WINNER’s Lee Seung Hoon, famously known as Hoony, is set to officially debut as a solo artist this coming July. The solo debut comes days before the band, which debuted in August 2013, celebrates its 10th anniversary. According to YG Entertainment, the star is finalizing the debut album which is set to be released in mid-July.
In addition to being a skilled dancer and choreographer, Hoony has showcased his capability through WINNER band’s lyrical pieces. One of his most memorable lyrical masterpiece is the “FLAMENCO” track, his solo track, which featured in WINNER’s ‘CROSS’ album released in 2019.
Hoony is also skilled as a songwriter, skills which he flaunted upon self-composing WINNER’s “Serenade” track for the band’s “Remember” album in 2020. Hoony is the last member of WINNER to venture into the solo artist realm.
—-Karen Mwenda
#WINNERs:eeSeimgJppm #solodebut #LeeSeungHoon #YGEntertainment #kcrushnews #kidol #kpopnews #korea #WINNER #soloartist #selfcomposing #Serenadetrack #Rememberalbum #Hoony #songwriter #soloventure #kcrush #hallyu #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kmusic #krap #koreanartist #Flamenco #Crossalbum #Julysolodebut
GOT7’s Yoongjae and Bae In Hyuk have switched agencies.
Yoongjae of GOT7 boy band has transferred agencies to AndBut Company. The talented musical guru, who also ventured in to the solo artist realm back in 2021, released a teaser of his upcoming comeback digital single titled “T.P.O” late last month. On June 24, AndBut Company shared their joy of working with the star who was formerly under JYP Entertainment. AndBut Company is said to be owned by a former employee of JYP Entertainment.
Bae In Hyuk also changed agencies and joined YY Entertainment family that houses legendary artists like TOZ boy band. The talented actor, including in My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021) and The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023-24) k-dramas, joined YY Entertainment on June 24 after his contract with UU Company expired.
—-Karen Mwenda
#GOT7 #YongjaeGOT7 BaeInHyukGOT7 #kcrushnews #newagency #kpop #kpopnews #kpopupdate #YYEntertainment #UUCompany #AndButCompany #JYP #koreanartists #kcrushamericamagazine #kdrama #MyRoommateIsAGumiho #TheStoryofParksMarriageContract #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kidol
Film Critic and Journalist Carolyn Hinds speaks to Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Nedda Sarshar about her short film ‘Unibrow’, beauty standards, teenage and cultural insecurity and acceptance. The film screened in the Shibuya Diversity Program at SSFF & Asia.
#CanadianFilm #BeautyStandards #JapaneseFilmFestival #AsianFilmFestival #Interview #KCrush
In this interview film critic and journalist Carolyn Hinds speaks with filmmaker Nguyễn Hồng Anh about her queer romance short film ‘Saigon Kiss’ which screened in the Rainbow Program at the Japanese festival (SSFF& Asia)
#VietnamesFilm #Saigon #ShortShortsFilmFestival #LGBTQ #kcrushfilminterview #QueerRomance #kcrushamerica #filmfestivalinterview #2024kcrushinterview #KCrush #AsianFilmFestival #Interview
BTS’s jovial Jin has been discharged from the military. On June 12, Jin celebrated the milestone with other BTS members as they congratulated him for the hardwork.
Jin enrolled into the military last year in June. The star was serving in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, under the 5th Infantry Division recruit training center.
Jin was the first BTS member to undertake the mandatory military training. J-Hope and Suga followed months after. Jung Kook, V, Jimin and RM were the last members to enlist in December 2023. BTS is expected to reunite as a band in 2025 after all the members have finished the mandatory military service.
—-Karen Mwenda
#BTSJinCompletesMandatoryMilitaryService #kcrushnews #breakingnews #kcrushamerica #BTSARMY #announcement #koreanmilitaryservice #BTSmilitaryservice #koreanpop #kpop #koreanidol #kpopmusic #returnfrommilitaryservice
In addition to the recently finished “Queen of Tears” and “Lovely Runner” k-dramas, the first half of June 2024 has seen a trend in k-dramas of diverse genres. Here are 8 k-dramas that have received high ratings and are worth bingeing on this June.
1. Connection
A reputable narcotics unit detective is forcibly addicted to drugs and his best friend is murdered. Uncovering the mystery behind those who made him addicted and his friend’s murder unveils a web of dark secrets tied to the most powerful figures. With every episode revealing the connection between the over decade-long rogue deals and lies, the series leaves viewers in anticipation and suspense throughout. The starring cast includes Ji Sung, Jeon Mi Do, Kwon Yool, and Kim Kyung Nam.
2. Crash
A traffic crime investigation team becomes the center of attention for the increasing traffic-related offenses connected to other illegal acts. With an intriguing twist of events from adamant villains, the traffic investigation team engages in all means to ensure the offenders are put behind bars. The starring cast includes Lee Min Ki, Heo Sung Tae, and Kwak Sun Young.
3. High School Return of a Gangster
A 47-year-old gangster, 2nd most important in his gang, works hard towards his dream of attending university despite his age. While saving a teenage boy from committing suicide, the two exchange bodies leaving the elderly gangster’s spirit in the boy’s body. In time the elderly man realizes the messed-up life the teenager had been experiencing, especially bullying at school and from those after his father’s wealth. The gangster vows to restore the teenage boy’s life to normality before leaving his body. The starring cast includes Lee Seo Jin, Yoon Chan Young, Bong Jae Hyun, Won Tae Min, and Hwang Bo Ra.
4. Missing Crown Prince
In a bid to cleanse her daughter’s ill fate, a royal physician accidentally kidnaps the crown prince, who is later rescued by the physician’s daughter. The crown prince gets into a bigger problem as the queen sends inside men to kill him to cover up the mistakes. Bleeding to death and not sure those who are for him, the crown prince goes into hiding to uncover the web of lies that have even left the king helpless. The starring cast includes Suho, Hong Ye Ji, Myung Se Bin, Kim Joo Hun, and Kim Min Kyu.
5. The Player 2: Master of Swindlers
Currently in its season 2, the drama involves a team of highly skilled individuals who regroup to take revenge after the tragic loss of their teammate during a mission. the team, comprised of a scammer, hacker, driver, and fighter, resumes its mission of putting powerful and untouchable figures behind bars. With win-win deals diligent prosecution officers and sponsors with a similar goal, the team plots their way to success and manages to steal dirty money illegally collected by the rich. The starring cast includes Song Seung Heon, Lee Si Un, Tae Won Seok, Jang Gyu Ri, Oh Yeon Seo, and Kim Won Hae.
6. The Midnight Romance in Hagwon
A quirky student who returns after a decade to fulfill his heart’s yearning desire. After getting accepted as a teacher, he goes full mode and tries to win his long-term crush, a cram school instructor. The tricky part is that this school instructor was the quirky student’s designated teacher during his school days a decade ago in the same school. The struggle between love and responsibility fused in a past student-teacher relationship and the present teacher-teacher professional relationship is an intriguing factor that keeps viewers glued to the screen. The starring cast includes Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon.
7. Hierarchy
Jooshin High School is the country’s most elite school with a long history of attendees from conglomerate corporations. A small percentage of students from the country’s most privileged families control the school. A scholarship student is killed but the matter is covered up to avoid tinting the school’s image. Kang Ha enters Jooshin High School to reveal his twin brother’s murder and take revenge. A series of unexpected twists surface as Kang Ha realizes the power he is up against. The starring cast includes Roh Jeong Eui, Lee Chae Min, Kim Jae Won, Ji Hye Won, and Lee Won Jung.
8. My Sweet Mobster
A former reforming gangster owns a food company overseen and managed by fellow ex-convicts. The ex-gangster finds himself head over heels for a kids’ content creator who on the other hand is obsessed with looking for a man named “Hyun” from her childhood. The ex-gangster is up against a prosecutor, who has a clean criminal record and is good with kids just as the kids’ content creator. With the series in its first episodes, the anticipation of a fight based on flaws and perfection is quickly building up. The starring cast includes Han Sun Hwa, Eom Tae Goo, and Kwon Yul.
—-Karen Mwenda
#8TrendingKDramasRightNowJune2024 #bingewatch #kcrushcontent #bingewatchkdrama #MySweetMobster #Hierarchy #kcrama #koreandramasforJune2024 #MissingCrownPrince #kcrushamericamagazine #kpop #OST #KoreanActor #Connection #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kpopmagazine #onlinekpopmagazine #Asianmagazine #Crash
In a devastating heart-wrenching post, the former Hello Venus member shared the news of her battle with cancer. Yoo Ara gained fame after debuting under Hello Venus girl group with the “Venus” hit single in 2012.
In June 11, 2024, Yoo Ara shared a touching message on her Instagram page revealing that she had recently been diagnosed with cancer. The star poured her heart out sharing that she had undergone surgery to remove a malignant tumor. Yoo Ara shared that although the journey has been difficult, she is getting better and plans to work hard on recovering and being the best version of herself.
Yoo Ara thanked everyone who has been with her through this trying journey. Sharing this burden with her fans, the star ended her note urging people to take care of their health and promised to keep her fans updated.
We want to wish her well.
—-Karen Mwenda
#FormerHelloVenusYooAraCancerBattle #CancerBattleofYooAra #HelloVenus #kcrush #YooAraHealthIssues #koreanpop #kpopidol #HelloVenusmemberYooAra #Cancer #HelloVenusKoreanGirlGroup #kcrushamerica #breakingnewskcrush
The legendary boy band has made yet another groundbreaking stride through collaboration to appear in a Hollywood film, the internationally accredited Minions series. On June 14, “Despicable Me 4” hinted that BTS would be part of their highly anticipated film. Despicable Me 4 uploaded a teaser video showing BTS minions dancing to the band’s “Permission to Dance” song.
Produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures, this American animated comedy film premiered in New York City on 9th June 2024, and is expected to be released next month. Pharell William, who performed the “Happy” hit song for “Despicable Me 2”, also graced “Despicable Me 4” with the “Double Life” soundtrack that has become an internet frenzy hour upon release.
—-Karen Mwenda
#BTSCollaborateswithDespicableMe4 #BTScollaboration #kcrushnews #DespicableMe4Movie #DoubleLifesoundtrack #BTSDM4 #koreanpop #kpop #kpopidol #BTSmovie #BTSARMY #ARMYForBTS #UniversalPictures #BTSMinions #July3rdRelease #kcrushamerica #kpopmagazine #Asiannewsmagazine #kpoponlinemagazinekcrush #BTSacting
Film Critic and Journalist Carolyn Hinds speaks with Filmmaker Ikeda Kei about his latest short film ‘to I’ which screens in the Asia International & Japan Program of the 2024 ShortShorts Film Festival & Asia in Japan. Language interpretation was done by John Haggerty.
“All that glitters isn’t gold” Is a phrase I often heard growing up to describe how people can project an outward appearance of perfection while behind closed doors their lives would be anything but perfect. In her second feature film Time to Be Strong, which premiered at the 25th Jeonju International Film Festival, writer and director Namkoong Sun strips down the facade of perfection projected by the Korean music industry to show that the lives of its artists are anything but golden.
Following the success of her 2021 debut feature Ten Months which screened at numerous film festivals within South Korea and abroad, Namkoong Sun was chosen by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to create a film for the organization’s 15h Human Rights Movie Projects.
To the hundreds of thousands of fans of the globally popular K-pop industry and its dozens (yes dozens, rather than hundreds) of successful groups, the bright lights, flashy costumes, tightly choreographed dance numbers, and catchy songs the lives of the performers seem glamorous. Seeing their “idols” smile and perform “aegyo” i.e. cute facial expressions, market their latest songs with viral TikTok videos, and engage in fanservice at fan meetings, and concerts seems like the best life imaginable. But the truth is that for the majority of K-pop artists real life off stage is far dimmer than the bright lights on the stage, especially for former artists forced to retire through disbandment when their groups fail to capture enough public attention to turn big enough profits to remain active.
In Time to Be Strong, former company mates Sumin (Choi Seung-eun), Taehee (Hyun Woo-seok), and Sarang (Ha Seo-yun) go on a longer overdue group trip to Jeju Island in an effort to reclaim parts of their youth lost to the industry. For most children going on field trips is an ordinary part of their childhoods and school experience. Traveling to different locations to enjoy a day or weekend of fun excursions at historical landmarks and museums, playing in parks, or frolicking at the seaside are typical, but for these 3 young adults life became more a series of missed opportunities and lost innocence.
Even as they make it to Jeju, their time there turns into an exercise in coming to terms with the trauma they were subjected to at the hands of adults like greedy company owners, lascivious potential investors, and demanding fans who all wanted more of them than any child and teenager should ever be expected to give. For Sumin the de facto leader of their small group there—and the girl group LOVE&LEEDS of which Sarang was a member—the pressure of always taking the lead and conforming to destructive beauty standards presents in her compulsion to push herself beyond her physical and mental limits.
For Taehee, performing for audiences, for women, becomes second nature to the point that he thinks smiling when he doesn’t want to is normal. Having been conditioned to always put on his ‘best face’ for anyone watching, even as he’s burdened with debt forced upon him by his former CEO as a failed investment. Sarang, being given a suitcase in substitution for her own misplaced one, presents the opportunity for her to finally decide for herself what image she may want to project to the world, and acknowledging the fear of losing herself to bouts of depression and anger as a manifestation of all she’s seen and been subjected to.
Started in 2002 with an omnibus collection of short films by contributing filmmakers such as Im Kwan-taek and Park Chan-wook, the purpose of these projects are to highlight the often hidden and ignored struggles of social minorities and vulnerable people in Korean society through film with the aim of having audiences pay closer attention to the people and issues they consciously and subconsciously overlook. And with Time to Be Strong, Namkoong Sun does that with the K-pop industry which for decades has been an industry that relied on the exploitation of children and young adults for the profit of companies and entertainment of fans.
Though the film is fictional, the experiences of its three main characters are all real. Through dozens of interviews with former and current artists, Namkoong Sun was able to produce a story that is very true to the lives of the thousands of retired artists who were allowed to debut, or never even made it to that point having been fired as trainees by the dozens of companies within the Korean music industry.
To many, the traumas of these children and adults might night register or even be considered Human Rights Violations, but any industry that makes it a practiced of having children sign away 7 years of their lives in contracts they haven’t the capacity to understand on a legal and intellectual basis, and overworks them for years to the point of developing chronic debilitating physical injuries and mental illness, is one that deserves to be intensely scrutinized. No matter how glamorous its facade.
In our discussion during the festival, we spoke about the interviews she conducted to help her gain a deeper understanding of the K-pop industry and develop the characters, their stories representing a type of arrested development, and using the beach as a symbol of feeling overwhelmed.
Time to Be Strong won 3 awards in the Korean Competition category at the Jeonju International Film Festival; the Korean Competition Grand Prize, Best Actor for Choi Seung-eun, and local streaming platform Watcha’s top pick for Best Film.
Carolyn Hinds
Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12
#TimeToBeStrong #3awardswon #KoreanCompetition #JeonjuInternationalFilmFestival #kcrushinterview #film #filmreview #bestactoraward #Watchatoppickforbestfilm #kcrushamericamagazine #kcrushcontent #filmfestival #NamkoongSun #WriterandDirector #ChoiSeungeun #kpopcharacters #kpopindustry #kpopgroups #kpop #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #koreanmusicindustry #retiredkpopartists #currentkpopartists #kpopmusic #kpopstory #kpopfilm #kpopfictionfilm #25thJeonjuInternationalFilmFestival2024 #2024koreanfilmfestival #theNationalHumanRightsCommissionofKorea #NHRCK #HyunWooseok #HaSeoyun
The legendary American singer and songwriter, Billie Eilish, is set to appear on Korea’s popular tvN talk show, “You Quiz On The Block’”. The “Lunch” hitmaker is set to interact with Yoo Jae Suk and Cho Sae Ho with the filming scheduled for mid-June.
Billie Eilish released her 3rd studio album, ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’, early last month. On June 5, the star released a music video teaser of one of the album tracks. The “Chihiro” track MV teaser has skyrocketed the fans’ expectations, especially Korean fans as Bille Eilish is expected to visit Korea in June to promote the album.
Released on May 7, the ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ album became a commercial success and credited Billie Eilish with her first spot in Billboard’s Top 10 placement. The star has also gained massive respect over the last two years for fiercely championing mental health awareness: a crucial issue in today’s society.
—-Karen Mwenda
#BillieEilish #BillieEilishtoAppearOnKoreasYouQuizOnTheBlockShow #kcrushnews #YouQuizOnTheBlockShow #popmusic #koreanshow #koreanvarietyshow #HitMeHardandSoftalbumBillieEilish #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #koreantv #popidol #kcrushannouncement #kcrushbreakingnews #Chihiromusicvideo #tvN #YooJaeSuk #ChoSaeHo
Crayon Pop became a sensational K-pop act from the “Bar Bar Bar” single that gave them over 65 million YouTube views in 2021. Formerly known as Hurricane Pop, Crayon Pop girl band debuted in July 2012 with the “Saturday Night” single under Chrome Entertainment. Composed of Gummi, Choa, Way, and Ellin after Soyul’s departure, Crayon Pop band made international strides including occulting in doing an opening act for Lady Gaga. The group strived to maintain high ratings throughout their career earning a well-deserved credibility status in the history of K-pop. Crayon Pop band has been inactive since 2017 after their contract with Chrome Entertainment ended but has not yet disbanded. The band members have been undertaking individual projects that give fans hope for Crayon Pop’s rebirth.
Gummi
Gummi is Crayon Pop band’s leader and main dancer. After the group’s contract with Chrome Entertainment expired, Gummi signed a contract with Climax Entertainment. This meant that she would continue her Crayon Pop group activities under Chrome Entertainment but pursue her activities under Climax Entertainment. Under Climax Entertainment, Gummi went by the name Song Bo Ram and took up acting. With that, Gummi was cast in several dramas including the Lovers in Bloom (2017) drama. In 2020, Gummi walked down the aisle and gave birth to her first child. Gummi and her husband welcomed their second baby in 2022.
Ellin
Ellin is Crayon Pop’s lead dancer and visual. After the group became inactive, Ellin launched a YouTube channel and joined Afreeca TV as a broadcast jockey. Ellin was ranked among Afreeca TV’s highest-paid jockeys before being involved in the unfortunate “romance scam” controversy. Ellin was accused of costing a man 860,000 USD which she initially denied before admitting and apologizing for the incident. After a 3-months break, Elin resurfaced and continued reigning and cashing out of being a broadcast jockey.
Way
Way is Crayon Pop’s lead vocalist and main rapper. After the band became inactive in 2017, Way started her YouTube channel the same year. Her regular and catchy uploads have given the star a consistent and massive following over the years. Way also joined Twitch recently which had further sky-rocketed her fame.
Choa
Choa is Crayon Pop’s main vocalist. After the band went on hiatus, Choa ventured into the musical actress field and was cast in various works including “Hero” musical drama. In addition to opening a personal YouTube channel in 2019, Choa also released the “My Universe” single the same year alongside her twin sister and Crayon Pop member Way. In December 2021, Choa walked down the aisle with her non-celebrity boyfriend.
Soyul (Former Crayon Pop)
Soyul was the Crayon Pop band’s main vocalist and lead rapper. Despite being the maknae, Soyul became the first Crayon Pop member to venture into the parenting journey. Soyul left Crayon Pop in May 2017 to focus on marriage and parenthood after walking down the aisle with Moon Hee Jun, a former member of H.O.T. boy band. In 2020 Soyul returned to the spotlight by participating in MBC TV’s “King of the Mask Singer” program. Just like her former bandmate Gummi, Soyul also shared second-baby pregnancy news in 2022. With two babies to parent, a girl and a boy, Soyul is enjoying an interestingly busy life.
—-Karen Mwenda
#CrayonPop #Soyul #leadrapper #maknae #marriedMoonHeeune #HOTboyband #KingoftheMaskSinger #MBCTV #kcrush #Choa #MyUniverse #leadvocalist #kcrushamericamagazine #WayaCrayonPopmember #YouTubechannels #Twitch #kpop #Ellin #leaddancer #mainvisual #AfreecaTVJockey #AfreecaTVJournalist #Gummi #leaderofCrayonPop #maindancer #BarBarBar #SaturdayNight #ChromeEntertainment #ClimaxEntertainment #kdramaloversinbloom #kcrushamericamagazine
Bobby, who was set to join mandatory military service last month on the 21st finally enlisted on June 4, 2024. The iKON boy band member became the band’s third member to enlist in the military. Bobby shared a picture with his hair cut short as he thanked the fans for their continued support.
Bobby rose to fame after winning the 2014 Mnet’s Show Me the Money 13 survival reality program. Bobby’s agency, 143 Entertainment, announced it would hold a small private ceremony during his enlistment. Bobby has been quite busy in the first half of 2024 including releasing his 3rd solo album titled Sir Robert in February and the successful Asian “Zero Gravity” tour in March.
In 2021, Bobby walked down the aisle with the love of his life and have a son together. Therefore, Bobby will be enlisted for full-time reserve service given his responsibilities as a young father and newlywed.
We look forward to your return and family well wishes.
—-Karen Mwenda
#Bobby #iKON #militaryservice #fulltimereserveservice #143Entertainment #kcrushnews #Mnet #ShowMeTheMoney13 #kpop #hallyu #kmusic #kculture #koreanmilitary #kcrushannouncement #kcrushbreakingnews #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kpopidol #ZeroGravity #SirRobertBobby
Viral Music Sensation Gets Ready for 19-city Nationwide Tour on the Heels of Celebrating Two Billion Views Collectively
Jet Black, is a dark yet catchy song that highlights the group’s commanding presence and confidence. Along with the lead single, the group explores youthful recklessness and the excitement of young love in “Never Did This Before.” With, “Sunshine” offering a more emotional and softer touch with heartwarming lyrics. They continue the romantic theme with “You Are My Star,” which beautifully captures the feeling of being in love. “Bug” is an unforgettable song that delves into the idea of being love sick but they will not have it any other way. In the smooth R&B track “CYDIA”, the lyrics reflect on growing and sharing experiences together, and most importantly, healing and moving on from the past. Finally, “Nocturnal,” infused with Spanish lyrics, adds a more passionate and sensual vibe to the album.
The octet have also announced their 2024 CYDIA North America Tour Dates. The members will be performing in 19 cities across the U.S., bringing their new music and old tracks for a spin. They will be starting in Texas, make their way through the East Coast, and end back in the West Coast all throughout the month of June
“CYDIA” Album Tracklist:
- CYDIA
- Never Did This Before
- Nocturnal
- Sunshine
- Bug
- Jet Black
- You Are My Star
2024 CYDIA North America Tour Dates:
All dates and cities below are subject to change.
UNITED STATES
- June 5 San Antonio, TX
- June 6 Austin, TX
- June 7 Houston, TX
- June 8 Dallas, TX
- June 11 Atlanta, GA
- June 13 Washington, DC
- June 14 Philadelphia, PA
- June 15 Brooklyn, NY
- June 16 Boston, MA
- June 18 Columbus, OH
- June 19 Chicago, IL
- June 20 Minneapolis, MN
- June 21 Kansas City, MO
- June 23 Denver, CO
- June 24 Salt Lake City, UT
- June 26 San Francisco, CA
- June 27 Los Angeles, CA
- June 28 Las Vegas, NV
- June 29 Phoenix, AZ
The North Star Boys’ presence on social media continues to grow globally with over 55 million followers across their Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and more.
About North Star Boys
The first Asian-American content and music group, North Star Boys was founded in August 2021 by Oliver and Sebastian Moy. In just a short amount of time, they have stolen the hearts of millions and millions of fans across major social media platforms such as Tiktok, YouTube, and Instagram. The group consists of eight members including the founders: Oliver and Sebastian Moy, Regie Macalino, Ryan Nguyen, Justin Phan, Darren Liang, and Kane Ratan, and Tyler Bray. United by a common goal, they aim to be the Asian-American representation in the media that they lacked to see while growing up. The boy band hopes to inspire the younger generation through their content and music.
#NorthStarBoys #OliverandSebastianMoy #PPop #kcrushnews #AsianAmericangroup #eightmembers #RegieMacalino #RyanNguyen #JustinPhan #DarrenLiang #KaneRatan #TylerBray #worldtour #music #kcrushamericamagazine #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #CYDIANorthAmericanTourDates #newalbum #viralmusicsensationNorthStarBoys
I’m a huge RM fan. I loved mono and Indigo. This album is nothing like those! Which to be honest, was a tad disappointing, but Right Place, Wrong Person transports listeners in a new way, and that’s worth exploring.
Right People, Wrong Place: 8/10
This track is unlike anything I’ve heard from RM before. The layers are eerie, curious, and deep. The experimental style probably won’t resonate with everyone, but I liked it. The most understood lyric in this track is “Getting high on a forest fire” and that seems to melt into how the song feels.
Nuts: 7/10
The bass sticks out on this track, it’s funky and soulful, and pairs perfectly with RM’s soft vocals and powerful rap. The song explodes in the second half with electric guitar layers. Overall, the tune follows the theme of “Right People, Wrong Place”, in that it’s slightly unhinged and melancholy. A lyric that sums up “Nuts” is “Love will fail inevitably.”
out of love: 7/10
“out of love” starts with the line, “My life is out of love.” RM raps about how others have taken advantage of him, causing his love for poetry to die, and he believes that love will probably fail. This is the type of lyrical picture fans love RM for–he’s brutally honest.
Domodachi (feat. Little Simz): 7/10
The beat in this song is unique and will keep listeners engaged. My favorite part of the song was Little Simz’s verse. Sometimes features don’t bring anything new to songs, but their rap in a British accent mixed things up and brought something special to the song!
? (Interlude): 8/10
“? (Interlude)” is probably the tamest melody on the album. It’s more optimistic but still has plenty of unusual elements.
Groin: 4/10
“Groin” has a good groove and melody, but the chorus feels lackluster.
Heaven: 8/10
RM finds a better landing place emotionally in “Heaven”. Although the melody is upbeat, there’s still a tinge of sadness. RM’s vocals in this will be a fan favorite on the album, no doubt. There are also wonderful backing vocals and guitar moments.
LOST!: 9/10
“LOST!” opens with female vocals. And although I like them isolated, I don’t enjoy the pairing with RM’s voice when they sing together. However, overall, I really liked this song. Another upbeat track, it’s got a great groove and has plenty of unpredictable moments to give you chills! This track is all about going with the flow and feeling lost yet still finding joy and freedom.
Around the world in a day (feat. Moses Sumney): 9/10
Moses Sumney’s voice paired with the soft strumming of the guitar is a wonderful addition to this album. But don’t let the soft entrance fool you, this song explodes in the second half with RM rapping and singing along with electric guitar and drums. This track highlights the best of RM’s talent on this album. It’s a must-listen for Right Place, Wrong Person.
TT TT (Credit Roll): 8/10
“TT TT (Credit Roll)” is one of the more interesting songs lyrically, though the melody is simple. Check out these lyrics:
When the credits roll do you hang tight?
Do you stay inside or go off to life?
I’m so grateful for everyone’s time
Hope you all had such wonderful night
When the credits roll do you hang tight?
Come back to me: 8/10
A wonderful closing to the album, RM explores complicated romance as well as some of the elements of Right Place, Wrong Person in a playful way. The lyrics open with:
I told you I’m fine tonight
Be what you be
I will roll you to the moon
But the song closes with, “You are my pain, divine, divine.” This tension really helps wrap up the album.
FINAL: 7.5/10
This album might not suit everyone. It’s definitely a different vibe from Indigo and mono. RM is still very present but he explores where few have in Right Place, Wrong Person. Additionally, most of the songs on this album are explicit, another possible barrier. I’ve given this album a high score because although it’s not one I’ll have on repeat, it’s artistic! If you love RM, I’d give it a listen but don’t hope for what you’ve heard in the past.
—-Ellie Boyd
#RM #RMofBTS #Rmnewalbum #Rmnewmusic #RmsRightPlaceWrongPerson #kcrushannouncement #kpop #kmusic #ComeBackToMefromRMsnewalbumRightPlaceWrongPerson #TTTT #Groin #Heaven #LOSTbyRM #Koreanpop #emotionalmusic #koreanculture #beingonesself #?Interlude #OutOfLove #NutsbyRM #kcrush #Domodachi #LittleSimz #BTSARMY #kfashion #Rmsoloist #AroundTheWorldInADay #MosesSumney #RM #kcrushalbumreview #kcrushreviewitrateit #kcrushoriginalreviewofalbum #RmalbumreleasedinMay2024 #Rmsloveforpoetry #rap #rnb #BTSfandomARMY #kcrushhonestreviewofRMsnewalbum
MetaMoon Partners with Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at LIU for Innovative Education Initiative with Summit on Asian Representation in Live Music Industry
MetaMoon Music Festival, the event celebrating Asian/AAPI artists and pop culture, is back with two days of programming during the last weekend of September. Headlining the concert at the newly renovated Brooklyn Paramount on Saturday, September 28th will be global superstars Eric Nam and Henry Lau, with rising artists Emei and SUNKIS rounding out the rest of the lineup. This concert marks a milestone for Henry Lau as he makes his solo performance debut in the United States, giving his fans the chance to see him perform live for the first time.
On Friday, September 27th, the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU) will collaborate with MetaMoon to host the second edition of The Summit: Rise of Asian Artists and their Global Fandom.
The one-day conference on Asian artists and representation in the music industry will be open to students and feature panel discussions and masterclasses by industry professionals. In keeping with the ethos of MetaMoon to spotlight Asian/AAPI talent, on stage and behind the scenes, students and next generation music execs will have the chance to network, meet their peers, and explore the intersection of music, business and the most populous region in the world.
“We are excited to bring MetaMoon back to Brooklyn for two incredible days spotlighting Asian/AAPI artists and pop culture, and to give our fans the chance to see their favorite artist live,” said Grace Chen, founder of MetaMoon. “We are grateful to partner with the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment to continue our mission of amplifying the voices of Asian/AAPI talent, not just on stage, but in the boardroom as well, which starts in the classroom.”
The first edition of the summit took place in February 2023 at the LIU Brooklyn campus, and brought together dynamic executives from organizations like Ticketmaster, Equity Distribution, Sony Music Japan, New Balance, IW Group, Pandora, Meta and many more. The speakers analyzed a range of industry topics, including the expanding influence of Asian music, how brands can best engage with emerging and establish Asian artists, the ways the rapidly-evolving genre can bridge cultural divides and more.
“We look forward to working alongside MetaMoon Festival to facilitate academic discussions about the global impact of AAPI/Asian artists,” Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment Dean Tressa Cunningham said. “It’s vital that our students develop a well-rounded perspective of and appreciation for the global music industry.”
Produced in partnership with Live Nation, the festival celebrates Asian artists, culture and fans while embracing the diverse communities in Brooklyn and across New York City. MetaMoon’s mission to bridge cultures through the global language of music and the discovery of Asian pop culture continues throughout the year with live events, The Summit and other programming.
Invitation to register for the Roc Nation School x MetaMoon Summit on September 27th will begin on September 4th. Presale for the September 28th concert started on May 22nd with general sale began May 24th, available only on www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, please visit www.metamoonfest.com.
ABOUT METAMOON MUSIC FESTIVAL
MetaMoon Music Festival was founded in 2022 as a platform to celebrate and showcase Asian excellence. The inaugural event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn featured a curated lineup of Asian/Asian American artists along with local AAPI-owned brands at the MetaMoon Market and Food Crawl. By empowering artists with a consistent and prominent stage, MetaMoon brings together Asian artists, both emerging and established, with music fans, Asian pop culture enthusiasts and corporate brands. For more information, please visit www.metamoonfest.com.
ABOUT THE ROC NATION SCHOOL OF MUSIC, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU) is a globally renowned destination for world-class education, exceptional career development, cultural initiatives, and philanthropic endeavors. The School prepares students for a wide range of careers in entertainment through innovative courses led by renowned faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and exclusive industry experiences.
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University which formally launched in Fall 2021, leverages its versatile resources and expertise to help students graduate with immersive internship experience and develop a robust network of professional contacts. Located in Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter’s hometown of Brooklyn, the School provides full-tuition support to 25 percent of enrolled students through Roc Nation Hope Scholarships. For more information, please visit: https://liu.edu/rocnation
#MetaMoon #MetaMoonMusicFestival #RockNationSchoolofMusicSportsEntertainment #LongIsland #LongIslandUniversity #Brooklyn #AsianAPPI #kcrushbreakingnews #kcrush #kpop #koreanpopfestival #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #EricNamtoperformatMetaMoonMusicFestival #SUNKIS #EricNam #kmusic #koreanmusicculture #koreanculture #secondeditionofTheSummitRiseofAsianArtistsandtheirGlobalFandom #HenryLau #Emei #September2024AsianEventinBrooklyn #renovatedBrooklynParamount #kcrushmedia #kcrushannouncement #kcrushpressrelease #newstoknow
It has been about 8 years since the talented Orange Caramel girl band’s performance as a group. The trio debuted in June 2010 with the ‘Magic Girl” single. Orange Caramel is a sub-unit birthed from Pledis Entertainment agency’s After School girl group. Orange Camael’s final concert was in April 2016 at the SBS’ 2016 Cultwo Show Legend Concert. As of now, only one member is under Pledis Entertainment agency and is still part of the After School group. However, although the other two members left both After School group and Pledis Entertainment, Orange Caramel has not yet disbanded which is a ray of hope to the subunit group’s dedicated fans.
Liz
Liz left Pledis Entertainment agency and After School group in May 2018 after her contract expired. Nonetheless, she confirmed that she had not left the Orange Caramel sub-group. Liz joined Celltrion Entertainment in May 2018 and changed her promotional name to Park Soo Ah. Under the new name and agency, the star took up acting with her first cast being in the I Picked Up a Celebrity on the Street web drama. After being charged with a DUI in August 2021, Liz’s contract with Celltrion Entertainment expired. Before the DUI incident, Liz (going by the Park Soo Ah) had soared high as an actor and singer. Liz (Park Soo Ah) appeared in dramas like Oh My Baby (2020), variety shows like Dead If Shot (2018), and films like Mood of the Day (2016). Ljz (Park Soo Ah) joined BK Entertainment in October 2022 and has been working on her comeback since then.
Raina
After going on hiatus since 2016, Raina also announced her departure from After School girl group and Pledis Entertainment agency following a contract expiration in December 2019. After years behind the spotlight, Raina participated in the X-MAS project in April 2020 where she released Lena Park’s cover of “Ann”. In June 2020, she released the “Love in Danger” OST in collaboration with Song Yuvin for KBS’ “Once Again” drama. Raina also participated in the MBN’s “Miss Black” reality show that aired from October 2020 through January 2021. The show sought to give female idols whose fame had dimmed off throughout the years another chance to shine and rebuild their careers.
Nana
Unlike Rain and Liz, Nana did not leave After School group and is still under Pledis Entertainment agency. After Orange Carmel went on hiatus, Nana ventured into acting and was cast in several dramas including the Justice (2019) drama for which she the Excellence Award at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards. Nana also acted in Confession (2020) and Oh My Lady Lord (2021). Nana proved that she is still a worthy musical artist through a collaboration with Park Sung Hoon for the “Our Memories in Summer” OST in 2020. Recently, Nana has undertaken various endorsement projects including with Nike, Vogue Korea, Givenchy, and Prada.
—-Karen Mwenda
#OrangeCarmel #Nana #OhMyLadyLord #ParkSungHoon #OurMemoriesInSummerOST #Nike #VogueKorea #Givenchy #Prada #kcrushnews #kcrushamericamagazine #PledisEntertainment #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kpop #idol #kmusic #Raina #LoveInDangerOST #AfterSchool #koreangirlgroup #notdisbanded KBSDramaAwards2019 #ParkSooAh #Liz #BKEntertainment #AfterSchoolSubUnit #kpopgirlgroup #kcrushwherearetheynow #wherearetheynow
There is strength in silence when the silence becomes your testimony of what is too difficult to speak aloud. In director Jee Hyewon’s latest documentary VOICES, which screened in the Korean Cinema program of the 2024 25th Jeonju International Film Festival, the silence and voices of the female survivors of the violent massacres that took place in 1948 on Jeju Island, are finally being shared with the world to listen to.
On April the 3rd, 1948 armed forces of the Namrodang South Korean Labor Party attacked 12 police stations located on the island of Jeju off the southern coast of the mainland. These attacks sparked a wave of violence that led to the executions of around 150 young women and men, and some teenagers one of whom was 17-year-old Kim Eun-yang, who was survived by her then 14-year-old sister Kim Eun-soon. Though 76 years in the past, that fateful day of the Tonso-ri massacre (named for the location on the island where it took place) left a deep scar of trauma within Kim Eun-soon, trauma that to this day makes it difficult to discuss everything she witnessed that year and the years of tumult that followed.
Joining Kim Eun-soon in sharing their testimony in VOICES, are Hong Sun-gong, Koh Jeong-ja, Kim Yong-yeol, and Cho Jung-hee, Jeju April 3rd Incident Researcher, who for the past 20 years has been documenting the testimonies of survivors and their descendants.
Despite gaining liberation from Japanese imperial occupation three years before in 1945, South Korea was decades away from becoming a democracy, for immediately preceding the expulsion of the imperial forces the spread of the fear of communism, known as the ‘Red Scare, that swept the world following WWII, spread throughout the country. Political leaders seeking to establish their own power aided by the U.S. military and government, placed former pro-Japanese officials and police officers were once again put in charge to stir up discontent amongst the people. These officials and officers’ chaos within communities and after the death of a child and 6 civilians which sparked the general strike known as the ‘Jeju Uprising’.
The fighting between government officials, police, and rebel factions resulted in the mass torture, displacement, forced imprisonment on their own land, and massacres of some 30,000 people of which it’s estimated 80% were men, between 1947 and 1954 at the end of the Korean War (officially the war between North and South Korea is in armistice). But that wasn’t the end to the troubles of the people of Jeju Island, for the stigma of being labeled as communist sympathizers, the violent and deadly betrayal by their own people, and the decades of denial and avoidance of what took place by their own government also compounded the trauma of survivors like Kim Eun-soon, Hong, Sun-gong, Koh Jeon-ja, and Kim Yong-yeol.
With all of the memories of all they had suffered weighing on their spirits and bodies, the women of Jeju Island were left with no choice but to put their pain aside in silence and carry on with the lives left for them to lead.
As a director Jee Hyewon is careful in how she gives the women the space to share what they’re comfortable sharing. The moments as they sit contemplatively after speaking of the horrors they witnessed and were forced to endure are given the time to stay on screen to resonate with the viewer. When Hong Sun-gong and Koh Jeong-ja former Haenyeo, share their stories of diving for abalone to make money to provide for their children, the reality that these women known the world over as the famous ‘female free divers of Jeju Island’, – as depicted in the 70s set 2023 action drama Smugglers by Ryoo Seung-wan – are much more than meets the eye or has been told. And finally, those hidden depths are being shared through this documentary.
In my interview with Jee Hyewon we spoke about her experience making the film and listening to the stories being shared and the importance of silence being a testimony for traumatic experiences, as well as this being the time to make a film such as this. I also asked Co-producer Kim Sunah, who acted as interpreter for the interview, about what it meant to her to be involved with a project like this.
For her work as a filmmaker and documentarian, Jee Hyewon has gained critical acclaim for her films Singing with Angry Bird (2016), Free Minu (2018), and Home Away Home (2021), and now Voices which won the Documentary Award in the Special Awards category at Jeonju IFF.
Carolyn Hinds
Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12
#JeeHyewon #VOICES #JeonjulFF2024 #kcrushinterview #kcrush #SingingwithAngryBird #FreeMinu #HomeAwayHome #Documentary #DocumentaryAward #KimSunah #filmmaker #coproducer #Haenyeo #filmfestival #kcrushamericamagazine #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #JejuIsland #grouptrama #Smugglers #actiondrama #documentarian #KimEunsoon #HongSungong #KohJeonja #KimYongyeol #womenofJejuIsland
In a country and culture where the R&B music genre is still gaining traction, HALLEY band has made groundbreaking strides and gained global attention despite their recent debut. This young and multi-cultural band’s music pieces are a fusion of Asian pop, jazz, funk, gospel, and soul music vibes showcasing their uniquely diverse backgrounds. K-Crush America Magazine sits with HALLEY band members; Taehyung (vocals), Shin Nishiyama (keyboards), Haru Toyama (guitar), Naoto Shimizu (drums), and Kay Takahashi (bass), to have a glimpse of what their musical journey entails.
Given your diverse roots, how did you all meet?
We met at the university music club “the Naleio” (Waseda University). The club was famous amongst the young youths, college students, and musicians in Tokyo for its unique concept: Black Music Circle. All of us knew that and gathered at this place in seek of musical inspiration and friends with same music tastes. I (Taehyun) first met Naoto at a jam session for freshmen hosted by seniors of the club and got to know each other briefly and found out that both of us wanted to form a band. Shin and Haru, who were also at the jam session, joined right after. I (Taehyun) called Kay, who was my friend from the freshman year, right on the spot and asked if he wanted to join; and he answered yes. All this happened 2 years ago and still is vivid to this day.
Why “HALLEY” and how does it complete your band’s identity?
If you flip the name around, it is YELLAH and this was our first candidate. YELLA represents our identity of Asians, and the letter H was to quote biblical musical term “Selah”, which means pause. We wanted to quote the bible, not only because I (Taehyun) and Kay are Christians, but also all of us love and somewhat have connections to Gospel/Christian music.
Moreover, It was very important for us to include our identity as Asians in our name because we love and respect the history of the genre we play as much as we love our home: Asia. we want to recreate the genre into “Asian R&B” and be the musical innovation to represent it. This is the goal of HALLEY and our identity.
Of all genres, why a blend of Western R&B and Asian pop, and how has been the reception so far?
To put it simply, it is because we were born in Asia and all of us grew up listening to Western R&B, including Gospel, Jazz, and Funk. It was not our first intention to blend the two, but we got to this place naturally as we aim our pieces to be heard by everybody in the world.
The reception has been very good in Japan so far. Despite most of the lyrics being written in English, people in Japan love our music. We realized that by how media treated us as well. Rolling Stones Japan, the well-renowned music magazine, selected us as “Future 25”, which is a project to represent Japanese freshest music, after the release of our 1st album. Additionally, Spincoaster, one of the most famous Japanese music media, also featured us in their annual project “SPOTLIGHT 2024”, stating HALLEY is one of the freshest R&B band in Japan.
“Set Free” was among the first back-to-back singles you released in your debut season. What’s the inspiration behind this song?
In the production of Set Free, we let our funky side to take its course. It was to show people that We’re not just some kids who only listens to recent popular neo-soul music. We wanted show our funky side and that’s why it more leaned toward funk/soul.
In the composition phase, PJ Morton and D’Angelo, especially “black messiah (album)” and “Everything’s gonna be alright” were the biggest inspiration to us. We just love these two artists.
Also, we intended the structure to be as simple as possible, hoping that someday, this song would become a session standard in Japanese jam session scenes.
The “Sugary” single, from our 1st EP titled ‘Daze’, was recently claimed to be a hit and anthem on 21 different radio stations across Japan. How did this make you feel as artists and what do you think attributed to the song going viral?
It left us speechless at first. Just by looking at the list of the radio station, I could understand our tunes are being played literally all across Japan.
And it made me more determined as an artist, as Sugary became the somewhat indicator that we have to breakthrough in near future.
The song used to be more energetic before, but we intentionally made it to be more organic and retro, referencing Isley Brothers and Fleur East. This made the song more easy-listening and warm, and I think this is the one of the reasons why this song got so much attention and love.
Your latest and 1st ‘Dusk Till Dawn’ album released last month has become a global sensation. What is the overall message and conception story behind this masterpiece?
First of all, thanks for calling our album a masterpiece!
The core concept of the album “From Dusk Till Dawn” lies in its “ambiguity”. If you look up the sky during this hour of the day, you can’t tell if its dusk or dawn. It’s just orange, pink, or blue, and you don’t know the time unless you look at the watch. We wanted to embody that feeling of complexed “ambiguity” throughout this album.
Just like the sky, the emotions that lyrics try to deliver swings throughout the album. You can feel the flow of time as you listen to the album but will witness that this person who sings is stuck at each moment (song) wondering where to go.
In another meaning, we often worked on songs of this album from dusk till dawn, and it was always this beautiful ambiguous sky that welcomed us when we went outside during breaks. We felt like we are in a wonderland hovering around the city, and that was the very time we dwelled in.
So, the title not only represents the time we went crazy making music, but also shows our naked self as young ambitious musicians teamed up in the middle of Tokyo, enjoying themselves.
Your music is a fusion of not only Western R&B and Asian Pop but also Gospel, funk, Soul, and Jazz themes not to mention the Hong Kong, South Korean, and Japanese roots. What’s your music creation process like and how do you blend all these elements?
We don’t necessarily think in advance to include each element. Rather we keep the creative process as intuitive and improvisational as possible, so that all members’ thoughts blend in naturally.
There are many ways to start, but most of the time we start from one of the members’ little ideas, whether that be chord progressions, drum loops, or just a verbal image. When we composed “Breeze” we started from a guitar loop and I sang to that riff and that made the momentum to the song and ended up finish writing it on the day. We also often change the place of production. For example, we developed the idea of “sugary” from a jam session, but we brought that back to DAW and brushed up into the latest version. The other way around was the case of “Whim” and “Lemonade”.
You recently performed in the USA for SXSW 2024 and toured across Tokyo and Osaka for 1st ever one-man tour. How was it compared to being inside recording studios and what are your takeaways?
It’s always a blessing to perform in front of loving audiences, but what we felt and learned was definitely different this time.
In the US, we realized what we do as a band is surely one of a kind and competitive enough to be on the same stage as big names of the west. It felt like the audience in Texas enjoyed our set and thought of us as pure musicians, and not some interesting or even comedic acts from “Japan, Asia”.
And at our first One-Man-tour, we wanted to show our fans that we are promising artists that are worth being proud of, and that we have become even firmer as artists. We are confident that we would become the one of the most influential Asian R&B/Soul artist in the near future.
How do you perceive music as a tool and what impact do you wish to make or inspire?
I personally think music is a language that can speak to people’s soul. As a vocalist I want to be more able to talk, or to be more persuasive, to people’s heart when I’m singing.
And as a band, I wish to be more versatile so that we can create new value as we grow. We don’t play music for ourselves, but to be heard by as many people as possible.
Are there any particular artists, Japanese or international that have shaped your approach to your chosen music genre?
There are so many that we can’t name them all in here but to name a few, there are PJ Morton, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Musiqsoulchild, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and J Dilla. Even Korean R&B artists like Crush, Zion. T, DEAN, fisherman, and Sam Kim had huge influence on my musical thinking process.
How do you balance your vision as artists and the expectations of the rapidly changing hip-hop industry?
Music has been an ever-changing media throughout time. We have witnessed J Dilla and D’Angelo bringing sensations of Neo-Soul into the industry. Just like them, as we learn, respect and love the history of music, I hope that not only the hip-hop industry but also other genre to be more inviting toward alternative music.
We, as a band, also wish to be as alternative as ever. It is to keep ourselves fresh, and I believe that is the only way to keep everybody, including myself, motivated.
What does the future hold for HALLEY as a brand?
We will keep on producing music and go on another tour when the time comes. And our short-term closest goal is to play in, either HK, Taiwan or Korea within this year.
Thank you for your time. It was an absolute pleasure getting to delve into your musical journey. We wish you the very best in your endeavors.
—-Makena Mwenda
#HALLEY #Taehyun #KayTakahashi #NaotoShimizu #ShinNishiyama #HaruToyama #kcrush #kcrushinterview #Gospal #Christianmusic #RnBmusic #Japanesegroup #JPop #musicaljourney #bandmadeoffriends #beliefs #newmusic #JCulture #JFashion #AsianRnRSoul #hardworkingAsianartists #RollingStoneFuture25 #SpincoasterSpotlight2024 #interview2024 #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #JSoul #SetFree #Sugary #Daze #DuskTillDawn #newalbum #kcrushmedia #kcrushJapaneseinterview #bass #guitarist #vocals #keyboards #drums #topnewbandinJapan #kcrushnews #bandtowatch
Global K-pop boy group A.C.E is gearing up to meet “CHOICE” (official fandom name), through their A.C.E 2024 US Tour [REWIND_US]. The five-member boy group, managed by BEAT INTERACTIVE, will showcase their charms in fourteen cities, including Madison, Denver, Santa Rosa, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, Orlando, Nashville, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Detroit, New York and San Juan. The tour kicks off in Madison on June 19, 2024, and concludes in San Juan on July 18, 2024.
A.C.E returns to A.C.E 2024 US Tour [REWIND_US] for the first time in a while. A.C.E, a quintet under the label BEAT INTERACTIVE, comprises members PARK JUNHEE, LEE DONGHUN, WOW, KIM BYEONGKWAN, and KANG YUCHAN. Since their debut in 2017, the group has fearlessly experimented with various concepts and sounds, continually surprising their dedicated fanbase.
Recently making waves with their sixth mini-album, A.C.E released <My Girl: “My Choice”> on February 22. As evidenced by their popularity, “My Girl: My Choice” topped the Hanteo Chart’s weekly chart for the first week of May, with the highest certification rate in the U.S. region. A.C.E is greeting global fans in more diverse ways, after their long break and reunited as an entire team this year. They met their fans through concerts in Seoul and Japan after their album promotion. Their tour in Japan (2024 A.C.E JAPAN 1st LIVE TOUR ～僕らの春～) was held at a venue representing the region to demonstrate the global power of the artist. Successfully wrapping up their tour in Japan, A.C.E will continue to accelerate their global activities with the upcoming tour in the U.S.
Ahead of the tour, A.C.E expressed the following aspirations;
Thinking back on our tour in the U.S. in 2019, we didn’t expect to take this long to meet our fans. We were longing for this moment and missed them so much. It feels like a dream to finally meet CHOICE again in the U.S. As much as our fans have been waiting for a long time, we do desire to show the best performance. As we are standing in front of CHOICE in the U.S. after such a long time, we plan to tear up the stage with our greatest performance.
Per the released setlist, A.C.E might be performing “Savage,” “Facetime,” “Down,” “Baby Tonight,” and “Under Cover,” drawing attention from many fans. The noteworthy part is, that A.C.E will show, the A.C.E 2024 US Tour [REWIND_US] will show English version songs and cover stages with various concepts specifically prepared for local fans. Especially since this tour is being held in the U.S. after a long time, a very special event will be held. Fans can choose the stage they want to see using the voting function on MyMusicTaste website. Many local fans are enthusiastic about A.C.E’s passion for preparing various promotional content and events to celebrate their first tour in a long time.
A.C.E has become an irresistible force in the K-pop industry, conquering the global stage with their music and unique style. A.C.E will continue their journey of being the “performance blockbusters”. After the tour announcement, they have quickly garnered keen attention from both local and global fans alike as they anticipate making memories together through their tour.
Information regarding ticketing for the shows can be found at MyMusicTaste: mmt.fans/bw6G
A.C.E 2024 US Tour [REWIND_US] – Tour Dates
[Madison, WI] Jun 19 – Orpheum Theater
[Denver, CO] Jun 21 – Fillmore Auditorium
[Santa Rosa, CA] Jun 23 – Luther Burbank Center for The Arts
[Los Angeles, CA] Jun 26 – The Orpheum Theatre
[Phoenix, AZ] Jun 28 – The Van Buren
[Houston, TX] Jul 1 – House of Blues
[Tampa, FL] Jul 3 – Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center
[Orlando, FL] Jul 5 -The Plaza Live
[Nashville, TN] Jul 7 – James K. Polk Theater at Tennessee Performing Arts Center
[Minneapolis, MN] Jul 9 – Uptown Theater
[Indianapolis, IN] Jul 11 – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
[Detroit, MI] Jul 13 – The Fillmore
[New York, NY] Jul 16 – Town Hall
[San Juan, PR] Jul 18 – Coca Cola Music Hall
About Beat Interactive:
Beat Interactive is where creative talents passionately strive to develop transcendent content to create a world that connects with the unique emotions and sentiments of the artists.
About MyMusicTaste:
MyMusicTaste organizes fan-initiated concerts around the world. We’re driven by our mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world. We’ve successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, Machine Gun Kelly, ATEEZ, and more in over 40 different cities. With the simple idea – empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert to the city of their choice based on fan demand–MyMusicTaste is challenging the $27 billion concert market through cutting-edge technology and sophisticated, user-friendly service. Our service currently supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 languages.
#ACE #ACEWorldTour #kcrush #ACEAnnouncement #MyMusicTaste #kcrushamericamagazine #kpop #BeatInteractive #worldtour #ACEUSTour #Save #Facetime #theACE2024USTourREWIND_US #korea #koreanculture #hallyu #kfashion #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #koreanmagazine #Asiangroup #ACETour #kpopgroup #kpopidol #kcrushannouncement #breakingnews
Japanese pop artist SANTA, who has a huge fan base across Asia, will release his first solo album ‘Prologue’ on May 20. But you don’t have to wait until then – seven tracks including lead song ‘Let em Out’ have been made available on streaming services as an early taste of what’s to come.
This will be SANTA’s first full-length album since beginning his solo career last year.
The album includes songs based on the four most important milestone ages in SANTA’s life: ages 14, 17, 21 and 25. On the album, SANTA expresses his life through music, inviting listeners to experience his unique mindscape in all its glory.
Lead song ‘Let em Out’ will also get a music video, due May 15, so be sure to look out for it!
[SANTA profile]
SANTA is a top-level dancer from Japan, a prodigy who began making a name for himself as a kid. He has won numerous dance contests, becoming the youngest ever champion of the prestigious global dance battle SDK.
Since 2023, he has built a successful solo career based in China, where he has also become an ambassador for various brands and appeared on popular TV shows including ‘Street dance of China’ and ‘Great Dance Crew’.
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/santa_zanduo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santazanduo311/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SANTADANCE
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/7155113315
#SANTA #SANTAJapanesesinger #SANTAAsiandancer #StreetDanceOfChina #GreatDanceCrew” #kcrushnews #kcrushamericamagazine #SANTAfirstalbum #1stalbumSANTA #LetEmOut #newmusic #JPop #ProloguesoloalbumfromSANTA #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #Japanese #Asianmusic