSD’s “Into the New World.” “Me Gustas Tu” fared better, but some noted how it sounded similar to a number of APINK songs. GFriend can’t seem to win anywhere. However, they’re cute, cheerful, and bright. The song is refreshing and provides some much needed softness in the idol industry.

13. Yunho (TVXQ) “Champagne” | July 20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQQajFf6IYQ

Released prior to his enlistment, Yunho’s “Champagne” is addictive and catchy. Even though the chorus is a misheard lyric landmine, this song didn’t get nearly enough recognition. Too bad we have to wait nearly two years before TVXQ come back.

12. GOT7 “If You Do” | September 28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0iPB_JyS5g

“If You Do” changed a lot of people’s minds about GOT7. “If You Do” has a different soul about it that highlights what many knew GOT7 were capable of anyway. Hearing it puts a whole new light on the group and hopefully marks a shift to stronger songs that can reach multiple audiences.

11. Girl’s Day “Ring My Bell”| July 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4sN05-xIs4

Girl’s Day have a lot of haters that’s for sure, but that shouldn’t detract from the past three years where they’ve constantly put out good, memorable singles. Their vocals have gotten stronger also. “Ring My Bell” combines all their charms, vocal abilities, and fun personalities into one song.

10. CNBLUE “Cinderella” | September 13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkY8I7s_TOA

It took a while for the song to grow on some K-Pop fans, but that’s okay. The chorus is catchy and enjoyable, but the “somebody help me” lines sound the best. Jonghyun’s vocals are golden perfection, so it’s a shame he has so few lines. However, everything works well for the tune.

10. Girls’ Generation “Lion Heart” | August 16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVCubhQ454c

SNSD has a large fan base, so they can do no wrong. However, some of their songs haven’t been as sharp as older hits. This isn’t due to their singing abilities, but a lot to do with songwriters and producers. “Lion Heart” is a nice return to some of the magic that makes SNSD who they are. While there are some cutesy elements incorporated that many of the members are too old for (Translation: It would be nice to see more mature concepts), the song focuses on their vocals beautifully and provides some amazing choreography. Besides, Taeyeon and Tiffany sound awesome.

9. VIXX LR “Beautiful Liar” | August 16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTaIsFkCcY

The plot! The chemistry! This song wasn’t promoted enough and definitely didn’t get the love it deserved. The lyrics are incredible, and Leo and Ravi carried them so well. “Beautiful Liar” is beyond perfection.

8. Beast “YeY” | July 26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JQJ83aFNo8

While it isn’t the strongest of Beast songs released the past few years, “YeY” provides strength in its dance beats and addictive qualities. It should have been the song that could have dominated summer, and it might have if it wasn’t for groups with much larger fan bases making their comebacks. However, Beast usually has two comebacks per year, so the best may still be yet to come!

7. Day6 “Congratulations” | September 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3sFsHrUyLQ

“Congratulations” should have been promoted on the music shows. Out of the tracks that came from JYP Entertainment artists this year, “Congratulations” is refreshing, different, and memorable. JYP has rock charm and infuses some Jason Mraz-type vocals. If you needed a song to introduce your friends to K-Pop, this is the one to pick because it is East-meets-West in the most positive of ways.

6. Ailee “Mind Your Own Business” | September 29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mYCjGdlqxE

Ailee always brings down the house with her fierce concepts and powerful vocals. There’s always a sense of empowerment in her music that helps her stand out. The instrumentals matched her vocals amazingly. The only shame in “Mind Your Own Business” is that Ailee couldn’t give 100 percent in live performances since injury prevented her ability to dance. We did get to focus more on her vocals: A definite plus!

5. 9Muses “Hurt Locker” | July 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sna6j078eOw

2015 has been 9Muses’ year as they’ve crept up the charts and earned more attention (finally!). “Hurt Locker” was a surprise hit this summer and even charted internationally. While the MV concept wasn’t original, the song was, and it showcased some of the best 9Muses have to offer. Hopefully, they earn more attention as time goes by.

4. Berry Good “My First Love” | September 22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHz-7cUQKNQ

“My First Love” is one of the prettier songs to come out this year. Berry Good’s vocals touch the heart, so it’s hard to not feel emotional while listening. The songwriter, Ju Taeyeong, passed away before the song came out, so it has an additional layer of emotion. This was the song Berry Good needed to gain attention, but it sadly hasn’t happened yet.

3. SHINee “Married to the Music” | August 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcu7yZBeSKw

SHINee is quietly the best group SM Entertainment has to offer. Their concepts are always new and refreshing, and each member has a different style. “Married to the Music” provided one of the most creative moments in a K-Pop MV this year, and the song is just pure enjoyment! The song only gets better the more you listen to it.

2. BIGBANG “Let’s Not Fall in Love” | August 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jTo6hTZmiQ

“Let’s Not Fall in Love” brings the return of perfectly-imperfect-singer T.O.P, and he starts the song off so gloriously, it’s soul melting. BIGBANG’s best vocals are present in what is, by far, their best representation from the MADE series. It’s soft yet powerful while taking BIGBANG to a whole new level in their legacy.

1. Nell “Star Shell” | September 17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgB219Noobk

“Star Shell” is probably a surprise number one, but it is that good. Nell never disappoints with their music on any level of production, quality, story, and performance. “Star Shell,” like other Nell songs before it, has incredible heart and soul. Nell is one of those groups that set the standard for superior music. What’s best about Nell is that they produce amazing music quietly without the glitz and glamour of K-Pop idolatry (that’s because they’re not a K-Pop band).

—-Joelle Halon

A little more than a year after their concert in Dallas, B1A4 will be returning for their “B1A4 Adventure In Dallas” concert. The show will be taking place at the Verizon Center in Grand Prairie, TX on November 8^th, 2015.

B1A4 was founded by WM Entertainment in 2011. The group is made up of members Jinyoung(leader), Baro, Gongchan, Sandeul, and CNU. B1A4 recently had a comeback with “Sweet Girl” after a long break and their sexy concept drew the attention of many.

I attended their show last year and let me tell you, you do not want to miss out on this one. B1A4 put on one of the best shows I have ever seen and even if you aren’t a huge fan, I suggest going so you don’t miss out.

This is also a one-night-only event so if you want to see them, you better get tickets soon! Be the One, All For One!

Tickets are currently on sale on AXS and the ticket information is as follows:

VVIP – USD200 (***HI TOUCH PASSES for first 500 VVIP ticket holders only)

VIP – USD180 (SIGNED POSTER for 100 VIP ticket holders only)

ZONE A – USD150

ZONE B – USD100

 

For more information and all the latest updates about “B1A4 ADVENTURE 2015 LIVE IN DALLAS”, please stay tuned to Jazzy Group US’s official website at www.jazzygroup.com as well as Jazzy Group US’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Weibo accounts.

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

On September 25, 2015, Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer was released for the Nintendo 3DS console in the United States. In Japan, the game has been out since July 2015. For fans of the Animal Crossing series, Happy Home Designer is an adorable addition to the franchise that provides another reason to waste a mind-numbing amount of time catering to the needs of your character’s animal friends. Happy Home Designer still has charming appeal of previous versions, but this version is more kid-friendly (meaning there are no dream codes to towns with complex, dark storylines like Aika Village from Animal Crossing: New Leaf) and repetitive.

The game is straightforward: You are an interior designer tasked with creating the perfect homes and gardens for the animal folk. You can meet the animals by talking to them in the town square or by using Amiibo cards that are currently not widely available in stores, but available for purchase online on Amazon. According to my local GameStop, the Amiibo cards won’t be widely available in the US until October 15, 2015. To use them, you may need to purchase an Amiibo reader unless you have the new Nintendo 3DS system.

Unlike past Animal Crossing games, floor plans and furniture placement are a little more customizable, but the game still follows the “blocking” system to where items can’t be right next to each other or turn diagonally. However, now there are rugs and more items you can use on your walls, and you can design rooves. Additionally, animals now have yards you can decorate!

After spending a week and half playing, the game has some nice pros but some cons as well.

Pros

You Have Control

As mentioned, players get to design every aspect of an animal’s home. The animal residents have specific requirements that need met, but players can choose to go with this or go on their own just as long as the animal’s special items are incorporated.

Unlockable Content

As players design different houses, more furniture and designs become available.

Players Can Redo Homes and Shops

When players visit characters and as items become more available, they can go back and redesign homes or add rooms. Players are not stuck with permanent designs.

You Can Create Your Own Shops

Isabelle has different projects available for players including building a hospital, school, and various shops. Whatever a player wants to include or build, it’s possible.

Assign Roommates

Two animals can live in a house at one time, which is different than past Animal Crossing games. Of course, creating mental storylines regarding how the characters could interact is a must, but nothing really changes, and there’s no complicated drama since it’s a kid’s game. Don’t look for any Big Brother antics here.

View Other Players’ Homes

There is a computer in the office that allows the player to see what others across the globe have designed, so there’s some design envy and competition going on. This is especially evident since players can rate different houses. It’s interesting to see what others have done, but it’s demoralizing too when someone halfway around the world has better design skills. I’ve tried to up my game several times only to be showed up by another player. The struggle is real here.

Cons

Poor Menu Design

The items menu is far from user-friendly. It is difficult to locate furniture and items. Every day home objects like chairs, tables, and beds are easy to locate, but it gets iffy with yard items and other various objects. For some players, this may be frustrating.

You Don’t Get a House

Players don’t have homes, so they can’t design their own unique space.

You Can’t Walk Around Town

Sadly, players are confined to visiting animals by clicking the client book. Players have a town map that suggests there is an actual town, but they’re not allowed to explore it.

You Can’t Visit Friends

Part of the fun of other Animal Crossing games is how players had the ability—through local Wi-Fi or friend codes—to visit friends and other towns. This isn’t possible with this game. The theory was so kids didn’t run into trouble through online play, which apparently was some sort of an issue with previous games. The creators could have had an option that was like Trading Spaces: Animal Crossing Edition where friends got to design each other’s homes. This was a missed opportunity.

No Fishing, Bells, Bug-Hunting, or Shopping

Players just design houses. That’s it. You don’t get paid to do it either. Players just slave at Nook’s Homes and have zero opportunity to fish, bug hunt, shop, visit the island, or any other easy-going activity that made Animal Crossing a simple, relaxing game. With previous games, it’s easy to stay engaged every day of the year or more because of all that was available to do.

Too Much Repetition

As mentioned, players just design houses. It’s fun to see what characters need homes and what they want; but when all a player can do is design houses, it’s gets old quick. Then again, it’s a clever ploy to teach kids that all adults do is work all day for little pay, collapse in bed, and get up to do it all again. I’ll go with that. Happy Home Designer is a true-to-life job simulator.

 

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer could have been the best game in the franchise if the work aspect along with the charms of the original games were included. The game isn’t a disappointment, but it is flawed. It earns a 2.75/5.

 

—-Joelle Halon

After the hugely successful BTS concert series, “The Red Bullet Tour: Episode 2”, made its way across the US this summer, many fans were left wanting more of the 7 member boy group. So naturally, when the Highlight tour featuring BTS was announced, fans rejoiced at the chance to see the group again.

TGM Productions announced the Highlight tour would be a fan meeting instead of a concert and would be a combination of music and fashion, in collaboration with Community54. For only 70 dollars, fans would get to see BTS perform a short set and meet them after the show, while VIP upgrades for photos and autographs with them were made available to fans as well.

The first night of tour was in San Francisco and was filled with problems. Fans complained of disorganization with the check in and that their seating assignments were not being honored. Many fans also did not get the shirts that acted as a ticket to the event and VIPs were made to wait outside for the high touch while those with lower ticket tiers, including some who did not purchase high touch, had their turn first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwZO_Vq6n_Q

The photo opportunity was messily organized as well, with BTS themselves sitting on the ground in each photo.

I personally went to the Houston date of the tour with a VIP pass and was dissatisfied with the treatment by the staff. Instead of the 10-15 people per photo as stated before, there were at least 25 people in each photo. During the show there were not major issues, however, waiting for the high touch was disorganized. The autograph session (that was supposed to take place before the show) was a rushed event, with some of the staff physically grabbing me and trying to move me from the table before I even received my poster and scolding some of the members for taking too long.

The posters were much loser quality and some of those with autograph passes instead were given pieces of paper to have signed.

 

The Atlanta date of the show was the most disorganized so far, with fans saying they were told to line up incorrectly, and 100+ fans being denied entry into the oversold show. These fans were promised to be refunded and that they would receive high touch and photos with BTS after the concert portion of the event ended. After waiting in the rain, these fans were brought inside only to be told they would receive nothing as the group had already left the venue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFf6AE0U6iM&feature=youtu.be

Though TGM appeared to not anticipate the show being oversold, one of the staff tweeted in July that the Atlanta show was oversold. However, a week before the show, more shirts were made available for all dates.

The last date of the tour in Toronto started off badly, with TGM staff showing up to the venue 4 hours after check-in was set to begin. Many fans claim that it was not TGM’s staff directing them but the venue staff, BigHit staff and the opening act ConSio as well.

Judging from tweets from the fans, it seems Toronto ran much smoother because of a lack of involvement on TGM’s part. Fans were apparently lined up and brought into the venue by the venue’s staff.

According to some fans who have tried to file disputes with Paypal, TGM’s account has been frozen and will not be able to refund anyone currently. One of main people involved with this tour has since deleted their twitter profile and none of the others have answered any questions in regards to refunds. Many fans have joined a movement fueled by TGM’s previous inability to refund their Eric Nam and Kim Taewoo concert in the hopes TGM will have to answer to these major issues.

I sincerely hope everyone who was affected negatively by this tour find some sort of peace and enjoyed what they did get to experience! BTS did their best, despite poor treatment during a time they should have spent with their families.

—–Ke’Anna Ballard

Mountain climbing or hiking is one of my oldest hobbies and probably the most relaxing way to spend my free time.

For this article, I will be inserting some of what I’ve personally experienced as a frequent hiker. I don’t recall exactly when it was the first time I went mountain climbing; but since 70 percent of the Korean land is mountainous, you get to see mountains practically everywhere.

People hike to spend time on the mountains for leisure, to lose weight, in order to be healed from physical and mental stress and for various other reasons.

I have two pet dogs (A mixed Schnauzer and a Pomeranian) that absolutely love to climb mountains, hills and obviously going out for walks in general like most dogs. In Korea, it is a common sight to see people enjoy the environment you can get exclusively from up in the mountains, with their pets to keep them company.

For many years, I’ve moved around in various regions in Gangnam, Jamsil to Chungmuro and other towns in Seoul and the Gyeonggi province.

One of the characteristics of the mountains in Korea is that they are more or less connected to one another, so if you keep hiking on for hours you will reach a whole different region to where you started out from.

I’ve learned that wherever you are in Korea, a good mountain should never too far away.

It’s safe to assume that mountain climbing is one of the top favorite past-times Koreans, especially for people who care about their health and enjoy outdoor activities.

In order to hike, it is crucial to wear a good pair of footwear that enables you to have a good grip to prevent you from slipping. Also, having a ton of patience and good stamina would surely be a plus when hiking.

When the weather is so humid and hot, it would be efficient to dress lightly but since there are a lot of flies and pests, it’s better to wear thin long sleeved clothing. And having a good pair of shades and a hat would also be recommended.

Because the hiking routes for mountains in Korea are usually furnished well; the steps and the ropes available in certain areas make the trip easier and prevent climbers from having difficulties climbing up or down the mountain, to reduce casualties. When you are up in the mountains, you need be cautious of every step you take, in particularly when you are making your way down the mountain.

If you are a novice mountain climber, please keep in mind that you should never force yourself to make it to the peak, especially if it is your first trip. If it requires too much energy or for other reasons, do take a good rest and make your way down from the mountain safely. Even the most experienced climbers get out of breath when climbing challenging heights.

The reality is that the majority of the climbers don’t get to make it to the top. It’s also better to have someone hiking with you who knows the mountain well, since there is always a possibility that you might lose your way, even with all the signs and directions shown on the route.

Unlike most sports, the great thing about hiking in Korea is that there are no strict rules for climbing; you can climb up and down the mountain at your own pace.

I’d like to introduce the three main mountains which are the most visited and well known in Korea. The three mountains are called Seorak, Jiri and Halla.

 

Seorak Mountain (Seoraksan)

Mount. Seorak’s highest peak is at 1,708 meters. (‘San’ refers to a mountain in Korea) The trip to the peak of the Seorak can be done in approximately three hours or less, if you are relatively a fast climber.

The mountain has a reputation for being very colorful and beautiful during the fall season. The Seorak Mountain also has a famous valley with the name, Cheonbuldong. On top of that, you can also expect to get a spectacular view of the Eastern Sea.

The first time I visited the Seoraksan was at the age of 11, when our family was visiting Korea for the summer vacation. It was definitely one of the highlights of that summer vacation. It was not the most convenient or the most relaxing trip due to the vast number of active mosquitoes.

It certainly didn’t help that the temperature was record-breaking hot that year. However, even the intense heat did not ruin the trip in Gangwondo.

The whole trip was incredibly fun. The Seorak Mountain was extremely memorable because it was very beautiful and its height seemed ever so high. We had taken my aunt’s car and drove for hours and stayed in a hut that was near the mountain.

I have not been back since, but it is my plan to revisit soon during the Fall season. I expect the hiking course and the surroundings will be more furnished and modernized since the last time I was there.

 

Jirisan

As one of the highest mainland mountains in Korea, Jirisan is gigantic in size. The highest peak named, ‘Cheonwangbong’ is at 1,915 meters, known to be the second highest peak in Korea.

The Jirisan‘s National Park is the biggest national park that exists in Korea, which borders between Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do and other regions.

In the year of 1967, Jirisan was the first to be designated as a national park in Korea. The largest part of the national park is in the Gyeongsang province.

The highest peak of the mountain, Cheonhwangbong is also located in this province. Every year more than 280,000 people visit the Jiri Mountain.

The seasons of Summer and Autumn are the most popular for the visitors.

 

Hallasan

Mount. Halla is Jeju Island’s most treasured trademark. Halla Mountain is a shield volcanic mountain that makes up most of Jeju Island, as well as being South Korea’s highest peak at 1,950 meters.

The mountain itself is spectacular with traces of the lava that decorate its landscape. There are in total five hiking trails on the mountain.

The Gwaneumsa and Seongpanak are the only trails leading to the peak of the Halla Mountain. The other trails leading to the peak have been closed since 1994, for purposes to restore and protect the vegetation.

The Halla Mountain has been honored to be designated as Korea’s Natural Monument no. 182.

—–J. Chung

On July 2, 2015, Hyeonseo Lee’s book, The Girl with Seven Names, hit bookshelves and quickly captivated readers. The memoir focuses on Lee’s journey from North Korea’s Ryanggang Province to coping with life as a defector in China and beyond. As her story unfolds, readers get a chance to experience her escape, why she made her choices, as well as how she became the person she is today.

Lee’s book is well written and wrought with simplicity which makes it easy for readers to get absorbed in her tale. From the get-go, it’s made clear that Lee and her mother and brother were privileged in North Korea, but these privileges did not serve as a shield from the terrors of the Kim regime. As Lee tells her tale about her decision to leave her country and the method she chose to do so, a reader’s heart could break as she struggled with the decision to leave her family behind and her ultimate decision to help them escape also.

There are many poignant scenes in The Girl with Seven Names, but the one that sticks is when she made her initial escape by lying to her mother about visiting a friend. Lee was definitely brazen, and this is one of the dominant themes of the story.

Lee’s writing is definitely more candid than emotional, which is one of the many pluses of The Girl with Seven Names. This page-turner didn’t paint a rosy image of life outside of North Korea; instead, it also embraced some of the challenges defectors face to help paint an image that’s well-rounded and multi-faceted. The contrasts between her life in the North as well as her realizations that life isn’t as great as the regime made it seem can click with readers well.

Besides her play-by-play of her actions and decisions, The Girl with Seven Names is, at its heart, a coming-of-age tale. Readers get an opportunity to see how, when someone is thrown—by choice—into difficult circumstances, one’s intelligence and drive can kick in to help a person survive. Through identity changes and life changes, readers see the true potential of the human spirit and what people are capable of if they are willing to fight.

One issue with the story is that it does rely too much on play-by-play. It would have been nice to experience more of Lee’s inner thoughts. There are glimpses of these thoughts and commentary throughout the book, but having more would have really given readers a more in-depth look into Lee’s soul.

The Girl with Seven Names is definitely a must-read story because it delves deeper than the usual “I escaped the regime, now everything is grand!” stories some defectors tell. Lee’s authentic voice is a bright spoke among defector stories that shift often with details and are sometimes sensationalized for what seems like attention-seeking purposes. The simplicity of Lee’s words lends a quiet quality to the book, but the images she shares are loud and clear.

The Girl with Seven Names earns a 4/5.

 

—Joelle Halon

EXP (left to right): Frankie, Sime, Koki, Hunter, David, and Tarion /Cr. EXP, Facebook

In early 2015, the K-Pop world was turned upside down when news spread that a group of Americans would be working toward entering the Asian music scene with their own brand of music. Social media was flooded with confusion and anger due to the foreigners daring to penetrate the sacred circle of K-Pop, and this was later followed up by messages of hate toward the group. EXP is that group, and they began as a Columbia University thesis experiment by student Bora Kim.

Since the initial explosion of disdain ranging from K-Pop fans claiming that K-Pop would be forever be ruined to some EXO fans claiming EXP stole their name and concept (we kid you not!), Tarion, Frankie, Šime, Koki, David, and Hunter have survived and are about to release a new single. Kcrush America caught up with the sextet to see how their journey is progressing and to get their thoughts on online comments, their debut, future plans, as well as their thoughts on books, movies, and fan-fiction. If you haven’t gotten to know EXP yet, now’s your chance!

 

KC: You’ve been together for a while now, and telling by your interactions on EXP TV, you all get along great. Was it easy for everyone to get along at first, or were there any obstacles you had to overcome before you came together as a cohesive group?

Frankie: From the beginning we all clicked. Although we work hard we’re always having fun and good laughs. Learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses was more of an obstacle because we all have different backgrounds and understanding your team always takes time. We’re a silly group and are still growing as one solid unit!

Šime: It was an adventure for all of us since day one. Although we were not really sure what we were getting ourselves into exactly, we were all ready to dive in head first. It really didn’t take long for all of us to become close friends. We are all musicians and performers, living in NYC, sharing the same hopes and dreams. That was really corny… But it’s true ! And the fact that We were spending hours upon hours…upon hours rehearsing together helped too.

David: I had to learn to think of them less like business/co-workers and more as a bunch of friends. Once I did that, it made everything else flow easier between I and the rest of the group.

Hunter: I’d say we all came together pretty quickly. We spend a lot of time together, especially on shooting days, and we annoy each other a lot, which some people call “bonding.” Generally, I eat everyone’s food, Koki snapchats us making the ugliest faces we can, Šime tolerates me making fun of him, Tarion sings, Frankie mediates, and David naps. He can literally nap in places I’ve never thought were nap-able. That kid makes it happen.

Tarion: I can honestly say that from day one we have all meshed really well together. Of course, getting to know each other better and learning how each other works has taken some time, but we have always gotten along well. We may not agree on everything, but that’s how family is.

Koki: I think it was easy for everyone to get along together, even in the beginning. We are all open-minded, especially when it came to discussing the group, so there was always a constructive conversation flowing.  We all have our quirks, but it makes us a big, weird family.

 

“LUV/WRONG”- Debut Single

 

KC: You debuted earlier in 2015 with the song “LUV/WRONG.” What was that experience like, what did you learn from your debut, and is there anything you would have done differently to enhance the experience?

Frankie: That day was a roller coaster! Last minute changes to our performance space and technical things can always make a performance stressful. We were finally being shown to an audience on stage and in a live setting. Since it was showcased at the Columbia MFA Thesis Show, our exhibit (in the gallery) was set up as our “backstage.” Everyone who attended the show witnessed our “getting ready” process with makeup, hair and wardrobe while footage of our documentary and trailer were playing on multiple screens around us. Being on that stage performing for the first time live with the guys was an amazing feeling! The audience was super excited and showed us a lot of love! I definitely would’ve changed the shaking stage, haha, but when last minute changes happen you just gotta roll with it and we definitely did that!

Šime: Releasing “Luv/Wrong” was such a fun experience. We didn’t really know what to expect and how the public would react to the single so it was pretty scary too. We definitely received a good amount of criticism, which was to be expected, but we also received a lot of encouragement and positivity from people. We have learned to strive for more and to keep improving ourselves and our performances.

Koki: It was both exhilarating and exhausting. It was the first time I had been in a group that released a “single” and we were met with a lot of press, which was exciting, but balancing the stress of everything at the time took its toll.

David:  I would have definitely worked harder to promote the song and on getting more people to notice us in a positive light. If we could do it all over again, I would have liked “Luv/Wrong” to have had a lot more Korean within it.

Tarion: Releasing “Luv/Wrong” was an emotional roller coaster! (Oh, I just noticed Frankie said the exact same thing…Sometimes we are the SAME person.) We were dealing with so much as a team and still adjusting to this new attention that none of us expected to get (the social media explosion was a week before our debut).  We found ourselves juggling 100 jobs between the nine of us, which made us all a little loopy and coffee crazy but also a lot closer. It was definitely an experience of mixed emotions and a huge learning curve for us all.

KC: A lot of people in the K-Pop community didn’t take kindly to the idea of a bunch of Americans working toward becoming K-Pop idols. Social media, especially, was filled with a lot of angst toward you. How did these comments make you feel, and did they encourage you to want to work harder?

Koki: Initially, it was slightly jarring; then I started laughing whenever I saw the comments. There were some pretty good insults, haha. As a whole, I think it was frustrating to see how people making assumptions about the group and posting hateful comments without researching what we are truly attempting to accomplish. As time went on, it was interesting to see how people sort of switched sides and started to support us. They’d get into arguments with other people to defend us, and sometimes even convince the other person to give us a chance. It was pretty cool seeing that happen.

Frankie: When we started getting hate it literally all came within days in such an aggressive form so I became numb to it after a while. It was certainly shocking to read some of the comments, people were so angry and judging us based off of 12 posts on our Instagram page with no music released yet. It certainly was an eye opener and instantly made us want to step up our game.

Šime: To be honest, I personally did not see it coming… at least not in such aggressive way. Of course, people will be mean. But in my head I was a part of something new and exciting and I was creating music for people to listen to and have fun to. The idea that people would hate us instantly just because of where we were from or because of our racial backgrounds never crossed my mind. But, you brush off the negativity and cherish the positivity.  Did I just make that up?! That’s a good quote!

David: Everyone is going to have an opinion about something, so that really did not harm me much. Some of the comments were about things we couldn’t change (i.e. ethnic background), but aside from that the comments most definitely made each one of us want to push harder in perfecting our craft.

Hunter: Honestly, I don’t think we expected the comments and strong opinions to come as soon as they did. We only had 12 Instagram pictures posted, and no music out, and we were getting death threats and a lot of negative comments. We were also kind of surprised at how much attention we were getting with no real music out.

Tarion: I remember going to sleep one night and waking up and my life had completely exploded over social media and I didn’t know what to think or how to feel about it. I knew that I was shocked and surprised at the fact that people who knew very little about me and had never had a chance to meet me were telling me to “kill myself” and that I was “ugly” and “looked burned.” Then when I took the time to really process what was going on I wasn’t really upset for what was directed at us, I was more upset about the fact that there were people dealing with this type of hate through social media every day and they aren’t able to speak out about it or have the support of a strong team behind them, I think that realization hit all of us and encouraged us to get stronger as an EXP family, and stronger as artists and creators. We started to reach out to people, to spread as much love to our family, friends, supporters and even non-supporters as we could, which has made us better artists and actually turned a lot of the negativity around.

 

KC: Out of those comments, were there any that stood out as particularly encouraging or cruel that you remember? Why did these stand out, and how do they impact you as performers and creators?

Frankie: The death threat comments were pretty intense people saying if we go to Korea they would kill us. Most of the hate was coming from younger KPOP fans, mainly EXO fans. There were some comments at an early stage from one of our fans who started sticking up for us in the comment feed and just really trying to make people understand us. It was nice to start having people on our side and support this.

David: The comments that said “Keep Fighting” were the most encouraging to me. The simple fact that we have a fan base growing and through the clouds of negativity these small rays of sunshine keep pushing through makes me smile. We also get direct messages on Instagram from our “first” fans that remind us to keep going, that they were our first fans, they love us, and to ignore the hate. It is always nice to be reminded that people have your back.

Šime: Not even 2 weeks ago someone said I looked like a “38 yr old single dad”.  I’m cool with it. Ha!

 

KC: By now, many who’ve come across you know you formed because of a project. What was it like preparing the concept, auditioning, and ultimately being where you are right now with one single under your belts and another one that came out in August?

David:  Preparing the concept was completely in the hands of Bora, Karin and Sam (the bosses), with some input from us. The auditioning process was by far my favorite, I remember the day I auditioned, the song I sang, what I wore, and how I rapped for them and completely forgot the words, and Karin swooped like a lyricist angel and helped me out. For me, everything else when we first began was a struggle. Yet, where we are right now is very exciting because we each (including “the bosses”) have learned so much within this span of time that we are thinking of bigger ways to get more people to pay see the art we are creating.

Šime: Actually, I was just thinking about this the other day. The amount of work and things we have accomplished in such a short amount of time is something that pushes us every day. Learning about K-Pop and Korean culture have been so interesting and rewarding. Within the last four months the game has changed and now we’re on a business platform. Now it’s not just about the experiment and the project, we’re a real group with goals and plans to make this succeed. So excited for you guys to hear the second single!

 

“Nolja Let’s Party”- The Second Single

 

KC: Earlier this summer, you held a fundraiser to help you on your road to Korea. Why did you choose a fundraiser, and how did people respond?

David: We needed help. We do not have this huge corporation behind us: Just three very intelligent, passionate, and strong headed women with distinct resources.

 

KC: How did it feel to achieve your fundraising goal?

Šime: It felt so awesome! Just to know that we have people who believe in EXP and want to see it succeed meant so much to all of us! I will actually take this opportunity to thank them all for donating to our Kickstarter! You guys rock!

David: It was great!! It was like a weight had been lifted off us.

Tarion: Hahaha, so, we were working hard and stressing out and really pushing the Kickstarter campaign down until the very last second. When we reached the goal, I think I remember that Karin or Sam mentioned it in our text thread and we all acknowledged it for about two seconds and had to move on to the next thing on the list that needed to be accomplished that day. It wasn’t until about three days later when we were all together that we realized that we didn’t take the time to celebrate reaching our goal then we all quickly remembered that we still didn’t have time…..we still haven’t to this day!

 

KC: With the funds you raised, what are your plans?

David: Give the fans their EXP merch (fangoods!), produce our mini album, work on all of our music videos and a whole bunch of other things that will be focused entirely on making this “project” big.

 

KC: With a new single on the horizon, I’m sure you’re excited to get out there to perform. How were preparations for new song, and what can listeners expect?

Koki: It’s a more upbeat, party, windows-down, sort of song.

David:  I will simply say “More.” Whatever they felt was missing in our first song has definitely been included in this second second single. I hope everyone is ready!

Tarion: We are extremely excited about our new single!!!! We worked really hard on everything from the concept to the writing to our Korean pronunciation. We’ve put a lot of hours into this song, and we want everyone to feel the passion and the energy we put into it when they listen to the song. It’s a song that makes you want to get up and dance, so we definitely hope we make you want to move!

Frankie: The writing session and collaboration on this single was very productive. We decided early on that we wanted to create a song that would unite people and what better way to do that, than a party/dance song. In this single you’ll hear each of the guys sing in Korean and possibly a rap (wink wink). With one month left of summer we wanted to go out with a bang, so a summer party song it was! #NoljaLetsParty!!!

 

KC: How are preparations for the album coming? Have you decided on songs, an image, and where you plan to debut it? What can we expect?

David: You have to watch and find out. BUT, you can expect amazing music, with amazing imagery, and just an overall higher quality than what is expected from an “American K-Pop Idol Group.”

Frankie: Songs are what we’ve been working on the most, as well as, training our bodies. The mini album will have lots of fun content, new singles, music videos, remixes, and footage from the documentary. Image wise, I think people will be surprised! It’s definitely exciting and distribution plans are still in the works.

 

KC: How far away are you from debuting in Korea? Furthermore, how have preparations gone as far as learning Korean and how to adapt to the Korean audience and market?

Koki: I cross my fingers to get there as soon as possible, but we all need to get better at our Korean speaking skills. We’re all hard at work to learn the language, but have a ways to go. Bora, Karin, and Sam make us do “cuteness workshops” in order to help us understand how Korean idols act.

David: We are all studying the language. We have study books, we also have an amazing teacher named Bora Kim. We study up on some of the variety shows and try to get our “cuteness” down pat! #aegyo~!

 

KC: Besides Korea, do you plan on branching out to other markets, or does this rely on the success of your Korean debut?

Frankie: There are several conversations and opportunities that are being discussed among our team. With everything happening so fast the past couple of months who knows what the next six months will look like, I’m certainly excited for the ride!

Tarion: I think that our goal is to touch as many people around the world as we possibly can. We get messages and comments on our social media, from people from all over the world that tell us we inspire them to go for their dreams, and I think we could all agree that that’s what really makes everything we do worth it. That humbles us and really makes us realize that if by doing what we love it makes people realize that they can do what they love why not take it as far as we can go. We still have a lot of growing and learning to do, but we’re up to the challenge.

 

KC: If you weren’t members of EXP, what would you be doing?

Frankie: I would be acting more and still trying to make my Broadway debut a reality! I love the stage and live performance really fulfills my soul. The energy between the performers and an audience is a magical thing.

David:  I would most likely be acting or singing somewhere in New York City or maybe I would be a burger boy at McDonalds (minimum wage is going up now…)

Hunter: I’m answering this for David. He’d be one of those fancy people that people pay to watch them sleep in a super luxurious museum. I’d watch.

 

KC: How would you describe your individual personalities?

Frankie: Hunter-He’s so funny! Even in serious moments he finds a way to make it funny. Šime- the realist, when we get caught up in the future, Šime brings us back to reality. Tarion- they joke and say he’s the diva of the group haha! He’s the charmer. Koki- is the baby of the group, the quirky weird one but you can’t help but to love him. David- the shy one, David loves a good nap. All together we are one silly crew of guys who are all very passionate about being in EXP and although we have fun, we work really hard!

 

 

David: I am quiet, in a group of six (plus three-IMMABB team) someone has to be quiet lol. Frankie holds it together, like a champ for us. Koki is the one with the guitar skills. He keeps us in the loop with ALL the new music. Hunter is the comedian. It doesn’t matter what time of day; you can always count on Hunter for a joke. Šime is like the Dad/Big brother; he rallies us all together when we start dreaming a bit too far in the clouds…Tarion, is the one that dreams really, really far in the clouds.

Tarion: We really do function like a family, and much like a family, we all have different personalities that complement each other and also drive each other crazy. We all love to joke and play around, but we also know how to be serious and get to business when we need to. Each of us are like six brothers and Bora, Karin, and Sam often have to play the older sister roles and keep us from going too overboard with our games and big personalities. (They just love it!) The guys tend to call me the “divo”/ male Beyoncé of the group.

 

KC: If you’re successful, you know fans will want to stan different members. Looking at yourselves, what individual traits do you possess that will make fans look at you and think “THIS is the reason I stan this member!”?

Frankie: This is an interesting one. I’m a very positive person and am always trying to look at the good side. I’ve worked really hard since I was a child to make my dreams a reality. Hearing no in this business is second nature, I would definitely want to inspire fans to not give up on whatever it is they believe in and to follow their heart.

David: My eyebrows? Maybe? I haven’t really thought that hard about it. Whatever reason they choose to “Stan” for me, will be a surprise.

Koki: I’m the Asian one.

 

KC: One thing the K-Pop fandom likes to do is write fan-fiction. Could you imagine yourselves as characters in a fan fiction? How would you hope fans would portray you, and what scenarios would you want to be in in a fan novel?

Šime: That would be so amazing! Hopefully they would NOT portray me as a 38 year old single dad. Well I always wanted to be Superman…. So maybe I could be some kind of a superhero?   That would be sweet. Can someone get on that? 😉

David: I hope they treat me within their fiction as a cross between Harry Potter, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black from Twilight. That would be AWESOMEEEEE!!!

Tarion:  I WOULD LOOOOOOOOOOVE to be a character in a fan fiction! I haven’t given much thought to this until now, but I guarantee you this is all I’ll be thinking about for the next few days! By the way, I am completely open to suggestions.

Hunter: I’m excited for this… One thing I’ve seen with K-Pop fandoms is that they’re extremely creative. I’d hope fans would portray me as a bangin’, crime-stopping elf with dope hair that flies around on a dragon (named Bob). He’s all magical and stuff during the day, rescuing people from dungeons and crooked wizards with mommy issues, and then he goes home to his pet squirrel( Elvis) and eats cheese and potato chips with him. Elvis always eats my cheese before I get home, which annoys me. Oh, Elvis… Then, one day Koki’s dragon (Tesla) has the flu, and Tesla has to stay home, have tea, and watch Sesame Street to feel better. So Koki has to ride on my dragon (Bob) with me to fight crime that day. But instead of doing that, we give Bob the dragon a magic potion that makes him fly higher than he ever has before, and we spend the day flying to the moon and doing tricks and flips with good ol’ Bob. Too much?

 

KC: Definitely not too much. Your wild imagination matches mine!

What are your favorite books, movies, or TV shows?

Frankie: I love Wolf of Wall Street, Slumdog Millionaire, The Notebook (haha!), TV shows: Empire, Orange is the New Black, Scandal and Amy Schumer.

Šime:  I’m really into scary movies. Not so much into gore as into paranormal.  Definitely a fan of American Horror Story.

 

KC: In your free time, what are some of your favorite activities?

Tarion: A: In my free time I love to FaceTime with my nephew (he is 1 year old now!), hang out with friends, take a walk through New York City and clear my mind and draw on new inspiration. I also really enjoy cooking for people and having friends over to my apartment to hang out and decompress from work for a while. (If you’re ever in NYC let me know, I might cook for you.)

Koki: Reading, working on motorcycles, drinking milk tea, and guitar.

Šime: Netflix. Netflix, Netflix, Netflix.

Frankie:  I love to spend quality time with close friends and family. I’m into extreme sports, and activities that are thrilling! Love to travel and go to the beach.

David: Free time.. Ha ha ha… There is no time for free time. We have to get to Korea.

 

KC: Finally, any final words for family, friends, or fans?

Tarion: THANK YOU! It would be impossible to express how deep our gratitude runs for your continued love and support. We are so humbled and thankful for everything. We love you and we feel so loved.

Frankie: I really want to thank everyone who has supported us since day one. When you see something getting a lot of hate it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon, but to the people who have our backs and try to spread love, we see you and appreciate you and promise to make you proud!

David: Family and friends: I love you! VERY VERY VERY MUCH! Thanks for always believing in me! Fans: I wanna see your best party moves when this 2nd single drops! NOLJA LET’S PARTY!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!

Koki: I love you all!

We thank EXP so much for their time to do this interview. We wish them the best of luck! Show your support along with us by checking them out on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram!

 

—- Joelle Halon

Five Indonesian Gems

Indonesia is one of Asia’s most magnificent countries full of natural wonder and adventure for backpackers, honeymooners, surfers, or anyone looking for new experiences. Part of the excitement lies in the country’s many nooks and crannies. While some just visit Jakarta, Bali, or Surabaya, there is so much more to see and do. Check out some of these spots if you ever visit Indonesia!

Kawah Ijen Volcano

In 2015, the Kawah Ijen volcano received plenty of attention from the Internet community due to French photographer Olivier Grunewald’s photos depicting the volcano with blue lava. However, the “blue lava” isn’t lava at all! Instead, it’s sulfuric gas combusting when it comes in contact with air that’s over 680°F. The lava itself isn’t a different color as seen in the daylight; but at night, the flames from the sulfuric gas are visible, giving the lava its blue hue. If you want your chance to experience Kawah Ijen, which is located in the Banyuwangi regency in East Java, Indonesia, sign up for one of the tours which can last one day and night to several days depending on the package you select.

Prambanan Temples

Located 11 miles Northeast of Yogyakarta, Prambanan is a 9^th Century Hindu temple compound. The temples are dedicated to Trimurti— Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (the creator, preserver, and destroyer, respectively)—and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visiting the temples offer a peaceful yet awe-inspiring look at the architecture and important elements of Hinduism. You can hire guides to take you throughout the temples, which is useful in experiencing everything they have to offer. For example, a tour through Candi Siva will take you throughout the chambers to see the statues of Shiva, Ganesh, Agastya, and Durga. In order to experience the temples and the garden, you should set aside a full day for the tour. Between May and October, visitors can experience the Ramayana Ballet a little west of Prambanan in an open-air theatre.

Bali Theatre

Experiencing the Bali Theatre is like experiencing some of the best Indonesia has to offer as past, tradition, and present combine in many art forms for a truly unforgettable experience. Currently running is Bali Agung, a sweeping spectacular that tells the story of Bali’s emergence. The show involves puppetry, song, dance, live animals, and fantastic costuming to tell Bali’s story and should not be missed!

Mount Kawi

Located in East Java, Mount Kawi is a volcano that holds significance in folklore and Indonesian history. Javanese folklore suggests Mount Kawi is home of the sacred Dewa Daru tree, which is believe to bestow riches upon a person who catches a falling leaf. Nearby, sacred shrines and tombs of spiritual leaders Mbah Jugo (Kanjeng Kyai Zakaria II) and Mbah Sujo (Raden Mas Iman Soedjono) rest. It is a place to absorb peace and learn about Javanese culture and folklore, especially since it’s easy to get swept away in Mount Kawi’s beautiful landscape. However, be prepared to walk a lot as you enjoy the shrines and caves. Touring the location brings a small fee that won’t break the bank.

Tulamben

If you enjoy diving and underwater photography, visit Tulamben to get your kicks. Tulamben has plenty of sea life to keep scuba enthusiasts thrilled. Besides sea turtles, crustaceans, and bountiful tropical fish, check out the coral reefs and other treasures that await you. For example, if you enjoy shipwrecks, the USS Liberty is 98 feet from the beach. For underwater photographers, the Tulamben Wall is home to sharks, moray eels, tropical fish, and coral. If you enjoy exploring coral reefs, visit Paradise Reef and Matahari Reef.

Of course, Indonesia has much more to offer. What are some of your favorite places? Share with us on Facebook! Until then, where will your adventure lead while visiting Indonesia?

—Joelle Halon 

KCrush interview with a Foxtrot and Latin musician/singer, Luis Kim

Luis Kim is a Korean foxtrot and latin pop singer who released his debut album, ‘Platonic Love’ in 2007.

Other than being a singer and performer, for the past years Luis has been involved and responsible for various kinds of businesses including managing a club, planning and holding events, festivals and etc.

In 2008, he received an award from Korea Singers Association for his humanitarian work.

Luis grew up in a very musical environment since he was very young, because his mother was a singer well-known in the 70’s era.

I sat down with Luis for a short interview to ask him about his life and the work he’s covered in the past. This will be an interesting read for many who are interested to read about the life of an independent singer or artist living in Korea, who is also active in the business world.

He advises that music should not be considered and regarded as a form of work or profession, but a way of life.

A special ‘thank you’ goes out to Luis Kim and we wish him all the best in all his endeavors.

 

 

*Hello Luis, thank you for taking the time for a KCrush interview. Please let us know what made you decide to be a singer?

My mother used to be a foxtrot musician and singer who was quite well known back in the 70s and I grew up listening to her songs. I was able to get myself into music from an early age.

In 1998, I moved to Chile when I was in high school. I got together with my friends and got started singing and playing the bass guitar in a band. That’s how I started doing Latin music.

It was not done professionally at the time, but I guess from then onwards, I started to get more into music.

 

*How would you describe your music and could tell us more about your career as a singer?

I consider music is a way to express yourself and who you are, rather than classifying music and songs into categories or genres.

Musically, I am capable of covering Flamingo, Latin, R&B and Soul.

I had to go to the military right after I released my debut album a few years ago and was not able to do any promotion for it.

When I got discharged from the military, I got the chance to experience a lot of diverse work, businesses and promotion that included running a club.

 

*Could you name any musical artists who influenced you musically?

I think I am most influenced by singers like Na Hoo-na(???) and Namjin(??) in Korea.

The legendary Japanese singer, Hibari Misora, who is known to be the queen of Enka (the name of the fox trot genre in Japan) until this day. Her father was Korean.

I think I am also very influenced by the singer, Luis Miguel in the Latin music world and last but definitely not least, Marvin Gaye.

 

*What do you think is the most difficult and challenging for an independent singer in Korea?

I have been doing a lot of businesses in various areas for quite a long time, so I was fortunate to have not gone through the hardships as much as some of the other artists do.

If I was to say the most challenging thing for singers these days would be that the opportunities for talented amateur singers to showcase their potential and to launch a career are pretty scarce.

When a well-known celebrity releases a song, people will still pay attention even if the songs are not up to the standard or even considered good quality music.

There are so many audition programs existing these days than in the past, it is still extremely difficult for new amateur singers to launch their career in the music business.

 

*Are there any interesting episodes you experienced you can share with us?

I have a song with the title, ‘?? ??’ (which can be roughly interpreted into English as ’Mind your own business’ or ‘Just do what you have to do’)

I was to visit a retirement home to sing as a volunteer work for a large group of elderly people and I had to perform that particular song to the audience. At the time, I didn’t know whether I should sing it with the same title or change the title into more of a formal term, prior to the visit.

I was quite perplexed on how I should sing the song, but I ended up singing it as I would have anywhere else and to my relief the audience loved the performance.

 

*As a singer, how do you look after your voice and health in general?

When it comes to food, I know that consuming broad bellflowers, fruits of schisandra are known to be good for the throat and the vocal cords.

I practice on my vocals and abdominal breathing which I find is a crucial process for singers. I also train myself to sing without damaging the vocal cords.

 

*What is the best thing about doing music as a profession, in your opinion?

For the future, I am in plans to use my musical gift as a kind of therapy to help and heal other people. I believe that using my music and sharing it with others is what I am supposed to be doing. When you get to share your talent with others around you, it is the best feeling.

 

*What do you like to do in your free time?

I don’t usually have much free time because I am always out there giving other people a hand and I invest a lot of time doing all sorts of miscellaneous businesses and such.

I got to spend some free time for myself recently and I played online games for a short while. I also used to spend time in the gym to work out, but due to the hot weather recently I’ve quit going to the gym for the time being.

 

*What is your favorite Korean cuisine that you would recommend to our readers?

Well, I should state something that I want to eat right now. I would say, the black noodles (???) in Korean style. There are several places where they make great black noodles.

 

*Can you recommend a song for our readers that you particularly like or sing often?

‘My girl‘ by the Temptations.

 

*What does it take to be a great singer/entertainer? Could you give any word of advice to the people who want to get into the music business?

If you are going to become a singer or entertainer, I think it is important not to consider the art of singing or entertainment as a form of labor or profession.

Since music should be a way to live a life, not like a business and industry. Music and any form of art should never be a burden if you enjoy doing what you do.

If you start regarding it as work or just a source to earn money, it would be very difficult not to fall into temptations like drug addiction and depressions and etc.

 

*What are your goals for the future?

I have a few songs that I am working on right now for my album that is to be released around next year, so I intend to complete the work.

I am planning to write an autobiography of myself. I want to write a book so I can reflect on my life.

 

— J. Chung

Let’s Cook: Tapa (The Philippines)

Tapa is a Filipino dish made from cured meat like venison, mutton, and beef. Tapa is part of the dish tapsilog which is made of tapa (the meat), Sinangag(fried rice), and itlog (eggs). Tapa is a dried meat that can be cured or uncured, grilled or fried. The dish is easy to make and doesn’t have a lot of prep work involved, making it a dish anyone can prepare from the absolute beginner to the seasoned pro!

Ingredients

• Lean Beef (round or flank steak works best)
• ½ Cup of Lemon Juice
• ¼ Cup of Soy Sauce
• 2 ½ Tablespoons of Sugar
• ¼ Tablespoon Black Pepper (fresh ground pepper is best)
• 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
• Olive Oil

Prep

The Afternoon Before

Defrost the meat and massage a tablespoon of olive oil into it to provide some moisture. Place the meat in a Ziploc bag and let it rest in the fridge. Many tapa recipes do not call for this, so you can skip this step. However, if you prefer meat that isn’t dry, I recommend this step.

The Night Before

• Blend lemon juice, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl until it forms a paste-like consistency.
• Coat the meat in the marinade. Make sure to rub the meat well so it is coated and the rub is well-integrated into the grain.
• Place in Ziploc bag and let it sit overnight.

Cooking

• Remove meat from the fridge and cut the meat into thin strips along the bias. The strips will help it fry faster.
• Place meat on paper towels to wick away excess liquid. Too much liquid will cause the meat to broil instead of fry. However, the prep work the day before will help meat stay juicy and tender.
• Pour olive or Canola oil into a pan and heat using medium heat. Using too high a flame will burn your oil or cause it to catch fire.
• When oil is heated, place the meat into the pan to begin frying.
• Once meat is browned (it may look reddish thanks to the soy sauce), remove from oil.
• Place on a cooling rack with a paper towel or pan underneath to drain excess cooking oil.
• Serve with rice and eggs.

 –Joelle Halon

In a summer full of comebacks and debuts, GOT7’s 4^th Korean release has stood out the most for many. After waiting 7 long months and spending time on Japanese releases, GOT7 returned with “? ??(Just Right)”. The music video was released on July 12^th and the album charted well on Melon, Bugs and several other streaming services. The music video features miniature versions of the group singing and assuring a young girl that she is “Just Right”. The rest of the album is just as good, if not better than, the title track, with the song “Mine” most popular behind “? ??(Just Right).

The song’s lyrics include “Do you know how pretty you are in my eyes? I want you just as you are, you’re the only one” and seem to be promoting a message of self-love.

Fans have taken this message and turned it into a way of supporting each other with the “Just Right Selfie Project”.

All around the world people posted photos of themselves, commenting a feature they don’t like and finishing with “but I know I’m just right”, leading to the boys being called ‘healing-dols’ by several different Korean media reporters.

The same fan organization responsible for spreading the challenge, GOT7&co, has been working with other fan groups towards GOT7 achieving their first music show win. The group recently came in second behind Infinite’s “Bad” on The Show, showing the power of raising funding for support. By organizing the fan’s efforts in streaming the music video and song in the correct manner, a real result is very possible in the near future.

GOT7 have steadily risen up the ranks of idol groups and have developed a huge following, made up of many international fans. This is said to be in part because of the multinational members Mark, Bambam, and Jackson. The group is very well rounded talent wise as well, with several members MC-ing various shows, JB and Junior making appearing in dramas and Jackson making the variety show circuit.

GOT7 were also one of the most anticipated artist of this year’s KCON LA convention, where their fan meeting reached a huge attendance numbers, despite having just toured the US in May.

The group have also recently announce their 3^rd Japanese release, Laugh, Laugh, Laugh and have scheduled concert dates in Japan for next year.

GOT7 may not yet be a household name but with the demand for them worldwide steadily rising, they are well on their way to super stardom.

 

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

One of the most interesting shows from the Korean entertainment industry of late is The Genius. It is a game of strategies, alliance, double-cross, and more, which runs every week eliminating one contestant each week through a regular match and then a death match to decide who goes home in the end until there is no one left but only the champion. The games that are created are so genius and brain wrecking that a U.S. entertainment media licensed its right to replicate the same kind of game show. It ought to be a welcoming change for the U.S. audience who are so used to seeing the kinds such as Wheel of Fortune (a luck oriented game) or Jeopardy (a simple showcase of knowledge). Of course there are plenty of shows that feature muscles such as World’s Strongest Man, but there is nothing like The Genius.

Unlike Kpop music, however, there is a serious obstacle for this type of shows to thrive outside of the Korean speaking world. The show heavily depends upon the conversation of participants in order for the audience to truly appreciate the depth of the show in that the current level of subtitles generated for the Korean broadcastings simply do not live up to the expectation of the non-Korean speaking audience nor does it even try. There is a dichotomy in play here. As good as the content may be, there is no point of being good if it were not presented with a good communication—in this case, a good subtitle.

Traditionally, the importance of subtitles has been overlooked in the media industry because it was not to be perceived as a tool to reach your main audience. As such, having impressive subtitles was neither required nor expected. Such is not the case with Kpop. As important as the actual content is, it is all the more important to supplement that great content with an equally great subtitle in order to maintain the expectation of the non-Korean speaking audience that can get much bigger than its counterpart on the other side of the language barrier. After all, it is its appeal and the aspiration to reach the non-Korean audience that makes Kpop so special. So why is it any less important to equip Kpop with stunning subtitles that reach the minds and hearts of the non-Korean audience at its inner core?

Granted that there are little resources available to produce the dashing subtitles that can communicate even the surface implications let alone between the lines. The problem is most often hiring the trained professional translators. The translators are usually too mechanical in their understanding between the languages. They may be good at transferring the surface meaning, but they seldom delve into the deeper meaning underneath such as subtlety, between-the-line, cultural implication, and/or social perceptivity.

The subtitle industry in Korea has been operating under such an assumption that only the minimal efforts are needed for the transference of the story line to some foreign nationals that might happened to watch. The number was small and unimportant. By and large, it was for the sake of their Korean audience who might otherwise feel uncomfortable watching together with their non-Korean friend/spouse. The level of expectation on subtitle was very low indeed. However, such is no longer the case. The success of Kpop hinges on the success of generating a meaningful subtitle. Or else, it will only become the success of a Korean pop—nothing more and nothing less.

The Korean entertainment industry must embrace the reality that the vast non-Korean audience does not appreciate being left out of understanding the full context of what they are watching. If they invest so much in creating the Kpop content, why are they so skimpy on investing equally to make their Kpop creation whole? It is time now to open up their eyes to perfecting Kpop.

—-Jonathan You

Anda, who was formerly known as Andamiro, is a Korean singer, model and actress who made her debut as a Korean pop singer in April of 2012. Anda dreamt of being a performer since her early teens so she experienced countless auditions until she finally got a deal with a record label.

As soon as Anda released her debut single “Hypnotize,” which was an upbeat and European style of electronic dance music, she shocked the audience with her unique sound, highlighted visuals and diverse dance and performance. Even the outfits she and her dancers wore on stage drew a lot of interest and aroused controversy since male backup dancers wore similar skimpy, elaborate attire.

The “Hypnotize” single was not recorded in just Korean; English and Spanish versions are available. The addictive sound and interesting theme of the video garnered a lot of interest from the European fans. Anda visited Spain to perform in front of a large audience and also made an appearance on national TV.

Anda’s former management company had setbacks and had to discontinue their business. As a result, Anda had to take two years hiatus until she made a comeback in early 2015. She auditioned for her current company, the Emperor Entertainment Korea, which is a new branch in Korea owned by one of the largest entertainment companies in Hong Kong. Anda is the first artist signed to the company. The Korean CEO is the composer Jun-myoung Choi who is known for creating hits for various artists including Junghyun Lee, Cool, Wax and Fin.K.L. Anda has known him since she was in her former label, when he used to be the vice president for that company.

In this interview, Anda talks about how she fell in love with the music and performing, what she likes to do in her free time and her goals for the future as she has in plans to expand her work with modeling and acting in the near future. Anda is currently wrapping up the promotion and work for her latest single, “Touch” and we anticipate her to make a return with brand new music very soon.

We would like to thank Anda and also her management team for providing us her precious time to do this interview; we hope the readers and especially her fans found it an interesting read.

 

 

*Hello, Anda! Thank you very much for taking the time for a Kcrush interview. Could you tell us how you decided to become a singer?

When I was age 14, I was watching the movie ‘Mean Girls’ and there was a memorable scene where a gay student called Damien sang the song, ‘Beautiful’ by Christina Aguilera. I later searched the song on the Internet and really loved it. That’s when I started singing and inventing my own dance moves by myself at home. I guess the Christina Aguilera’s song inspired me to start singing and later to pursue a singing career.

 

*Why did you change your stage, ‘Andamiro’ to ‘Anda?’ (The meaning for ‘Andamiro’ indicates that the plate/bowl is bountiful to the point of overflowing. The word is pure Korean that was used in the past.)

The meaning for the name was great but because it was too long and wasn’t really efficient to pronounce at times. There were also too many businesses using and connected to the name. So we made a decision to shorten the name, ‘Andamiro’ to ‘Anda.‘

 

*How many hours do you spend on training each day approximately?

I train as many hours as possible at the studio by singing, dancing, and playing instruments from the moment I get up in the morning until I get home to bed. I try to do my best to train hard because I know how important hard work is; it really pays off later.

 

*If you could choose to do a concert anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I definitely would love to perform in New York. I’ve always had a certain fascination for the city since I was very young, and I still do. Last year, I took a trip to New York by myself and the whole process of the journey really motivated me. The vacation got me back on track in terms of decision making on a personal level.

It occurred to me back then that if I did not go on that trip, I would never have much chance to travel abroad alone later. I was going through a very difficult stage at the time, since I was not sure if I should continue to be a singer, so the trip to the States ended up being a special one for me.

I would really love to do a concert in America.

 

*What do you like to do when you have free time?

I play games on the mobile when I’m bored. I absolutely love watching movies; it’s what I enjoy a lot when I have time. There are so many movies that I enjoyed watching. There are a lot of movies that I can think of right now. One movie that particularly inspired me and would recommend is Blue Jasmine featuring Kate Blanchett.

 

*What kind of food do you enjoy consuming and do you have a special diet or work out to stay slim as you are?

I love eating all kinds of bread and cakes. I really have the craving for sweet delicacies. I work out and while training, do a lot of dance routines. I am not restricted on what I eat, but I take care to keep in shape for myself.

 

*Do you like to travel? Would you recommend a great place to visit in Korea for our readers?

There is a county in Kangwon province in Korea called Yang Yang that I would really like to recommend to travellers. Kangwondo is where you can also find the Seorak Mountain and the Jukdo beach.

People generally tend to just assume those kind of regions are agricultural, less developed, expect the majority of the population there are mostly all elderly people and generally just mundane. But Yang Yang is such an amazing place, and it’s a whole different world. I’ve visited a few times and there is just so much to see and enjoy there: The beach filled with young people enjoying themselves, surfing the waves and the whole atmosphere is definitely worth visiting.

 

*Regarding your latest single “Touch” – Could you explain the theme and the concept behind the music video?

We wanted try a concept that was less common and different because the truth is that you see a female singer with male actors and dancers all the time in music videos.

At first, arrangements were made to feature only male models for the music video, but they were switched to all female models at the very last minute. The change happened just a day before the shoot of the video.

Undeniably, the concept for “Touch” does contain a slight homosexuality code, but when you pay attention to listen to the lyrics, I would not say the music video is excessively sexual or intended to draw focus on homosexuality.

 

*What has changed the most for you after becoming a celebrity?

A lot has changed regarding my mind set and how I handle situations.

There are so many fans showing support for my music and what I do, which I am so very grateful for. On the other hand, there are at times I see comments by certain people who like to post nasty remarks or make untrue accusations online about my appearance and whatever, which can be hurtful.

At first, I didn’t understand why I should be judged by my looks. I made up my mind not to read the negative comments from now on. It’s not worth my time and I can’t get upset over spiteful comments made by strangers who don’t know the real me.

But most importantly, I must mention again that I am truly very thankful for the people who show support and like my songs, both domestic and from abroad.

 

*Could you describe what kind of person is your ideal?

My ideal would have to be someone I can trust and admire and get inspired by. I’m not the type who is picky about someone’s appearance; I don’t really judge people just by their looks. Although being good-looking would be a plus in most cases.

 

*Do you have any memorable episodes you’ve encountered while you were on stage performing?

Once, I was on stage doing a live performance in Hong Kong and the performance was supposed to be for contest, so I couldn’t afford to mess it up.

I was performing my song “Hypnotize,” and I never expected one of my heels would break off at the start of the song. The choreography and whole the performance for the song requires a lot of charisma, so the only thing I could do at the time was to keep dancing, pretending nothing was wrong. I couldn’t bring focus on the missing heel so I tried to get the camera to focus on my facial expression and tried to keep performing as nothing happened. Other than the issue with the heel, the performance went quite well.

 

*Based on your experience, what kind of advice would you give to anyone who wants to pursue a singing career?

There are so many people who are gifted and talented these days, so that’s why I think the most important thing to be able to do initially is to discover your unique point and figure out what it is that makes you stand out as an individual. You also need to be prepared to work extremely hard on what you have that defines you unique from others.

 

We would like to thank Anda for providing us her precious time to do this interview; we hope the readers and especially her fans found it an interesting read.

 

 

— J.Chung.

The Big Bang concert is hitting Los Angeles area again in just over a month from now. The Kpop popularity is soaring with splashes from both boy bands and girl groups left and right. In their dashing movements are some of the amazing skills that we don’t often see from other parts of the entertainment industries. The not-so-well known secrets of their success is probably the power of choreography along with other visual enhancements. Not too long ago, the new music video released by 2NE1, Come Back Home, was so reminiscent to the graphic illusion of the famous movie The Matrix that some would even challenge it with the accusation of plagiarism—please give me a break—to the idea of the virtual reality. A virtual reality?

Actually, the real essence of their so-called virtual reality draws its strength from the choreography underneath all the idea and graphics. If you look at closely, it’s all predesigned movements and steps that make the video all worthwhile. The latest example is the revival of the 1977 smash hit 나 어떡해 (Do you Know Me) by T-ARA. Their official music video is dressed up with very attractive colorful, yet original, customs on the stage. However, what makes the whole engine pouncing is the choreography of each and every movement by all the participating members in the music video (whether they are the girl group members themselves or otherwise).

One that comes up in mind is Rino Nakasone, a Japanese dancer/choreographer who just won the Huading Awards in 2015 for the category of Global Best Dancer-Actor. She choreographed for the big names such as Shinee, Girl’s Generation as well as TVXQ and BoA in her early days. Rino’s success is no surprise seeing that she earned her stage reputation while touring with icons such as Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani as a backup dancer. She also joined the prominent Beat Freaks to compete in America’s Best Dance Crew and was a runner-up in 2009. Her brilliance transpired directly into the success of boy bands and girl groups in the wave of this Kpop era. Yet she is not the only name to remember.

Another new name we should be paying attention to carefully is a young choreographer Parris Goebel and her choreographed Big Bang’s new video Bang, Bang, Bang, just released at the onset of this summer. It will blow your mind away and all those wonderfully choreographed videos of the past by various Kpop stars. It is filled with dazzling graphic and movement. There are so many components to work with from steps to fire and automobile in the background along with all other moving parts. Choreographing dances is only half the story. Goebel’s ingenuity shines in carefully fitting all the moving parts in unison with dance and music. It makes the whole video to come alive as though the entire screen is dancing right in front of your very eyes.

Perris Goebel just turned 23, but she is already living the dancer’s dream of every aspiring professional whose wannabe’s will idolize her like all those wannabe’s of the ice queen Yuna Kim. Having worked with Jennifer Lopez, Goebel is no stranger to the stars like Rino was, and she is the three time winner of the prestigious World Hip Hop Dace Championship. Her relentless strength as a dancer is that hip hop is a way to follow her “dream from dancing for fun to dancing on the world stage.”

Goebel doesn’t see any real difference between hip hop and Kpop dances. The biggest challenge is the cultural understanding. In that she succeeded in bridging the cultural aspiration with the dynamic yet very artistic movements of hip hop dances along the tune of Kpop music. Without her choreography, Big Bang’s Bang, Bang, Bang may very well have been lots of bang with no real Bang in it.