KCrush Interview with Designer Lim Woo-jun

 

차콜 (Charcoal)은 대한민국의 싱어송라이터이다. 2017년 6월  Sleek Jeezy와 함께한 첫 디지털 앨범 EP [20`s]을 시작으로 RnB를 기반으로 한 음악들을 발매하였으며 최근 Sleek Jeezy 의 신보 [City Of Nocturnes]에 프로듀싱, 연주로 참여하는 등 꾸준한 음악 활동을 이어나가고 있다.

“Charcoal” is a singer-songwriter from South Korea. Starting with the digital EP [20’s] released in June 2017 with Sleek Jeezy, he has released music based on RnB. He continues to be active in music, producing and playing including Sleek Jeezy’s recent album [City Of Nocturnes].

 

Charcoal님에 대해 우리 독자들에게 간단히 소개 말씀 부탁 드립니다. Charcoal이라는 이름으로 활동하시게 된 이유도 궁금합니다.

Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers. Tell us also about how you chose the artist name of Charcoal.

예명을 지어야 할 당시에 차콜 그레이 색상의 침구를 사용했었는데요. 그 색이 주는 차가운 듯하면서도 따뜻한 느낌이 좋았고, 음악의 기능 중 하나인 어떠한 감정이나 기억이랄 것들이 타오르듯 드러나게 촉발시키는 것이 숯의 주된 역할인 불씨를 확대시키는 것과 비슷하다는 게 좋은 이야기가 될 수 있겠다고 생각해서 ‘차콜(charcoal)’ 이라는 이름을 사용하게 됐습니다.

When I needed a stage name, I remembered the charcoal gray bedding I used to have. I loved the cool yet warm feeling it gave off, and it reminded me of how charcoal enhances sparks – which is its main function – just as music can evoke emotions and memories. So I decided to use the name “Charcoal” as it would make for a good story.

 

플레이리스트용 감성 알앤비 ‘I need U’에 대해 한 말씀 해주세요. 이 노래는 어떻게 탄생되었나요? 어떤 감정, 감정을 담고 있나요?

Please tell us about the urban vibe R&B ‘I need U’ which is frequently included in playlists. How was this song made? What feelings and emotions does it convey?

내가 소중하게 생각하는 사람의 잠든 모습을 마주했을 때 마음이 평온해지다가 애잔함, 두려움, 책임감 등의 감정이 동시에 찾아와 마음을 복잡하게 했던 기억을 바탕으로 만들어진 고백적인 노래입니다.

‘I need U’ is a confession song that was created based on the memory of feeling a mixture of emotions such as comfort, compassion, fear, and responsibility when I faced the sleeping figure of someone dear to me.

 

Charcoal님의 음악 장르에 대해 알려주세요. I need U와 같은 어반 스타일 알앤비인가요?

Please tell us about your music genre. Is it Urban style R&B like ‘I need U’, right?

제가 냈던 음반들은 그 뿌리를 알앤비에 두고 있습니다. 세부적인 장르의 이름에 대해서는 고민해 보지 않았지만 질문대로 어반 알앤비 스타일이라고 하는 게 적당하겠네요.

My albums are rooted in R&B. Although I haven’t thought about specific genre names, it would be appropriate to say it is an Urban style R&B.

 

I need U, ICY 등 곡으로 해외 팬들도 많이 있을 것 같습니다. 해외 팬들의 반응을 느끼고 계신가요? 해외 팬들과의 스토리가 있다면 소개해 주세요.

With songs like ‘I need U’ and ‘ICY’, I think you have many global fans. Are you getting the reaction from global fans? If you have any stories with global fans, please introduce them to us.

해당 곡들을 발매하고 시간이 꽤 지났는데요. 저도 정말 아이러니한 게 해외 팬분들에게 해당 곡들을 정말 잘 듣고 있다는 응원 메시지를 최근까지 종종 받았습니다. 해외 팬분들의 경우에 번역을 하셨던 공부를 하셨던 모국어가 아닌 한국어로 메시지를 보내 주시는 분들이 계시는데 그런 모습들이 굉장히 사랑스럽게 느껴졌어요.

Although some time has passed since the release of those songs, I have still been receiving messages of support from global fans who say they really enjoy those songs. Some fans who are not native Korean speakers have even taken the effort to translate their messages or study Korean to send them to me in Korean, and I find those gestures very endearing.

 

새 음반 소식이 궁금합니다. 어떤 음악으로 준비하고 계신가요? 언제쯤 들을 수 있을까요?

Can you give us some information on your next album? What kind of music are you working on? When can we listen to it?

아마 전에 발매했던 음악들과는 차이가 꽤 있을 겁니다.

올해 하반기에 발매를 목표로 하고 있고 어떤 음악인지는 음반으로 설명드리겠습니다.

It will probably be quite different from the music I have released before. My goal is to release it in the second half of this year, and I will explain what kind of music it is through the album.

 

음악작업 할 때 주로 도움을 주고 받는 뮤지션이 있다면 공개해 주실 수 있나요? 또는 꼭 함께 작업해 보고 싶은 뮤지션이 있다면 누구인가요?

Can you tell us which musicians you give and receive help when making songs? Or, who would you really like to work with?

가까이 있는 동료들인 steel, sleek jeezy, jane b 와 가장 많은 도움을 주고받습니다.

항상 발전적인 아이디어를 나누고 서로에게 힘이 되어주는 사람들입니다.

저는 다른 뮤지션 분들과 함께 작업을 해보고 싶다는 생각을, 멋지다고 느껴지는 뮤지션 분의 생각이나 움직임에서 배울 수 있는 것을 찾으려는 생각이 대체하는 듯합니다.

그런 뜻에서 아직 그런 생각이 드는 뮤지션 분은 없습니다.

I mostly give and receive help from close colleagues such as Steel, Sleek Jeezy, and Jane B.

They are people who always share innovative ideas and support each other.

As for working with other musicians, I have a mindset of finding something to learn from the thoughts or movements of musicians who I admire. So, I don’t have a specific musician in mind yet.

 

댄스 실력도 갖추고 계신가요? 춤을 즐기시는 편인지 궁금합니다.

Can you dance well? We’d like to know if you enjoy dancing.

저는 뚝딱이랍니다. 몸으로 무언가 표현하는 데 있어 그 재능이 한 올도 주어지지 않은 듯합니다. 물론 춤에 욕심도 없어서 노력도 하지 않았지만 그런 능력이 어느 정도는 필요하다고 느껴져서 후에 개발을 좀 해볼까 하는 막연한 계획이 있기는 합니다.

I’m not a good dancer. It seems like I wasn’t born with the talent to express myself through movement. Of course, I also have no desire to dance, so I haven’t put in any effort yet. However, I do feel like that kind of ability is somewhat necessary, so I have a plan, though it’s vague yet, to develop my dance skills in the future.

 

즐겨 입으시는 패션 스타일이 궁금합니다. 어떤 스타일을 좋아하세요? 쇼핑은 어디서 주로 하시나요?

We want to know about your favorite fashion style. What style do you like? Where do you usually shop?

옷에 관심이 많이 없습니다. 패션 감각도 그리 좋지 못한 편인 것 같아요. 그래서 깔끔하게만 입자라는 마음으로 쇼핑을 합니다. 주로 spa 브랜드에서 구매하는 걸 선호합니다.

I’m not very interested in clothes, and I don’t think I have a great sense of fashion. So I just try to dress neatly when I go shopping. I prefer to buy clothes from spa brands.

 

Charcoal님의 루틴한 하루 일과가 궁금합니다. 평소 어떻게 하루를 보내시나요?

We’d like to know your daily routine. How do you usually spend your day?

그동안 생활 패턴이 정말 불규칙했었는데요. 요즘은 큰 틀에서 기상-식사-공부(독서 등)-운동-식사-음악작업-식사-수면의 패턴으로 생활하고 있습니다. 최근 가벼운 불면증을 겪고 이런 패턴화된 생활과 규칙적인 수면시간의 소중함을 크게 느꼈습니다. 그래서 외부에 일이 있는 날이 아니라면 최대한 이런 패턴을 지키면서 일상을 보내고 있습니다.

My daily routine used to be very irregular, but these days I follow a general pattern of waking up, having breakfast, studying (reading, etc.), exercising, having a meal, working on music, having another meal, and sleeping. Recently, I experienced mild insomnia and realized the importance of a regular lifestyle and sleep time. So, unless I have external schedules, I try to stick to this routine as much as possible in my daily life.

 

뮤지션 말고 다른 일을 해 본적이 있나요? 있다면 어떤 일을 해보셨는지 궁금합니다.

Have you ever had any other jobs other than a musician? If so, what was it and how was it?

지금까지는 없었는데요. 앞으로는 생길듯합니다. 여러 가지 직업을 가져보려고 해요. 관심 있는 분야는 많은데 그 분야에서 어떤 일을 해봐야겠다는 생각이 덜 발전된 상태입니다. 일단 음악으로 무언가 이루어보고 싶은 열망이 가장 크기도 하고요.

So far, I haven’t had any other jobs besides being a musician. But I think I will in the future. I want to try various jobs in different fields. Although I have many areas of interest, I haven’t developed a clear idea of what I want to do in those fields. For now, my biggest desire and goal is in music.

 

내가 좋아하는 일을 하며 꿈을 이루어 나가시는 모습이 보기 좋습니다. 우리 독자들에게 ‘내가 좋아하는 일을 하는 것’, ‘계속 꿈을 꾸는 것’에 대해 한 말씀 해주신다면?

You are doing what you love and making your dreams come true. What would you say to our readers about ‘Doing what you like to do’ and ‘Keep on dreaming’?

아직 성공적인 커리어를 만들어내지 못한 입장이라 이런 것에 대해 말하기 좀 부끄럽기도 한데요. 그래도 항상 하는 고민이고 질문을 해주셨으니 제 생각을 한 부분 나누어 보겠습니다.

좋아하는 일을 하고 그것으로 사회적 가치를 생산해 낼 수 있다면 정말 복받은 인생이라고 생각합니다. 좋아하는 일을 직업으로 삼는 일이 내 인생에 긍정적인 영향을 미치려면 그 분야 내에서 내가 남들보다 더 잘 할 수 있는 무언가를 찾아내고 그 부분을 극대화하는 방향으로 꾸준히 밀고 나갈 수 있는 게 중요합니다. 때론 놓을 줄도 알아야겠죠. 내 삶을 책임지는 것은 내가 하고 싶은 일이 아니라 해야 하는 일을 하는 것이니까요. 다르게 말해 나와 내 주변을 지속적으로 파악하려는 노력과 냉철함이 필요하고, 그런 작업들이 내가 나아가고자 하는 방향으로 나아갈 수 있는 믿음과 용기의 큰 기반이 될 거라 생각하고 저 또한 그것들을 증명하려는 길에 있습니다.

As someone who has not yet achieved a successful career, I feel a bit hesitant to speak about these matters. Nonetheless, since you have asked, I will share my thoughts. I believe that if you can pursue your passion and create social value through it, then you are truly blessed in life. To turn your passion into a career that has a positive impact, it is important to identify your strengths within your field and work hard to maximize them. It’s also important to keep dreaming and striving towards your goals, while also knowing when to let go. Taking responsibility for your life means doing what you need to do, not just what you want to do. In other words, it requires continuous efforts to understand yourself and your surroundings, as well as a certain level of detachment. I believe that these efforts will provide a strong foundation of faith and courage, helping you move in the direction you want to go. As for me, I am also on a path to prove these things.

 

 

행복해 지는 나만의 방법은!? 우리 독자들에게도 추천하고 싶은 나만의 기분전환 방법을 소개해 주세요.

Tell us “My own way to be happy”! Please introduce your own mood-changing method that you would like to recommend to our readers.

행복은 순간의 감정에 지나지 않아서 그런 감정에 대해 고민하기보다 내가 해야 한다고 판단하는 일들을 하고 의미 있는 시간을 보내는 것에 중점을 두고 있습니다. 그러다 보면 대체적으로 만족스러운 삶이 되고 그게 어찌 보면 가장 큰 행복이 아닐까 싶기도 합니다. 당장의 쾌락을 좇기보다 성취감을 동반하고 나에게 이롭게 축적될 가능성이 많은 일들을 우선으로 하려고 합니다. ‘지금의 나’ 보다 ‘미래의 나’를 위하는 마음으로요. 예를 들면 규칙적인 운동이나 식단, 독서나 글쓰기 등이 있겠네요.

Happiness is just about momentary emotions, so I focus on doing things that I consider necessary and spending meaningful time rather than worrying about those emotions. As a result, I think I generally have a satisfying life, which may be the biggest happiness. Rather than pursuing immediate pleasure, I prioritize tasks that come with a sense of accomplishment and have the potential to benefit me in the future, with the mindset of working towards the benefit of ‘future me’ instead of ‘current me’. For example, I try to maintain a regular exercise routine, stick to a healthy diet, and engage in activities such as reading and writing.

 

전 세계 독자들에게 꼭 알려주고 싶은 한국의 자랑은 무엇인가요?

What do you think is Korea’s strength that you would recommend to our global readers?

제가 되도록 하겠습니다. 동문서답이었나요.

저는 한강을 좋아합니다. 역동적이고 강한 생명력을 품고 있어서요. 우리나라의 가장 큰 발전의 중심지이자 가장 큰 쉼터이기도 해요. 만약 독자분들께서 서울을 여행할 기회가 생기신다면 구역별로 다양한 한강공원이 조성되어 있으니 여러 군데 방문해 보시면서 각 공원이 가진 특징을 비교해 보시는 것도 큰 재미가 될 것입니다.

My goal is to make the answer be “Charcoal”, haha.

I personally love the Han River in Korea. It has a dynamic and powerful vitality. It is the center of Korea’s greatest development and also the largest resting place. If our readers have the opportunity to travel to Seoul, there are various Han River parks developed in each of the different areas, and it would be great to visit several parks and compare their characteristics for a fun experience.

 

끝으로 KCrush 독자들에게 한 말씀 부탁 드립니다.

Lastly, would you like to say something to KCrush readers?

제 생각 읽어주셔서 감사드리고 좋은 음악으로 보답하도록 하겠습니다.

Thank you for reading my thoughts, and I will repay you with good music!

 

 

—-Jiyoung Lee

 

 

#Charcoal #kcrushinterviewwithCharcoal #kcrush #RNB #RandB #HanRiverParks #kcrushamerica #Seoul #KoreansingerCharcoal #interview #kcrush2014 #SleekJeezy #koreanmusic

 

WE BRIDGE has made a special announcement the GOT7’s BAMBAM will be in attendance and will perform during Day 2 of the April 21 – 23, 2023, Music Festival and Expo in Las Vegas, U.S.A.

Pick-up your tickets now before they sell-out!  webridgeexpo.com

 

#BAMBAM #GOT7BAMBAM #BAMBAMToPerformDay2 #WeBridgeMusicFestivalandExpo #Kpop #kcrush #kcrushnews #musicfestival #AlexKang #KangDaniel #ONEUS #kcrushamerica #Dreamcatcher #CIX #VIVIZ #fromis9 #BeO #ENHYPHEN #musicperformances #koreanculture #Asianculture #AsianAmericanevent #bringtogether #bridgethegap #kpopidol #kpoppanel #kpopgirlgroup #GRAMMYMuseum #LasVegas #MandalayBay #MandalayBayevent #MandalayBaynews #ChrisBaldizanMGM #MichaelStickaCEOPresidentGRAMMYMuseum #WeBridge #InfiniteProspectsEntertainment ##MandalayBayConventionCenterandMichelobULTRAArenaatMandalayBayResortandCasino

 

Following rumors the pair was headed toward divorce, actress Son Ye Jin and actor Hyun Bin opted to take legal action against those spreading the false information.

Earlier in March, the YouTube channel 1 Minute Issue (1분이슈) posted a video titled “Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin Divorced After 6 Months of Marriage.” In the now-deleted video, it was alleged Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin officially divorced after six months of marriage, citing claims of overseas illegal gambling on Hyun Bin’s part. However, Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin have been married since March 2022, much longer than six months! There is also no proof of alleged illegal gambling.

VAST Entertainment and MSTeam Entertainment, Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin’s respective agencies, announced the actors’ plans to file a lawsuit against the YouTube channel.

“[The claims are] groundless. It is fake news. We are constantly monitoring the rumors. We plan to take legal action after an internal review,” VAST Entertainment said.

“This is obviously fake news,” MSTeam said. “We are constantly monitoring [the situation] internally, and we have already requested YouTube to delete the video. We will take strong measures, and we also plan to take legal action in relation to the content [of the video].”

Meanwhile, back in November 2022, Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin welcomed their first child, a son. They will be married a year March 31!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

#HyunBin #SonYeJin #divorcerummors #kcrushnews #VASTEntertainment #MSTeamEntertainment #kcrush #lawsuitagainstyoutubechannel #noproofofgambling #kcrushamerica #misinformation #falseinformation #HyunBinandSonYeJinlawsuit #koreanactors #kdramaactors

 

Huiii는 한국의 여성 R&B 보컬로 몽환적인 분위기로 자신만의 세상을 만들어가고 있다. 현재 개인 발매곡은 5곡 정도며 다수 곡에 피처링으로 참여했다.

Huiii is a Korean female R&B vocalist who is creating her own world with a dreamy atmosphere. She has currently released about 5 solo songs and has participated in many other songs as a featured artist. Kcrush is excited to have had the chance to speak with Huiii for this great interview.

 

1. 독자들을 위해 huiii님에 대해 간단히 소개 부탁드린다.

Could you please briefly introduce yourself to KCrush readers?

안녕하세요😊 한국에서 RNB 장르로 저만의 특색 있는 스타일로 활동하고 있는 싱어송라이터 Huiii라고 합니다

Hello😊 My name is Huiii, a singer-songwriter in Korea who is active in the RNB genre with my own unique style.

 

2. 최근 발매한 앨범에 대해 소개 바라며 지난 노래 중 가장 애착이 가는 노래도 소개 부탁 드린다.

Could you tell us about your recently released album and share your favorite song among your releases that you are most attached to from the past?

최근 발매한 [No more story about us] 앨범은 여러가지 이별의 상황들을 표현해 이별할 때 느낄 수 있는 각기 다른 감정들을 담아 공감과 위로를 전달하고 싶었고

그 중 타이틀 곡인 ‘Wash Away’ 라는 곡은 제가 실제로 예전 연인과의 문제, 금전적인 문제 등 힘든 일들이 한꺼번에 쏟아졌을 때 정신적으로 너무 힘들었다가 그 시기를 이겨내고 현재까지도  더욱 긍정적이고 나은 모습으로 발전해 가고 있는 제 자신을 사랑할 수 있게 되어 그 힘들었던 시기를 모두 씻어 냈다는 이야기를 담은 곡이라 가장 애착이 갑니다

I would like to introduce my recently released album, “No More Story About Us,” which expresses various emotions that one can feel during a breakup. Through this album, I aimed to convey sympathy and comfort to those going through similar experiences. The title track, ‘Wash Away’, is the song I am most attached to. It tells the story of how I overcame a difficult period in my life, where I was faced with multiple challenges such as problems with my ex-lover and financial struggles. Despite the hardships, I was able to love myself and develop into a more positive and improved version of myself. This song holds a special place in my heart as it represents my ability to wash away the tough times

 

3. 목소리가 몽환적이고 소울풀하다. 평소 말할 때의 목소리는 다르실 것 같은데 궁금하다.

Your voice is dreamy and soulful. I guess your voice sounds quite the opposite when you talk in a daily life situation. How’s that?

사실 주변에서 말할 때와 노래할 때의 목소리가 다르다는 얘기를 몇 번 들은적이 있는데 평소에도 목소리가 낮은 편이긴 하지만 곡 분위기와는 다르게 평소 성격은 밝고 오히려 약간은 까부는 느낌도 있습니다ㅎㅎ

To be honest, I’ve been told a few times that my voice sounds different when I speak versus when I sing. While my speaking voice tends to be low, my personality is quite upbeat and even a bit quirky, which contrasts with the mood of my songs.

 

4. 플레이리스트를 털어보자! 지금 맨 위 3곡만 알려주신다면?

Let’s dig up the playlist! Please tell us top 3 songs in your playlist right now.

Woman – Honne

Nerves – DPR IAN

LEGACY – DPR LIVE

 

5. huiii님의 음악 장르는?

What is your music genre?

크게는 RNB 장르입니다 요즘엔 세부장르가 워낙 많아서 딱 집어 말하기 어렵네요 저만의 장르를 만들어 갈거에요!

My music is largely in the R&B genre, but these days there are so many sub-genres that it’s hard to categorize. I’m actually in the process of creating my own unique genre!

 

6. 콜라보 하고 싶은 국내/해외 가수를 알려달라.

Please let us know which domestic/overseas singer you would like to collaborate with.

평소에 DPR을 굉장히 좋아해서 언젠가 꼭 같이 작업해보고 싶습니다

I’ve always been a big fan of DPR, so I would love to collaborate with them someday.

 

7. 요즘 즐겨 보시는 한국 드라마나 영화를 소개해 달라.

Can you introduce a Korean drama or movie that you enjoy watching these days?

평소 추리, 스릴러물을 좋아해서 예전에 방영했던 ‘모범형사’ 라는 드라마를 보고있습니다

I’m currently watching a drama called ‘The Good Detective,’ which aired before and fits my usual preference for mysteries and thrillers.

 

 

8. huiii님은 집순이인 편인지?

Are you a homebody type person?

원래는 안그랬는데 요즘 완전 집순이가 되어 버렸습니다 쉬는 날이 되면 집에서 맛있는 음식을 먹으며 주로 넷플릭스를 많이 보는거 같아요 집이 최고!!

I wasn’t always like this, but these days, I’ve become a complete homebody. On my days off, I enjoy eating delicious food at home and watching a lot of Netflix. Home is definitely where I feel the most comfortable!

 

9. 해외 공연을 간다면 가장 먼저 가고 싶은 곳은?

If you do a concert abroad, where would you like to go first?

평소에 야경을 너무너무 좋아하는데 뉴욕의 야경을 보는게 소원이여서 뉴욕을 가고싶습니다

I really love night views, and my ultimate wish is to see the night view of New York, so if I were to do a concert abroad, I would love to go to New York first.

 

10. MBTI 공개해 주실 수있나.

What’s your MBTI?

오랫동안 ENFP 였는데 최근에 INTJ가 나왔습니다!

I’ve identified as an ENFP for a long time, but recently I’ve taken the test again and got an INTJ result!

 

11. 우리 독자들에게 추천하고 싶은 한국 최고의 음식은?

What is the best Korean food you would recommend to our readers?

저는 식감이 쫀득하고 바삭한 것들을 좋아해서 다른나라 분들은 호불호가 갈리는거 같지만 저는 떡볶이를 정말 좋아합니다 특히 치즈떡볶이!

I like things that are chewy and crispy, so people in other countries seem to have mixed feelings, but I really like tteokbokki, especially cheese tteokbokki!

 

12. KCrush 독자 여러분께 남기고 싶은 메시지는?

Please say a word to your KCrush fans?

개인앨범을 내기 시작한지 얼마 되지 않았지만 앞으로 더욱 더 몽환적인 저만의 노래를 들려드릴 거니까 기대 많이 해주시고 사랑해주시면 감사하겠습니다

언제나 건강 잘 챙기고 모두가 힘든 일들이 생기더라도 털고 일어서서 나아갈 수 있으면 좋겠습니다 감사합니다

Although it hasn’t been long since I started releasing my personal albums, I will continue to share more of my dreamy and unique music with you in the future. I would appreciate it if you could support and love it.

I hope all of you takes good care of your health and have the strength to overcome any difficulties that come your way. Thank you.

 

 

—-Jiyoung Lee

 

 

#HUIII #Huiii #kcrushinterview #kcrushinterviewwithHuii #HuiiiRnB #rythemandblues #kcrushfans #kcrushmedia #Korea #koreanmusician #singersongwriter #koreansongwriter #WashAwayHUIII #NoMoreStoryAboutUsHuiiiAlbum #newmusic #newalbumHuiii #Huiiinewsong #HuiiiMBTI #Huiiilovescheesetteokbokki #kcrushamericamagazine #TheGoodDetectiveKdrama

 

Twenty Five Twenty One was one of the biggest dramas of 2022. I had it on my list for some time, and finally got around to it. It started slow for me, and then around episode 5 it became a binge. This drama was addictive because it had a good set of layers–it wasn’t just about romance (and actually I found other themes to be much more prevalent) but was also about coming of age, reaching for your dreams, and forgiveness. What a beautiful, special, and unique drama this was. Here’s my breakdown, with spoilers.

Plot: I like the thought of two individuals coming together to cheer each other on. This plot shows the obvious need and connection that Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do share–encouraging each other to greatness. Something I especially liked about this drama was that their romance wasn’t the focus. It didn’t even really come into the spotlight until the last few episodes! Their connection was so pure and special and it was able to be enjoyed platonically and later romantically. This made the show unique compared to other dramas where romantic connection is often the main focus of a relationship. On top of this, we have the struggle between Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim. The fact that they’re internet bffs and don’t know it is a perfect way to burst through their intense rivalry! With each main character facing complex challenges–Yu-rim and Yi-jin, financial, and Hee-do familial–it makes for a plot that has little to no filler. Almost every episode made me tear up and laugh out loud. Plot Score: 9/10

Setting: Going back to the 90s was a lot of fun. It makes me crave the simplicity of life before everyone was glued to their phone. The style, colors, and soundtrack made this blast from the past so enjoyable. I also like that we start in the present and travel back in time through Hee-do’s journals. I especially enjoy that we get to see Hee-do in the present and know that she’s okay with everything that transpired and has a healthy and happy life. This drama also had a few fun and memorable places like the school hangout room, the bookstore, and Hee-do’s home. Setting Score: 8/10

Characters: The subtleties in the characters was almost unmatched. So many things only perceived in facial expressions–it was wonderful. Hee-do was portrayed as her age, and Yi-jin his. Their age gap was so easy to see and that was helpful for character development and growth as time went on. My favorite couple was Ji-woong and Yu-rim. Ji-woong made me laugh the most in the drama and I desperately needed his humor to offset all the teary-eyed moments. I didn’t always know what the characters were going to say or do next, which is wonderful for pacing. Characters Score: 9/10

 

 

Theme: The theme of bringing someone to a better place was beautiful. Not only did this happen for Hee-do and Yi-jin, but Yu-rim as well as Hee-do was her internet, and later in-person, bff. Love and support was at the center of this drama. Giving someone encouragement to reach their dreams might be the very push they need to meet success. Additionally, the last episode’s theme of choosing to let go when all you want to do is hold on was powerful. Knowing when a relationship isn’t able to support the other person is something that comes to all of us. This depiction was special and so true to life. Theme Score: 10/10

OST: The OST is great! The sounds match the 90s era and there are some heartfelt tracks as well as bops! “Your Existence” by Wonstein stands out as my favorite upbeat song. The best ballad is “Very, Slowly” by BIBI. The lyrics are as fantastic as the sweet melody. OST Score: 9/10

FINAL: This drama was special because it gave such a true depiction of friendship, falling for a crush, and eventually being in love. So much of this drama was relatable and touched on things I’m sure many can relate to. But even more, it showed that sometimes beautiful things don’t last. The rainbow comes after a storm and is stunning and magical…but it doesn’t stay forever. So it was with the relationship of Hee-do and Yi-jin. The ending was so completely satisfying, even though I sobbed for the last 20 minutes of the drama. From her retirement, to the scene where he ties her shoe and they cry as they hug each goodbye, and then the dramatization of the journal entries–giving us a beautiful depiction of what this relationship meant to them, even though it was over–it all was one big crying fest but in the best way. Twenty Five Twenty One was so realistic and displayed the beauty of true connection with friends and loved one. This is likely why so many of us loved it and cried the whole way through! This drama will stick with me for a long time, and I’m sure I’m not alone. Final Score: 9/10

 

—-Ellie Boyd

 

#TwentyFiveTwentyOne #kdrama #TwentyFiveTwentyOneKdrama #kcrushreview #kdramareview #kdramaOST #YourExistencebyWonstein #VerySlowlybyBIBI #kcrushamerica #review

 

Dahlia Kim is a talented singer-songwriter who made her debut in December 2020 with the single album “Ocean Wave.” Her music is rooted in R&B, and she has released follow-up singles such as “Don’t Know,” “Barbie Doll,” “Is It Love?,” “Bonnie & Clyde,” and “Hold Me Tight.” This March, she made a highly anticipated comeback with her latest song, “Lover.” You can follow Dahlia Kim on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dearmylia_/ for updates on her music and upcoming performances. We hope you enjoy the conversation we had with such a talented artist.

 

1. 독자들을 위해 Dahlia Kim님에 대해 간단히 소개 부탁드린다.

Could you please briefly introduce yourself to KCrush readers?

안녕하세요! 독자 여러분 이번에 [Lover]라는 앨범으로 컴백한 R&B 싱어송라이터로 활동 중인 달리아 킴이라고 합니다. 만나서 너무 반가워요!

Hello, KCrush Readers! My name is Dahlia Kim, and I’m an R&B singer-songwriter. I recently made a comeback with my new album, titled [Lover]. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to meet all of you and share my music with you!

 

2. 3월 발매한 싱글앨범 Lover에 대해 소개 부탁한다.

Please introduce your single album ‘Lover’, which was released in March.

이번 발매한 곡은 전 연인을 그리워하는 내용입니다. ‘너만이 할 수 있는 Lover’라는 가사가 있는데 그리워하며 돌아오라는 내용을 담은 곡이고, 기타와 베이스 드럼으로 이루어진 곡입니다. 가사에 가장 많은 신경을 썼고, 이별하신 많은 분께서 공감하길 바라며 곡을 썼습니다.

The recently released song is a poignant ode to a lost love. One of the lyrics that stands out is “A Lover that only you can do,’ which conveys the message of missing an ex and longing for their return. The song features an arrangement of guitar and bass drum. As the songwriter, I placed particular emphasis on crafting relatable lyrics that would resonate with listeners who have experienced a similar separation.

 

3. Dahlia Kim님의 음악 장르나 느낌을 정의해 본다면?

How would you describe the genre or feeling of your music?

저는 R&B 장르를 통해서 몽환적인 분위기나 멜로디를 더해 더욱 풍부한 사운드와 느낌을 더하고 있으며 보컬 트랙을 쌓아서 풍성하게 음악을 만들고 있습니다. 몽환적이거나 신비로운 느낌을 표현하는 음악입니다.

As an R&B artist, I strive to create a rich and layered sound that immerses listeners in a dreamy, mystical atmosphere. To achieve this, I incorporate dreamy melodies and stack vocal tracks to create a fuller, more dynamic sound. At the heart of my music is the expression of dreamy and mystical emotions.

 

4. 다음 앨범에서 도전해 보고 싶은 컨셉은?

What concept would you like to try in your next album?

다음 앨범은 아무도 못 하는 느낌의 곡을 도전하고 싶습니다. 말이 조금 이상할 수도 있지만 조금 독특하면서도 아무도 시도하지 못한 사운드나 곡의 느낌을 만들어 기괴한 느낌이면서도 특이한 아무도 따라 할 수 없는 음악을 해보고 싶습니다.

For my next album, I am eager to explore new creative territory and push the boundaries of my art. It can sound a little weird but I want to create a song that is truly one-of-a-kind, with a vibe and sound that no one else has ever attempted before. While the resulting sound may be a little unusual or even bizarre, I want to create something truly unique and original that defies imitation.

 

5. 가사를 쓸 때 어디서 영감을 얻나?

Where do you get your inspiration when writing lyrics?

가사를 쓸 때 상상으로 영감을 얻는 편입니다. 무언가 상황을 설정하고 그 상황에 맞는 가사를 쓰려고 노력하고   상상 속에 있는 주인공을 나라고 생각한 뒤 주인공이 느껴질 것 같은 감정 혹은 상황을 가사로 씁니다. 상상으로 영감을 많이 느끼는 편인 것 같아요.

When it comes to writing lyrics, I tend to draw my inspiration largely from my imagination. I make an effort to create a scenario and write lyrics that fit that setting, imagining myself as the protagonist in the scenario, and trying to convey the emotions or situation that the protagonist would feel. I think I draw a lot of inspiration from my imagination in this way.

 

6. Dahlia Kim님이 노래방에서 부르는 노래는 주로 어떤 장르?

What genre do you usually sing at the singing room?

노래방에서는 대부분 아이돌분 노래를 부릅니다. K-pop은 정말 좋은 노래가 많고, 부르기도 너무 재미있어요! 노래방을 가면 가장 신나게 놀 수 있는 곡이 K-pop이더라고요. 스트레스도 잔뜩 풀린답니다.참고로 요즘은 뉴진스 노래에 푹 빠져있답니다. 노래방에 가면 뉴진스 노래는 필수로 부르게 된답니다.

At the singing room, I mostly sing idol songs. K-pop has so many great songs, and it’s so much fun to sing them! K-pop is the perfect genre for singing room sessions because it’s so upbeat and energetic. And it’s a great way to relieve stress. By the way, lately I’ve been really into New Jeans songs. Whenever I go to a singing room, I have to sing their songs.

 

 

7. 언제 가수가 되기로 결심했나? 가수가 되겠다는 결심을 실현하기 위해 처음 택한 방법은?

When did you decide to become a singer? What was the first method you took to realize your decision to become a singer?

사실 가수가 되기 전에 꿈은 작곡가였습니다. 그래서 가수가 될 거라는 상상도 못 해보았는데 어느 순간 저의 목소리를 남들에게 들려주는 게 좋더라고요. 우선 저의 목소리에 최대한 맞는 음악을 만들다 보니 가수가 되었고, 음악을 만들고 녹음하고 아는 지인분과 친한 기사님께 가서 믹싱을 부탁드렸죠. 그러다가 얼떨결에 데뷔까지 해버렸습니다.

Before becoming a singer, my dream was to be a composer. So, I never imagined that I would become a singer. But, at some point, I realized that I enjoyed sharing my voice with others. Initially, I tried to create music that would fit my vocal range, and as a result, I became a singer. I created, recorded, and then asked a close acquaintance who happened to be a sound engineer to mix my music. Then, before I knew it, I made my debut.

 

8. 뮤지션으로서를 제외하고 어떤 일을 해보고 싶은지?

What do you want to do besides being a musician?

뮤지션이 아녔다면 기획사에서 A&R을 해보고싶어요. 가수에 맞는 방향성이나 색깔을 찾아서 뮤지션들의 색깔을 정해주고 싶습니다. 뮤지션이 아니더라도 조금 예술적인 일을 하고 싶네요.

If I weren’t a musician, I would be interested in trying my hand at A&R work at an entertainment agency. I would enjoy helping artists find their unique style and direction, and helping to develop their talents to their fullest potential. Even if I weren’t a musician, I would still want to work in a field that allows me to express my artistic side.

 

9. 평소 게임을 즐기시나? 그렇다면 즐겨 하는 게임은?

Do you enjoy playing games? If so, what game do you like?

게임은 하지 않습니다.

I don’t play games.

 

10. Dahlia Kim님의 옷장에서 골라보는 최애 아이템은?

What is your favorite item in your closet?

제가 가장 좋아하는 옷 브랜드는 Vivienne Westwood 입니다. 그 중 최애 아이템은 비비안웨스트우드 가디건입니다. 너무 예뻐서 제 옷장에서 가장 좋아하는 옷입니다. 두가지 색깔이나 구매했습니다. 가디건 류를 굉장히 좋아하는 편이예요. 꾸민듯 안꾸민듯 꾸민 느낌이라 가장 최애 아이템입니다.

My favorite clothing brand is Vivienne Westwood. My ultimate favorite item from the brand is the Vivienne Westwood cardigan. It is so beautiful that it has become my most cherished item in my wardrobe, and I even purchased it in two different colors. I have always had a fondness for cardigans, and this one is particularly special to me because it has the ability to make me feel effortlessly stylish. In Korean, there is a popular word called “Kuanku,” which refers to this kind of look – a look that appears natural and beautiful, even though it may have taken a lot of effort to achieve.

 

11. 요즘 패션 트렌드 중 Dahlia Kim님이 가장 좋아하는 패션에 대해 듣고 싶다.

What is your favorite all around fashion trend?

편안함을 추구하는 편이라 원마일 웨어를 좋아합니다. 집 근처 1마일 반경내에서 입을 수 있는 옷인데 신경쓴듯 안쓴듯 멋스러운 외출복을 좋아한답니다. 스타일까지 입히면 너무 예쁘고 편안하게 즐길 수 있어서 가장 좋아하는 패션입니다. 아무리 예쁘고 멋있어도 편안하지 않으면 옷에 손이 잘 안가더라고요. 요즘 꽂혀있는 옷은 원마일 웨어 입니다.

When it comes to fashion, I am all about comfort. I love the idea of “One Mile Wear” – clothing that is stylish and comfortable enough to wear within a one mile radius of my home. I tend to prefer streetwear that is effortlessly stylish, without looking overly dressed up or uncomfortable. If I add my own personal touch to these kinds of clothes with some extra styling, it looks so great and comfy. At the end of the day, comfort is always my top priority. No matter how pretty or trendy a piece of clothing may be, if it’s not comfortable to wear, it’s just not for me. That’s why my favorite clothes are always “One Mile Wear”.

 

12. 한 입 먹자마자 행복해지는 소울푸드가 있나?

What is your soul food to make you feel happy instantly?

마들렌을 정말 좋아합니다. 좋아하는 마들렌 집이 있는데 레몬 글라세 마들렌을 특히 좋아하는 편입니다.

한 입 먹으면 그냥 행복해지더라고요. 자주는 못 가서 서울 갈 때마다 사 온답니다. 빵 종류를 굉장히 좋아하는 편이라 한 입 먹으면 행복해집니다.

I really love Madeleines. There is a Madeleine shop that I’m particularly fond of, and I especially love their lemon glacé Madeleines. Just one bite makes me so happy. I can’t go there very often, so whenever I go to Seoul, I make sure to buy some. I love all kinds of bread, and taking a bite of it always brings me joy.

 

13. 글로벌 팬들을 위해 한국에 대해 소개해 주신다면?

How would you introduce Korea to your international fans?

한국은 정말 놀거리가 많고, 진짜 한가지 자부하는 것은 음식이 정말 다양하고 맛있습니다. 또 치안도 좋고, 길거리 음식이나 먹거리도 다양하고 즐길 수 있는 문화공간이 매우 많습니다. K-POP을 통해 많이 알려지기 시작지만, 정말 다양한 음악과 춤 예술적인 부분도 특화되어 있습니다. 또한 어딜 가서 모르는 것을 물어봐도 친절하게 답해주십니다. 사람들이 대부분 친절하고 예의 있는 편이라 여행하기도 아주 좋은 나라입니다.

기회가 되면 한번씩 방문해보시는 것도 강력 추천 드립니다.

Korea is such a wonderful country with so much to offer. The food is definitely one of my favorite things about Korea, and I love how diverse and delicious it is. And the security and friendly people in Korea. It’s such a welcoming and safe place to travel, and the kindness of the people really makes the experience even more enjoyable. Plus, the cultural spaces and events in Korea are truly amazing. I would definitely recommend Korea as a travel destination to you.

 

14. KCrush 독자 여러분께 남기고 싶은 메시지는?

Please say a word to your KCrush fans?

KCrush 독자 여러분 ! 싱어송라이터 달리아킴의 [Lover] 많이 들어주시고, 많이 사랑해주세요.

KCrush도 화이팅!

Dear KCrush readers, Thank you for taking the time to read my story. As a singer-songwriter, it means world to me to have your support. If you haven’t already, I hope you will listen to my latest song, [Lover], and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

 

Wishing you and KCrush all the best,

Dahlia Kim

 

—-Jiyoung Lee

 

 

#DahliaKim #kcrushinterview #RnB #Korea #newalbum #singersongwriter #VivienneWestwood #kcrushamericamagazine #DahliaKimnewalbumLover #lemonglacéMadeleines #Koreansinger #onemilewearstyle #kcrushfans #kcrushreaders #interviews #kpop #newjeans #traveltokorea #KimDahila #funinterviewwithDahliaKim

 

 

Lollapalooza organizers released the artist lineup for this year’s festival held in Chicago’s Grant Park.

The annual event often brings a wide-range of artists to the Chicago-area. From Pop to Hip-Hop, Rock to Punk, Lollapalooza always has something for everyone!

The 2023 festival, which will be held August 3-6, will maintain true-to-form with having something for everyone as Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, The 1975, Karol G, and Lana Del Rey are set to headline, with Tomorrow X Together (TXT) also revealed as a headliner!

This is the second year TXT will perform at the festival. The group performed during 2022’s event.  It is the first time TXT will headline the festival and the second time a Korean artist will headline. Last year, BTS’ J-Hope was a headliner.

In addition to TXT, one of 2022’s monster rookies, NEWJEANS, will also perform at this year’s Lollapalooza. NEWJEANS inclusion marks the first time a female K-Pop group will perform during the annual event.

K-Rock group The Rose as well as DPR Live and DPR Ian have also been included in the lineup. This is the first time The Rose will perform. DPR Live and DPR Ian are no strangers to the major music festivals in the US as they also have sets at this year’s Coachella festival in April.

In addition to South Korean representation, other Asian artists will appear during Lollapalooza.

Making her first appearance at this year’s festival, Indonesian singer NIKI shared her excitement on Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NIKI (@nikizefanya)

Japanese-British singer and actress Rina Sawayama, Filipina-British singer beabadoobee, Los Angeles rock band The Linda Lindas, Seattle-based singer Umi, and Japanese Rock band Band-Maid round-out artists representing Asian backgrounds, making for an exciting lineup!

Pre-sale tickets for Lollapalooza go on sale Thursday March 23 at 10:00am CST. Tickets range from $365 for four-day general admission to $4350 for four-day platinum tickets.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#TXTNamedLollapaloozaHeadliner #NEWJEANS #NIKI #TheRose #Lollapalooza #kcrushnews #kpop #majorUSfastival #BillieEilish #KendrickLamar # RinaSawayama #ticketsforLollapalooza #2023festival #kpop #krock #LollapaloozaLineUp2023 #kcrushamerica

 

A-Team’s male idol group VAV is down another member as Baron opted to depart the group and the company.

On March 10, A-Team released a statement confirming Baron’s departure.

Hello.

This is A-Team Entertainment.

We inform you that VAV member Baron (Choi Choong-hyeop) has decided to leave the team and terminate the exclusive contract on March 10, 2023, due to personal circumstances.

We apologize for causing concern to fans with the sudden news.

We ask for your continued warm support and love for VAV members.

Thank you.

Baron, too, shared a post on his Instagram announcing his departure.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ‘VAV_BaRon’ (@baron.vav)

Hello, Vitamins! This is VAV’s Baron.

I think VAMPZ are surprised by the sudden news. Due to personal circumstances, it was concluded that doing activities would be difficult, and after long and sufficient discussions with the company and my older and younger brother members, I made this decision.

You might say it’s cowardly. I thought a lot that I would be able to give VAMPZ more pain by showing a bad side. 

Although we couldn’t run towards the end together as a member of VAV, I will always cheer for Geumhyuk, Wooyoung, Peng, Yoonho, Hosung, and the lovely youngest Heejun.

Thank you for your love and support for me as a VAV member. I don’t know when it will be, but when I can recover and give you energy like vitamins, I will definitely visit you. Thank you for your support.

I would appreciate it if you could send support and strength to the A-Team Entertainment staff and my brothers who are preparing hard. Everyone, I love you.

March 10, 2023

From Choong-hyeop who loves his brothers and VAMPZ.

Baron debuted with VAV in 2015. Sadly, while with VAV, his mother passed away in 2019. He also completed his mandatory military service in 2020-21.

Baron is the fourth member to leave VAV. Xiao departed June 2016, Zehan in December 2016, and Gyeoul left in January 2017. Ayno, Lou, and Ziu were added in their places.

Currently, VAV is prepping for a comeback sometime this year. Good luck to VAV, and well wishes and health to Baron!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

#Baron #VAV #Xiao #Zehan #Gyeoul #Ayno #Lou #Ziu #kcrushnews #VAVVAMPZ #ATeamEntertainment #kpopboygroup #kpop #BaronLeavesVAV #ChoiChoonghyeop #Geumhyuk #Wooyoung #Peng #Yoonho #Hosung #Heejun #kcrushamerica #kpopdeparture #kcrushmedia #kpopscene #VAVkpopboygroup

 

Another second-generation girl group may be making a comeback!

On March 21, JBTC announced Nine Muses (often stylized as 9Muses) and their sub-unit Nine Muses-A are supposedly in talks to make comebacks in the coming months, with Nine Muses-A expected to release music in May and Nine Muses this summer.

While nothing’s solidified yet, the rumor is exciting for fans who felt Nine Muses were painfully underrated throughout their nine-year run (2010-2019).

If Nine Muses do decide to hold a comeback, it will be interesting to see who will participate.

Comeback plans may be complicated as several members are wives and mothers. Keumjo married actor Baek Kibum in 2022. In 2018, SungAh married DJ DaQ, and Eunji married her non-celebrity partner and welcomed their child in 2020. SungAh announced her pregnancy in early 2020 and welcomed her baby a few weeks after. Moon Hyuna got married to her non-celebrity boyfriend in 2017 and had their first child June 2020; her second pregnancy was announced in December 2022. Moon Hyuna’s second child was born February 2023. Minha announced in February that she and her non-celebrity fiancé will be married in May.

Meanwhile, Gyeongree (Kyungri) recently departed YNK Entertainment after signing with the company in 2020. She made the announcement on Instagram.

Hello, this is Gyeongree. ◡̎

My contract with YNK Entertainment, whom I have been with for the past three years, has expired.

There was no official statement from the company, and I found out from receiving a message from a friend [who found out through] an article from an unknown source, so I would like to post a short message for fans who are always curious and waiting for my activities.

The drama I was working on together with them last year has yet to premiere, and I’m in the middle of filming [something else]. (It looks like both of them will begin airing this year~)

I’m grateful to the company CEO and staff that were with me during this time.

It was meaningful as I challenged myself in a different area, and I am thankful that there are even more things I want to do in the future.

This year is a year where I want to repay those who support me a little more. ღ

I always say hello in writing, but I promise to meet the fans I’ve been missing and say hello to each and every one of them again.

I miss you, and thanks always!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 박경리 (@gyeongree)

 

Currently, Gyeongree’s looking for a new agency.

Nine Muses last comeback was with “Remember” February 14, 2019. “Remember” was also their goodbye song as they disbanded following a February 24, 2019 fan meet.

If the rumor turns out to be true, how stoked are you for a Nine Muses comeback? We’re definitely ready!

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#9Muses #9Muses2023comeback #kcrushnews #comebackkpop #kpopgirlgroup #kcrushmedia #9MusesA #YNKEntertainment #Keumjo #NineMuses #SungAh #Eunji #MoonHyuna #kcrushamericamagazine #Minha #Gyeongree #Kyungri #kpopgroup #kpopmusic #kpopcomeback

 

Singer Se7en (Choi Dong Wook) and his long-time girlfriend, actress Lee Da-hae announced they will be getting married in May!

Se7en and Lee both shared the news on Instagram. Se7ven said:

Hello, this is SE7EN.

2023 marks 20 years since my debut.

I think this would not have been possible without the love of fans who always show unchanging support.

I am grateful and thankful.

Today, there is joyful news that I want to share with you first.

On May 6, I vow to marry my girlfriend Lee Da-hae, who always embraced me with love, and shared joy and sorrow together for the past eight years. From now on, I will live with more responsibility as a head of a household and husband.

I once again express gratitude to everyone who always supports me, and I will greet you again in a positive light!!!

Thank you.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 세븐 SE7EN (@se7enofficial)

Lee also shared the news on her Instagram.

Hello everyone~ This is Lee Da Hae.

As we have been in a relationship for eight years, this might not really be surprising, but I’m not sure why I feel so shy.. I worried about how to tell you about this ^^;;

This upcoming May, we promised to develop our long-time relationship into marriage. I’m still more used to calling him my boyfriend, but I will become a good wife who gives much strength and is more considerate to this person who has reliably protected my side and given me great happiness and who will now become my partner forever.

I think it will make us happy if we can get married with love and blessings from all of you.

I will also repay your love in the future by impressing more as an actress and as a wife of a family!! Thank you.

-From Lee Da Hae-

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Leedahae (@leedahey4eva)

Lee is a Korean-Australian award-winning actress who has appeared in Korean and Chinese dramas over the years. She is best known for her roles in My Girl (2005), Hello! Miss (2007), East of Eden (2008), The Slave Hunters (2010), Miss Ripley (2011), Love Actually (2012), and Iris II (2013). She is set to star in the upcoming Chinese drama My Goddess My Mother sometime this year.

Se7en, who was originally signed under YG Entertainment but is now under Dmost Entertainment, debuted as a singer in 2003. As a sing and actor, Se7en’s been active in South Korea, Japan, and briefly in the United States. Known for his songs “Passion” (2004), “Crazy” (2004), “Better Together” (2010), “Digital Bounce” (2010), and “Somebody Else” (2012), Se7en is a multi-award winning artist.

 

Congratulations to Se7en and Lee Da-hae on their May 6 nuptials!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

#Se7en #LeeDahae #marriagenews #kcrushnews #Se7entomarryLeeDahae #may2023marriage #kpop #DmostEntertainment #LeeDahaeactress #MyGirl #MyGoddessMyMother #Se7enBetterTogether #Crazy #SomebodyElse #kcrushamericamagazine #koreanactress #newsofmarriage

 

– KIM WOO SEOK reveals 4th Mini Album [Blank Page] comeback scheduler in clock form
– The 4th album in time [Blank Page] succeeded in making people curious about the time traveler concept.

Singer KIM WOO SEOK unveiled the comeback scheduler on his official channel at midnight on the 17th.

The 4th Mini Album [Blank Page] scheduler, which was released, is a motion-type scheduler that fits the concept of a “time traveler,” and captures KIM WOO SEOK ‘s album promotion schedule, which will be released through a watch image, once again.

Through the comeback scheduler, KIM WOO SEOK predicted new promotional contents such as “at some time,” “attached from,” and “from time to time,” raising questions about the story to be solved through this album.

In addition, the “Blank Page” comeback scheduler further raised fans’ expectations by helping KIM WOO SEOK imagine “Time Traveller KIM WOO SEOK,” which was released to fans as a preliminary spoiler, along with a comeback spoiler of the watch image released on the 14th.

Meanwhile, KIM WOO SEOK ‘s new album, 4th Mini Album [Blank Page], will begin pre-orders at 2 p.m. today (17th), and his 4th solo album [Blank Page] will be released on April 3.

[Photo provided by TOP Media]

 

#KimWooSeokTimeTravellerBlankPage #kcrushnews #KimWooSeok #newalbum #4thminialbum #kpop #kpopmusic #BlankPage #4thsoloalbum #BlankPagecomebackscheduler #TOPMedia #kcrushamerica #timetravelconcept #KimWooSeokTOPMedia

Press images

Download & streaming links

Dance performance video

‘Exoprimal’ game trailer

‘Funky Jumping’, the latest track from Japanese boyband Da-iCE, has been used as the theme tune to ‘Exoprimal’, the new team-based multiplayer game from world-class Japanese game developer Capcom. The words were written by Da-iCE member Sota Hanamura, and inspired by the game’s setting, the track boasts powerful singing, sharp lyrics and an edgy, danceable sound.

 

 

In response to calls from fans on social media requesting a chance to see the song performed, Da-iCE have also released a “dance practice” video for ‘Funky Jumping’. While the video was put together quickly so as not to keep their fans waiting, it features incredible choreography by KAZtheFIRE. The video began causing a stir online ahead of its release, when it was announced that the dance routine would represent “the highest calorie consumption in Da-iCE history”.

When the video was finally released, fans noted the complexity of the dance routine, with comments such as “It’s the ultimate in cool”, “I’m especially impressed by how they make it look so easy!”, “The formation is as complex as you’d hope” and “They perform Kaz’s intense choreography in such a passionate, cool and expressive way”.

KAZtheFIRE commented, “The dance routine for ‘Funky Jumping’ was created with the concept of presenting a group of powerful, energetic but playful young men. I was also conscious to add a little bit of sex appeal, to show a new side of Da-iCE! I hope you will pay attention to the finer details of the dance routine, while enjoying a slightly different take on Da-iCE! Funky Jumping!!!”

Watch carefully, and maybe you can take on KAZtheFIRE’s challenge with your own version of this awesome new dance!

 

 

About Da-iCE

Da-iCE are a five-piece boyband with twin vocalists who boast an impressive four-octave singing range. The group was formed on January 17, 2011 by vocalists Yudai Ohno and Sota Hanamura, and performers Taiki Kudo, Toru Iwaoka and Hayate Wada. The group put out a new release each month for six consecutive months from August 26, 2020, starting with anime series ‘ONE PIECE’ theme song ‘DREAMIN’ ON’, and followed by the album ‘SiX’ in January 2021. ‘CITRUS’, which was the theme song for the Nippon TV Sunday drama series ‘The Way of the Househusband’, has surpassed 350 million total plays online, winning an award at the prestigious 63rd Japan Record Awards. Their song ‘Star Mine’ set TikTok ablaze upon its release in August 2022, generating over 500 million views.

 

Further information

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

 

#DaiCE #DreaminOn #SIXDaiCE #Exoprimal #CITRUS #NipponTVdrama #TheWayoftheHousehusbandOST #JPOP #kcrushnews #Japanesetopboygroup #FunkyJumpingDaiCE #kcrushamericamagazine #YudaiOhno #SotaHanamura #TaikiKudo #ToruIwaoka #HayateWada #danceperformancevideo #KAZtheFIREchallenge #ExoprimalGameTrailer #kcrush2014 #dancepracticevideoDaiCE #kcrushmedia #OnePiecethemesongDreaminOn #StarMineonTikTok #DaiCE53rdJapanRecordAwards #newteambasedmultiplayergame #fivepiecejapaneseboyband

Download & streaming links

Performance video

 

Having made their debut in 2017 with the hit single ‘Best Part of Us’, Japanese masked production unit AmPm have won fans all around the world.

Today, March 17, AmPm have released ‘Sweet Escape feat. RAENE’, the sixth advance release from their upcoming album themed on global travel – this time set in Amsterdam.

The single is a collaboration with RAENE, a singer and songwriter based in London, England. Fusing an R&B base with elements of alternative pop, this acclaimed up-and-coming artist featured in BBC Introducing’s “Top 25 Most Played Artists of 2020”.

The lyrics express RAENE’s own experience of visiting Amsterdam, a city steeped in dance music culture, while the music leans into the current drum & bass revival.

‘Sweet Escape’ brilliantly layers RAENE’s sweet and feminine yet strong vocals into a rich and unforgettable melody, creating a track that is both comforting to listen to and endlessly danceable.

 

 

About AmPm

AmPm are a masked production duo from Japan who made a major global impact with their March 2017 debut track, ‘Best Part of Us feat. Michael Kaneko’. The same year, they were the only Japanese artist to perform at Spotify On Stage, a festival in Indonesia hosted by Spotify. In 2018, they dominated stages around the world, from ULTRA Miami, ULTRA Korea and ULTRA Japan to a headline concert in New York. In addition to releasing their own original music, AmPm have remixed tracks by popular overseas artists such as Afrojack, R3HAB and Nicky Romero, along with remixes for renowned Japanese artists like Gesu no Kiwami Otome (‘Black Parade’) and MONKEY MAJIK (‘Tokyo Lights’), and production for Ken Hirai’s track ‘Holic’. Collaborating with a plethora of dance-music vocalists, they have released more than 30 tracks to date. In March 2019, they were recognized at the Digital Contents of the Year 2018 / 24th AMD Award, winning the Special Jury Award.

 

Further information

MUSIC | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TIKTOK

 

#AmPm #Japanesemaskedproductionduo #BestPartofUs #MichaelKaneko #SweetEscapefeaturingRaene #kcrush #ULTRAKorea #ULTRAMiami #ULTRAJapan #kcrushintheknow #kcrushmedia #BBC #Raene #globaltraveltheme #dancemusic #newalbumAMPM #Amsterdam #Japanesegroup #worldconcerts

 

“The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess” is a very popular Japanese light novel series which was written by Kotei Kobayashi originally and illustrated by Riichu. This work won the award of excellence at the GA Bunko Grand Prix. The character, VillhazeIt has been very active on the official twitter. Now we will reveal exciting news!

The TV Anime, “The vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess”, will be broadcasted in October 2023! It’s first PV with lots of new characters has arrived!

The TV Anime of “The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess” will be broadcasted in October 2023!

The 1st PV with all new characters including Sakuna Memoir, Nelia Cunningham and Karla Amatsu has arrived! Please look forward to hearing further news!

The first PV: https://youtu.be/sgXzmjaSQQI

 

 

The teaser PV: https://youtu.be/YRDSausZ4_g

The information of the TV Anime, “The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess”

 

 

Anime Official HP: https://hikikomari.com/

Anime Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/komarin_PR

 

[ Information On the on air ]

It will be broadcasted in October 2023.

 

[ Staff ]

• Author of the original work：Kotei Kobayashi（GA Bunko／SB Creative published）
• Charactre Design：Riichu
• Producer：Tatsuma Minamikawa
• Series Structure：Keiichiro Ochi
• Character Design：Tomoyuki Shimoya
• Music：Go Shiina
• Animation production：Project No.9

 

[ Cast ]

• Terakomari Gandesblood：Tomori Kusunoki
• Villhaze：Sayumi Suzushiro
• Sakuna Memoir：Manaka Iwami
• Nelia Cunningham：Fairouz Ai
• Karla Amatsu：Miyuri Shimabukuro
• Karen Helvetius：Yoko Hikasa

 

[ Introduction ]

Terakomari Gandesblood is the daughter of the prestigious Gandesblood family in the Mulnite Imperial.

She has been living as a shut-in for three years since she suffered from a lack of skills of handling magic, incapability of physical exercise and not being able to get taller. She can’t even drink blood even though she is a vampire.

But her loving father found a crazy job for her. She was appointed as a new commander of the Mulnite Imperial Army’s 7th Unit of ruffians and criminals. The name of the title is “Shichiguten”!

It is the only job for a strong candidate and has to start a war against other countries every 3 months and beat them. It is a very demanding job, and her army members are all former criminals, and they are so ready to rebel against her.

She definitely wanted to refuse this offer but there is no chance she can say no since it was appointed by the emperor himself. If the servants found out about her it would be a real disaster… even so, komari faked it and charmed people and completed her duties!

“What I am going to do from now on is an amazing achievement! Well, I, Terakomari Gandesblood, is going to kill all other 5 commanders in the battle and I am going to show the power of our Mulnite Imperial!”

The strongest achievement in history by the strongest (!?) Vampire Princess begins now!

 

 

#VampirePrincess #kcrush #TheVexationsofaShutInVampirePrincess#kcrushamerica #writtenbyKoteiKobayashioriginally #illustratedbyRiichu #NBCUniversalEntertainment #TVAnimeseries #October2023 #kcrushnews #anime #JapaneseAnime #newanimeshow2023 #kcrushmedia #kcrushintheknow #newcharachers #trailerteaser

The sassy progressive K-pop group will make their way to nine cities for their first-ever North American Tour starting on May 16th after unforgettable performances in Asia

Tickets are on sale on at 10am local time on March 29 at Ticketmaster.com

Overwhelming excitement and outstanding performances continue for MAMAMOO as they announce their “MY CON” World Tour is headed to the U.S for the first time. After wrapping up their latest performances across Asia, the popular K-Pop group will head to the U.S. for their inaugural arena tour that launches in New York City on May 16th, 2023; hitting a total of nine cities coast to coast with many major markets in between. Presented by Mammoth, Inc. and Sugar Monkey Live, this will be MAMAMOO’s first ever global tour, as well as their American debut.

 

 

The girls knocked it out of the park with their mini album “MIC ON” in October 2022, and promptly followed up with a hugely successful, nine cities tour across Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. MAMAMOO has established themselves as unrivaled icons of K-Pop, having sold out more than twenty concerts since their first one in 2016. MAMAMOO is set to rock some of the biggest cities in the U.S. this summer with the same excitement and passion that has endeared them to their global fandom with each performance since their debut.

“Wherever it is, it becomes yours, mine and our stage.”

– MAMAMOO

The tour will see all four members, Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa, join hands once again, ready to take the stage in premier venues across the country; a complete list of the tour dates is listed below.

 

2023 MY CON U.S. Tour Dates:

All dates and cities below are subject to change.

May 16	New York, NY
May 18	Baltimore, MD
May 20	Atlanta, GA
May 22	Nashville, TN
May 24	Fort Worth, TX
May 27	Chicago, IL
May 31	Glendale, AZ
June 2	Oakland, CA
June 4	Los Angeles, CA

MAMAMOO’s first song, “Mr. Ambiguous,” debuted in 2014 and cemented their position as a mainstream K-pop knockout. Their launch was considered by some critics as one of the best K-pop debuts of 2014. They are recognized for their retro, jazz, R&B concepts and their strong vocal performances. Their song “HIP” is their first music video to hit 370 million views on YouTube and 210 million streams on Spotify, since their release in 2019. The quartet is known for being daring and breaking the rules in K-pop with their progressive fashion style, challenging the Korean music norms for women, and their girl boss attitude. MAMAMOO promotes being an independent woman with no restrictions. Hwa Sa is the most successful soloist, with her hit song “Maria” (2020) breaking records with more than 270 million views on YouTube. The recently released single, “ILLELLA,” encapsulates the unique talent and versatility of all four members.

 

 

ABOUT MAMAMOO

MAMAMOO (Korean: 마마무), is a four-member girl group consisting of Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa, who are loved by the public for their outstanding singing skills and spectacular performances. In 2014, The Group officially debuted with their song “Mr. Ambiguous” and impressed the public with their proficient stage manners and perfect vocal performances. Since then, they have released songs such as ‘Piano Man’, ‘Um Oh Ah Yeh’, ‘You’re the Best’, ‘Décalcomanie’, ‘Yes I am’, ‘Starry Night’, ‘Egotistic’, ‘Wind flower’, ‘gogobebe’, and ‘HIP’. The album became a hit in a row, and they became known as one of the best popular girl groups in Korea. Also, MAMAMOO has established itself as a “performance idol group” by selling out more than 20 concerts since their first concert in 2016. In October 2022, MAMAMOO released the 12th EP [MIC ON] and received great love for their unique concepts and intense performances with the title song ‘ILLELLA’.

 

#MAMAMOO #MAMAMOOUSTour #firstUSAtour #kpop #kcrushnews #Solar #MoonByul #WheeIn #HwaSa #performanceidolgroup #sellingout #SXSWperformers #MyConWorldTour #MAMAMOOticketsMarch292023 #MAMAMOO2023Tour #kcrushamerica #kcrushmedia #kpopidol #kpopmusic #kpopconcert #kpopscene #Koreanmusic #Asianmusic #UmOhAhYeh #MrAmbiguous #kpopgirgroup #hallyu #MAMAMOOFashion

 

The 95^th annual Academy Awards were held March 12, 2023. The night was filled with surprises and was nothing short but historic for A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once (EEAAO) and its cast and directors.

EEAAO earned 11 nominations for this year’s Oscars, leading the pack of nominees. Of the 11 nominations, the film— which was widely praised since its release— won seven of the awards include Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh).

With its seven wins, EEAAO tied 2013’s Gravity for the most Oscar wins by a science-fiction film, which the latter won in 2014.

EEAAO’s wins made additional history throughout the night. For director Daniel Kwan, winning Best Director, Screenplay, and Best Picture made him the second Asian director to pull off an Oscar’s “hat trick” after Bong Joon Ho did it in 2020 with Parasite (2019).

For Vietnamese American actor Ke Huy Quan, EEAAO was his first major film role in over 30 years. Quan, who was once a prolific child actor in The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, quit acting in the late 1990s due to difficulty finding work as an Asian actor. He opted to work behind the scenes until recently.

“My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp. Somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage,” Quan said during his acceptance speech. “They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This is the American dream!”

Quan’s historic Best Supporting Actor win marks only the second time an Asian actor took the category since 1985 when Haing S. Ngor snagged the award forThe Killing Fields (1984).

Michelle Yeoh’s Best Actress award marks the first time an Asian female won in the category. She is also the second woman of color to earn the award. Halle Berry was the first woman of color to win the award in 2002 for Monster’s Ball. Berry was one of the presenters announcing the Best Actress winner, making the moment more significant.

Yeoh said, “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime. Never give up.”

Yeoh dedicated her win to her mother, Janet Yeoh, who watched the ceremony from Malaysia.

“She’s 84, and I’m taking this home to her. She’s watching right now in Malaysia with my family and friends,” Yeoh said during her acceptance speech.

Yeoh was the second Asian woman to be nominated for the award after Merle Oberon for 1935’s The Dark Angel. However, Oberon claimed she was born in Tasmania, Australia out of fear her South Asian heritage (she was born in Bombay, India to a Sri-Lankan-Māori mother) would destroy her film career. It wasn’t until after her death her South Asian heritage was discovered.

Jamie Lee Curtis’ Best Supporting Actress win marked the long-time actress’ first Oscar, though it was not without controversy. Many felt Curtis’ win was not deserved with many pointing out the award should have gone to Wakanda Forever’s Angela Bassett or fellow EEAAO Best Supporting Actress nominee Stephanie Hsu.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN JAMIE LEE CURTIS OVER ANGELA BASSET AND STEPHANIE HSU LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IM PISSED OFF #Oscar2023 pic.twitter.com/f4V64q7jiK

— ZAYNA🔪#ANDAMOVIE (@sitcomabed) March 13, 2023

EEAAO wasn’t the only Asian production to secure wins during the Oscars. RRR’s “Naatu Naatu,” with music by M. M. Keeravani and lyrics by Chandrabose, secured the Best Original Score award, becoming the first Indian song to win an Oscar.

Hopefully, the history made during the 95^th annual awards show won’t mark the last time Asians and other people of color bring home awards for their efforts and contributions to film. Congratulations to Everything Everywhere All at Once and everyone else who won!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#95thAcademyAwards #EverythingEverywhere #MichelleYeoh #kcrushnews #AsianActress #awardshow #FirstAsianActress #EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce #BestDirectorDanielKwan #kcrushamerica #DanielKwan #VietnameseAmericanActorKeHuyQuan #BestSupportActorKeHuyQuan #Korean #StephanieHsu #RRRNaatuNaatu #MMKeeravani  #Chandrabose #theBestOriginalScoreaward #AcademyAwards #first Indian songtowinanOscar #kcrushmedia #congratulationsMichelleYeoh

 

WATCH “CALLING” MUSIC VIDEO HERE
LISTEN TO “CALLING” HERE

 

Hong Kong-based entertainment agency, One Cool Jacso announced six members from OCJ NEWBIES, their 17-member trainee group, as the new K-pop boy band, XODIAC. Members LEX, HYUNSIK, BEOMSOO, SING, WAIN and DAVIN stand out in XODIAC’s pre-debut single “Calling”, now available on all streaming platforms. The first K-Pop band to land four major magazine shoots including Cosmopolitan, ELLE MEN, Harper’s Bazaar, and Men’s Uno – from Hong Kong – before their official debut and winning at the global Weibo Account Festival held in Japan on December 20 is unprecedented. The group as a collective received an award for “Potential New Boy Group”, and XODIAC leader LEX is one of the first solo pre-debut artists to receive the “Fashion Rookie” award.

 

 

“Calling” is a musical treat in addition to being spectacularly visual that is sung in English. The vivid colors highlight each member of the group. Their singing is a fun and light pop sound that’s contrasted with a lower and mature rap beat. In true K-pop fashion, XODIAC brings a fresh pop dance beat to their song. The group brings a smooth and light energy to their dance moves, as if they were gliding through the song. The lyrics are relevant and relatable to fans who will listen to K-Pop because it talks about common relationship challenges. The outfits are shown with all members in high-fashion attire such as Louis Vuitton as well as some members donning other looks with Bottega Veneta, Versace and Kenzo. The setting in the music video takes place at Disneyland Hong Kong giving a youthful nostalgic feeling of innocence. True to this group’s identity with fashion and recent awards, their look is only shadowed by their singing and dancing talent. Fashion plays a huge role for XODIAC as a group, so it is only fitting for them to have a youthful, modern, yet mature look. Although, now stepping into the K-pop scene, they show a lot of promise with their crisp and precise performance skills. The sextet checks all the boxes in Korean culture with their upbeat and classy sound, precise dancing, fashion sense, and overall visuals.

 

 

Talent is served in abundance with these boys. Group and dance leader LEX has been learning modern dance since he was a child and has won several national dancing awards in Korea. Other members have also been past contestants on music competition shows such as Produce 101, World Klass, We Are Young, and Stars Awakening. XODIAC is one of the most highly anticipated boy groups set to debut in 2023.

 

#XODIAC #LEX #Produce101 #WorldKlass #WeAreYoung #StarsAwakening #kcrushnews #kpopscene #kpop #XODIACDebut #newkpopgroup2023 #allEnglishsingle #CALLING #newmusic #kcrushamerica #DisneylandHongKong #OneCoolJasco #OCJNEWBIES #17membertraineegroup #sixmember #6membergroup #HYUNSIK #BEOMSOO #SING #WAIN #DAVIN #Koreankpopboygroup #kcrushmedia #newmusic

 

Do not forget that KANGDANIEL’s FIRST PARADE Concert will be in the U.S., Los Angeles, CA at The Wiltern on the 18^th of March.  Tickets are going fast, so use this link to check availability:  https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/09005D69A39F57AF

 

#LIVENATION #KANGDANIEL #FIRSTPARADECONCERT #TheWiltern #kcrushnews #kpop #KangDanielLosAngelestickets #ticketsforkangdanielconcert #KONNECT #GENIEMUSIC #kpopconcert2023 #kcrushamerica #March2023concert #kangdanielconcert

 

-KIM WOO SEOK Reveals 4th Mini Album [Blank Page] Comeback Spoiler…I’m returning as singer KIM WOO SEOK after a year.

Singer KIM WOO SEOK unveiled a comeback spoiler for his new album 4th Mini Album [Blank Page] at midnight on the 14th.

KIM WOO SEOK, who announced his comeback last month, released the image of the watch with the message ‘4th Mini Album [Blank Page] Coming Soon’ on his official channel, raising curiosity about the new album. The clock in the released image points to 4:03 and makes it possible that KIM WOO SEOK ‘s music release date is April 3.

KIM WOO SEOK, a self-proclaimed “fan fool,” also gave a surprise spoiler on the communication platform with fans, saying, “I’m coming back with the concept of a ‘time traveler’.” “Blank Page,” drawn by time traveler KIM WOO SEOK in an imaginative spoiler, raised questions about what it would look like, raising fans’ expectations for the new album.

Meanwhile, KIM WOO SEOK announced in the March issue of Singles, which was published in March, that the new report would be another new start from the DESIRE series. His new album, 4th Mini Album [Blank Page], will be released in April.

 

[Photo provided by TOP Media]

 

#KIMWOOSEOK #newminialbum #kcrushnews #BlankPageKimWooSeok #KimWooSeokreturns #kpop #kcrushmedia #KimWooSeokDesireSeries #4thMiniAlbum #kpopscene #kpopidol #kcrushamerica #TOPMedia #April3rdrelease #BlankPageAlbumReleaseApril3rd2023 #KimWooSeokClockImage #timetravelerconcept #kcrushamericamagazine

Photo Credit: 88rising and THEBLACKLABEL

 

Korean alt-rock visionary LØREN has officially signed to iconic record label 88rising. Along with a new record deal, LØREN announced he will be releasing his debut EP, Put Up a Fight, on March 24 with 88rising and THEBLACKLABEL  – presave HERE. Ahead of the EP, LØREN will perform his first ever shows in the United States at SXSW and Head in the Clouds New York.

Put Up a Fight comes highly anticipated after the release of 3 buzzy singles in 2021 which earned a combined total of over 14M views in less than a year. LØREN became known for writing several songs for global phenomenon BLACKPINK and starring in one of their music videos, gaining him popularity in the Kpop scene. LØREN‘s musical prowess and editorial look have garnered him over 1.2M Instagram followers and allowed him to grace the covers of Vogue Hong Kong, DAZED Korea, i-D, and most recently Female Magazine as their first male cover star. LØREN can also be seen modeling in Saint Laurent campaigns as the Korean rocker is currently a face of the brand.

Put Up a Fight is a pop-punk-meets-indie-rock inspired project complemented by LØREN‘s grungy Korean and English vocals. The EP shows LØREN more vulnerable than ever, flexing his songwriting muscles to tackle subjects including mental illness and isolation.

LØREN explains, “I’ve been looking forward to Put Up a Fight’s release for a while now, and I’m thrilled to join forces with 88rising through the process. I’m a huge fan of their work, and I’m very happy to take part in their vision. It feels surreal to have SXSW, album release, and HITC New York ahead of me. To say I’m excited would be an understatement—I absolutely cannot wait for what’s to come.”

LØREN will be performing live in the United States for the first time at SXSW and Head in the Clouds. On March 15, he joins Balming Tiger at the Tiger Den showcase, SXSW’s first all-Asian music festival – RSVP HERE. On May 21, LØREN heads to New York to take part in 88rising’s Head in the Clouds, the label’s annual music festival.

 

Photo Credit: 88rising and THEBLACKLABEL

 

KEEP UP WITH LØREN

INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

 

 

#LOREN #THEBLACKLABEL #SSSSW #BalmingTiger #TigerDen #88rising #HeadInTheClouds #altrock #rock #kcrushnews #PutUpAFight #writtenforBLACKPINK #kpopscene #LORENnewmusic #newmusicrelease #kcrushamerica