Food has always played a crucial part in Korean culture. Bringing friends, families and communities together is one of the reasons that makes Korean food so special.

Peoples’ tastes and expectations for food are changing rapidly as the world’s culture and ethics become more globalized. Experiencing diversity in order to learn and accept things that we are not necessarily used to is vital for our generation.

For this month’s issue of Kcrush, I interviewed Joo Lee, the co-founder of Korean food brand, ‘Korrito’ to hear about how she is helping to bridge the cultural gap in London.

Joo was born in Korea then moved to the UK at the age of three. Her interest has always been in food. In 2003, she and her brother launched their own Korean food brand in London.

We hope our readers will enjoy reading this interview.

The full version of Joo Lee’s interview will be on the Kcrush printed magazine.

 

* Thank you for taking your time out for a Kcrush interview. Would you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your business?

Hello, my name is Joo Lee and I am the co-founder of Korrito. For years, my brother and I always wondered why Korean food had not yet made its mark in London.

Then, ‘Gangnam Style’ went global and suddenly people were becoming curious about K-Pop, Korean culture and its cuisine.

Korrito was launched in 2013, when the street-food scene in London was really taking off. Street-markets were suddenly becoming cool places to socialize and talented chefs were displaying food in very accessible ways.

 

*Since the launch of Korrito, are you surprised by the response Korean food is getting?

I am not surprised at all that Korean food is getting the positive reception that it is, as I have always believed it to be one of the most delicious cuisines in the world. However, I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly our brand Korrito has gained popularity.

We were recently hand-picked as one of the Top 10 must-try street-food stalls by ‘Conde-Nast Traveller Magazine.’ I hope that the knowledge about Korean food and culture begins to grow in the UK.

 

*Did you ever think that you would be running a food-related business when you were growing up?

I may not have known it at the time, but I think the signs were definitely there. As a teenager, I’d throw dinner parties for my friends and serve them Korean BBQ using the very recipes we have tweaked, that we are using today at Korrito. With the benefit of hindsight, it is fitting that we co-founded Korrito together.

 

*How did you come up with Korrito’s concept of combining Korean food with Mexican?

Around the time my brother and I were forming ideas around a Korean food business, we noticed that burritos were gaining a lot of popularity in London. Then we looked across the pond for inspiration and saw that ‘Korexican’ cuisine was one of the biggest food trends in Los Angeles. We got the validation we needed that it was the perfect combination and decided on the concept for Korrito.

But we wanted to make Korrito a unique proposition and we did this through keeping the core meat and recipes very traditional and authentic to our family, adding personal touches along the way.

 

*Could you introduce us to your favorite Korrito dish or menu?

My favorite Korrito dish is the spicy pork burrito. I mentioned the dinner parties I used to throw; the spicy pork was my signature dish and always the biggest hit from my friends. High quality cuts of pork are left to marinate in our Korrito barbecue sauce overnight to make sure the meat gets extra tender.

The barbecued pork on a bed of Kimchi-fried rice with melted cheese, salsa, garnishes, our Korrito sauce, all bundled up on a warm, soft tortilla is just so delicious. I will never grow bored of eating it.

 

*What kind of food do you normally enjoy and how do you obtain new ideas for a new menu?

Naturally, I eat a lot of Korean food and have very strong cravings for Kimchi.

I like to experiment with different ingredients and flavour profiles. I often hold food tasting events where we come up with new dishes and new ways of using Korean ingredients. I like getting inspiration and being creative from other cuisines from other cultures like Italian food.

 

*What has been the most rewarding for you since you started business?

The most rewarding aspect is being able to see tangible results and outcomes of what my brother and I dreamt of all those years ago.

It’s amazing when you can look back and see how much you’ve achieved in a short space of time. It is also rewarding to see positive feedback and comments from your customers, whether it’s on social media or in person.

 

*Do you have any role models you get inspiration from when it comes to food?

Roy Choi and his brand, ‘Kogi’ are hugely inspirational. I believe that he single-handedly raised the profile of Korean food in the US. Major kudos for that.

 

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

Anything related to food. I love cooking food, I love eating food. Inevitably, I need to burn off all the calories so I like to spend my free time cycling and working out.

 

*Can we wrap this interview by asking you about your plans for yourself and Korrito in the coming future? Thank you again for the great interview, Joo. We really appreciate it.

For 2015, we are focusing on building our brand recognition further and beyond London.

We want to take our Korrito food truck to festivals around the UK and continue to spread our passion for Korean food.

(This link will connect you to the Korrito website: http://www.korrito.co.uk/)

(The ‘Savouring Korea’ documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb2LgBGSPbs)

 

 

 

— J. Chung

On March 14, 2015, Crayon Pop released teasers for the new song “FM” featuring their disco-esque, dance-pop sound. Of course, we also have the typical gimmicky get-ups in which Chrome seems to be pigeon-holing the girls; this time we have super hero ninjas-meet-Avatar: The Last Airbender-meets-Power-Rangers. 

At least we moved on from helmets?

For Crayon Pop, it’s starting to feel like Chrome only cares about the get-ups and the quirkiness over actually promoting them as singers and artists. When we asked some U.S K-Pop what they think of first with Crayon Pop, the answers were pretty much the same: Helmets, crazy outfits, and quirkiness. Singing rarely came up. But they can sing with strong live performances during concerts. They have some shakiness, but this is part of their charm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAK2ILnGYCY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnLov6S0YHo

 

The gimmicks fit their group name: Colorful and cheerful. The way society is these days, this is the type of frivolous entertainment we need to help make the world a not-so-bad place. For a few minutes, the horrors of the world seem to disappear because you’re lost in the joy. However, if this is all you’re known for, where is the artistic growth?

Crayon Pop seems stuck in neutral with the J-Pop-ish MVs that it’s hard to distinguish them as singers over cutesy, amateur performers. This shouldn’t be the case because they’ve been in the industry long enough to expand to new horizons. So far, new horizons include dressing up like milk cartons, ajummas, Christmas trees, and wearing red lights on their heads.

Chrome seems to have been blinded by “Bar Bar Bar’s” international attention and viral sensationalism. If PSY could earn international fans and attention, why can’t Crayon Pop? The girls got to open for Lady Gaga—a huge honor—and they got to go on the interview circuit along with earning themselves a graphic novel, attention, and international stardom. All eyes are on them: A blessing and a curse.

The difference between Crayon Pop and PSY is PSY has years in the industry and already established himself as an artist prior to his viral hit. While “Gentleman” and “Hangover” may not have performed as well as “Gangnam Style” internally, he’s fine because of his already established Korean fan base based on who he is (of course, being signed with YG Entertainment may help with some international audiences). A misstep for PSY wouldn’t hurt him in the long-run because he has years of music and success backing his artistic credibility.

Crayon Pop is still “wet behind the ears” and haven’t found their footing yet. Chrome seems to be hindering their ability to find firm ground by not making singing and performance a priority. A lot of audiences, especially internationally, have short attention spans: If you keep tossing the same acts at them constantly without any indication of change, the audience could grow bored and leave, leaving the group and company with adorable girls in track suits floating in the middle of the K-Group Ocean. How fair is it to Crayon Pop to do that when all they want is a chance to earn fans and be successful?

This doesn’t mean they should head to the other extreme other female groups turned to with sexy concepts (they could if they want), but they could balance quirky concepts with mature ones to help show their abilities. There’s no doubt the girls have talent as Way was a member of the Indie group N.Dolphin, and Ellin was referred to Chrome by choreographers. When they debuted with “Bing Bing” (as Hurricane Pop with former member Serang) then “Saturday Night,” the girls’ cool retro vibe and fun personalities earned fans and promise. These eras’ concepts could have helped them grow and try new styles while maintaining their colorful spirit.

The hope for Crayon Pop is that Chrome will realize they have potential songstresses who could slay with vocals instead of weird theming with each concept. The fear is the acts could grow old and potentially cause Crayon Pop to lose fans. These fears could be unfounded, but it’s sad to see groups with potential who are still young in the industry be locked into one concept. While it works for the company, how fair is it for the artists?

 

-Joelle Halon

Why do Koreans want to live/study in the US?

If you have visited or lived in Korea, this is a pretty straightforward question. A lot of foreigners admire Koreans for their outstanding academic achievements. As much as I am proud to know that people look up to us, many don’t know what it takes to get on that level. Kids from a very young age, usually kindergarten age, will begin to work their way up toward success.

Most of you might be surprised by this, but being smart does not come naturally to us. Korean parents push their kids beyond what is expected of an average kid and have such high standards that they are willing to dedicate thousands of dollars just toward academics.

Back when I lived in Korea, I had to go take courses at academies, but it was nothing compared to how it is now. Kids these days are so competitive in their learning–and I’m talking about elementary school kids! A lot of times, the elementary school students will be taught courses through the 5-9 grade levels. This means that a 1st grader can learn all the materials up to those for an average student’s freshman year of high school. Of course, some kids even go beyond that.

The reason they are able to do this is because, right after school gets out, they rush to academies where they take courses to help them succeed further in school. An average elementary school student takes about 3-5 courses at academies, and the most popular classes are math, English, writing, and science. When I took courses in Korea, which was 10 years ago, I only took 4 classes, and I actually had a lot of fun during those classes, because not everything was about education when I lived there. Kids between the ages of 8 and 13 don’t even get home until 9pm, or sometimes past midnight, because they are “forced” to take so many classes.

As you go up in grade levels, it gets more intense. In middle school and high school, those who don’t do so well bully students who get good grades. The stress level is so high once you reach middle school that many students commit suicide, which is one of the reasons why Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

Living in the United States, on the other hand, you have much more freedom in your feelings and expressions; basically, you’re opened to variety of options, whereas in Korea you are trapped in between your parents trying to make you successful and the academics. You never have any free time to hang out with your friends, regardless of age, except for very little kids, 7 and under.

So pretty much, anyone between 8 years old and adulthood is specified as a young adult. Crazy right? More than half of these kids aren’t even mature enough to handle things they are going through right now, and yet it seems to get stricter as the years go by.

I hear people talk about how smart Korean people are and how they wish they were smart just like them, but, in reality, none of them really knows what has been going on. Honestly, if you really knew all the things these poor students go through, you would not “admire” them; you would feel very ashamed for just assuming everything was going great.

Here’s a little ‘fun fact’: you know how everyone in Korea has pale, white skin? Well it wasn’t like that from the start. Although having pale skin is now known for beauty purposes, it first started to appear in students because they were always inside a building studying and never got the chance to stay out in the sun. They were not getting enough vitamin D, and it’s still one of the problems occurring today.

 

-Juyeon Oh

What’s in a Name?

In K-Pop, there are some groups that have sub-units with mysterious letters attached to the end of the group name? What do they mean? Here are some common ones to help you out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Joelle Halon

One of the newest dramas to star an idol, Sweden Laundry, has developed a decent following online. It stars Song Ha-yoon as Bom, an adult tired of her mother’s favoritism towards her siblings and Teen Top’s Changjo as Soo Chul, a hard working artist with a soft spot for Bom.

Bom works hard to support herself and her family in various jobs, however, with little appreciation from them. She then decides to follow her dreams and the first step is opening a laundry mat. Bom receives a gift from her dearly departed grandmother to aid her in becoming successful: the ability to see what problems people are having in their lives from simply touching their clothing. Originally, Bom wants nothing to do with others, despite being assured that helping them would lead to her own success, and being warned bad things would happen if she did not. Eventually, a series of accidents convinces Bom to follow her grandmother’s words, starting with helping budding artist Soo Chul.

SPOILERS – From the first episode it seems this is a dramatic retelling of Cinderella, with Bom first being introduced washing laundry outside while her mother and sister, Eun Sol, ask to borrow money to prepare Eun Sol for another audition. Bom’s brother, Eun Chul, is a brainiac currently studying to become a judge and is also pampered by their mother.

Bom is able to buy the space for a laundry after recieving a loan from her friend, and suspected loan shark, Young Mi. After she sets up shop, Bom has an encounter with Soo Chul where she causes him to lose his art work. Soo Chul is the first person she said required to help, much to her disdain. However, she is able to recover his artwork and form an odd friendship with Soo Chul, who sets up a makeshift art studio in the laundry shop.

Bom and Soo Chul have many adventures in attempting to help others, eventually having to deal with personal issues through her gift. Many of which seem like fillers to segway into the bigger plot in later episodes. In between these adventures, Eun Sol deals with the issues of being a newbie actress, including having difficulties booking jobs. Eun Chul also has a bit of an identity crisis ultimately deciding to quit his schooling and earn money to prevent their mother from having to take extra odd jobs. Out of this Young Mi’s seemingly pointless crush on Eun Chul begins to change, with Eun Chul and Young Mi spending the night together at a hotel.

Bom goes through some personal growth as well; one of her tasks includes going to great lengths to help her first love, Ki Joon, and his fiancé find a lost couple ring. In the midst of everything, Soo Chul decides to confess his feelings for Bom, who has a vision of these events and tries to prevent them from happening. It seemed the more dramatic the drama became the more realistic the acting from HaYoon became.

The drama comes to a head when Bom has a vision involving herself. Out of this, it is discovered Young Mi is pregnant and ______ is injured, different than in Bom’s vision. Eun Chul and Young Mi decide to get married and this causes issues between their mothers. This conflict is highly entertaining at times, especially when they drink together and cry about their issues. A running gag is the un appealing appearance of Young Mi’s father, with people becoming physically ill seeing him.

As usual with dramas there is a big secret involving Bom’s family and Bom mistakenly thinks she is adopted. In reality, Bom’s mother is step mother to Eun Chul and Eun Sol, having taken them in after the death of her husband. In relation to a deal (raising Eun Chul into a fine adult)their mother had with Eun Chul and Eun Sol’s biological aunt, she must pay her back for various expenses spent on Eun Chul through out his life. Addditionally, Eun Sol is angry at her mother for not revealing the truth and runs away from home. The family manages to pull back together in time for Eun Chul and Young Mi’s wedding. Bom and Soo Chul also end on a hopeful note before his departure for a job in America.

Despite the goofy premise of the show, it is well worth watching. Both fans and non-fans of Teen Top will enjoy this show, including a single-episode cameo from Teen Top’s Niel. Also for those who will watch for Changjo, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you like the series as a whole. Changjo and Ha Yoon have very good chemistry together and make episodes more enjoyable. Many people voiced complaints about the ending of this drama however, the possibilities it holds makes it almost better than a romantic kissing scene. Almost.
Photo Credit: DramaFever

—- Ke’Anna Bullard

EXO’s new album is supposed to drop sometime in March, but fangirl-anticipation continues to grow minutely. After hearing previews from the new album during EXO’s EXO’luXion Concert, and while I’m not the biggest EXO fan, even I have to admit the music sounds good based on first impressions. If the previews are any indication, EXO-Ls are in for a treat!

The new album will have a good mix of R&B, dance-pop, and ballad tracks, so there will be something for everyone. The first sample, “Playboy,” for example, is an R&B song with light instrumentals and guitars. It’s equal amounts sexy and sensual, especially during the chorus. EXO’s voices during the “play, play, play” portion just blend together beautifully.

“Exodus” is my favorite. “Exodus” is a dance track with a good beat and some early 90s sound. It does sound repetitive during the chorus, but that’s how the song sneaks into your brain to become a good listen. While it is a dance track, it has a more mature sound showing some growth since the “Overdose” era.

On the opposite end of the scale, “El Dorado” may be the weakest, albeit still listenable, song. “El Dorado” is a throwback to EXO’s debut days as it has a similar beat and structure to debut-era songs. The song is memorable, but it doesn’t have much substance due to its repetitive content. There’s a great song in there, but it’s too much like old tracks. “El Dorado” doesn’t exactly scream artistic growth, but fans will love it anyway. However, it feels like EXO is being pigeonholed into doing one type of genre to appease fans.

Another favorite is D.O, Suho, and Baekhyun’s “My Answer.” The high notes make the song. “My Answer” has emotion, softness, and delicacy: A triple-threat of awesome wrapped up with a nice little bow. If the song is arranged like it was for EXO’luXion, the piano and instrumentals help to make it lovely. Part of the reason I love EXO ballads is because they unveil the talent underneath EXO’s lip-synched performances many in the K-Pop world negatively point out. EXO ballads are underrated. “My Answer” is a must-listen!

Another winner is “Hurt.” The song is deceiving because it starts with a waltz making you think it’s going to be a ballad before erupting into an angry-sounding dance track. “Hurt” has power, darkness, and a surprisingly strong rap portion. Normally, I am critical of EXO’s rapping abilities because they’re not as strong-sounding as other groups. The flow usually isn’t the best, but this time around, EXO improved. The rap does not feel out of place; in fact, it’s right at home here and actually helps make the song. It has a low growl and deep senses of ire, and when layered with some of the higher notes other EXO members have, it’s a standout!

Besides these songs, the 8-track album will also include the title song “Call Me Baby” along with “Drop That” and “Full Moon.” As soon as the rest of the album comes out, we’ll be sure to share our final verdict! The album will be out soon!

—- Joelle Halon

 

When many think of Asian pop culture, music, manga, movies, anime, and dramas often come to mind. Since the early 2000s, this is what Asian pop culture fans became accustomed to, but a forgotten entity is books. Over the years, authors of Asian descent and from Asia have quietly released some of the world’s most interesting stories. Some of these authors developed a nice following for their work, while others have seen movies stem from their tales. Of course, some names are more recognized than others, but they’re all authors you should get to know starting with these recommendations!

Amy Tan

Amy Tan, who is Chinese-American, became well-known with her first novel, The Joy Luck Club in 1989. Her writing focuses on the relationships between Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters in beautiful, realistic detail. Tan has an authentic voice that can span the familial generations presented in her stories to the point where characters sound like different writers take over to bring them to life.

The theme of mother-daughter relationships can connect with many readers. As you read, perhaps you’ll see yourself in some of the stories despite the nationality covered. This is probably why The Joy Luck Club resonated with so many readers to where it became one of the most beloved novels of the 1990s. The Joy Luck Club was turned into a movie in 1993. Another one of Tan’s novels, 2000’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter, was adapted into an opera in 2008.

Not only is Tan a successful writer with adult fiction, she has also written non-fiction books and children’s stories. One of her children’s stories, Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat was adapted into an animated show on PBS! Additionally, she is also part of the writers band The Rock Bottom Remainders. How’s that for a colorful life?

Recommendations: 100 Secret Senses, Saving Fish from Drowning, and The Kitchen God’s Wife

Banana Yoshimoto

Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto, whose real name is Yoshimoto Mahako, created her pen name based on her love for banana flowers and because it was androgynous, so what’s not to love? Yoshimoto’s writing is as unique as her name.

Yoshimoto’s stories have a dreamlike, easy-goingness to them without being dumbed down, so readers will have to think about the content. Yoshimoto’s esoteric style could come from her admiration of Stephen King, Truman Capote, and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Her writing often covers family, friends, love, and loss in an engaging way to where anyone can read and be absorbed into the words.

Her novels Kitchen and Goodbye Tsugumi have received some star treatment with film adaptations in the early 1990s. In addition to films, she’s also been awarded literary awards in Japan and Italy.

Recommendations: NP, Asleep, Hard Boiled and Hard Luck

Haruki Murakami

At 66, Haruki Murakami is the face of contemporary Japanese literature even though Japan’s literary establishments consider his works “un-Japanese.” Loved abroad, Murakami surreal, fatalistic writing is heartbreaking and Kafkaesque all while being engaging and endearing. His writing relates to many due to coverage of loneliness and social alienation, and even though he covers such hard subjects, his unique sense of humor helps him connect to his audiences.

Murakami has many accomplishments including several novels, short stories, nonfiction pieces, and essays. He has also translated Western fiction into Japanese, competed in a megamarathon (he’s an avid runner and triathlete), owned a coffeehouse and jazz bar, and has won several awards for his writing. When you read his stories, you will see pieces of his life as he relates to many of his characters.

Western media loves Murakami, too. Sites and magazines like Buzzfeed, Vogue, The Paris Review, The Guardian, New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal will often have stories dedicated to his work and themes within his novels. Recently, many of these sources have covered how music plays a part in his novels, uncovering more layers to the man who brought Japanese literature to the forefront.

Recommendations: After Dark, Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore

Jhumpa Lahiri

Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri is another author who faced a long road to authordom after experiencing many rejections before Interpreter of Maladies came out in 1999. The book, which covers the hardships and lives of Indians along with the generation disconnect between immigrants and their children. In the West, her book was praised, but in India, it was panned because it didn’t make Indians look more positive. However, Interpreter of Maladies launched Lahiri into the spotlight, earning her a Pulitzer Prize. President Obama even appointed her to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Lahiri has a voice all her own as she covers the Indian experience and post-colonialism. Her most well-known novel, The Namesake, spans 30 years of a family’s life in a heartwarming, at times heartbreaking, way. The novel was turned into a movie in 2007 that near-accurately covers everything in the story.

Lahiri’s writing is engaging and eye-opening. Not only can you see plenty from the eyes of others, you can learn something too!

Recommendations: The Namesake, The Lowland, Interpreter of Maladies

Kazuo Ishiguro

Japanese-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, like Murakami, has quite the following. In Western society, he has been named one of the best contemporary fiction writers. He has the accolades to prove it: Four Man Booker Prize nominations with one win for The Remains of the Day; ranked 32 on The Times’ “50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945” list in 2008; the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize; and he was named to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998, and this is only a brief summary of his awards!

As of 2015, Ishiguro has written seven novels, four screenplays, and four pieces of short fiction. To date, two of his books and an original screenplay, Never Let Me Go (2010), Remains of the Day (1993), and The White Countess (2005), have gone to film.

Recommendations: Nocturnes, The Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go

Krys Lee

Although she only has one novel under her belt, Krys Lee knows how to make an impression. Born in Seoul, raised in the US, and now living in Seoul again, her book Drifting House covers brokenness and loneliness, political turmoil, and tragedy. Her characters find themselves lost and adrift between worlds in often unsentimental, unforgiving prose that strips readers away from their comfort zones. Her writing is full of fractured beauty that is well beyond a first-time novelist. She is one to watch in the future.

Mingmei Yip

Mingmei Yip is a Chinese-born author who’s written six novels and a collection of Chinese children’s stories. Her worlds transport readers to different worlds by engaging their senses to help make the characters’ experiences come alive.

Yip’s writing focuses on women, courage, and adapting to change. As Yip states, “the Chinese say that water, the softest element, is the most powerful. My heroines use their flexible, waterlike yin nature to overcome whatever perils they face.” This is especially true in her novel Skeleton Women about three femme fatales surviving the 1930s Shanghai gang wars.

Recommendations: Peach Blossom Pavilion, Petals from the Sky, Song of the Silk Road

 

 

Natsuo Kirino

Mystery and thriller writer Natsuo Kirino (real name Mariko Hashioka) didn’t become a popular writer until she reached her 40s. Beforehand, she earned a law degree from Seiki University in 1974, worked at Iwanami Hall, and took scriptwriting courses before becoming a writer in her 30s. When she began, she started as a romance novelist, a genre she didn’t like and the Japanese public didn’t accept as much, before settling into the mystery and psychological thriller realm. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer than others to find true passion!

Kirino’s journey proves that success can come at any life stage. She’s won several awards including the Edogawa Rampo Award, the Mystery Writers of Japan Award, Best Japanese Crime Fiction of the Year, the Tanizaki Prize, and the Murasaki Shikibu Prize for Literature among many others.

Kirino is known most for her ability to relate to her readers. There often isn’t one narrator in her stories because it is up to the reader to decide who to believe. Loneliness, crime, prostitution, and corruption are dominate themes in her work, and critics often claim she shows the “less sanitized” version of Japan people outside the country don’t get to see. Reader beware: Some of her writing can verge on the macabre.

Recommendations: Out, Grotesque, Real World

Of course, there are many other authors and books waiting to be discovered by you. Hopefully these recommendations will open you up to other Asian authors!

—- Joelle Halon

February brought about the emergence of a hopeful spring with the returns of 4Minute and Shinhwa and Niel and Amber’s solo activities. The K-Pop scene may be shaping up to be amazing this spring! Sadly, with bigger names dominating, some good songs are lost in the shuffle. February had artists who quietly released some ear-pleasing tunes. Here are seven you should listen to right now.

Azin “Delete” (2/9/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr43obFCeFg

Experimental, dreamlike Azin returns with “Delete,” a song with ‘80s flair and an MV with hints of Sia. Her soft vocals and powerful instrumentals pair well without one overpowering the other. If you enjoy “Delete,” her Developpe album shouldn’t be missed.

Poot Poot (Fresh Girls) “I Want to Tell You Something” (2/10/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFm4Fj5W7Ls

Poot Poot debuted in 2014 with “Freshman Song,” which was cute, but didn’t show off their vocals well enough to make them memorable. The duo made their return with the refreshing “I Want to Tell You Something,” and if promoted right, it could be enough to get them noticed. Poot Poot are cute and charming, so we’ll see how the song catches on.

Kris Leone “The End” (2/15/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTku4tq7ahw

Sure Kris has some famous blood in her, but that shouldn’t undermine her talent. “The End” brings forth the raw emotion. Kris Leone has some J-Pop vibes, so there’s a potential for growth into the Japanese market. Check her out and see what you think!

Hong Dan-A “Tat Tat Tat” (2/1/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umrJs8Ppac

Luminant Entertainment’s rookie singer Hong Dan-A may not be everyone’s cup-of-tea, but the girl has soul. She’s young, but she sounds like an era gone by, helping her to stand out. In our March issue, we did a feature on her, so be sure to check Hong Dan-A out!

Zion T. and Crush “Just” (2/1/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skhwqq-iGQM

“Just” did win a trophy on a music program, so Zion T. and Crush did earn some recognition with this R&B jam. Crush is smooth and soothing, and Zion T. is as suave as ever. The song’s beat and tone make it perfect for the weather, warming even the coldest of February days even though the subject matter and MV are sad.

GB9 “Joa” (2/3/15)

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

GB9 gets no love whatsoever, and it’s shameful. “Joa” has soul and romance, a perfect song for the person you love. With slightly husky tones and soothing melodies, it’s a song a listener can really get lost in if they allow it to happen.

Linus’ Blanket “Kangaroo” (2/9/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Kovpx4QSY

“Kangaroo,” quite simply, is one of the cutest songs this month. The beat makes it impossible not to dance to this; in fact, it begs you to bop along to the music. The song is different without being sickeningly adorable. If you don’t feel even slightly happier after listening to it, you’re soulless.

What are some of your unsung-hero songs for February? Share below and let us know!

—-Joelle Halon

1Punch is a South Korean K-Pop duo, who was signed under the record labels, Brave Entertainment and D-Business Entertainment. The groups consists of one male rapper, Jung Jae Won (”1”) and a male vocalist, Samuel (”Punch”). One fact about Samuel – who is the maknae (the younger one) of the group – is that he was, previously, a former trainee in Pledis Entertainment but left due to personal reasons. Another curiosity about him is that he is actually half-Hispanic half-Korean, even though he was born in Los Angeles, California. He also names Chris Brown as his big musical influence. Even more interesting, he can speak four languages fluently. Meanwhile, Jung Jae Won is the leader, main rapper and the older one (Samuel’s hyung, which can be translated as ”older brother” from a male perspective) of 1Punch. ”Punch” writes his own raps and has an affection for fashion and different styles of music. He is known for using three microphones on stage aswell, although two of them aren’t on.

The average age for them was 17 (”1” is 20 years old, while ”Punch” is only 13 years old) and they both trained singing, rapping and dance for a long time before debuting. The duo is supposed to represent a homage/tribute to the famous Hip/Hop South Korean boygroups, Seo Taji & Boys and Deux. As explained by their producers, the aim of 1Punch is to please not only South Korea but other overseas countries.

The duo debuted in January 23, 2015, with the songs, ”Nightmare” and ”Turn Me Back”, respectively. The first one is an old-school Hip/Hop, which contains lyrics expressing their personality. The song is also an introduction of the duo in the music industry. The video is simple and contains scenes from streets to parking lots. The other title-track is an R&B-inspired song with an addictive beat, easy lyrics and a fun choreography to match. The boys are singing/rapping about wanting to go back in time to when they didn’t feel pain about love and relationships. The video is very influenced by New York in the 90’s with skyscrappers, yellow taxi cabs and graffiti all around. Both songs plus ”Ice Ice” were all released digitally on a single album titled, ”The Anthem”.

They are currently promoting their song, ”Turn Me Back”, on various music shows such as, KBS’ Music Bank and Mnet’s MCountdown, among others.

In 2013, more than 287 thousand college students chose to study abroad with a small fraction of those picking South Korea as a destination. For those interested, Seoul is a prime choice for a variety of reasons. Many want to experience Korean culture firsthand or experience KPOP at the source. No matter the reason planning for you trip can ensure you get the best experience possible.

One of the first worries students have is not being able to understand the language of instructions. A majority of Universities with international programs offer many classes spoken in English, with some universities offering up to 40% of their classes in English. Many schools also offer Korean language classes in English as well for those who wish to learn the language.

Another issue you may encounter is the risk of your earned credits not transferring or the school not offering classes in your selected major. Consulting with an advisor from your home school is almost necessary to ensure you’re getting the best and most useful study abroad experience. They offer tools to help you not only decide what school would be best for you to attend but provide assurance that you won’t encounter issues returning home. Many advisors suggest adding a minor for those pursuing their bachelor’s degree, usually in International Studies or Korean language.

What could be considered the biggest issue is the cost of the trip. Finding the cheapest program is not always easy and for some the price may still be too hefty. Checking with your home school’s financial aid program could save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Many programs also offer need based aid for students using them. Programs will also help make sure you reach all requirements to be allowed into the country.

To study in Korea, and many other places, you will first have to have an up to date passport. From there, depending on how long your stay is, you will need some sort of visa, usually a student visa. Most study abroad programs will handle these things for you, however, be sure to check as each program is different.

Some smaller, yet important, details some forget:

• Check your university’s start times when planning what flight you will take.
• Plan for weather differences. Korean winters can be much worse than what you are used to.
• Decide if you will be living on campus or in another living arrangement.
• Plan for outings your program may sponsor. Some of these include tours of Seoul and nearby cities.

No matter the place you study, be it South Korea or Alaska, using the resources you have to prepare for your stay will ensure you have the best time possible. Don’t lose sight of the reason you wanted to travel, and make sure you enjoy your time abroad!

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

Seoul is the perfect city for tourists and travelers because the place is so efficient, easy and safe to travel in. Seoul offers a variety of sights and experiences, the trip can be completed within a week or couple of days; the least possible time can be spent on transportation. You could be strolling along the garden paths within the walls of an ancient palace, then have a cup of coffee at the café before getting on the subway to reach the other side of Seoul.

With that in mind, here are some of the places you might like to visit during your time in Seoul.

If you are looking for some genuine traditional sights, you could not possibly miss out on the Gyeongbok-gung, or the Gyeongbok Palace. It is situated within an extensive garden including a small lake, some nice walk; it is also equipped with a large car park.

A museum and gallery can be found inside the gardens of the palace, both of which exhibit traditional or folk culture artifacts which boasts of both tradition and for being popular locations for tourists. If Korean tradition and history is what you are looking to experience, then this visit to the palace and its surroundings may be worth spending time on.

If you want to take in a whole view of Seoul, Namsan is the place to be. The Namsan Tower, which refers to the meaning South mountain is also known as the Seoul N Tower and it offers the most attractive view of the city. If the weather allows, the night view is recommended. The night scenery of Seoul is what you can’t afford to miss.

A good hiking road for pedestrians and take the elevator over the slope of the hill. There are also cable cars and buses.

Traditional housing can be found in the Bukchon Hanok village and many of these old-fashioned Korean houses will offer you a room for the night. You will have to make a reservation beforehand, especially in the summer; they are furnished to offer you comfortable and cost-efficient accommodation, without changing much of their pre-modern exterior. The streets on which these houses stand are also preserved in a similar fashion, so that you can basically feel what the city would have been like in the old days.

Around this area, numerous workshops and museums, most of which are dedicated to traditional types of artifacts can be found. If you like hiking, you will also find the old Korean fortress on your way to the mountains in this area, with a nice park called Waryong; unlike the Namsan tower, it won’t provide the view of the whole city, but you will be able to enjoy a nice breeze while you’re there.

If you need to shop; Myeongdong is the place to find some cheap, good quality and affordable clothes, cosmetics and all kinds of other commodities.

One of the biggest Department stores chains in the world like Shinsaege and Lotte are located in Euljiro, nearby the Myeongdong station; the stores close around 8pm but the street stores will be open until around midnight. Many restaurants will also close late at night, some will be open for 24 hours. The night time is the best time to browse and shop in Seoul; the streets would still be crowded with people in the streets. Compared to other major cities, Seoul is considered safe to get around late at night, there aren’t many pick pockets or thieves who target foreigners and tourists, but like anywhere in the world, you should always be wary of your luggage and wallet wherever you go.

If you are purchasing products from stalls and vendors that accept only cash; then make sure you have basic knowledge about the Korean currency so you would not be ripped off. And always ask for a receipt when you purchase anything, the majority of the stores in the streets, will accept credit cards. It has also become illegal for taxi drivers to decline credit cards for payments.

That being said, it does not really matter which direction you take to find a good place for shopping or to dine out. Several spots including Samcheongdong, Hongdae, Shinchon, Gwanghwamun, Jong-ro, Dongdaemun, Insadong can all offer you almost any traditional souvenirs you might need.

These places are within short distances of each other. If you go further down South of the city, to Gangnam (the South of the River Han), you will likely find more designer shops and department stores, as well as fancier restaurants on the whole.

Chungyecheon is a long road alongside a narrow river that runs through many of these places and more. You can relax, and maybe take out a bottle of wine to enjoy the evening scenery on the lighted road. Here, you will be able to get the feel of the city and the calmer side of its nightlife.

—J. Chung

There are a lot of beautiful and interesting places I love to visit in Vietnam. Let’s start from the South, go up to the Central and then the North.

1. Can Tho City. It’s in the down South of Vietnam. Can Tho City lies on one of the biggest rivers in Mekong Dalta, Hau River. The most interesting thing that you can’t miss when you come to Can Tho is experiencing floating market, “Cho noi”. Basically, the floating market is a market that takes place above the water. All vendors and customers sell and buy things on the boats. There are all kinds of items and products sold on the floating market just like at a real market. There are fruits, vegetables, meat, fishes, and spices and so on. Floating market starts pretty early in the morning, around 4 or 5 a.m and ends around 9 or 10 a.m. You can hear all kinds of noises here, such as the announcement of vendors’ products, the bargain between buyers and sellers, and the noise of the boat engines when people move around, the jokes and greetings when people see someone they know. They are very random but they are the part that makes floating market an interesting place to visit.

2. This is a place that you have to visit when you come to Vietnam, Hochiminh City. It was called Saigon before. It is the heart of the South and the biggest city of Vietnam. It is the most modern. It clearly represents urban lifestyle. Restaurants and stores stay open pretty late. It’s not hard to find something to eat or do after midnight. Plus, the weather is hot during the day but cool at night, so people usually go out to the city in the evening or night. There are a lot of big companies, domestic and international, so the job market attracted a lot of people from other places to move here. Therefore, its population is huge, 7.396 million people in 2010. Hochiminh City attracted a big amount of foreign tourists. Some of the highlighted places that tourists usually visit are the Unification Palace, Hochiminh Museum, Revolutionary Museum, Vietnam History Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame church. It’s also fun to walk around some of the main streets, such as Bui Vien, Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Ham Nghi, Pastuer.

3. Another popular tourist destination is Da Lat. The city is located 4,900 feet above sea level on Lang Biang Highland, part of the Central Highland region of Vietnam. When you come to Da Lat, you can’t miss seeing the fascinated beauty of natural sites such as Xuan Huong Lake, Lake of Sorrow, Valley of Love, Lang Biang Mountain. Da Lat also has some of the largest and widest waterfalls of Vietnam, such as Prenn Falls and Pongour Falls. Da Lat is a special city with the architecture crossing between Vietnam and French Alps. You can clearly see that by looking at the design of churches, houses, schools and villas. One of the reasons that Da Lat is a good destination is because of its unique climate features. The temperature is cool, fresh and less humidity all day long. You will also have a chance to experience Highland Region culture by visiting small villages, joining local festivals, enjoying dance performances. Don’t forget to visit some beautiful rose and orchid gardens.

4. Move up to the Central of Vietnam, Hue is the city that you should visit. It is a place that closely connected to Vietnam’s history. Hue is renowned as the most royal city in Vietnam. Hue used to be the national capital, the political, cultural and religious center of the country under the control of Nguyen Dynasty. Hue Citadel is a “must” to visit. It was where the whole Nguyen Royal family lived and worked. The architecture of Hue Citadel is exclusively ancient, very large and very interesting. You can also visit Vietnam ancient Emperors Tombs, Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh, Dong Khanh. They are still there and open for tourist to explore. Most well known for its historical values, Hue had been recognized as one of the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. Besides all the historical spots, don’t forget to enjoy the peaceful beauty of Perfume River, Trang Tien Bridge, and Thien Mu pagoda.

5. . Lastly, there is another World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay. It is a magnificent scenic place, famous for its mountains, water, clouds, caves and grottoes. Ha Long Bay was also listed in the New 7 Wonders in 2012. The weather here is quite pleasant. You can enjoy beautiful beaches. Moreover, you can hire a boat from Bai Chay to go out on the bay and begin exploring some of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating limestone islands, such as Heavenly Palace Cave, Wooden Stakes Cave, Pelican Cave, Virgin Cave. The best way to experience the whole wonderful beauty of Ha Long Bay is to take a cruise trip.

 

—-Titi Chan

Valentine’s Day is a day of love for many people, but for singles, it’s a painful reminder of how forever alone we are. All the candy, flowers, and romantic plans can get pretty annoying, but we shouldn’t let that get to us. Valentine’s Day should be a day of celebrating singledom! For Hallyu fans, think of the K-Drama and MV marathons we can have without having to be swallowed up by Axe spray fumes (the mating musk of high school hallways) and lovey-dovey proclamations of everlasting love. Let’s celebrate ourselves and enjoy Valentine’s Day, starting with a playlist.

2ne1 “Hate You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5jyYD2WEw

So, you fell in love with a bad boy and it didn’t work out? “Hate You” has you covered. 2ne1 knows what it’s like to be in this type of relationship where love was a foreign concept, but they said good riddance to bad rubbish.

Ailee “I Will Show You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCEcWcIww5k

Sometimes the ones who leave us may not have appreciated us as much as they should have. Ailee provides the empowering “I Will Show You” that is less about changing oneself than it is about showing people the sassy, strong soul you already were. Flaunt what you have, ladies, and be proud!

B1A4 “This Time is Over”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF-96ORRfwk

Breakups may lead to some conflicting feelings. On one hand, you’re like “yep, it’s over. I can move on and be awesome. On the other hand, there may be some inklings of sadness that may make you question why the breakup happened and if it was worth it. Don’t worry, sometimes the feelings are okay. B1A4 feels your conundrum.

B2st “Good Luck”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs8QGv2VqJA

Females can be players too as we see in “Good Luck”: Girl plays the field, dates an inexperienced guy, and dumps him, leaving him to feel like he will never love again since he gave his all to her. With people like this, you’re probably better off alone.

Big Bang “Love Song”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKZEmLvYVF0

Some relationships are harmonious while others destructive. “Love Song” covers the latter as the woman seems bent on destroying a relationship due to her self-destructive tendencies. Even so, there’s someone who loves her, but for how long? To quote Elsa, sometimes you just have to “let it go.”

Billion “Dancing Alone”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQG5aj44_8

The message behind “Dancing Alone” is that you can be fine by yourself. Sometimes people need reminded of this, especially if you’re used to being in a relationship.

BTS ft. Thanh “Danger” (Mo-Blu-Mix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxdYg57EJ2A

“Danger” points to all the red flags in a relationship. Once you start questioning yourself and who you are to your significant other, perhaps it’s time to hit the pause button.

JYJ “Empty”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf0WxarG-xs

The perfect song for after a bitter breakup or general relationship sourness, “Empty” perfectly sums up the feelings of bitterness with an eloquent dose of “flipping the bird” toward chilly exes.

Ladies’ Code “Hate You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLjUBC4HpVQ

Nothing hurts more than sticking to a relationship that’s past its prime, though it seems too hard to let go despite your general dislike for the person you’re dating. It may be hard to move on, but a time comes where you just have to cut the cord and move on.

Miss A “Goodbye Baby”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYKO1za5mX0

People cheat. Not all people, but some do. Don’t let that person keep you down! Call them a snake, set them free, or you can do like Miss A and try to drown him in a large test tube. Whatever makes you feel good. (Note: K-Crush does not condone murder.)

Miss A “I Don’t Need a Man”

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

This was Miss A’s “Single Ladies” moment, and they executed it in a cheeky way. Breakups and singledom doesn’t have to be a lonely, heart-breaking experience: It can be fun with the right attitude!

Nu’est “Good Bye Bye”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G5TuESCdLw

Sometimes it takes determination to move on; Nu’est knows this. You can hold onto the memories, but don’t let those memories consume you. You can overcome.

Sistar19 “Gone Not Around Any Longer”

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

Memories, items, photos: Memories of the past may surround you, and the negative feelings may consume you. You may question why it hurts and why you’re reacting, but it’s a human reaction as Sistar19 shows in their anguished tune.

VIXX “Error”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF8kySIcWNw

VIXX’s “Error” understands the pain of deciding if it’s right to let go of love or not. “If I hold on to you it hurts, but if I let go of you it hurts”: Truth. Why are these decisions so difficult to make?

Wings “Hair Short”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0_1odmqmCM

It’s okay to make a fresh start when you’re in pain. Short hair is an euphemism for fresh starts and new beginnings, so listen to Wings and know it’s okay to move on as a new you, but remember it’s what’s on the inside that matters more.

What are some of your anti-love or anti-Valentine’s Day K-Pop songs? Share below! Happy Valentine’s Day!

— Joelle Halon

`Texas has been a steadily growing market for KPOP music, with many acts visiting Dallas on tours. That being said, it was only a matter of time before Houston received some of the KPOP love and 12 member boy group Topp Dogg was happy to spread it for the city’s first showcase, the first in a series of three US shows.

Fans began lining up outside Bayou Music Center in downtown Houston well before the door opened at 6:30. You could definitely feel the excitement in the air, with fans displaying handmade banners and signs to photographers. Several fans also prepared for a flashmob, dancing to some of Topp Dogg’s more popular songs. An actual line was formed around 5:45, however the setting sun and dropping temperature did not damper anyone’s spirits.

Once inside, the seating filled up quickly, with most of the available seats filled. The show started with a short video, followed by Topp Dogg running out to their newest song, Annie. This cute 90’s throwback song was filled with lots of quick movements and energy from the boys. From there, they introduced themselves as a group and then individually, expressing their excitement of being in America for the first time.

The rest of the night was filled with fun and games with some fans getting to go on stage and play with the boys themselves. The members hand-picked fans for the onstage game, charades. The set list included solo songs from members Jenissi and Kidoh, who recently released his first solo ep. The dancers of the group also got to display their talents in a cover of Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo, featuring vocals from leader P-Goon and rapper A-tom.

After the show fans with VIP seating were treated to a poster signing and/or a hi-touch. Each of the boys tried their best to personalize the experience for each fan, despite the language barrier.

Even if you are not a fan of Topp Dogg, this showcase is still important for the future of Kpop in the Houston area. The willingness of an audience to show up for a group in a different city shows promoters that there is a demand to be met. However, after attending   this showcase it would hard to not be a fan of Topp Dogg. Topp Dogg promised they would come back soon and from the response of the crowd, they would be welcomed back with open arms.

Photos: B. Tse Photography
Sponsor: Jazzy Group

— Ke’Anna Bullard

—–Joelle Halon

JJCC – pronounced as J-J-C-C, is the first K-pop group formed under the management of the world’s superstar, Jackie Chan. For many years, Jackie Chan has been a fan of Korean pop music, so Chan took up the challenge to launch a project for a K-pop band that will become the next big, successful group in Asia and the rest of the world.

As to the name of the group, the ‘J. C’ comes from the initials of Jackie Chan and the second part of ‘J. C’ refers to ‘Joint cultures’ “Jackie Chan Joins Cultures” when translated.

Before JJCC’s five members made their debut to the K-pop scene because the group was owned by Jackie Chan, that alone undeniably drew huge interest from the press and Jackie Chan’s fans around the globe.

The five members go by the names, Simba, E. Co, Eddy, San-Cheong and Prince Mak. Prince Mak was the last member added to the group. JJCC’s three members Simba, E. Co and San-Cheong are Korean who grew up in different regions in Korea.

Simba is the leader of JJCC, who is known for his athletic ability. He was featured on the sports variety show, ‘The Dream Team’ for several episodes winning and holding new records for his team. Simba and E. Co were former models prior to joining the group.

E.Co is the oldest member, he is also the most seemingly responsible and calm (?) member of the group whose interest is in fashion design. He has his stage name as E. Co which comes from shortened form of the word, ‘Psycho (???)…’

The main vocal, Eddy is a Korean-American from California, who has known Jackie Chan for the longest, training under him for about 8 years; learning stunts and various martial arts and acting. He is also an able chef, he has been featured on the reality TV culinary contest, MasterChef Korea before JJCC hit their debut.

Prince Mak is a Chinese-Australian who was born and raised in Sydney. He formerly worked as a dance trainer and came to Korea when he was selected as the last JJCC member.

San-Cheong is the youngest member, a.k.a the ‘Maknae’ of JJCC. His major is in acting and he is also trained to compose and produce songs.

JJCC members all received individual training on singing, dancing, rapping, composing and stunts for several years. Their dance skills include B-boying and ballet.

JJCC made their debut on March 14th, 2014, on M! Countdown with their debut single, ‘At First’, which was released ten days later on March 24^th 2014 along with its music video.

The second single ‘(One Way) Bing Bing Bing’ with its catchy electronic tune is very different to their debut single and was released soon after.

Most of JJCC’s songs are composed and produced by Dubleside Kick, the song-writing team is known for being responsible for producing countless hits in the K-pop industry.

Last year’s Christmas, our photographer Ryu and I headed for the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Gangnam to watch JJCC and other performances from various acts, a Christmas event held by the SBS Awards Festival. JJCC were to be on stage around noon, to perform their first two singles, ‘At First’ and ‘Bing Bing Bing’ and one of their tracks from their 1^st mini album entitled, ‘Be Good’ – JJCC also sang a cover version of Tamia’s ‘Officially Missing You’ which the members made it unique by rapping their own lyrics for the verses in Korean.

JJCC is definitely the group to look out for this year, as a group they have the potential to make it very big. JJCC’s performances are near to perfect and even with intricate choreography that requires a lot of technique; they can pull off a very high standard and praiseworthy live performances for their fans. Their latest single, ‘Fire’ gained a lot of interest when the music video was released on Youtube and the JJCC’s international fan base is growing at a vast speed.

We were able to get an interview from JJCC and this was actually one of the first interviews we at Kcrush were seeking to attain, since the time we launched our magazine.

Hope our Kcrush readers would enjoy reading this interview and we would like to thank JJCC for offering their time and wish them the best for 2015.

 

Simba

 

E. Co

 

Eddy

 

Prince Mak

 

San Cheong

 

 

Interview with the Asia’s next big K-pop group: JJCC

 

*Would you kindly introduce yourselves to our Kcrush readers, let us know about your hobbies, hidden talents and position/role in the group.

Simba: Hello, K-Crush readers! I am Simba, the leader of JJCC. I’m interested in Djing and I drive around a lot too as if I am the road manager for JJCC, lol.

E. Co: Hello, I’m JJCC’s rapper E. Co and I’m interested in fashion design. I am practically the mother and grandmother for the rest of the JJCC members.

Prince Mak: Hello K-Crushians! I’m Prince Mak and I am in charge of dancing and vocals for JJCC. My talents are dancing, playing the guitar, piano, bass, drums and beat-boxing. I think I now have an ultimate hobby, which is eating. (It used to be dancing, yes…)

Eddy: Hey Kcrush readers! My name is Eddy and I am the lead vocalist of JJCC.

My talents are stunts, action, scuba diving, cooking, repelling, horse-back riding, swimming and singing – all sports except for soccer.

My hobbies are fishing, writing rap lyrics, watching movies, listening to music, cooking and finding good places/restaurants to eat.

San-Cheong: Hello, I’m San Cheong and I’m the Maknae (??: The youngest member) of the group and its sub vocalist. My major is acting so I’m very interested in acting as well.

 

*What do you most like about being in the group, JJCC? Tell us about your group and the assets JJCC has as a group.

Simba: The fact that we are always trying hard to be bright towards our fans is our asset.

E. Co: Each JJCC member has different character so we are able to show a lot of variety.

Prince Mak: We like to have fun and we all share the same dream. But the best thing has to be the staff here, seriously we won’t find better people than these. <3

Eddy: The JJCC members are practically like brothers, I feel that we are not just band members but like a real family, so our connection I feel is the best.

Also, we are from LA, Australia, Busan, Daegu, Suwon…Worldwide!!!

San-Cheong: First, we are a global team and our members all have really good personalities.

 

*Does Jackie Chan give out a lot of advice and direction for the group?

Simba: He teaches us ways to preserve the nature, save water and how to classify the rubbish before disposing them.

E. Co: Yeah, he gives us a lot of advice. He always tells us that in order to be the best we have to try our best.

Prince Mak: Because I was the only Non-Korean member in the group, Jackie Chan told me I had to work extra hard in order to survive in this industry. I will always remember the words he told me.

Eddy: Yes, Jackie gives us advice and tells us to sing with our hearts and not fake it.

He always tells us if we really sing from the heart we will be loved by everyone all around the world. He also told us to live today like it’s your last day and that hard work never betray you.

San-Cheong: He gives a lot of advice, but most of all we can learn more from his actions when he is present with us.

 

*Your live performances are outstanding, are you currently getting used to hearing all the chants and screaming from your fans?

Simba: Even now, it’s funny when our fans chant our names… Simba, Eco, Eddy, San-Cheong, Prince Mak before the start of our song, ‘Bing Bing Bing.’

E. Co: It’s still quite awkward and we are really grateful that there are people who like and support us.

Prince Mak: I don’t know if I will ever get used to it. However, every time I hear the fans scream it just gives me more and more energy. If fans are happy then we are happy. We will keep working hard to make our live performances even better!

Eddy: I still think I need to work on my live performances but thank you. I still can’t get used to the screams and cheering, at times because of the screams and chants I almost get my notes or dancing wrong.

San-Cheong: In the beginning, I was trying to focus on the performance and didn’t really hear the cheers from the fans but the performances get more enjoyable now that I can listen to the chanting from the fans.

 

*What kind of person is your ideal? Can you briefly describe your ideal person?

Simba: I like girls who are petite.

E. Co: I just know when I like someone.

Prince Mak: Mature but can pull off being cute too. Someone who is able to take care of other people, she needs to be smart but not smarter than myself perhaps. Thank you.

Eddy: My ideal type of girl is a very healthy and athletic girl. Someone who is tall who has a very outgoing and cute personality.

San-Cheong: I like long-haired girls who are pretty when they smile.

 

*Do you guys get into a fight or an argument often? Which member is the peacemaker of the group?

Simba: We often have arguments but we always make up right afterwards then later laugh about it.

E. Co: There are times when we get into arguments but since we just make up right on the spot we don’t leave any bad or negative feelings for one another.

Prince Mak: Sometimes. But we all love each other.

Eddy: Of course we get into fights about dancing, singing, chores but it never goes on for long. I think every member is the peacemaker in our group.

San Cheong: We have different opinions but since we all have cool personalities, so we don’t ever hold back any hard feelings or anything like that.

 

*What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Could you name some songs or artists you like?

Simba: I like to listen to Chris Brown’s songs.

E. Co: I like to listen to Hyoshin Park’s song ‘Wildflower’ and Jinseob Byun’s records.

Prince Mak: All kinds of music. I can listen to anything and enjoy anything that is good. Michael Jackson’s every single song.

Eddy: I’m more into Hip Hop, R&B and Ballad. My Favorite songs are ‘Talking To The Moon’ and ‘When I Was Your Man’ by Bruno Mars and also ‘Unconditional Love’ and ‘To Live and Die in L. A.’ by 2pac. I also love the song, ‘Things I Want To Say by Taewoo Kim ’I Love You’ by Johan Kim.

San-Cheong: I like all kinds of genres of music. Will.i.am, Drake, Lil Wayne are some of the artists that I like.

 

*What do you guys like to do in your spare time? Do you have favorite movies or books you would recommend to your fans?

Simba: I would like to recommend ‘Begin Again’

E. Co: Since we tour around a lot, I don’t get to read much or watch any movies, so I would like to be the one to get recommendation actually.

Prince Mak: I like all superhero movies. I can re-watch them countless times. The last time I read a book was when I was still in school. Now I read scripts. I prefer to read the current news and know what’s happening in the world.

Eddy: I like to watch movies and drink coffee at cafes. My favorite movies are all the Fast and the Furious movies and the Patriot. Books, my favorites are Twilight and Harry Potter books.

San-Cheong: I usually like to enjoy watching films, listen to music and read novels. I would recommend you to watch the movie, ‘The Great Gatsby.’

 

*You keep a lot of pets, which member do you think is the most ‘liked’ by the pets you have and could you introduce your favorite pet?

Simba: The dogs love me the most and the cats like brother E. Co. I love all kind of dogs.

E. Co: Simba seems to be the most popular member for the dogs, while the cats are my fans. The favorite cat I like the most is named, ‘Assi.’

Prince Mak– Nari is the greatest and the cutest cat ever. I love you Nari!

Eddy: I think that each member has a favorite pet and each of our pets has a favorite member. For me it is my daughter, Odi!!

San-Cheong: I prefer to look on rather than to take care and keep pets. Sanny (??) is my one and only favorite pet.

 

*What is your favorite kind of food? Which JJCC member is the one that likes to eat the most? Are there any members who are great chefs?

Simba: I like to eat chocolates and the food god in the band I should have to say is brother E. Co.

E. Co: I normally tend to eat any kind of food and I think I eat the most in the band.

Prince Mak: Korean fried chicken, Japanese ramen, Vietnamese pho, cooked vegetables, eggs, cooked seafood – pretty much anything when I’m hungry. E. Co eats the most and doesn’t get fat. Eddy is the best cook.

Eddy: My favorite foods are Mexican, Japanese, and Italian. The person who eats the most is E. co and the best cook in the group is myself and Simba.

San-Cheong: I am really into meat. Extremely.

 

*If you could spend a whole day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

Simba: My older sister.

E. Co: I miss my parents.

Prince Mak: My family.

Eddy: If I can I want to spend the whole day with 2pac because it‘s because of him I started to listen to music and he has been a big influence in my life.

San-Cheong: With my family members.

 

*Do you contact your family often? Who do you miss the most during your activities?

Simba: I contact my parents frequently. I miss my mother.

E. Co: We don’t use mobiles during our activities; which is right now so I was not able to contact my parents as often as I’d like to but I would love to meet them soon.

Prince Mak: Only with my mum, I wish my dad will contact me more and also my sister. She is too busy with her BOYFRIEND!

Eddy: Yes, I keep in contact with my family a lot and don’t miss them that much because they live five minutes away from our dormitory so I run into them every few days. But of course, I do miss spending quality time with my family and also my dad, mom and sister’s cooking- and just being with them.

San-Cheong: I really miss my family especially my mother.

 

*What was the most memorable thing or incident about 2014 for JJCC?

Simba: It’s a pity that the year of our debut, the year of 2014 has already gone by so quickly.

E. Co: The fact that we as members of JJCC debuted as a band in 2014, our debut stays in my memory the most.

Prince Mak: Jackie Chan’s birthday charity concert. Seeing Jackie Chan’s love for the world and the people around him.

Eddy: I would have to say the most memorable moment was when we got the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award. The reason for this is because we can only receive this award once, so that award was a huge thing for us.

San-Cheong: Well, it has to be our debut that stays in my memory the most which we were dreaming and working for a long time.

 

*What are your personal plans or hopes for the group for 2015? Do you have any new year’s resolution?

Simba: To become No.1 on the top music charts.

E. Co: We want our JJCC single to become hit the top of the music charts and we also want to perform at the Awards shows at the end of the year.

Prince Mak: To win the ‘Best artist of the year’ award. To become healthier, grow taller. To spend more time with family and able to do what I like to do.

Eddy: For 2015, we hope that JJCC can win the best Album/Best Song/Best Performance Awards and do concerts all around the world. Hopefully for myself, I wish I can release a solo song and also come out in TV dramas, commercials and movies. My new year’s resolution is never to change, remain and humble continue to do my best!

San-Cheong: We want to hit the top of the music charts and make JJCC gain more audiences, we will work extremely harder than last year.

 

*Can you wrap this interview by saying something nice to all the JJCC fans around in the world?

Simba: Although we are miles apart our thoughts and hearts are with our fans, the Keys!

E. Co: Hello, thank you for our fan base, the Keys for their love and support. Even though we were not able to meet you all yet, we will do our best to showcase our single to our fans as soon as possible.

Prince Mak: I really miss my family a lot, I always think about them and want to be with them but it is the fans who give me the strength to keep fighting on.

Now, I actually feel that I will always have another family by my side; called the Keys.

Eddy: 2015 I hope everyone a healthy and good year and hope you enjoy our comeback! ~Love you guys!~

San-Cheong: Hello, Keys!! The presents and letters you send us are a great encouragement to us. There’s still so much to show to our fans, so please stay with us. We hope everything good is filled for 2015 for you all. We love you!

Thank very much for taking the time out for this interview, we wish only the best for all the activities you do and overall, we hope that you get all the success that you deserve for 2015.

 

—-J. Chung

Ye Ryu photo credits

1. Sekai no Owari

Image: http://girlschannel.net/topics/227411/

They are a Japanese rock band coming into fashion in 2015, which consists of 4 members: Satoshi Fukase, Saori Fujisaki, Shinichi Nakajima, and DJ Love.

Sekai no Owari (End of the World) was named by Satoshi Fukase, vocalist right after he experienced a hard time. “Once you’ve experienced the bottom, you have to find a way to go up. So I named my band End of the World to create the strength through the music.”

In October 2014, they collaborated with Owl City on a new song, ‘Tokyo’.

2. Miwa

Image: http://ticketcamp.net/live-blog/miwa-guitar/

She started writing songs at 15 and playing the guitar after she entered high school. After buying a Gibson J-45 guitar with the savings from her part-time jobs, she began to play live concerts mostly in Tokyo. She debuted as a singer in 2010, while attending Keio University.

One of her best songs is “Don’t cry anymore”. In this song, she expresses her mixed feelings. “I’m not that strong and, there are times when I just seem to break”. “I don’t cry anymore. I don’t cry anymore”.

3. Sakanaction

Image: http://www.jpopasia.com/group/sakanakushon/

Sakanaktion is a band consisting of five members: Ichir? Yamaguchi, Ami Kusakari, Keiichi Ejima, Motoharu Iwadera, and Emi Okazaki. They created their name Sakanaction linking two words, sakana(fish) + action hoping to act swiftly like a fish in the ocean without fearing changes in the music scene. Their hard-to-categorize songs are mixture of electronic pop and alternative rock.

Sakanaction first attracted attention at the 2006 Rising Sun Rock Festival. Since then they’ve been releasing a bunch of brilliant songs including Bach no Senritsu o Yoru ni Kiita Sei Desu (Because of Listening to Bach’s Melodies at Night) whose music video caught a great deal of attention by the innovative idea that features four life-sized replica dolls of the main singer Ichir? Yamaguchi.

4. JUJU

Image: http://ameblo.jp/jujunyc/

She is a Japanese jazz singer from Hiroshima Prefecture. At the age of 18, she left Japan for the US alone hoping to be a great jazz singer. While residing in New York, she was under a spell of the “New York sound,” including jazz, R&B, soul, Latin music and so on. In 2004, she finally debuted with her first single Hikaro no Naka e.

Though a jazz singer, she also releases lots of songs rather categorized as Japanese pop music. Her most popular songs include Ashita Ga Kurunara feat. JAY’ED(2009), Mata Ashita…(2011), Kono Yoru o Tomete yo(2010).

5. Mr. Children

Image: http://ticketcamp.net/live-blog/mrchildren-live-movie-ranking/

Mr.Children, commonly referred to by their nickname Misu-Chiru, is a pop rock band formed in 1988 by Kazutoshi Sakurai , Kenichi Tahara, Keisuke Nakagawa, and Hideya Suzuki. As a group, they are, without a doubt one of the most successful Japanese artists. They held the record for the highest first week sales of a single in Japan for 15 years.

Their best songs include Namonaki Uta(1996), Sign(2004), Dakishimetai(1992), and Innocent World(1994), and their latest masterpiece, Ashioto ~ Be Strong, was released in November 2014.

=========================

Shunya Ohira 

He is an open-minded travel enthusiast who has traveled more than 50 countries mainly in Africa and Europe. He runs his website in cool places around the world. http://www.yoso-walk.net/

 

Music trends shift often from decade-to-decade, and that’s what makes the music world fun. For example, twenty years ago, who would have predicted that J-Pop and K-Pop would have gained worldwide popularity?

J-Pop’s popularity stood alone for about a decade before K-Pop rose to the top. K-Pop’s hold on audiences is now coming close to the decade mark—since many consider 2008 and beyond Hallyu’s Golden Era—which could indicate another genre may be waiting in the wings. Many think C-Pop could be waiting to take the throne, but China is still somewhat closed off to Western audiences.

Enter the surprise front-runner for a music revolution: Kazakhstan!

Predominately Muslim and Christian and home to nearly 18 million people and over 100 different ethnic groups, Kazakhstan is rich in history and considered a secular nation. With so many people from different backgrounds, Kazakhstan’s music scene has a unique flavor that makes it appealing without losing the pop sound that could make it the next music wave. Their artists already have the vocal chops and style to gain popularity outside Kazakhstan. Besides this reason, here are nine others to consider for why Kazakh pop should be on the radar for a new wave!

 

 

9. One group already signed with an American label. Nectar, formerly known as LeLOO, signed with PLG Music in September 2014. PLG signed them because of their high music quality, indicating the impact Kazakh Pop can have. The company plans for Nectar to release two albums for the American and European markets in 2015. If they do so, they will be among the first from Kazakhstan to break into the Western market, opening the doors for others to do the same while audiences get acquainted with Kazakh sound.

8. For those who love visuals, Kazakh artists have a lot to offer. Face it, appearance plays a large role in determining if a group or singer earns a large audience. The artists that make up many of Kazakhstan’s music groups have natural beauty to go along with their amazing vocals. If beauty is important to you, then you won’t be disappointed. Also, if you’re looking for beauty of a different sort, MVs have amazing visuals of Kazakhstan’s countryside that shouldn’t be missed!

7. There is a large variety of artists and genres at your disposal. A lot of people stereotype Asian Wave artists as young, cute, and oozing with Bubblegum Pop charm. This isn’t the case in all instances, and that’s true of Kazakh pop too. Besides younger groups, older artists and even the folk scene have a chance to make waves. Throw in a strong rap scene, beautiful ballads, and smooth R&B, you have a world of possibility to please even the pickiest music connoisseur.

6. Gakku TV focuses solely on Kazakh music and their artists. From the more internationally known groups down to the smaller local artists, Kazakhstan believes in their music artists, thus the creation of Gakku TV. The idea behind the station is to get youths into Kazahk music and “level the playing field with foreign [artists]” according to Babur Dombay, reporter with the Astana Times. This belief in their artists will go a long way if Kazakh Pop reaches international shores

5. Some techniques K-Pop and J-Pop use to gain international audiences are used in Kazakh Pop to some degree. For example, some artists like Rin’Go will incorporate English into their music to add appeal for English-speaking audiences. If audiences hear something familiar, they’re more likely to give music a shot, sing along, and possibly listen to other artists.

Additionally, the formula of singing-rapping-singing is used for some groups. If you’re used to this formula in K-Pop, you’ll easily find your footing in the land of Kazakh pop.

4. Different ethnic groups represent the ever-growing music scene. Unlike K-Pop, J-Pop, or C-Pop where audiences expect to see only Koreans, Japanese, or Chinese artists dominate, Kazakhstan has so many different ethnic groups, it’s not surprising to see people from different races or religious backgrounds in a group together. Kazakhstan is leading the way in showing how different backgrounds can come together for a common interest. It’s inspiring to see.

 

 

3. Parts of Asia and Europe already spread and share the music. Kazakh Pop has already gained popularity in Russia, Japan, China, and parts of Europe. Music stations both on the radio and online focus on Kazakhstan’s thriving music scene. With this, artists from Asia, Europe, and U.S. have fan bases in Kazakhstan, so the stage is set for collaborations in the future to help home-grown artists spread their wings

2. Kazakh Pop has a familiar sound. While it has traditional flair, many may enjoy familiar elements since the music has some 1980s and 1990s Western pop sound. For example, Kesh You’s “????? ???????” contains some of Michael Jackson’s soul while staying unique and memorable. Other artists, too, recall different time periods, making old new again.

 

 

1. Tradition and modern sound make Kazakh Pop “pop.” MVs from artists like Kesh You, Indigo, and FM fuse images from different ethnic traditions to give viewers a look into Kazakhstan’s unique culture. All the while, instrumentals have some Western influence while remaining true to traditional instruments like the Dombra and Russia and the Middle Eastern beats. This is the main reason Kazakh Pop stands to be the new wave: It doesn’t shy away from its roots! The heart of Kazakhstan’s people can be felt in the music, and that’s something that seems to be lost in many different genres today.

The biggest worry is if too much Western influence will negatively impact the music’s integrity to where it loses its unique aspects. Hopefully, this won’t be the case if the music comes to our shores. If Kazakh Pop becomes the new wave, it’ll be fun to see where it goes!

 

—- Joelle Halon

In late January, will.i.am and CL hinted at a collaboration via Twitter. This led 2NE1 and Black-Eyed Peas (BEP) fans to speculate that CL will be filling in for Fergie on BEP’s 20^th anniversary album. If true, this is another step Asia will take toward further international recognition. In honor of the potential collaboration, let’s look back at other East-meets-West collaborations over the years to celebrate (Snoop Dogg and PSY need not apply this time)!

Pixie Lott ft. T.O.P and G-Dragon “Dancing on My Own”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DDpo7qQQDI

YG artists tend to lead the charge with collaborations with Western artists. The 24-year-old British singer collaborated with Big Bang’s T.O.P and G-Dragon on “Dancing on My Own” in 2011. T.O.P and GD sing and rap in English, and they sound amazing! Sadly, this song is fairly obscure and few fans actually know about it. “Dancing on My Own” is a gem that shows off T.O.P and GD’s versatility.

Wonder Girls featuring Akon “Like Money”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quE6Cq4Q2bs

During their peak, Wonder Girls showed the most potential to crossover into the Western market by opening for the Jonas Brothers and subsequent ventures in the U.S. with a Nickelodeon movie and various TV appearances. In 2012, the girls had the futuristic song “Like Money” with R&B and hip-hop artist Akon. The song had a perfect pairing of Wonder Girls’ awesome vocals and Akon’s rapping abilities even though it sounded too over-processed at times. However, it had the beat Western audiences loved complete with K-Pop charm.

CL, G-Dragon, Diplo and Skrillex “Dirty Vibe”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq-aVCUs2Q0

2014’s “Dirty Vibe” is half swear-fest, half nervous breakdown, but it caught enough attention from fans to consider it a decent collaboration, though it’s not the best introduction to K-Pop artists. However, Skrillex did choose Western-friendly K-Pop rap artists to participate in the track.

CL, apl.de.ap, and will.i.am “Where is the Love?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwhrIos4o6o

During MAMA 2011, CL performed with apl.de.ap and will.i.am on “Where is the Love?” and gained a lot of love from the Singaporean fans and even earned praised on U.S entertainment websites, starting the United States’ love affair with CL. This performance shows why CL is a fitting choice to fill in for Fergie for BEP’s new album.

G-Dragon and Missy Elliot “Niliria”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VjE4RHZAaI

Missy Elliot worked with GD on his Coup d’Etat album in 2013.  For “Niliria,” the pairing felt natural and necessary since Missy Elliot is a 1990s’ rap icon and GD is one of Korea’s most-known rappers outside of Korea. The only question remaining is why the pairing didn’t happen sooner.

BoA and Westlife “Flying Without Wings”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T1W8fWzfMk

In 2003, BoA collaborated with British boyband Westlife on “Flying Without Wings” for the group’s Asian release of Unbreakable-The Greatest Hits Vol. 1. A 15-year-old BoA showed her youthful exuberance in the studio, giving the song a hint of innocence. In 2003, Hallyu was just starting to spread westward, so this collaboration was a nice beginning for the West’s introduction to K-Pop artists.

Ne-Yo featuring Utada Hikaru “Do You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfQ3RFkd9so

American R&B artist Ne-Yo and Japanese-American songstress Utada Hikaru got together in 2007 for Ne-Yo’s The Collection Japanese compilation album. Ne-Yo has more power to his voice compared to Utada’s unusually subdued tone, but they both pair well to tell a tale of heartache.

Se7en featuring Lil Kim “Girls”

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

Se7en displays his R&B smoothness in 2009 with “Girls.” His collaboration with Lil Kim earned him some US radio-play (at least where I live). Since he sang in English, many didn’t know it was a K-Pop artist. “Girls” is forgotten these days, but it’s still a worthwhile song.

Koda Kumi and Omarion “Slow”

http://www.jpopsuki.tv/video/Koda-Kumi—Slow-feat-Omarion/f702abbffaaa28cda6794eb6616a665f

Omarion has a steady fanbase in Japan, so pairing with Koda Kumi made sense. Their collaboration blurs the line between pop and R&B, creating an interesting dynamic.

AI and The Jacksons “Can You Feel It?”

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

You read that correctly: The Jacksons, as in the Jackson Five. The Jacksons and AI paired for AI’s tenth anniversary. While the collaboration seems random, AI was once a backup singer for Michael Jackson and even attended his funeral, so the Jacksons coming in to celebrate her tenth anniversary was a nice “thank you” for her service.

JYJ, Kanye West, Malik Yusef “Ayy Girl”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH-pgwvaIuY

JYJ teamed up with Kanye West and Malik Yusef on the lead single on their English album. While Yusef and West didn’t appear in the MV, their vocals are still felt throughout the song. The rapping and vocals made the song successful and worth listening to, and according to Dazed, demand was so high for the album that production had to temporarily cease.

 

What are some of your favorite East-meets-West collaborations? Name them in the comments below!

 

—- Joelle Halon

Food is one of the most significant parts in each culture. It is just amazing to try different kinds of food from different countries around the world. Just like how people always think of sushi when they think of Japan, hamburger when they think of America, kimchi when they think of Korea, and so on…. They think of Pho when they talk about Vietnamese food. Pho is the famous Vietnamese beef broth noodle soup. But no, Vietnamese cuisine is not all about Pho. There are still many other delicious dishes.

Even though the people from the North, the Central and the South may eat different kinds of food, they all cook and enjoy the same Vietnamese traditional meal. The main dish of the meal is Caramelized Braised Pork and Boiled Eggs, thit heo kho trung.

To prepare for this dish, you can buy ingredients at any Asian market. The ingredients include, 2lbs pork belly or shoulder, 8 eggs, 4 gloves of garlic, 3 tbsp sugar, 4tbsp oil, 3 cups coconut juice, 2 tbsp salt and 1 tbsp pepper. Of course, one ingredient that can’t be missed in Vietnamese dishes is fish cause, about 3tbsp.

Cut the pork into 1” cubes. Peel the cloves of garlic and crush them. Boil the eggs and peel them. Let’s marinate the pork first! Put the pork cubes into a big bowl, add half of the crushed garlic, salt, pepper, and fish sauce. In a small pan, caramelize sugar and water in medium heat until the mixture turns golden brown color. Add that caramel in to the marinated pork bowl. Mix them all together and wait about 15- 30 minutes.

Next, let’s cook it! In a large pan, turn on high heat, when the pan is hot, add oil and wait about 10 seconds, add the rest of the fresh crushed garlic and stir for 5 seconds. You can smell the garlic now and see that they are about to turn a little brown in color. Add all the marinated pork in and stir until you see the color of meat change, add coconut juice. When the juice is boiling, turn the heat back to low, add boiled eggs in and cook for about 2 hours. Done!

This caramelized braised pork and egg is served with rice, of course. It can also be served with some vegetables, such as lettuce, mint leaves, cucumber or preserved cabbage. Sometimes, people can also make rolls with the pork and eggs. They wrap the vegetable, pork, and egg inside a rice paper and eat like spring rolls.

Even though there are a lot of different types of food in Vietnamese cuisine, this caramelized braised pork and egg is the traditional dish. It is the most popular dish that people around the country, in every household, from the North to the South, make every year for Tet holiday. Tet is the biggest traditional holiday in Vietnam. It’s the time that people celebrate Lunar New Year. They have Tet holiday because it’s the chance for everyone to take a break from the entire year of working, look back on what they have done and get ready to move on to the next year.

Caramelized braised pork and egg is also the dish to serve on ancestors’ altar on their death anniversary. If you want to know more about Vietnamese food, other than Pho, you should try this dish.

—- Titi Chan

Radio DJs often stand at the forefront of music culture. They get to experience music audiences firsthand to see who reacts to the music and what could possibly be the “next big thing” on the scene.

We continue our interview with Big B Radio. In Part One of the interview, DJs Emergency, Typo, And, Rexie, Ben, Kagome, and Lizzie introduced themselves, their interests, and their radio audience.  In Part Two, they share their thoughts and observations of how Asian music impacts the world and different cultures.

 

In your country, how big is the Korean Wave, and how much of an influence do you think it’s had on people if any?

And: I can’t speak of the entire United States, but as far as North Carolina is concerned, the Korean Wave is barely a blip on the radar. Yes, everyone has heard of PSY, but other than that, you see no signs of people even being aware of Korean entertainment. Most of us have consumed it unaware: “I Am the Best” playing in the Microsoft commercial or being used during So You Think You Can Dance and the instrumental once during a football game broadcast, or a Korean actor being in a Hollywood film. I only met one person (meaning not met online) that has any experience with K-Pop, and they introduced it to me. Due to this, I don’t think the Korean Wave has even been felt at all.

Ben: Can’t really determine how big the Korean Wave in Canada is right now, but unfortunately we get the short end of the stick compared to the US when it comes to concerts and events from K-Pop artists. “Gangnam Style” might have triggered and exposed many Canadians to K-Pop because it was quite popular that it even played on our own local radio stations. From what I have read and heard from an online source, Toronto might get a KCON in May 2015 if their Kickstarters funding goal becomes a success. This will definitely play a major role in spreading K-Pop to Canada and creates a platform for future K-Pop artists to hold more concerts, events, or tours in Canada. Hopefully this Kickstarter becomes successful.

Typo: For Estonia, K-Pop has a small influence since we are already a small country. But PSY’s “Gangnam Style” was a huge hit here! I know only two people in my country who like K-Pop; the rest who I have told about it don’t think much about it.

Kagome: Korean music is not really that big in the USA. It`s a shame. It has a lot of great groups and artists.  Maybe in the bigger cities K-Pop is bigger. Very few artists and groups tour the whole USA, only in LA and NY and maybe some college towns.

Rexie: Here in Puerto Rico, I thought the Korean Wave wasn’t big at all. Boy, I was wrong.  I was so surprised to find out there are many fan groups here and that a lot has been done to spread the K-Pop-love on the island to the point that the Korean group Boyfriend held a concert here last year.  Just found out they’re opening a small K-Pop store on the island. It’s fun to find out that people of all ages are hooked on K-dramas. I think people are more open to accepting things that are not the norm here.

 

What are some of the biggest influences Asian music has had on your culture if any? Have there been any negative influences?

Ben: Can’t say it has any major influence on me due to the fact I am Asian (Chinese) myself except for the taste of music. I grew up listening to the 90s and a bit older C-Pop due to my dad karaoking almost every night. *Laughs*Now I can’t get used to the new C-Pop artists out there due to the fact that they are certainly influenced by the styles of Western artists such as rapping, electronic music, dubstep, etc.

Emergency: I’m actually glad you asked this question because I do see a lot of change in people that went from listening to American music to Asian music. Some people don’t want to believe that music influences your everyday lives when it actually does. More people are becoming faithful and respectful to their loved ones which also influences the people around them to change. It may seem like entertainment to you, but deep under all of this is that good message you needed to hear to change your perspective on life completely.

The only negative that comes from it is that a lot of older people don’t understand it and think it’s [dumb] or too happy for them. What they don’t realize is they need to have the happy feeling in their life rather than drown themselves in depressed music. What I say is… If your life is miserable you should first look at what is surrounding you, because what you see with your eyes and hear with your ears effects your mind and soul.

Rexie: In my opinion, I don’t think it’s had a big influence in the culture.  Here, people are open to other things but are very protective of what’s our own.  Wouldn’t say there’s been negative influence. There’s always going to be those who don’t like K-Pop because it’s different, but what they think doesn’t make a huge impact.

Lizzie: Hmm, I would say that the biggest influences are our communication and interaction with one another. Taking my friends and I for example, we tend to talk about schoolwork only before we got to know about K-Pop. Now, with these Asian music, it brings us more topics to start on and somehow it makes our friendship deepened.

Negative influences may lie on those around us who are not into K-Pop/J-Pop. When a group of friends are talking about K-Pop/J-Pop, the one who is not into these Asian music will be left out. Therefore, when there is a friend of mine like that around me, I will tend to not talk about K-Pop/J-Pop stuffs.

Typo: Most music comes from the USA. Since English is more understandable than any Asian language, then I think it would take lot of time when K-Pop or any other will have any good future here. My hopes for good Asian music here goes out for our local fan!

Influence? I’d say again PSY “Gangnam Style”: Groovy song until fans started to not like since as usually songs get overplayed here. Even schools here made their video of “Gangnam Style” dance.

Kagome: The Lolita and Japanese Street fashion and the music artists like Moon Kana. There have not been any negative influences.

 

When it comes to acceptance, do you find your country to be more accepting of Hallyu, or is there any type of resistance toward K-Pop—or even J or C-Pop—from anyone in your country? What is this like if you could explain?

And: The US loves a caricature, right? People are fine with PSY entertaining them, but eventually the novelty wears off.  I think people, in general, simply don’t care because nothing is happening on a big scale. The most resistance you’ll get is people saying things like “But, the songs aren’t in English.” Nobody probably cares that a small segment of the population is consuming Hallyu, so there’s no acceptance or resistance. It’s more like apathy.

Lizzie:  I’m sure Singapore is to be more of the accepting part. We even have K-Pop concerts set in Singapore. And just recently during New Year Eve, Big Bang came for countdown to a new year! Woohoo!

Emergency: Mainly, the older generation doesn’t understand it [J-Pop] and those that are stuck in the rap scene think it’s corny. If only they can see what we see it can change their life completely. I’m actually glad that it’s getting big because we need that influence in our lives to change us to become a better person than what we are. The morals and the lyrics really make you think outside of the box, you know?

Kagome: A lot of people around here don`t care for Asian music, it’s sad they do.  They prefer acts like Taylor Swift or the Black Eyed Peas, or Snoop Dogg, etc.

Typo: I do think Hallyu can be accepted here, but since USA music is played everywhere, and Estonian and Russian, then I think it would take some time to be accepted here fully. Unless there will be K-Pop Radio or any other Asian genre radio, then I think [time] will tell.

Rexie: I think Hallyu will be well accepted. I don’t think there will be much resistance. People here love their island and anything that can get our island noticed by other countries is very welcomed. I’ve heard of concerts held from different types of genres and from groups from different parts of the world. They’ve been well accepted as long as they’ve not been disrespectful to our culture.

Ben: Some of the main problems I see in Western countries when analyzing (facing) K-Pop/J-Pop/C-Pop is the language barriers, the “need” for numerous members, bizarre (unique) wardrobe the idols wear, and the “weird”(Not really weird) story plot concepts in music videos. Not being able to understand the song (language) is a major factor in the Western communities since they feel like they need to “understand” what they are saying in order to like the  artists. This kind of intertwines with trying to understand the MV’s of certain songs. I realize to a certain extent that people always question the need for large amount members in groups. This may be due to the fact that the Western music industry never really had a large amount of members in a group before and that’s why they aren’t used to it. In conclusion, I suppose people who don’t understand (through lyrics) what the singer is trying to convey through the song makes it harder for them to accept it.

 

Depending on how long you’ve been listening to J-Pop, do you think it’s changed much since the J-Wave of the early 2000s? What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen?

Kagome: Yes, it has changed a lot from the days of Keiko Fuji and Pink Lady.  You have acts like Ayumi Hamasaki and Koda Kumi and AKB 48 and Seamo and An Cafe and YUKI and Moon Kana, Diggy Mo… They have taken the music and the videos to the next level and changed the face of J-Pop music.

Emergency: I wasn’t really around for it in the early 2000s because I was still into the hip hop/rap scene listening to 50 Cent, Young Buck, etc… The group that first got me into the Asian scene was 2NE1 with their song “Can’t Nobody” and it was before the English version was released. From there I discovered 4Minute, E.via, Wonder Girls, After School, and more. It just grew on me completely and since then I never turned back.

As for changes hmmm… In my opinion I believe that some of K-Pop has become a bit Americanized than before and the message they put out has changed compared to what it used to be, but that doesn’t go for all groups. As for J-Pop I’m seeing a change as well. Lyrics-wise, it’s pretty much the same J-Pop you hear, but I think some Korean influences are coming about like E-Girls for example. Music is always evolving so who knows what’s going to be in the future.

Typo: Everything changes with time. Their way of singing… Style has lot of changes. Stakes are getting higher and higher which makes it harder to debut for new groups.

 

In the US, do you feel J-Pop is still just as relevant as it was in the past decade? Furthermore, how much of an influence do you think it’s had on people if any?

Emergency: I will tell you that both J-Pop and K-Pop have become more popular in the states and it will continue to grow daily. This year, we had many J-Pop artists come over from overseas and their tickets sold out almost every show. The same is going on with K-Pop and a matter of fact, if you think about it, they are out selling the local artists here which I believe is a good thing. American music needs to change completely before it can make a com back, but for now it’s a sinking ship that keeps drowning. I know some American artists are taking cues from Asian fashion, but it’s not changing the music itself. AMERICA WE NEED CHANGE! BRING US CHANGE PLEEEAAASSEEE!! LOL!

 

 [Emergency], your bio hints at you being a J-Pop enthusiast. With K-Pop taking over, interest in J-Pop seems to have gone down since the early 2000s. What makes you like J-Pop, and what do you think music fans are missing by not giving it a chance?

Emergency: Well, I was originally into K-Pop and kinda still am, but for the past year or two I’ve been getting into J-Pop with artists like Perfume, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, LiSA, and more.

As for K-Pop taking over I think in some aspects it is and it isn’t. There is always room to listen to both as they each progress and change as time goes on. I for sure think American music is pretty much dying. People are getting tired of listening to music that encourages them to cheat on their loved ones or go to the club for a fling which is barely ever found in Asian music. There’s more of a positive influence and I believe people should really tune in and see what’s going on rather than push it away, because it’s in a different language. The whole argument of which is better (J-Pop vs K-Pop) is really irrelevant because both have their own unique style to it.

 

When you look at Korean music culture, do you see any similarities between it and your music culture? What about with J-Pop and C-Pop? What similarities and differences do you see, and how do you think this impacts music consumption in your country?

And: There are some definite similarities with fans. Western music has a long history of roadies, stalkers, and rabid fans. K-Pop is no different.

However, I think the importance of social media is greater for K-Pop. We live on the Internet as K-Pop fans, because that’s the only way to continuingly consume the genre. For Western music, we can simply go to the store to pick up an album, or turn on the radio. We don’t have that option with K-pop – at least not to a great, commonplace extent. Therefore, K-pop is more about streaming, tweeting, commenting, and blogging, than about attending concerts and buying posters at the local mall.

Kagome: I think that it’s way better than the Western music. I see differences. Western music is the same; with every artist, it’s all the same. Cookie cutter formula.   K-Pop, C-Pop, and J-Pop artists always reinvent themselves with every release, and it is always fresh and new.

Rexie: To be honest, I don’t see much similarity between the Korean music culture and the Puerto Rican music culture.  I think because Asian music, in general, is different.  It makes it appealing– the culture–  but the impact is slowly growing.

Lizzie: Singapore is a multiracial country which makes us have different kinds of music like Chinese, Malay, and Indian. To point out a similarities in it is kind of hard for me. Haha! Since I’m a Chinese, I’ll talk about the similarities about C-Pop and K-Pop then. The answer is, English. K-Pop and C-Pop music, 9 out of 10 will have at least some English words inside it. Can this count as a similarity?

Yes! *Laughs*

Typo: I think there are very less similarities in our music and their music. Just that music comes from their soul, when they sing. Overall, I think I see huge gap since Estonian music is different and has low standards. I could compare Estonian music to C-Pop.

Ben: I can say about 50 percent of the Korean Music Industry have some sort of western influence involved because they aim to be global and in order to become global, they first need to be able to sell “music” that is acceptable on a Westernized standard. If the public likes the “music,” then K-Pop can break the borders and thrive globally and not only in the Asia. An example would be Wonder Girls [who were] sent by JYP to try and break into the American industry, but they simply could not gain enough popularity to rival domestic artists (such Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry) even when releasing Westernized songs like “Like Money” and “The DJ is Mine” (Did like both songs though).

C-Pop is similar to K-Pop, but they don’t strive to go global as much I believe. J-Pop (Japanese music in general) doesn’t seem to be influenced too much by Western styles, but rather seclude themselves in their own format. Maybe I worded that wrongly, but what I am trying to say is that they are more focused domestically rather than globally or internationally. By adjusting to the standards of Western countries, consumption will probably go up, but that also lowers the quality (uniqueness) they previously had before the adjustments. Although, I hope these artists would not change too much to accommodate to westerners tastes and stick to their original flavor too.

 

In your opinion, what should the Chinese music market do to expand into the global market?

Rexie: In my opinion, I think they should start bringing their artists to other parts of the world. They should try appealing to radio station outside of Asia. I think that can be a start.

 

For the Asian music scene to attract more of an audience, what do you think the companies and artists need to do to improve their reach?

Ben: Apart from trying to copy or imitate the Western format, I believe that companies and artists should stick to being original (being themselves) and steadily break that global barrier instead of rushing in. As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day” so continue to progress until you have gained the experience and skill that will not go unnoticed by others.

Rexie: Companies need to reach out to other countries, especially to the radio stations.  They should do more shows/concerts out of Asia. People all around the world love Asian music especially K-Pop and J-Pop.

Emergency: Create a mainstream radio station based on J-Pop and K-Pop or even better just get the music played on the radio AS IS. What makes their American albums fail is they try to do it in English and try to please the American industry. They should just release the music and get it on the radio no matter what language it is. People will catch on to it in no time. Look at some of the music that became popular in the past that was in a language other than English. It caught on so why can’t they do the same with J-Pop and K-Pop?

Kagome: I think that the record/music labels need to support their Asian artists here in America. There is a big market for Asian music, but the major labels don`t want to cut into the market of their Western artists here. They do push and promote their Western artists in Asia.

And: Let’s face it; the music industry in the US is incredibly superficial (not to mention inherently racist), just as in Korea. So, companies can’t do much to improve. They already have the pretty and hot part down pat. Companies being able to break the racial barrier or sexual barrier will be almost impossible. People will fetishize and stereotype. I have no doubt, also, that people will revolt against some cultural aspects, especially male skinship, due to them seeing the acts as fitting in Western ideas of homoerotism. Right now, all they can hope for is word-of-mouth and massive social media presence continues – and that popular Western artists do some marketing for them. It’s sad, but a reality.

Lizzie: Basically, people always look at their style. How they are dressed and how their hairs are styled. Oh! And most importantly, their makeup. That plays a big part in music scene, from my opinion.

Typo: With time, everything changes, so yes, every company needs to finds ways to reach even bigger audiences. Some less, some more. And companies need to respect their singers!

 

Looking at C-Pop, J-Pop, K-Pop and even Thai-Pop and Viet-Pop, if Hallyu bubble ever bursts, what do you think will be the next music sensation out of Asia and why?

Lizzie: In my opinion, K-Pop will still be my bias if its bubble bursts. It is a really difficult question for me to answer as I wish that Hallyu will continue standing strong for generations. But if I have to choose, maybe C-Pop? As for the reason… mainly because C-Pop has a lot of similarity to K-Pop: The clothing, dance moves, etc.

Typo: I would be between on J-Pop and K-Pop. I think both of them have lot of worldwide fans and growing with time. Just a matter of time…

Kagome: That will be hard to say.  Music taste changes faster than the wind. I would say C-Pop will be the next big thing. I doubt that Viet or Thai pop will be the big. There is a lot of big and new up and coming C-Pop artists and groups coming out of China right now.

Rexie: To be honest, I haven’t given any thought to that. I probably think this Hallyu Wave will be around for a long time.

Emergency: I’m not too sure about the next big thing, but I do know that Asian music will continue to grow as long as they keep doing what they’re doing and not try to please the American industry. If they could look at it in a way that the American industry is failing and is no longer the top dog they should have nothing to worry about. Cater to your people and it will cater to us just like don’t change for us, but change for your own people. That’s how I see it.

Ben: I haven’t even thought that far into the future yet, but that does really get me thinking. Even when I keep thinking, nothing seems to pop up. I guess that is the fun part to not knowing the future because the future is full of interesting possibilities. If the Hallyu bubble does pop during my lifetime, I wonder what would come next.

And: I think one of K-Pop’s biggest beneficial factors is that it’s similar to Western music – same goes for C-Pop. I’m not sure about other Asian countries, so if anybody is going to take over, it’ll be a country that has music that also matches up well with Western trends.

 

Thank you so much for your time! Do you have anything else you would like to add?

Emergency: Yes! Tune into Big B Radio for the hottest Asian music out there! Shout out to all the DJs at Big B Radio, DJ Amaya, ApieceofOnion, K-BitCRUSH, Xulikken, i5cream, DJ SE7EN, Areia, Pianosalmon, DJ Shenny, Kelly Hilltone, and many more. If I forgot to mention your name, I apologize!

 

Big B Radio is always looking for a broader audience. Take the time to check out the crew and their music any time at www.bigbradio.com. Also, if you want to keep the music going and you like what you hear, the station runs on donations, so check out their YouCaring page at “Keep Big B Radio Alive 2014/2015.”

DJ Emergency has a SoundCloud dedicated to his remixes. You can check them out at https://soundcloud.com/djemergency!

Thank you, Big B DJs, for your time and patience!