One of Japan’s fastest rising J-Pop acts YOASOBI confirm they’ll be releasing a new English language EP, E-Side 2, the follow up to last year’s acclaimed E-Side. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
In celebration of the announcement, the duo shares “The Blessing” from the EP. Listen/share HERE. The song follows previously released track “The Swallow” which was released last week and also will be featured on the EP.
The focus track for the upcoming EP is “If I Could Draw Life,” theme song for the theater play “もしも命が描けたら(Moshimo Inochiga Egaketara).”
YOASOBI continue to go from strength to strength in the short window since their conception, being awarded the highly coveted “Artist of the Year” award at MTV’s Video Music Awards in Japan last year.
They have topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, reached #1 on the Billboard Japan Top Artists Chart and accumulated over 2.7 billion streams across releases.
The original Japanese version of “Into The Night” is ranked #1 on Spotify Japan’s “Most Streamed Songs in Japan in the Last Five Years” category, and the breakthrough hit has now surpassed 700 million streams.
This new music follows “好きだ [Sukida]” which was released earlier this year as part of their ongoing collaboration with Naoki Award-winning authors Rio Shimamoto, Mizuki Tsujimura, Miyuki Miyabe and Eto Mori. “好きだ [Sukida]” is based on Mori’s original novel, Hikari No Tane (Seed of Light) A Story to Read When You First Profess Your Love, which tells the story of a high school student professing her love to her childhood best friend.
Comprised of composer Ayase and vocalist ikura, the duo is known for turning novels into music. Last year, YOASOBI released their first ever English language album E-Side, as well as a Japanese album THE BOOK 2—The sophomore album includes seven tracks release throughout the year, plus one song which has previously only been performed live.
YOASOBI—E-SIDE 2
- The Blessing
- If I Could Draw Life
- Romance
- The Swallow (feat. Midories)
- Halzion
- Just a Little Step
- Haruka
- Love Letter
#YOASOBI #JPop #TheBook2 #ESide2 #newrelease #Yoasobinewalbum #kcrushnews #IfICouldDrawLife #Japan #sophomorealbum #YOASOBIMTVArtistOfTheYear #BillboardJapanHot100 #kcrushamerica #Sukida #IntoTheNight #SpotifyJapan #Ayasecomposer #Ikuravocalist #Yoasobiduo #YoasobiEnglishversion
Yamato Releases Defining ‘Essentials’ EP on Japanese-Based Label Avex
Japan-based DJ/producer Yamato is dropping his biggest release of 2022 in Essentials EP. Having worked for Pioneer as a technical developer of Pioneer CDJ series, he has an unrivaled competitive advantage few other artists can touch. A keen sense of songwriting, a brand-savvy skillset, and an ability to surround himself with the right team makes it clear as to why he’s achieved so much in his internationally acclaimed career.
With over 30 million views on YouTube, Yamato not only began uploading to the platform early, but showcased clever live DJing video themes which resulted in the attention of a worldwide audience. Showcasing his incredible long-form DJ sets in a gorgeous setting using a multi-camera set up, Yamato was able to create lucious eye-candy videos that kept YouTubers coming back for more and demanding more of this content. The series has become one of several breaking points in a chain of successful stages this artist has journeyed through.
With the lockdown era coming to a close globally, Yamato’s goal with Essentials EP is to stir up energy within the listener and close the secluded, adverse chapter of their recent past. Featuring vocal collaborators Mike Macdermid and Poe Leos, the experience is jam-packed with uplifting, positive melodies while still sticking close to the roots of Yamato’s signature sound.
Featuring Mike Macdermid, title track “Essential,” launches with a shining, heavenly disposition. Piano House and electro-inspired sound design backs up a moment capturing mood brought about through the lyrics. A build up hits and transitions the song to a melodic drop, taking the single to a peak moment. The section showcases deep house influences, as the previous sections rinse and repeat, giving Macdermid an ability to continue onward.
Yamato also released a music video for “Essential” today.
Yamato / Essential feat. Mike Macdermid Music Video
Essential EP https://yamato.ffm.to/essentials_ep
“Reflection,” smoothly segues from the mood that “Essential,” set, yet a different directive soon takes place as the track heads toward the first drop, delivering on a feminine rap-verse thanks to vocalist Poe Leos. The drop comes in with a thunderous dominance, thick rhythmic synth-work ricocheting through the speakers of the listener. As bitter as it is sweet, “Reflection,” symbolizes a diversified, well-written essence that earned its spot on the EP.
“YOU,” pushes the EP on a dark and mysterious turn, representing one of the most experimental and technical vibes across the 4-tracks. The vocaded topline connected alongside sophisticated, alluring soundscapes makes this track perfect the dancefloor, having all the bells and whistles fit for a club venue setting.
Final single “Neon Lights” is the 2nd collaboration with Mike Macdermid. Electric guitar strumming and a rock-inspired percussion influence is all organized within a slower-paced house music framework. The eased-while-upbeat feel acts as a natural closer, providing a reflective, full-circle moment that is intrinsically embedded through the design of this song.
Yamato EPK
Bio:
After only two years from the debut, Yamato won “WORLD DJ CONTEST 2013 JAPAN” hosted by Coca Cola. He was then asked by Avicii at the world contest, held in Ibiza, to perform with him at the festival in Budapest, Hungary, which led him to become the first Japanese DJ/producer to perform with Avicii.
With the backbone of having been a technical developer of Pioneer CDJ series, the superb skill and DJ style that utilizes Pioneer DJʼs CDJ is known to be a style that no one can imitate and it has been renowned and admired from all over the world, attracting audiences at big festivals and clubs in Japan and all over the world.
The performance videos series on YouTube has exceeded 30 million views, having fans all over the world and support from A-List names such as Afrojack, Laidback Luke, Lil Jon and many more.
Yamato Highlights
- Worked for Pioneer as a technical developer of Pioneer CDJ series
- DJ performance video series on his YouTube channel has over 30 million views
- Has plays Ultra Japan, Ultra Singapore, EDM Japan, Summer Sonic, Zouk Out, Waterzonic, and many other events
- First Japanese DJ/producer to perform with Avicii in Budapest, Hungary
- Won Coca Cola’s: WORLD DJ CONTEST 2013 JAPAN
- Has performed hundreds of shows around the globe
Yamato Socials
Spotify Apple Music Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube
#Yamato #DJ #YamatoProducer #Yamatonewrelease #kcrushnews #EssentialEP #EDM #WorldDJContest2013Winner #MikeMacdermit #AvexJapaneseLabel #PioneerCDJSeries #PoeLeos #kcrushamerica #AviciiInBudapest
Trigger Warning: Article contains video shared from Itaewon that night. Viewer discretion advised.
Two days following the deadly Itaewon Halloween celebration, we’re learning more about the deceased as Seoul authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crush that killed over 150 people and injured over 140 in an alleyway including 26 people from 14 countries, two of which were American college students. Other foreign citizens were from Uzbekistan, Iran, Norway, and China according to Al Jazeera.
Among those deceased include actor and singer Lee Jihan. Lee, 24, appeared on season two of Produce 101 in 2017 and had a role in 2019’s Today Was Another Namhyun Day. He was set to appear in the MBC drama Season of Kkokdu in January 2023 where he was playing the ex-boyfriend of the main female lead. Lee finished filming his scenes in September.
Lee’s agency, 935 Entertainment, confirmed Lee’s passing in a statement shared on Twitter.
935엔터테인먼트&9아토엔터테인먼트 입니다. pic.twitter.com/3Qgmu69hXo
— 935Entertainment (@935ent) October 30, 2022
“We are sad to deliver such news today, but Lee Jihan has passed away in the crush in Itaewon last night,” the statement said. “We would like to express our deepest condolences to his family, who are saddened by the sudden tragic news, also to everyone who loved him.”
Lee’s funeral will take place November 1 at the funeral hall of Myongji Hospital.
Celebrity Initially Blamed
Initially, rumors circulated that the crush occurred after a celebrity was spotted in one of the bars and people wanted to go see the individual. Some reports indicate AfeecaTV BJ Kei was the celebrity in question, but he set the record straight.
“Before writing this, I want to express my condolences to the victims. It was so heartbreaking,” Kei wrote on AfreecaTV.
“A lot of people are making comments saying that the accident occurred when many people gathered because of me,” Kei continued. “I’m sure those who watched my broadcast would understand, but some people are actually spreading unreasonable stories and false facts.”
Kei was present in Itaewon filming a live broadcast near the scene of the accident.
“The spread of false information was so severe that AfreecaTV even asked me to tell them the exact details and informed all the routes and times I had been yesterday. I think you will realize the truth after looking through all of that.”
Witness Accounts Describe Fear, Chaos
Descriptions of the chaos that occurred October 29 reflect the fear many felt that night. According to some reports by survivors, the stampede may have occurred with some pushing at the top of the narrow alley by the Hamilton Hotel. Videos circulating on the popular Korean social media site theqoo show moments when people are shoved from the top of the alley while someone shouts “push.”
❕CONTENT WARNING❕
New Footage released captures the moment the Itaewon crowd gets pushed down the alley.
Netizens comment that many people started pushing each other, which caused more chaos. pic.twitter.com/gouCujUeuK
— GLOBALMYEON (@globalmyeon) October 30, 2022
Korean YouTuber Seon Yeo-jung attended the Halloween event in Itaewon.
“I was at the scene and I saw everything so clearly,” Seon said. “When I was out of breath and things turned gray in front of my eyes, many thoughts suddenly went through my mind like a flash. I thought I would die from being tangled or suffocation if I tripped and fell down while being pressed like that. When I was able to witness the scene, many people had already fainted on the ground, and no one knew what was going on.”
Seon added, “There were people behind my back shouting ‘Hey, push! We’re stronger. I’ll win’. Even if I went through the crowd on the right side, I didn’t just move as I wanted, but it felt like I was being pushed away.”
Actor Yoon Hong-bin was also present in Itaewon that night.
“Some people were shouting not to push while the others were shouting to push,” Yoon said in a now-deleted Instagram post. “The police were only on the main street and people were crowded without any order at the back on the international cuisine street. I went outside to smoke, and I saw people being rushed to the ambulance. Many more were being transported so the officers were performing CPR on the street because they couldn’t possibly take everyone on ambulances.”
Yoon added, “I could hear people pleading with their loved ones to open their eyes while performing CPR but only one person was resuscitated on that street where I was performing CPR. I also couldn’t save the person I was helping.”
South Korean officials allege there wasn’t an indication crowds in Itaewon would get out of control.
On Saturday, over 100,000 people were present in Itaewon, Seoul’s nightlife center. The Halloween event was Itaewon’s first since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted months earlier. According to Seoul police, 137 officers were sent to manage the crowd. Over 7,000 police officers were sent to another part of Seoul to monitor protests.
“The police just weren’t there,” said Maeng Geun-yeong, a private security guard posted at Prost Pub & Grill. “If police had been at the scene in advance, the accident could have been prevented. This happened because police were not deployed.”
This tragedy had early signs and was entirely preventable,” said Yoon Hong-bin. “I know how hard the police are working but it’s a shame that no one thought to dispatch them in the middle to guide people to walk from one side.”
While some feel a stronger police presence may have helped prevent the surge, others feel that an enhanced police presence may have made matters worse.
“This was not a problem that could have been solved by deploying police or firefighters in advance,” said Lee Sang-min, South Korea’s minister of Interior and Safety, who oversees police nationwide.
While the incident continues to be investigated, South Korean officials are left wondering what could have been done to prevent this tragedy and what can be done to prevent future tragedies.
“I hope everyone could work towards making sure this does not happen again, focusing on how this happened,” Yoon Hong-bin said.
South Korea enacted a mourning period until November 5, 2022. During this period, a number of music releases, dramas, and other entertainment-related shows and performances have been postponed or canceled as citizens take time to reflect on the second deadliest disaster since 2014’s Sewol ferry incident.
Photo credits: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5)
—-Olivia Murray
#LeeJiHancondolences #YoonHongbin #Producer101Season2 #koreannews #SeonYeoJung #Itaewonhalloweenevent #MyongiiHospital #kcrshamerica #condolences #korea
On Sunday October 29, 2022 local time, a Halloween celebration in Seoul’s Itaewon district ended in tragedy as reports of a stampede and people injured hundreds while others suffered from “cardiac arrest” symptoms. As of Sunday evening, 149 people are dead with the death toll expected to climb.
Currently, the cause of the rush, which occurred near the Hamilton Hotel, is unknown and under investigation. Some local media stated the panic occurred after an identified celebrity was reportedly in one of the bars in the area, but these reports remain unconfirmed.
Itaewon is Seoul’s nightlife and club center. The popular destination was holding their first Halloween celebration since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in South Korea. “Tens of thousands” of people were estimated to be in the area at the time. Visitors to the Itaewon area were clad in Halloween costumes to celebrate the night’s festivities.
Choi Cheon-sik, an official from the National Fire Agency, reported that many of the victims appear to be women in their 20s with at least two being foreign nationals.
South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol presided over an emergency response meeting Sunday following the tragedy.
“The top priority is transporting and rescuing the patients and providing prompt medical treatment for the affected people,” Yoon told the meeting.
Video and photographs show pedestrians and emergency personnel administering CPR and medical assistance to those injured. Bodies covered in makeshift shrouds also lined the streets before being taken to a makeshift morgue set up near the area. Hundreds of ambulances also lined the streets to administer aid and take victims to hospitals.
“I turn the corner to the main street and there’s two or three ambulances, a fire truck and in the middle are like five or six bodies on the ground on one side of the street,” Grant Hauck, a visitor to the area, told USA TODAY.
The Seoul metropolitan government texted emergency alerts to citizens telling them to clear the area and head home.
“It’s always crowded, but nothing like this has ever happened before,” said bartender Ju Young Possamai.
“I’ve been to a lot of Halloween parties in Korea,” Possami said. “I never thought that something like this could happen in Korea, especially in Itaewon.”
This story is still developing and pends an investigation.
We send our condolences to the lives lost during this incident.
Photo cr. Korea Times
—-Olivia Murray
#itaewoncondolences #halloweenpartyitaewon #itaewonstampede #barcrowd #korea #seoul #unknowncause #kcrushnews #presidentyoonsukyeol #itaewonstampede #kcrush #nationalfireagency #october2022 #bartenderjuyongpossamai
With their second single ‘MASCARA’, XG made a huge impact on the music scene, reaching number one on the iTunes song chart in 17 countries & territories and entering the Spotify ‘Viral50’ in 21 countries & territories.
Solo vocal performances by CHISA, JURIA and HINATA were recently released, showcasing their exceptional vocal skills. These have received rave reviews from around the world.
Today, a new video from HINATA entitled ‘Welcome to My Party‘ has been released. In this video, Hinata talks about her hometown, her hobbies and the type of music she likes to listen to.
The video is a must-see for XG fans, revealing a lot of previously unreleased information about the girls. It also includes footage of the girls as children as well as personal insights direct from the girls themselves.
The ‘Welcome to My Party’ video is expected to be released for each of the seven XG members, so stay tuned for more updates on the XG girls.
Welcome to My Party from HINATA
XG
XG is a seven-member HipHop/R&B girl group consisting of JURIN, CHISA, HARVEY, HINATA, JURIA, MAYA and COCONA.
On March 18 2022, they became the first artists to debut from XGALX, a global entertainment production company with a mission to produce artists with a defined world view, creating a culture of “bold” creativity. The group’s name, “XG”, stands for “Xtraordinary Girls”. With their fresh, inventive music and performance, XG aims to empower young people from all over the world – from all walks of life.
XGALX
XGALX is a global entertainment production company with a mission to produce artists with a defined world view, creating a culture of “bold” creativity. Through the dynamic energy of their music and performance, XGALX will spread a message to young people all over the world:
“Focus on your dreams and don’t stop until you make them a reality”
CREATE BOLD CULTURE
Through the work of the XGALX project we will empower young people all over the world, from all walks of life to:
“Listen to your heart, focus on your dreams and have the strength to make them come true – without being limited by the opinions or judgements of others.”
XG Official Website http://xgalx.com/xg/
XG Instagram: https://instagram.com/xgofficial
XG YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@xg_official
XG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@xg.official
XG Weverse: https://weverseapp.page.link/p3i5
XG Twitter: https://twitter.com/XGOfficial_
XG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XGOfficial
XGALX Official Website http://xgalx.com/
* XG are debuting from the new production group XGALX.
#XGALX #Mascara #CHISA #JURIA #HINATA #XtraordinaryGirls #kpop #jpop #HARVEY #MAYA #COCONA #JURIA #kcrush #kcrushnews #XGALXproject #listentoyourheart #WelcomeToMyPartyXG
The world’s first Ghibli theme park’s set to open in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture Japan.
Ghibli Park will open the first three of its five themed sections on November 1, 2022. The park features areas themed around Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle among other walkable attractions.
While Ghibli Park is a theme park, guests should not expect rides or costumed characters walking around the park. Instead, Ghibli Park promises a calming experience that celebrates nature and the outdoors and their significance in Ghibli’s works. The attractions feature the whimsy and realism of Studio Ghibli’s films.
“We didn’t want people to forget Ghibli’s works,” Goro Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki’s son, said.
The attractions are walkthrough displays featuring Studio Ghibli’s recognizable figures. Throughout the park, guests can take pictures almost anywhere. A large wing inside the warehouse displays 14 scenes from 13 Ghibli films with each space providing characters and sets guests can interact with and use as backdrops for pictures. For instance, visitors can sit inside a train with Spirited Away’s No Face and take pictures with him if they choose.
In addition to the three areas (Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest and Ghibli Grand Warehouse) set to open, guests will also find houses nestles inside the forest located in the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. Visitors can also screen 10 short Ghibli animations inside Ghibli Grand Warehouse, though they will only be allowed to screen one short per visit. There will also be a café and gift shops on property.
In spring 2024, the Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village will open.
Ghibli Park’s expected to be a major tourist attraction for Aichi. Tickets will be available via a lottery system when the park opens. Tickets cost between 1,000 to 2,500 yen ($6.75-$17 USD).
If you visit Japan, will you go see Ghibli Park? We can’t wait to see what everything looks like when the park’s open!
For more information about Ghibli Park, visit the website!
—-Olivia Murray
#GhibliPark #StudioGhibli #Aichi #HillofYouth #DondokoForest #GhibliGrandWarehouse #SpiritedAway #CastleInTheSky #GoroMiyazaki #HayaoMiyazaki # Nagakute #AichiPrefectureJapan #Japan #kcrush #kcrushamericamagazine #MyNeighborTotoro #HowlsMovingCastle #themepark #asianthemepark #JapaneseThemedpark #Expo2005AichiCommemorativePark #November2022
The highly anticipated nuptials of figure skating queen Kim Yuna and Forestella’s Ko Woo Rim will be held October 22, 2022!
“Kim Yuna and Forestella’s Ko Woo Rim will hold a private wedding ceremony with close family and friends on October 22,” representatives for the pair said. “Please send them warm congratulations.”
Kim and Ko originally confirmed their relationship back in July after Korean media source The Fact revealed the two may be dating.
According to BEAT Interactive, Ko’s agency, Ko’s Forestella groupmates will perform a congratulatory song during the wedding.
Kim and Ko’s wedding will be held at Seoul’s Shilla Hotel.
“We ask that you send lots of congratulations to Ko Woo Rim, who is making a new start,” BEAT Interactive said in a statement.
In an Elle Korea interview earlier this year, Kim said she’s starting a new chapter in her life.
“I’ve been an athlete since I was seven years old in Korean reckoning. The period up to my retirement as an athlete certainly feels like one of the chapters. After entering my 30s, it feels like a new life is starting again in many ways.”
Prior to the wedding, the couple unveiled their wedding photos. Check them out below!
Congratulations to Kim and Ko on their wedding and new life chapters!
Photo credits: (1)
—-Olivia Murray
#figureskating #nuptials #KimYuna #ForestellasKoWooRim #koreanwedding #marriage #SeoulShillaHotel #kcrush #kcrushamerica #KimandKocongratulations #koreanweddingfashion #KimYunaweddingphotos
After years of debate regarding if BTS should enlist in the military or not due to their cultural impact, BIGHIT MUSIC announced via a press release all BTS members will start enlisting beginning at the end of 2022.
The news came following BTS’ successful Yet to Come in Busan concert.
“The members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service,” starting with the eldest member, Jin, who is turning 30 this year, BIGHIT MUSIC told ABC News Monday.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military before they are 28-years old, though men who “excel in popular culture, art, and sports” can defer enlistment until they are 30-years old. Jin, BTS’ oldest member, was able to defer his service until 2022.
“I think the country sort of told me, ‘You’re doing this well, and we will give you a little bit more time,'” Jin told Rolling Stone in 2021.
Over the years, fans have petitioned for BTS not to serve in the military due to their cultural and financial impact on South Korea. After South Korean president Moon Jae-in appointed BTS as a special envoy for public diplomacy, ARMY and other K-Pop fans rallied again in hopes of granting BTS an exemption. The group did earn deferment privileges.
Some South Korean government personnel have been in favor of BTS skipping their mandatory service including Culture Minister Hwang Hee and politician Noe Woong Rae, while other officials have pointed to their enlistment being “desirable” in order to “preserve the image of fairness.”
BTS did not ask for special exemptions.
Jin will be the first member to serve and is expected to officially enlist in November after he applied to cancel his enlistment extension. The elder member will wrap up his solo activities in late October prior to enlisting.
During the Yet to Come in Busan concert, Jin teased his solo work.
“I got the opportunity to work with someone I like, so a single will come out soon,” Jin told fans.
Following Jin, the rest of BTS are expected to enlist in order throughout 2023-24, though enlistment times have not been announced. Jungkook, who is the youngest, is expected to enlist last. BIGHIT MUSIC does expect the group to get back together “around 2025.”
While BTS’ enlistment will have an impact on South Korea’s finances (the country stands to lose “billions”), the anticipation of their 2025 return should alleviate the country’s worries as fans will be excited to see one of the world’s most popular groups back together. BTS’s short-term loss could stand to be one of South Korea’s gains in the future.
Meanwhile, BIGHIT’s announcement caused BTS to trend on social media with a mix of well wishes and sadness. One thing is clear is fans will wait for BTS and will be excited to see the members back and better than ever in the future!
The “best is yet to come.”
—-Olivia Murray
#BTS #BTStoenlist #BTSmilitaryservice #koreanmilitaryservice #kpop #kpopidol #BIGHIT #BIGHITMUSIC #BTSEnlistment #BTS2022Enlistment #kcrushnews #kcrushmagazine #popmusic #iheartradio #koreanmusicchart #BTSJintoenlist #southkorea #ABCNews #BTSBusanConcert #Billboard #kcrushamericamagazine
DREAMCATCHER [Apocalypse: Broken Halloween] 2022 World Tour offline and online concert is set to take place on October 29th, 7:00PM, and October 30th at 4:00PM KST on online streaming platform with MyMusicTaste. Ticket sales will open today at 7:30PM KST on Melon Ticket for the offline concert and MyMusicTaste for online streaming.
Dreamcatcher will hold both online and offline at the same time, joining more audiences and communicating with Insomnia (official fandom name) worldwide. Through this Halloween concert, Dreamcatcher not only prepared a set list that can clearly show the group’s color and charm but also plans to complete a performance that can be enjoyed together with a sense of realism, including a rich band session and the stage of the recently released seventh mini-album “Apocalypse: Follow Us.”
The recently released seventh mini-album “Apocalypse: Follow Us”, is proving its global influence with records. Shortly after its release, it topped the iTunes Worldwide Album Chart and topped the top album charts in 21 countries, including the United States, Britain, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Indonesia, and Finland, boasting the true value of steady growth.
In addition, Dreamcatcher’s to hold a European tour in Germany, Netherlands, Poland, UK, and France sequentially from November 14th, following the domestic Halloween concert, signaling a meeting with fans through active activities until the second half of this year.
Tickets for DREAMCATCHER [Apocalypse: Broken Halloween] 2022 World Tour’s online streaming will be available through MyMusicTaste. Information regarding ticketing for the shows can be found on : ttps://mmt.fans/bFfB
DREAMCATCHER [Apocalypse: Broken Halloween] 2022 World Tour
October 29th, 2022, 7:00PM (KST) & October 30th, 2022, 4:00PM (KST) – MyMusicTaste
Dreamcatcher’s seven members: JI U, SU A, SIYEON, HANDONG, YOOHYEON, DAMI, GAHYEON
MANAGEMENT AGENCY) About DREAMCATCHER COMPANY:
Established in 2008, DREAMCATCHER COMPANY is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency founded by the prominent production duo E-tribe. Since the debut of its first artist Nassun, the company has grown in size over the years, producing artists and idol groups under its own name. V.O.S, Dalshabet, and DREAMCATCHER are the major artists that are currently associated with the label. Recently, the company also launched subsidiary labels HF Music Company, Dreamcatcher Company, and D1CE Entertainment and is garnering much attention and recognition from the public as the rising creator of future K-pop artists.
PROMOTER) About MyMusicTaste:
MyMusicTaste is a fan initiated live event making service that brings fans, artists and promoters from all over the world together in one place to create a valuable and meaningful concert experience for everyone involved. MyMusicTaste puts the power in the fans’ hands, allowing fans to request their favorite artist’s concert in their city. With the mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world, MyMusicTaste successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, GOT7, MONSTA X, The xx, Machine Gun Kelly, and more in over 57 different cities. With the simple idea–empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert in 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. Currently, www.mymusictaste.com supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 different languages.
NEMOPHILA is going to attend a huge music festival called, “AFTERSHOCK FESTIVAL 2022” in California in the United States from March in 2022.
They also announced their live performance tour, “North American Tour”. The tour will start from March in 2023. The venue of the first 3 live performance shows in the United States have been announced. The tickets of the shows will be sold at 10:00 am (US TIME) on the 11th of October on the website for every venue.
Also, NEMOPHILA announced the release of their latest album called, “Seize the Fate”. This album will be released worldwide on the 14th of December 2022. Their song, “Seize the Fate”, which is also the same title as the album, will be released digitally on the 7th of October. This release is prior to the release of the album.
https://ssm.lnk.to/NEMOPHILA_top
The booking for the purchase of the CD and LP vinyl in the United States will begin on the 7th of October:
This Japanese heavy metal girl band NEMOPHILA has been getting so much attention from around the world. We definitely can’t take our eyes off of it!
[ Live Information ]
NEMOPHILA “Seize the Fate” North American Tour
On Wednesday, the 8th of March 2023, at the GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL in California.
On Thursday, the 9th of March 2023, at ECHOPLEX in Los Angeles.
On Sunday, the 12th of March 2023, at LUNARIO in Mexico City.
[ Profile of NEMOPHILA ]
NEMOPHILA is a Japanese heavy metal girl band. Their cover song of IRON MAIDEN on YouTube has been viewed over 3 million times so far. Their band name has become so famous among heavy metal fans around the world.
They released the CD titled, “OIRAN – EXTENDED EDITION”, in the UK in 2021. This CD was a great hit and successfully sold 10,000 copies. This figure is quite remarkable for overseas sales as a Japanese band.
The tickets for their solo live performance in Los Angeles called, “Whisky a Go Go” in 2022 quickly sold out. They will perform at “AFTERSHOCK Fes” in the United States this year again.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvoAeGZoC8giXP59NOZABIA
#OIRAN #NEMOPHILA #JapaneseRockBand #SeizeTheFateNorthAmericanTour #heaveymetal #IronMaiden #ECHOPLEXLosAngeles #GreatAmericanMusicHallCalifornia #LunarioMexicoCity
The K-Pop star drops first body of work in four years with eventful music video
LISTEN TO “ONE BAD NIGHT” EP HERE
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “3D WOMAN” HERE
October 5, 2022, South Korean singer and songwriter, JAMIE, released her EP, “One Bad Night,” along with a bubbling music video for focus track “3D Woman.” This body of work marks her first EP in over four years since jiminxjamie and is available on all digital streaming platforms via Warner Music Korea.
In the focus track of the EP, “3D Woman,” JAMIE’s strong vocals are layered over a trap infused beat to deliver an unforgettable audio-sensory moment. JAMIE has taken off her girl-next-door persona of the past and emerged as a much more edgy and mature woman for this track, with lyrics like, “They watch me when I’m walking but they listen when I’m talking.” She’s an empowered woman who knows herself and gets what she wants, and this catchy hook and rhythm are a power move that will have you singing and dancing along to her beat.
Right out the gate, JAMIE throws us into the club with a contagious first track, “GIRLS.” With a heavy and consistent bass pounding away, this opening number sets the tone for the entire EP: “Girls just want to have fun. Girls just want to get drunk.” With steady choruses and a spirited verse with cadence and flow that perfectly match the beat, “GIRLS” is an exciting track perfect for a night that has barely begun, with fun that’ll never seem to end.
The third track continues this lively, party energy with “In My Bag.” What immediately jumps out from this track is the extremely rhythmic beat. By taking the tempo down a notch, JAMIE’s carefree lyrics and spunky, almost aggressive delivery give off the perfect attitude of a woman who doesn’t have time to care tonight. She’s got her bag, and whether or not you have yours isn’t her problem.
Track four is a turning point in the EP, and although softer and slower than the first three tracks, “Bedtime Story” still brings its own unique vibe and energy. This track takes on a more R&B mood, allowing JAMIE’s impressive vocals to really shine through. Featured artist, GEMINI’s buttery verse is the cherry on top to this groovier, late-night ride. Overall, we get a subtle, layered bass line that meshes with JAMIE’s captivating singing and smooth lyrics to capture the yearning we all feel for that special someone.
The EP ends on a much more solemn note with its track “Honesty.” The soft piano and guitar instrumentals paired with JAMIE’s beautiful vocal performance create a sobering wakeup call after the alcoholic bender that was the rest of this EP. Despite the raw emotional depth this track centralizes on, it serves as a comforting end to “One Bad Night.” Providing a much needed (and deserved) sense of closure, this final track fully showcases JAMIE’s maturity and range as an artist.
Paired with the EP is a psychedelic music video for its title track “3D Woman.” The scene begins with pulling up to an exclusive warehouse-turned-nightclub and are thrown into a picture of debauchery: bleached blondes, leather, pole-dancing, drinks, and heavy, heavy jewelry. One simply can’t help but stare at this hedonistic scene where good girls turn bad, and boys are seduced and tossed aside. You might get a kiss, you might not, but JAMIE won’t kiss and tell, that’s for certain.
“One Bad Night” EP Tracklist:
- GIRLS
- 3D Woman
- In My Bag
- Bedtime Story (feat. GEMINI)
- Honesty (0822)
As a globally recognized artist, JAMIE has been releasing her handful of hit songs over the last few years, and she’s grown into one of the most featured artists hailing from Korea. In early 2021, JAMIE was included in the remix of American hip-hop artists Saweetie and Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” alongside South Korean-Japanese rapper CHANMINA, garnering over 13 million plays on Spotify. Other notable global collaborations include “Family“ by David Guetta, Ty Dolla $ign and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, and Numbers with CHANGMO which have all dominated the charts on its release. JAMIE has built an unparalleled repertoire, showcasing her chameleonic musical abilities and maturity in EPs like the coming-of-age “19 to 20”, the genre-hopping “jiminxjamie“ and the soon-to-be-released new body of work is destined to be a stand out once again. With buoyant, charismatic, mischievous charms, and inimitable vocal talent, which can be seen in her first English single “Pity Party”. The critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter continues to enchant her growing international fanbase (under Warner Music Korea), as she currently boasts 1.6 million followers on Instagram and millions of streams on multiple platforms.
For more information about the EP, please visit JAMIE’s social media.
Photo Credit: Warner Music Korea
ABOUT JAMIE
JAMIE, also known as Park Jimin, is a multi-faceted South Korean singer and songwriter. She rose to fame at a young age of 14 through winning the first season of the South Korean talent survival show “K-Pop Star” in 2011, and became a member of the K-Pop duo 15&. In addition to her activities in the vocal duo, JAMIE also released two well-received solo extended plays, 19 to 20 and jiminxjamie in 2016 and 2018, respectively. With her vibrant and playful personalities, JAMIE has further found success in the hosting world as she has won a place in the heart of K-Pop fans all around the world through her role as the MC on the long-running idol variety show, After School Club. In August 2019, JAMIE signed to Warner Music Korea as the first Korean artist to join the roster, where she continues to share more of her music and stories through her stunningly powerful vocal performances. She’s since then released a plethora of global music hit collaborations which only cements her reign in the K-Pop genre.
Connect with JAMIE:
Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify
#JAMIE #kpop #ParkJimin #SouthKoreansingersongwriter #WarnerMusicKorea #OneBadNight #3DWoman #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #Koreanvocalist #kpopstar
Japanese rock band tricot, who are currently touring 20 towns in 10 countries on their UK/European tour, have released new song ‘Aquarium’.
‘Aquarium’ is a straight-ahead, bright and poppy song with a twist, built on the foundation of tricot’s characteristic unusual time signatures. It is a song about ditching the presumptions around what love and relationships are supposed to be. Curiosity, guilt and other emotions do not necessarily need to have negative connotations, and this idea is expressed through a positive musical arrangement. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and declarations, with lines that roughly translate as “It takes an ugly shape, for real”, “The world is in reverse, and I can’t be trapped by other people’s assumptions”, and “I will unbuckle my armor and hesitate no more” – somewhat unusual phrases that ride an energetic J-rock sound.
A lyric video for ‘Aquarium’ has also been released on tricot’s YouTube channel. Meanwhile, the song has already received airplay on radio stations in the UK such as Good Music Radio and KFM Radio, along with other stations in Germany and the US, creating a strong welcome for the band in each country.
This is tricot’s first overseas tour since their successful shows in the UK in 2018. Performances in London and Amsterdam sold out ahead of the tour, while shows in Belgium and some other places were upgraded to larger venues after tickets sold out.
Fans who attended the concerts on the tour so far have posted excited comments online in various languages, such as “That was the best show of the year”, “It was a technical and incredible performance” and “tricot’s music can’t be beat”.
tricot ‘Aquarium’ Download and streaming links:
https://tricot.lnk.to/Aquarium
tricot ‘Aquarium’ lyric video:
■ tricot profile
Japanese rock band tricot formed in the historical and cultural city of Kyoto on September 1, 2010. The band have developed an unusual and distinctive sound that consists of harmonic pop melodies and emotional vocals with complex rhythm. While they are sometimes referred to as a math-rock band, the members themselves are in fact not familiar with the genre; they have arrived at a unique sound of their own imagining.
tricot’s headline concerts often sell out. They have toured in many countries around the world and successfully held a total of 109 shows overseas, including three tours of Asia, two tours of Europe, a supporting slot for Pixies in the UK, and further tours in the US and UK. These dedicated musicians have an active career and devoted fan base throughout the world.
Official website: https://tricot-official.jp/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tricot_band
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricot_band_jp/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Xp4bKmRn8cmAzi0cc66KQ?sub_confirmation=1
The English version of NAQT VANE’s debut song ‘Break Free’ was released on September 30. This English version was produced in tandem with the original Japanese version released earlier in September, so that music fans around the world could enjoy the message of hope behind the song’s lyrics.
NAQT VANE launched in September as a fresh new team project breathing a wind of change. Their debut single ‘Break Free’ carries an encouraging message of “a new self” and “liberation” and is dedicated to everyone living in the era of the wind – a flexible world of freedom and diversity with a lifestyle unbound by material things or status. The project combines the unmistakable music of producer Hiroyuki Sawano, whose compositions for anime, movies and TV shows are beloved by fans in Japan and around the world; and Harukaze, a highly skilled musician with a unique singing voice whose worldview was shaped by her school days spent in the United States.
In the new English version of ‘Break Free’, bilingual singer Harukaze’s English skills are put to great use – and above all, the lyrics have been tweaked to suit the English language, so listeners can enjoy a slightly different vibe from the original version. Whether you have already heard ‘Break Free’ or it’s your first time, check out ‘Break Free (English Ver.)’ for another chance to ride the tailwind.
Since the first announcement that Sawano would launch new team project NAQT VANE as overall producer, the reaction from fans has been overwhelming. Just two weeks after their debut in September, their new songs ‘VANE’ and ‘TOUCH’ were selected as theme songs to TV shows in Japan, making the group hot property.
In addition, vocalist Harukaze will perform as the opening act for singer-songwriter Calum Scott when he performs his first ever concert in Japan at Tokyo EX Theater Roppongi on October 18.
Overall producer Sawano recently composed the song ‘Tot Musica’ performed by Ado for the movie ‘ONE PIECE FILM RED’. He has numerous fans across North America, Europe and Asia thanks to his work on many celebrated anime productions, and in 2019 he delivered a successful solo performance at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, indicating his commitment to the global stage. Vocalist Harukaze is also fluent in English, so it seems likely that the group will set their sights on touring in various regions around the world.
This is a group for all those who face up to life’s challenges every day, as they ride the tailwind to the future. There are doubtless many out there who can relate to a group like NAQT VANE, and this feels like the start of a whole new movement – keep your expectations high as they embark on a truly special career.
——————————-
NAQT VANE official Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAQTVANE
NAQT VANE official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naqtvane/
NAQT VANE official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NAQTVANE
——————————-
NAQT VANE ‘Break Free (English Ver.)’
Released September 30, 2022
Download and streaming links: https://avex.lnk.to/BreakFree_Eng
Debut digital single
NAQT VANE ‘Break Free’
Released September 16, 2022
Download and streaming links: https://avex.lnk.to/NAQTVANE_BreakFree
NAQT VANE / ‘Break Free’ (Official Music Video):
NAQT VANE profile
“A team project breathing a wind of change”
This is a project for everyone living in the era of the wind, a flexible world of freedom and diversity with a lifestyle unbound by material things. NAQT VANE began activities with the intention of “breathing a new wind into each story and finding a place of our own”.
The project allows overall producer Hiroyuki Sawano to achieve a new form of expression, while vocalist Harukaze was inspired by meeting Sawano to quit her day job and go back to her true roots to pursue her life as an artist.
Harukaze | Vocals
Born in Hokkaido in 1998, Harukaze left Japan at age 15 to attend high school and college abroad. While studying Music Business in Los Angeles, she got a taste of a music culture that was different from what she’d experienced in Japan, and began to make music with people she met in the local scene.
In 2018, she released her first single ‘Summer Time (Feat. Roz)’, followed by her second single ‘Mr. Secret’ and in winter 2020 the EP ‘Best Regards’, before returning to Japan to begin the next phase of her music career. She became involved in NAQT VANE after meeting Hiroyuki SAWANO in 2021.
Harukaze social media links: https://linktr.ee/harukaze
Hiroyuki Sawano | Overall Producer
Born in Tokyo in 1980, Hiroyuki Sawano is a highly celebrated composer and producer, providing compositions for music artists, TV shows, anime and movies.
In 2009, he released his first original album, ‘musica’.
In 2014, he began the project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk], undertaking star collaborations with renowned artists such as Akihito Okano (Porn Graffiti), Takanori Nishikawa, SUGIZO (LUNA SEA, X JAPAN), Sukima Switch, Sayuri, Aimer, Jean-Ken Johnny (MAN WITH A MISSION), Anly, ReoNa, Aina the End (BiSH), Yuuri, Taiiku Okazaki and more.
In 2019, he held a solo performance at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China, with an audience of more than 10,000 fans, marking his advance to the global stage.
After meeting vocalist Harukaze, he launched the team project NAQT VANE in September 2022, participating as overall producer. The group plan to release original music in Japan and around the world.
Official website: https://www.sawanohiroyuki.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sawano_nZk
Classic 6
Classic 6 are a creative collective active in Japan and overseas. They undertake art direction and overall production for fashion, art, graphic design for music artists, video and venue production. With a focus on visual branding that emphasizes stories and concepts, they are constantly exploring new creative outlets as a collective across a wide range of genres.
Live information
Calum Scott ‘BRIDGES’ ASIA TOUR 2022
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Tokyo EX Theater Roppongi
Special guest: Mitch James
Opening act: Harukaze (from NAQT VANE)
National Coming Out Day: LGBTQA+ Celebrities
Representation matters!
As many cultures fight for their rights to be seen and represented, the Asian community is still under-represented in the celebrity world, especially in the Western world. In both the Eastern and Western entertainment scenes, the Asian and Asian-American LGBTQA+ community still fights for representation. Being able to feel seen and represented in entertainment and in the media is right everyone should have without fear of racism, sexism, and homophobia, but society is nowhere near defeating their biases, though some countries are trying. However, there are Asian, Asian-Pacific Islanders, and Asian-American stars who are out and representing their communities despite the stigmas they may face. Here are some of the stars who are out and active in the entertainment industry in honor of National Coming Out Day October 11.
Alec Mapa
Alec Mapa, who is gay, is a comedian, actor, and writer who appears on stage and screen. While Mapa’s best known for his roles on Ugly Betty (Suzuki St. Pierre), Half & Half (Adam Benet), and Desperate Housewives (Vern), he’s also known for his Broadway roles including his breakout role as Song Liling in M. Butterfly after he replaced BD Wong in the role. He also cohosted the Logo network’s dating game show Transamerican Love Story.
Mapa, whose career spans nearly four decades, has been married to Jamison “Jamie” Hebert since 2008. They adopted a child in 2010.
Angel Lama
Angel Lama’s journey toward her identity caused her to be isolated growing up. She used to be bullied because of her attraction to boys. She struggled to make friends and became more withdrawn, leading her to drop out of college. However, since transitioning, Lama’s made history!
Angel Lama became Nepal’s first trangender beauty pageant contestant in 2021 when she competed in Miss Universe Nepal. Lama made it to the finals during the competition.
In 2018, she competed in an LGBT+ pageant and crowned Miss Pink Nepal.
Lama formerly worked for the Blue Diamond Society which fights for LGBT+ rights.
Aquinas
South Korean rapper and songwriter Aquinas (Kang Minsoo) came out as bisexual in 2021. The former High School Rapper and Show Me the Money contestant posted a now-deleted image of the bisexual flag with “I’m bisexual” written in Korean and English.
During a SPOTV interview, Aquinas said it was frustrating to hide his sexuality and that he “wanted to give courage” to his queer fans.
“In our society, LGBT+ people are still discriminated against and criticized,” Aquinas told SPOTV. “I thought that if I made this confession at a young age, LGBT+ people would gain courage and be comforted.”
Aquinas stated he wants to make music that focuses on the LGBTQA+ community.
BD Wong
American actor BD Wong is openly gay. Wong, who is a Tony, Drama Desk, Theatre World, Out Critics Circle, and Clarence Derwent awards winner has been active as a screen and theatre actor since the 1980s. On stage, he is known for his role as Song Liling in M. Butterfly (a role later taken over by Alec Mapa). In television and film, he’s known for his roles as Dr. Huang in Law & Order: SVU (2001-2015), Dr. Henry Wu in the Jurassic Park films, Li Shang in Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004), Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme in Seven Years in Tibet (1997), Father Ray Mukada in Oz (1997-2003), and Whiterose/Minister Zhi Zhang in Mr. Robot (2015-2019).
Bowen Yang
Bowen Yang became the first East Asian cast member in Saturday Night Live’s history in 2019. Yang, who is openly gay, was originally a staff writer for Saturday Night Live before becoming a full cast member. He is also known for the podcast Las Culturistas and his Twitter lip-sync videos.
Choi Hanbit
Choi Hanbit is an actress, dancer, and model who was a member of the disbanded girl group Mercury. Choi, who is transgender, underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2006.
Choi is South Korea’s first transgender supermodel. Choi’s life-long dream was to be a model, but she faced prejudices along the way.
She appeared on Yoo Jae-suk’s Jinsil Game in 2005 prior to sex reassignment surgery. Then, she appeared on Korea’s Next Top Model, Cycle 3 where came in tenth place. Since appearing in the modeling shows and in Mercury, Choi has expressed an interest in becoming an actress. She’s currently a model for several beauty brands in South Korea including 935 and is a dancer for different productions.
Eugene Lee Yang
Try Guys member Eugene Yang released a moving video about his coming out journey in 2019.
In addition to being an Internet celebrity, Yang is a producer, writer, actor, activist, and director.
After graduating from college in 2008, Yang worked as a freelancer producing music videos and writing commercials. Between 2013 to 2018, Yang worked for Buzzfeed creating videos that were both humorous and rife with social commentary. Here, the Try Guys got their start.
When Yang, Ned Fulmer, Keith Habersberger, and Zach Kornfeld’s contracts ended with Buzzfeed, the quartet—which is now a trio—established 2nd Try LLC where they continued as the Try Guys. In addition to their videos, the group also released the book The Hidden Power of F*cking Up.
In 2024, Yang is set to release a two-part novel called The Unders. The YA fiction duo is set to be a queer fantasy epic. Yang will also star as Ambrosius Goldenloin in Netflix’ 2023 animated adaption of Nimona.
Geena Rocero
Geena Rocero is a transgender model and activist. She is the founder of Gender Proud, a media production company that focuses on sharing the stories of the transgender community. She is also the producer of Beautiful as I Want To Be, a Web series that focuses on the trans community.
Rocero made history in 2020 when she was named as the first trans-woman to be one of the Playboy Playmates of the Year. The article featured in the magazine that year was nominated for the 2020 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Magazine Article. Also in 2020, Rocero was named as one of the top 100 Most Influential Asians by Gold House.
In 2021, Rocero made her directorial debut for the documentary series Caretakers about Filipino Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic.
George Takei
A favorite celebrity among many, George Takei has taken the Internet by storm in recent years. Takei, who has been openly gay since 2005, is best known as Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek series.
Takei is a multi-award winner for his work on human rights, especially those related to US-Japanese relations. Takei lived with his parents in the US-operated internment camps during WWII. He also had family killed in Hiroshima when the US struck the city with an atomic bomb.
Harisu
Lee Kyung-eun, known mononymously as Harisu, is South Korea’s first transgender entertainer and the country’s first person to change her gender legally.
Harisu got her start in the entertainment industry following her successful DoDo Cosmetics commercial in 2001. From this commercial, she’s stemmed into music and acting, performing in both Korean and Mandarin and active in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Prior to breaking out in the Korean entertainment industry, Harisu lived and worked in Japan. She studied to become a hair stylist but performed as a nightclub singer before being discovered by a talent agency.
In addition to acting and singing, Harisu is also a writer having published an autobiography (Eve from Adam) and an essay collection titled Haris Beauty.
Hayley Kiyoko
Singer, dancer, actress, and LGBT activist Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft came out as a lesbian when she was a sixth grader. As a singer, Kiyoko uses her music to tell her story about coming to terms with her orientation.
Kiyoko was a founding member of The Stunners in 2007; they disbanded in 2011. Since, she’s performed solo and has had a successful career so far, earning several award nominations for her music and acting. As an actress, she’s appeared in Lemonade Mouth (2011), The Fosters (2014), Hello, My Name is Frank (2014), and Jem and the Holograms (2015).
Holland
Holland (Go Tae-seob) debuted with his song “Neverland” in 2018. His stage name is derived from Holland, Netherlands to pay tribute to the country as it was the first one to legalize same-sex marriage.
Prior to his debut, Holland chose to come out as gay, a risk he was willing to take in order to become a figure that others in the LGBTQA+ community can relate to and for whom he could create meaningful music. He is considered South Korea’s “first openly gay K-Pop Idol,” though others coming up on this list can also claim the title.
Jake Zyrus
Jake Zyrus is a singer and entertainment formerly known as Charice Pempengco. Zyrus transitioned in 2017.
Zyrus has been active in the Filipino entertainment industry since 2005 but has been known internationally since 2007 following appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2010, his album Charice entered the Billboard Top 200 at number eight, making it the first album by an Asian singer to make it into the top ten. Zyrus also appeared on Glee in 2010 as Sunshine Corazon, but his role was limited to a few appearances. Zyrus also served as a judge on The X Factor: Philippines and appeared on several TV shows in the Philippines and abroad.
Jameela Jamil
English actress and TV presenter Jameela Jamil came out as queer in 2020. She made the announcement following backlash she received after being cast as a judge in the series Legendary, which highlighted modern-day ball culture.
Jamil is known for her roles as Tahani Al-Jamil in The Good Place and Mary MacPherran/Titania in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. She’s hosted several shows and provided her voice to several characters over the years.
Jamil is also an activist, with much of her activism going toward helping to promote healthy weight and diet culture, often fighting against fad and dangerous diets while helping to promote positive self-esteem.
Jenny Shimizu
American model and actress Jenny Shimizu was the first Asian model to walk the Prada catwalk. She is also the first minority to open a Prada show. The former mechanic was discovered by an agent at a nightclub.
In addition to modeling and acting, Shimizu’s known for her relationships with Ione Skye and Angelina Jolie. She’s been married to Michelle Harper since 2014.
Jiae (Wa$$up)
Former Wa$$up member Jiae came out as bisexual in 2020. She posted a photo on Instagram that said “I love man [sic] and.. woman.” She followed up with a post that said “I have a lovely girlfriend So..! Happy.”
While Jiae, who is now a soloist, received many well-wishers, she also received several hate comments to which she rightfully condemned. Back in February 2022, Jiae also posted about the struggles she’s having with music agencies since coming out.
“As for who I am, a bisexual. The society would not give me the same chance as others do,” Jiae said.
Jiae, through the support of fans, released her first solo single and album October 8, 2022.
Jo Kwon
In 2020, Jo Kwon mentioned in an interview that he* considers himself “genderless.”
“Being genderless is my weapon. In the past, I was afraid of having a neutral image,” Jo Kwon said during his Newsis interview. “If people said I looked like a girl, I would pretend that wasn’t true. But now, I’ve come to accept who I am. I have a weapon that will help me keep on going for a long time, ahead of the genderless era.”
Jo Kwon performs as a soloist and as a musical actor. Since the group did not officially disband, he is still a member of 2AM.
Kim Dae-eun
Figure skater Kim Dae-eun is South Korea’s first openly gay athlete. She is the first openly gay athlete to complete in the South Korean national championships. Kim uses her platform to speak out about LGBTQ rights and visibility in South Korea, making her a role model for the LGBTQ community in the country.
Kwon Do Woon
Trot singer Kwon Do Woon came out on the 10th anniversary of his debut.
“I wanted to speak up as a representative voice of sexual minorities and wanted to open up the prospect of coming out more widely in the entertainment industry. I hope to continue representing the LGBTQ community in my role,” Kwon said.
Kwon, who appeared on TBS’ National College Student Trot Contest in 2009, released his debut album in 2010. He is also an active guest on YouTube and Naver’s NAMOLLADIO radio show.
Lilly Singh
In February 2019, Canadian YouTuber, actress, and talk show host Lilly Singh came out as bisexual.
✅ Female
✅ Coloured
✅ BisexualThroughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time. But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers.
No matter how many “boxes” you check, I encourage you to do the same x
❤️🧡💛💚💙
— Lilly (@Lilly) February 25, 2019
Singh, whose YouTube name was IISuperwomanII, was once named one of the top YouTubers and has been nominated for and won several awards for her social media work.
In 2019, Singh became the first openly bisexual and first South Asian and Indian person to host an American late night talk show when she hosted A Little Late with Lilly Singh. While her show only ran for two seasons, the show was received positively by critics and viewers alike.
LIONESSES
LIONESSES is K-Pop’s first openly LGBTQA+ male group and the second K-Pop group to be made up of members who are part of the LGBTQA+ community (LADY is the first). The group debuted November 2021 with the song “Show Me Your Pride,” which tackled coming out and facing homophobia. Each song has been LGBTA-friendly because the group aims to be role models and a safe space for queer youth.
LIONESSES released their latest comeback “Boy with Strange Love” September 30, 2022.
Maman
Park Miyoung, who is known by her stage name Maman and formerly as Magolpy, is openly lesbian. She is a former SM Entertainment trainee who was once under Jerry Entertainment. She is the first gay singer in South Korea.
After Maman came out during an interview, Jerry Entertainment tried to refute her assertion by claiming she was joking, but she denied this causing the company to fire her. She hasn’t been active in the entertainment industry since the release of “Obvious Story” in 2015.
Margaret Cho
Stand-up comedian, actress, and musician Margaret Cho is openly bisexual, though she has stated that “’pansexual’ is technically the more correct term.”
Cho has been known for her stand-up comedy since the 1990s. From 1994-95, she starred alongside BD Wong, Amy Hill, and J.B Quon in All-American Girl, an ABC comedy series that made history as the second television show to star an all-Asian cast (Mr. T and Tina was the first in 1976). The show received poor ratings and criticism regarding the Asian and gay stereotypes present in it, and Cho was often criticized for her weight and for being both Asian and not Asian enough. The dieting she took part in for the show caused her to go into kidney failure, and the stress from the show and the show’s ultimate failure lead her to drugs and alcohol.
After getting sober, Cho’s career took off. She started landing acting and hosting gigs, and her stand-up career flourished. In addition to acting and comedy, Cho has released music and even appeared on The Masked Singer. Her comedy style is raunchy and focuses on substance abuse, body image, her bisexuality, and Asian American stereotypes.
Maulik Pancholy
30 Rock and Weeds actor Maulik Pancholy came out as gay in a 2013 Out magazine interview and has been married to his partner Ryan Corvaia since 2014.
As an actor, Pancholy has lent his voice to Phineas and Ferb and has appeared in the films Hitch (2005), 27 Dresses (2008), and Horrible Bosses (2011), as well as the TV series Only Murders in the Building (2021), Mira, Royal Detective (2020-present), and Sanjay and Craig (2013-16).
As an activist, Pancholy was named to President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2014 and is an active participate in the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, the New York City Anti-Violence Project, and OutRight Action International organizations.
MRSHLL
When he debuted in 2018, Marshall Bang, who goes by the stage name MRSHLL, was Korea’s first openly gay male R&B and K-Pop singer.
Early in his life, MRSHLL was active in church, choir, and often posted cover songs online before being diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux, which caused him to stop singing and enroll in cosmetology school in Los Angeles.
In 2012 while he lived in New York, he was invited to compete on The Great Rebirth – Star Audition: The Next Big Thing 3. Despite his throat condition, he competed. His condition improved and he stayed in South Korea to pursue his music career. He later signed with Feel Ghood Music but departed the company in 2019 to become an independent artist.
MRSHLL is still active in the music scene. In 2021, his EP XYZ was named one of the top 15 K-Pop albums of 2021 by Harper’s Bazaar. In 2022, he released “Heart Beating” with Tia Kofi.
Navinci (Hansol, ToppDogg)
In 2017, Kim Minsung (Navinci), formerly ToppDogg/XENO-T’s Hansol, came out as asexual.
Navinci debuted with ToppDogg in 2013 and was the group’s main dancer and face of the group. He left the group in 2017 and opened his own YouTube channel where he uploads dances and cover songs.
Nico Santos
Filipino-American actor Nico Santos is openly gay. Santos, who is best known for his roles as Mateo in Superstore and Oliver in Crazy Rich Asians, is a theatre, film and TV actor as well as a stand-up comedian. In 2018, he was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Santos is also set to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 in 2023.
As of 2022, Santos is engaged to Zeke Smith, a participant on the reality show Survivor.
Rex Lee
Rex Lee is a Korean American actor best known for playing Lloyd Lee in Entourage and Eliot Park in Young & Hungry.
Lee has been out since he was 22-years old. The actor was once an aspiring pianist and a children’s theater actor. Prior to his breakout roles, Lee had supporting roles in Dave’s World (1994) and Suburgatory (2011-13) among others.
Rostam
Vampire Weekend founding member and American record producer, musician, singer, songwriter, composer and Discovery member Rostam Batmanglij has been out since 2010.
Stereogum considers Rostam as “one of the greatest pop and indie-rock producers of his generation.” The multi-time Grammy-award nominee is the son of cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij and brother to filmmaker Zal Batmanglij. From 2006-16, the Columbia University graduate was part of Vampire Weekend and produced several of their albums. Since 2009, he’s also been in the group Discovery. Since 2011, Rostam’s performed solo.
Sinae, Sahara, Binu and Yuna (LADY)
K-Pop group LADY debuted in 2005 and disbanded in 2007. All four members, Sinae, Sahara, Binu, and Yuna, are all transgender. The group released three songs: “Attention” (debut), “Ladies Night,” and “In the Da Club.” LADY’s music was released in both South Korea and Thailand.
Currently, Sinae is active on YouTube doing ASMR and muckbang videos. The other former members cannot be found on social media currently.
Som Hye-in
Former Idol School contestant Som Hye-in revealed she is bisexual in 2019. Her reveal made her the first bisexual K-Pop singer at the time.
Following her appearance on Idol School (she left due to health reasons), Som became a model and a soloist. She currently has a YouTube page. She is currently managed by Balcony Hunter.
Did we miss anyone on our list? Let us know in the comments below!
*Note: While Jo Kwon has said he is genderless, he has not said that he has changed to them/they pronouns. Jo Kwon is referred to as “he” since there isn’t an indication of a pronoun change.
—-Olivia Murray
#SomHyeIn #JoKwon #AlecMapa #AngelLama #Aquinas #BDWong #BowanYang #ChoiHanbit #EugeneLeeYang #GeenaRocero #GeorgeTakei #Harisu #HaleyKiyoko #Holland #JakeZyrus #JameelaJamil #JennyShimizu #Jiae #Wa$$up #KimDaeeun #KwonDoWoon #LillySingh #Lionesses #Maman #MargaretCho #MaulikMancholy #Mrshll #Navinci #Hansol #ToppDogg #NicoSantos #RexLee #Rostam #Sinae #Sahara #Binu #Yuna #LADY
We’re back with the fifth addition of our popular series! Thanks to your response, we have discovered many more celebrities to include into our database.
Back in 2018, 2019, and earlier in 2022, Kcrush published articles about biracial celebrities with Asian backgrounds. We’re revisiting those articles and including more celebrities that have Asian backgrounds. Of course, we encourage our readers to share others we may have missed!
Anji Salvacion
Up-and-coming Filipino singer, actress, and television personality Anji Salvacion is of Filipino and Russian descent.
Salvacion was a frequent competitor on the singing contest and beauty pageant stages growing up. In 2019, she auditioned for Idol Philippines and was eliminated in the Do or Die Round. In 2021, she landed a starring role in the miniseries Unloving U while also lending her voice for the OST and the OSTs for Marry Me, Marry You and My Sunset Girl. She was also a main performer on ASAP Natin ‘To. Between 2021-22, she appeared on Pinoy Big Brother season 10, where she ultimately won the competition. She also released her first single “Dalampasigan” and first EP Kasingkasing Dalampasigan.
Anne Curtis
Filipino-Australian actress, singer, model, and television personality Anne Curtis’ career got started at the age of 12. While living in the Philippines, Curtis was approached by a talent scout to enter a child’s beauty pageant. Her mother took Curtis to different talent agencies, and from there, her career started to blossom. Curtis made her film debut in Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis in 1997. From 1997-98, she had a role in the TV drama Ikaw Na Sana.
In 2004, Curtis’ career flourished when she moved to the media company ABS-CBN. She started to land starring and supporting roles in film and TV in the early 2000s, including the title role in Kampanerang Kuba (2005), All About Love (2006), Maging Sino Ka Man (2006), and landing a role as a VJ for MTV Philippines. In the late 2000s, she was one of the hosts of Showtime! and starred in The Wedding (2009), Babe, I Love You (2010), and In Your Eyes (2010), with Showtime! and In Your Eyes earning her awards.
For her acting career, Curtis was nominated for almost 90 acting awards, winning 56 of them.
While active in the acting scene, Curtis also released three studio albums: Annebisyosa (2011), The Forbidden Album (2014), and Forever Young (2016).
Curtis was active in the acting industry up until 2020 when she decided to take a hiatus to focus on married life and her new family. She is married Erwan Heussaff. They share daughter Dahlia who was born in 2020.
Curtis’ sister, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, is also an actress.
Brandon Lee
The late Brandon Bruce Lee is of Cantonese-Eurasian and Swedish, Irish, and English descent. Lee is the son of the late martial artist and actor Bruce Lee and teacher, martial artist, and writer Linda Lee Cadwell.
While Lee’s career started in the 1980s with film and TV roles in Legacy of Rage (1986), Kung Fu: The Movie (1986), Kung Fu: The Next Generation (1987), Laser Mission (1989), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), and Rapid Fire (1992), he is most known for his role as Eric Draven in the 1994 film The Crow.
While filming The Crow, the 28-year-old actor and martial artist had most of his scenes filmed before being fatally wounded by a prop gun on the set. For his role in The Crow, Lee won a best actor award during the 1995 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. He was also an inductee into 2021 Asian Hall of Fame.
Chanty
Chanty is a Filipino-Argentinian singer, actress, and model. Signed under MLD Entertainment, she is a member of the girl group Lapillus. Lapillus debuted June 22, 2022. Prior to her K-Pop debut, Chanty was an actress in the Philippines.
Chloe Bennet
Chloé Wang, known professionally as Chloe Bennet, is Anglo-American and Chinese. The actress and singer has been active in the United States and China, and eagle-eyed K-Pop fans may recognize her for her appearance in BIGBANG’s “Tonight” MV (2011).
Prior to her breakthrough roles in Nashville and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Bennet, while using her given name, pursued a singing career in China while living with her grandmother and studying Mandarin. In 2011, she released two U.S. singles: “Uh Oh” and “Every Day in Between.” When she came back to U.S to pursue a Hollywood career, she switched her name to Chloe Bennet to avoid casting difficulties as an Asian American.
Christina Chong
American and English actress Christina Chong has a Chinese father and an English mother. Chong originally got her start in musical theatre before switching to acting. Between 2008 and 2021, Chong had guest-starring roles in several television series including Doctor Who (2011), 24: Live Another Day (2014), Of Kings and Prophets (2016), and Bulletproof (2018), and she held roles in the films W.E (2011), Johnny English Reborn (2011), and Tom and Jerry (2021). As of 2022, Chong has a main role playing La’an Noonien-Singh in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Danielle Marsh
Known just as Danielle, Danielle Marsh is an Australian-South Korean signed with ADOR. She officially debuted in the K-Pop group NewJeans August 1, 2022, though she pre-debuted July 21, 2022 when the group released “Attention.” In 2011, Marsh appeared on the reality show Rainbow Kindergarten on TvN. Marsh’s Korean name is Mo Ji-hye.
David Sakurai
David Sakurai is a Danish-Japanese actor, martial artist, scriptwriter, and director. The Denmark-born actor learned acting and filmmaking in Japan but returned to Denmark so he could work with directors that use his native language. Sakurai is known for his role as Tomy Tani in Liza, the Fox-Fairy (2015). He’s appeared in several films including Iron Fist (2017), Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018), and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018).
Élodie Yung
Parisian-born Elodie Yung is Cambodian and French. Yung is active in both France and America as an actress in both TV and film. Prior to acting, Yung earned a law degree and had her sights set on becoming on judge but decided to pursue acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art prior to turning 30.
Yung is known for her film roles in District 13: Ultimatum (2009), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), and Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020). For TV, she’s known for her roles in La vie devant nous (2002-03), Les Bleus (2006-2010), Daredevil (2016), and The Defenders (2017). As of 2022, she stars as Thony De La Rosa in the Fox show The Cleaning Lady.
Erwan Heussaff
French-Filipino content designer Erwan Heussaff is best known for the blog The Fat Kid Inside. He is the producer for the short Let It Simmer. He’s also appeared on Survivor Philippines. Heussaff is married to Anne Curtis.
Germaine De Leon
Germaine De Leon is white and Filipino and has been active as an actor in both the U.S and the Philippines. In the U.S, De Leon had a role in season six of Showtime’s DEXTER as Nick the mechanic. His breakthrough roles include spots in Walkout (2006) and Buried Alive (2018). De Leon is currently based in the Philippines.
Huening Siblings
Huening Bahiyyih, Huening Kai, and Jung Lea are of Brazilian-American/German and Korean descent. All three are active or previously active in the K-Pop industry.
Bahiyyih is the youngest of the trio and is currently active in the group Kep1er. In 2021, she was an active participant in the survival program Girls Planet 999 where she ranked second overall to earn her spot on Kep1er. She is currently signed with IST Entertainment.
Kai, who is known professionally as Heuningkai, is TXT’s maknae and signed under Big Hit Music. He made his idol debut with the group March 4, 2019. In addition to being active in the Korean market, Kai made appearances in Chinese television shows X-Change Season 1 and Shibo Quanjia Dou Lai Sai in 2006 and 2009, respectively.
Lea was a member of VIVA from 2017 until their quiet disbandment in 2019. Since 2020, Lea’s been active as a model and YouTuber. Like her brother Kai, Lea also made appearances in Chinese television shows X-Change Season 1 and Shibo Quanjia Dou Lai Sai in 2006 and 2009, respectively.
The Huening siblings are the children of Brazilian-American, Chinese-based entertainer Nabil David Huening.
Kyla Massie
Former PRISTIN member Kyla Massie is Caucasian and Korean. She made her Korean debut March 21, 2017 when PRISTIN released the single “Wee Woo” and the mini album Hi! PRISTIN. She left for the United States in October 2017 when she was receiving treatment for a concussion. PRISTIN officially disbanded in 2019.
In September 2019, Massie opened her own YouTube channel where she featured songs from her American debut mini album Watch Me Glow in 2020.
LEIA
Larissa Ayumi Cartes Sakata, known professionally as LEIA, is a Brazilian-Japanese singer and rapper. She is currently under DR Music and performs in the idol group BLACKSWAN. In 2019, she was known under the stage name Larissa when she was briefly a member of RaNia before their “disbandment” and restructure as BLACKSWAN.
She is K-Pop’s second Brazilian idol after Victor from AboutU. Her stage name is a reference to Star Wars’ Princess Leia, paying homage to her father’s love for the movie franchise.
Lily Jin Morrow
Lily Morrow, known professionally as Lily, is Australian-South Korean. The JYP-signed artist is currently in the girl group NMIXX, which debuted February 22, 2022.
In 2014, Lily placed fourth overall on K-Pop Star. In 2016, she played Sarah in The Weatherman’s Umbrella. In addition to her work with NMIXX, Lily has performed on OSTs for Orange Marmalade (2015) and has four English song releases between 2014-2016: “Trampoline,” “Out of This World,” “Find It,” and “The Weatherman.”
Nancy Jewel McDonie
Nancy Jewel McDonie, known professionally as Nancy, is Korean American. Nancy originally got her start on Korea’s Got Talent in 2011 where her group, Cutie Pies, reached the semi-finals. She also appeared on the TV shows The Unlimited and Mak Ee Rae Show: Just Do It Expedition, both in 2012. In 2016, she competed on the survival show Finding Momoland where she competed for the chance to debut in MLD Entertainment’s group Momoland. She ultimately won the competition and debuted with the group November 10, 2016. Also in 2016, she was named to the project girl group Sunny Girls.
In addition to her work with Momoland, Nancy also performs as an actress and TV personality. She is the former co-host of Pops in Seoul (2017-18) and was a contestant on Idol Star Athletics Championships (2018-20) and King of Masked Singer (2020). As an actress, she played Nancy in the web series Some Light (2017) and is slated to appear in the Filipino mini-series The Soulmate Project as Bina. The project’s been postponed since the Covid-19 pandemic.
If there’s anyone we missed, let us know! Of course, continue the discussion in the comments below! Stay tuned for part six coming soon!
—-Olivia Murray
#biracialcelebrities #AnjiSalvacion #AnneCurtis #BrandonLee #NancyJewelMcDonie #LilyJinMorrow #LarissaAyumiCartesSakata #LEIA #KaylaMassie #HueningBahiyyih #HueningKai #JungLea #GermaineDeLeon #kcrush #ErwanHeussaff #ElodieYung #DavidSakurai #DanielleMarsh #ChristinaChong #Chanty #ChloeBennet #kcrushamerica #kasianpop #actors #asianactresses #korean #fillipino #chinese #koreanamerican
The international phenomenon celebrates his 10th anniversary
WATCH “VEIL” MUSIC VIDEO BY LAY ZHANG HERE
Chinese pop sensation, LAY (Lay Zhang) delivers a brand new music video today, Veil, the focus track from his upcoming EP, West. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of LAY’s debut as an artist, the superstar will be doing live shows overseas before making his way to North America. Concerts in Malaysia and Singapore to be held next month have been announced as part of his global “Grand Line 2: Infinite Lands”. Also set, is an appearance as a headlining act on November 26 at the Live Nation mega-festival MetaMoon, taking place at Barclays Center.
The music video perfectly plays on the already dreamlike quality of the track. It starts out on a bustling street as the sounds of the erhu begin to permeate. Suddenly, the dancer appears and as Mahjong pieces fly in the air, we are transported into a dream. Viewers are then greeted with the artist dancing lively to match the restless trap beat. Eventually, the global star literally does ‘illuminate the room’ as the visuals change with vibrant lights and more stunning choreography. The dreamlike aspects remain throughout the video as we jump between various scenes including a brightly lit city street and a serene forest until the video ends with a return to reality.
LAY has been on a whirlwind the last two years after joining forces with Steve Aoki and will.i.am for the 2020 hit cross-cultural collaboration Love You More, reaching #1 on the QQ Music China chart. He then released a string of hits with an album, an EP, cross-genre collaborations and solo singles overseas further propelling his international star power. LAY’s most recent release was a global collaboration with American hip-hop artist 24kGoldn on the single Dawn to Dusk, which received over 2 million streams on Spotify alone. He has been and continues to be a household name in Asia. In 2020, LAY released the hit album LIT and its title track of the same name. The digital album made over 30 million yuan in just 7 minutes 19 seconds after its release on QQ Music in China. In 2021, he released an EP EAST on his birthday that featured his renowned “M-POP” style telling a story of spiritual growth in his career using oriental elements and symbolic identities.
The Chinese icon is one of the most beloved stars in the region with a loyal and highly engaged 51 million followers on Weibo and over 14.1 million followers on Instagram. As a solo artist, LAY’s career has skyrocketed from tremendous success becoming the highest-ranked Mando-pop star on Billboard 200 chart and the first Chinese artist to enter the iTunes Top 60 in the U.S. with his third solo album NAMANANA. Outside of music, he is a powerhouse in the acting world of TV and film, hosted multiple top-rated reality shows in Asia and is one of the most awarded artists in China.
ABOUT LAY
LAY (Lay Zhang) is a multi-talented Chinese artist, producer, singer-songwriter, actor, dancer, fashion muse, and philanthropist. He is China’s current top #1 idol becoming the highest-ranked Mandopop star on Billboard 200 chart and the first Chinese artist to enter the iTunes Top 60 in the US with his third album NAMANANA. His big screen debut was the romantic-comedy film Ex-Files 2 and he won the Best Movie Original Soundtrack at 16th Top Chinese Music Awards for the film. His first solo single What U Need? debuted at #4 on China V Chart and Billboard’s World Digital Songs. His EP Lose Control stayed at #1 on Billboard’s China V Chart for 6 weeks in a row, reached #1 on the Gaon Album Chart, and reached #4 on Billboard’s US World Albums Chart. His second album Lay 02 Sheep broke five records on QQ Music, reaching Diamond Record in 9 hours and 11 minutes. His third album NAMANANA debuted at #21 on Billboard 200, ranking first on World Albums and Independent Albums chart. In 2019 he released a digital EP titled Honey and its title track of the same name in June. The EP reached over 1.87 million digital sales in just three minutes after its release on QQ Music in China. In 2019, LAY was invited as China’s Promotional Ambassador to attend the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. He reached unprecedented success when tickets for the concert at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China had sold out in eight seconds, while the stop in Nanjing, China had its tickets sold out in twenty-five seconds. He debuted in the music industry as a K-Pop idol with best-selling group EXO.
Photos: (Credit: Zhang Yixing Studio)
#LayZhang #LayZhangVeil #VeilMusicVideo #LayZhangWestEP #newEP #Chinese #kpop #EXOLay #songwriter #Chinesesinger #ChinaVChart #GaonChart #QQMusic #kcrush #promotionalambassador #Namanana #dancer #MetaMoonMusicFestival #SteveAoki #Mandopop #Mandoidol #Billboard200chart #MPop #LayLoveYouMore #GrandLine2InfiniteLandsTour #kcrushnews #ZhangYixingStudio
Today, the highly anticipated MetaMoon Music Festival, a celebration of Asian artistry and culture, confirms three new artists joining their star-studded lineup: Amber Liu of f(x), Chinese urban/soul singer Tia Ray and Hong Kong-based pop punk artist Tyson Yoshi are set to perform at the inaugural event taking place November 26 at Barclays Center.
The exciting additions join headliner Lay Zhang from EXO, alongside previously announced artists 9m88, Karencici, ØZI, Sury Su, and host MC Jin. Tickets on sale now at SeatGeek.com, or BarclaysCenter.com.
Produced in partnership with Live Nation, MetaMoon Music Festival was founded by Graceful Media as a platform to showcase AAPI and Asian artists and culture from the heart of Brooklyn at Barclays Center. This year’s inaugural lineup features different genres of music from some of Asia’s biggest stars all on one stage, with Lay Zhang making his US arena debut while Tyson Yoshi and Sury Su will perform for the first time in the US.
“I’m very excited to be performing live in front of my fans at Barclays Center, “ said Lay Zhang. “It will be great to be in New York to share my music with my fans who have always supported me.”
The cultural celebration and fan experience at MetaMoon Music Festival will also include a food crawl and a market in partnership with Gold House, which will feature and support AAPI-owned businesses and brands.
The MetaMoon Food Crawl is set to kick off November 1, with participating restaurants including Nom Wah Nolita, 886, Ho Foods, Yumplings and more to be announced. The food crawl allows fans to further explore Asian culture and embark on a culinary journey across the city while supporting local AAPI-owned businesses. Participating restaurants and MetaMoon Festival will make a donation to Heart of Dinner, a nonprofit organization combating food insecurity and isolation within New York City’s elderly Asian community.
The MetaMoon Market will take place at Barclays Center during the festival. In partnership with Gold House, the Market will feature a host of AAPI-founded brands including Lunar, Popadelics, Kitsby, Regroup, Frontman and Moshi, with more brands to be announced soon.
“MetaMoon Music Festival’s mission is to bridge the gap between Asia and the US and showcase the fact that pop culture and music are universal languages that can foster a stronger understanding,” said Grace Chen, founder of Graceful Media. “The Asian community has historically been underrepresented in American entertainment and media, and MetaMoon hopes to be that cultural exchange that shines a light on such talent, their stories, the fans and overall Asian excellence.”
“Live Nation is committed to creating endless opportunities to connect artists of all genres and backgrounds with their fans,” said Geoff Gordon, Regional President, Live Nation Northeast. “The inaugural MetaMoon Music Festival will inspire and create new and exciting opportunities for many of today’s Asian artists, from both here and abroad, to shine brightly, and engage their fans in this epic and unforgettable event.”
“Since opening our doors in 2012, Barclays Center has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry, bringing countless fans and artists together in the heart of Brooklyn,” said Laurie Jacoby, Executive Vice President and Chief Entertainment Officer at BSE Global, parent company of Barclays Center. “Our goal is for MetaMoon Music Festival to highlight the importance of the Asian community while simultaneously celebrating the diverse and exciting culture of our city.”
For more information on the MetaMoon Music Festival, please visit www.metamoonfest.com. Follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @metamoonfest
About Graceful Media
Graceful Media operates at the intersection of music, sports, pop culture and content, bridging the east and the west. Based in Hong Kong, Graceful Media works with talent on their market entry strategy into Asia, and advises companies on the media and entertainment landscape in the region. Graceful Media created the MetaMoon Music Festival as a platform for Asian and Asian American artists to share their talent and music with the world.
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship.
About Barclays Center
Barclays Center opened on September 28, 2012 and is a major sports and entertainment venue in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. The arena is home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Since opening with the first of eight consecutive sold out shows by JAY-Z, Barclays Center has established itself as an industry leader in sports and entertainment, hosting some of the greatest entertainers in the world including Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Drake, Justin Bieber, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Paul McCartney, Rihanna, and The Rolling Stones, as well as major events such as the MTV Video Music Awards, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 2015 NBA All-Star weekend, nine NBA Drafts, and nationally broadcast New Year’s Eve shows. Barclays Center has become one of the most popular and recognizable arenas in the world – consistently ranked as a top venue by Billboard, Pollstar, and Venues Now.
About Gold House
Gold House is the premier nonprofit collective of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) founders, creative voices, and leaders dedicated to enabling authentic multicultural representation and societal equity. Our ventures include uniting APIs and other marginalized communities to fight for equality; championing authentic API representation through media to reshape public opinion (Gold Open, A100 List); and accelerating economic success and commercial representation through API founders (Gold Rush). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on social media.
About Heart of Dinner
#GoldHouseCo #LiveNationEntertainment #MetaMoonMusicFestivalNewYork #NewYorkFestival #API #AmberLiu #EXOLAY #LayZhang #9M88 #kcrushnews #Karencici #TiaRay #TysonYoshi #0ZI #Su #Sury #MCJin #MetaMoonFoodCrawl #GraceChen #GracefulMedia #kcrushamerica #Barclays #Yumplings #Popadelics #Kitsby #Regroup #Frontman #Moshi #Lunar #popculture #universalpopculture
LANA, who set the music scene alight with her song ‘FLAME (feat. LEX, Saru jr.Fool & taisyov)’, has released a new digital single, ‘Get It (feat. ZEN & KESSO)’.
The track hits hard, with deep lyrics that draw on LANA’s own background delivered with her unique vibe and outstanding singing ability. The single brings together young rising stars from the scene: The beats were produced by KESSO, a beatmaker who has been attracting attention for his work with artists such as Young Dalu and Big Mike, while acclaimed young Yokosuka-based rapper ZEN makes a guest appearance on the mic.
A music video has also been released, which features footage shot on the streets of guest rapper ZEN’s hometown of Yokosuka.
Get It (feat. ZEN & KESSO) music video
Release information
Digital single released September 14, 2022
‘Get It (feat. ZEN & KESSO)’
Download and streaming links: https://lnk.to/ajcTLS
LANA profile
LANA was born in Shonan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She began uploading music to SoundCloud in 2020, and quickly became a hot topic on social media. LANA soon began receiving offers from both inside and outside of Japan, and started to produce music as a trackmaker and rapper, while appearing as a guest on numerous tracks. While her sound is based on hip-hop and R&B, she is a borderless and genreless talent with a unique sense for melody, and a husky singing voice that is unforgettable – making her one of the most promising and acclaimed newcomers in Japan’s music scene.
Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanasbitch4/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lanasbitch_4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC0sdPRaDiKtOJQXfsvbUbw/featured
TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSenWXaSF/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lnanaoffcial/tracks
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lanamusic
#LANA #Japanesepop #ZEN #KESSO #kessomusicproducer #GetItLANA #GenerationZ #Japanesesinger #Japaneserapper #kcrushnews #SoundCloud #Shonan #digitalsingle #JPop #kcrushamerica #Jhiphop
Love is in the air for several K-celebs as a parade of marriage announcements came out this week!
On September 16, actress Go Won Hee, who is known for her roles in Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers (2013), The Stars are Shining (2015), Strongest Deliveryman (2017), Perfume (2019), and Saturday Night Live Korea (2015) will marry her non-celebrity fiancé October 7, 2022.
“Go Won Hee is getting married in October,” her agency, Management KOO said. “A quiet ceremony will be held with a small amount of people.”
According to Munhwa Ilbo, Go’s fiancé is the CEO of a diet supplement company.
A day prior on September 15, Honey J, the leader of the hip-hop dance crew Holy Bang and Street Woman Fighter participant, announced through Instagram that she is getting married and expecting her first child!
Hello, this is Honey J.
I’m not used to uploading long posts in this space so I’m a bit nervous. However, I wanted to personally announce to everyone the happy news that has recently come to me and share that happiness together, so I’m carefully uploading this.
I, who have always considered love as the most precious, have met someone who makes me want to dream about a future together and we made a promise for a lifetime. He’s someone who always thinks of me first and is overflowing with love and thoughtfulness. I too want to become a person like that for him.
Before the year ends, we will hold our wedding and take one step towards our future together. I hope you will cheer on my future with my partner, who when we’re together, makes me happier than anyone. We will live happily for a long, long time.
Also, I want to share another happy announcement.
Not too long ago, a new life came to the two of us. I will try to meet this precious and small life who has shown me what happiness that cannot be expressed in words is, with all my love and sincerity. Even in the moment that I’m writing this, I’m going back and forth between feelings of overwhelming joy and responsibility.
I’m sincerely happy to be able to share this news with everyone who has sent me love and attention so that I can learn to be thankful each and every day. As everyone’s unchanging dancer, I will always remember this feeling, repay it, and live prettily. I ask for lots of support and blessings.
Thank you!
View this post on Instagram
In August 2022, Honey J, who is signed to Jay Park’s label MORE VISION, made her debut as a singer with the single “Honey Drop,” which features Lil Cherry, making this year a very good year for her!
On September 14, NEVER DIE Entertainment announced actor Kim Min Chul will marry his long-time girlfriend October 8!
“I plan to spend more time with my best friend, who’s been sharing the same memories with me for a long time,” Kim wrote on Instagram. “I’m getting married on October 8! I’ll visit and greet each and every one of you, but for those of you who I can’t meet in person, I’ll contact you. See you at the wedding. Please come and celebrate with me.”
View this post on Instagram
Kim, who is known for his roles in Melting Me Softly (2019) and Single & Ready to Mingle (2020), has been dating his non-celebrity girlfriend for five years.
On September 13, SM C&C revealed actor Lee Hak Joo will marry his non-celebrity girlfriend in November.
“This November, Lee Hak Joo will be starting a new chapter in his life,” a company representative said. “The bride-to-be is a non-celebrity and has promised to be Lee Hak Joo’s lifelong partner based on deep trust and love with him.”
Lee is known for his roles in 12th Assistant Deacon (2013), World of the Married (2020), My Name (2021), and Political Fever (2021).
Also on September 13, rapper LOCO dropped his own marriage news on his personal Instagram. LOCO will be marrying his non-celebrity girlfriend of two years. However, as he shares on Instagram, his now-fiancée was a childhood friend!
View this post on Instagram
Loco writes:
Hello, everyone!
I’d like to share personal news.
Right after being discharged from the military, I met a friend of the same age who I grew up with in the same neighborhood when we were children. For some reason, I was excited about spending time with them, and our relationship quickly developed into more than friends.
Over the past 2 years, we’ve consistently respected each other’s careers and shared precious and happy times together. We then naturally promised each other the rest of our lives.
She understands me more than anyone else and is a friend to the honest me, who’s not confident and nervous off the stage. Thanks to her, I think I can feel the happiness of my daily life without anxiety and be unafraid of making a choice for myself. The fans probably know this, but she’s also the ‘soy latte’ girl that I mention a lot in my lyrics.
Though we’re still cautious about COVID-19, we decided to quietly hold a ceremony with our close friends and family this fall. I wanted to thank you for always supporting me as I tell you this decision.
It’s already been 10 years since I debuted. Thanks to my fans, I’m always thankful and continuing promotions with an overwhelmed heart. The work I plan to do this year is on schedule, and as usual, I’ll continue to see you through performances and albums.
Thank you always. Stay healthy!
September appears to be the month for romance. Congratulations to everyone for their marriage news!
—-Olivia Murray
#SeptemberAnnouncements #Koreancelebrities #weddingannouncements #LOCO #LeeHakJoo #KimMinChul #HoneyJ #GoWonHee #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #congratulations #weddingsinkorea #noncelebrity #kpop #kdramaweddings #kpopweddings
Get ready, Kamilia! KARA will be making a comeback this November to celebrate their 15th anniversary!
Nicole, Youngji, Jiyoung, Gyuri, and Seungyeon announced they will all be part of the anniversary comeback. Their agency, RBW, which acquired KARA’s original company DSP Media, confirmed the news while announcing the anniversary album release and appearances on various entertainment broadcasts as part of the album’s promotion.
Rumors KARA would make a comeback started when the five surviving members met up during Kamilia Day for a photoshoot June 11, 2022. Following the photoshoot, the members confirmed they were in talks for a possible reunion.
In a message to fans sent in June, Gyuri said:
In honor of the 15th anniversary of KARA’s debut, we all got together and celebrated.
It was the first time that everyone who went through ups and downs together under the name of KARA came together to celebrate, share their stories, laugh and cry together, and comfort one another’s sunken hearts, and it gave me hope that we can become a little happier.
Happy Kamilia Day, and once again, congratulations on the 15th anniversary of KARA’s debut. I’m always grateful, and I love you always.
View this post on Instagram
The anniversary album will be KARA’s first since In Love was released May 2015. Park Gyuri, Han Seungyeon, and Heo Youngju were part of the final lineup that included the late Gu Hara, who died by suicide November 2019. Nicole and Kang Jiyoung departed KARA in 2014, so fans will be excited to see them back!
Are you excited for KARA’s return? Let us know in the comments! Meanwhile, enjoy a compilation playlist featuring group and solo tracks.
—-Olivia Murray
#KARAcomeback2022 #KARAanniversaryalbum #Parkgyuri #HanSeungyeon #HeoYongiu #Nicole #KangJiyoung #Kamilia #kpop #koreangirlgroup #kcrushnews #RBW #DSPMedia #KARAInLove #KARANovember2022 #newmusic #newalbum #kcrushamerica #KARA15thAnniversary #KARAreturn
- Surpassed 1 million album sales in 11 days
- Surpassed 10 million streams on Spotify in 5 days
- Surpassed a total of 2 million album sales for three singles (“ELEVEN,” “LOVE DIVE,” “After LIKE”)
- Surpassed 150 million music video views for “ELEVEN” and “LOVE DIVE.” 86 million views for “After LIKE”
The six piece have won a total of 30 music show trophies in Korea within less than a year of debut.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0B7HDiY-10
Listen here: https://orcd.co/afterlike
#IVE #IVEAfterLike #koreangirlgroup #kcrushnews #kpop #Eleven #LoveDive #newgirlgroup #kcrushamerica #IVEmusicvideo #risingkpopsuperstarsIVE