Top 5 Tourist Spots in Bangkok

Quite possibly the most vibrant city in the whole of South Asia, Bangkok is a fantastic melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures. With one of the most efficient public transport systems in the world, a throbbing nightlife scene and an affordable currency, Bangkok is unlike any other city in Asia and thus remains the center of attention of every type of tourist from all over the world. We take a look at the top 5 tourist spots of this vibrant and colorful city in the list below.

5. Lumpini Park

Tucked away in the southern corner of the Bangkok metro area is Lumpini Park, a sprawling green space that provides much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the fast moving city. Composed of expansive gardens, thick trees and an artificial lake in the middle, Lumpini Park is a favourite place for picnickers, joggers and those looking to have a leisurely stroll amidst nature before they go back to their lives in the concrete jungle. With gym and yoga facilities available for those looking to keep themselves fit, the park also houses a group of softshell turtles that pop their head out from the water from time to time. In addition, don’t forget to watch out for the 4 foot long monitor lizards that skimp around the grass, terrifying onlookers due to their sheer size alone.

4. Jim Thompson House

Tucked away in a quiet corner of central Bangkok, is a series of red buildings surrounded by trees commonly referred to as Jim Thompson House. Belonging to the famous American businessman Jim Thompson who made the local silk famous across the globe, Jim Thompson’s House is a cultural melting pot housing buddhist statues, local paintings and porcelain ornaments from across the region that Thompson himself collected during his life. The bright red color scheme stands out from the rest of the area, giving the house a highly unique flair. Intricately designed and beautifully maintained, the Jim Thompson House is an important historical and cultural landmark of old Bangkok and one of the most visited tourist attractions of the city.

3. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

What if an expansive weekend market existed entirely on water with wooden boats replacing stalls as avenues of commerce? This is the entire idea of the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market that is organised every day on the Damnoen Saduak canal. Filled with countless boats selling everything from noodles to vegetables and meat, the Floating Market attracts both domestic and foriegn tourists from all over. Although most of the stuff sold here tends to be a little overpriced, this is no reason for concern as haggling or negotiating is considered to be a norm all across Thailand. The market opens from 7 am all the way till noon and at any given time, countless tourists can be seen trying to take instagram friendly photos across the entire length of the canal. Any visit to Bangkok is thus incomplete without a trip to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

2. Khao San Road

Known as a backpacker’s paradise, Khao San Road is a long strip that contains cheap hostels, affordable restaurants and inexpensive beer. With street food hawkers dotting the sidewalks and attractive bar girls enticing customers into their establishment, the party never stops at Khao San Road. With big colorful neon signs flashing through the whole night and loud pulsating music drowning out everything else, Khao San Road is the perfect place to experience the party side of Bangkok. The road is thronged by western college students and curious onlookers for most of the night and low budget travellers can find extremely affordable food and lodging here, if they dont mind the thumping music that emanates from the whole strip.

1. The Grand Palace

A stunning piece of architecture that attracts visitors from all over the globe, The Grand Palace rests beside the Chao Phraya River in central Bangkok. Formerly the official residence of the kingdom’s kings and queens, The Grand Palace is now a cultural museum and consists of a series of complexes, each with its own gold statues and intricately designed murals. Not only does the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha rest within the Palace’s walls but the famous reclining buddha of Wat Pho is located just beyond the southern periphery of the Palace as well. Easy accessible by both metro trains and buses, The Grand Palace is perhaps the most famous tourist attraction of the city, mesmerizing visitors with its intricate architecture and rich cultural history.

—-Sami Yabbasi

WARPs UP, the Chinese-Japanese group whose song ‘Pleasure’ is the opening theme to the hit anime ‘Fruits Basket’, have released their third track in a series of covers of music from the show.

WARPs UP Vocal Club ‘Eden’ (MONKEY MAJIK)

Covered by LANGYI (WARPs UP)

https://youtu.be/U1u-zMgT7A8

The new release is a cover of ‘Eden’ by MONKEY MAJIK, which was used as the ending theme during the second season of ‘Fruits Basket’. After seeing the video ahead of its release, the members of MONKEY MAJIK heaped praise on the new cover.

MONKEY MAJIK comment

Love how standout and clear LANGYI’s voice is!

Thank you and very glad to see this heart warming cover of “Eden”!

The song’s Japanese lyrics were challenging for Chinese singer LANGYI to pronounce, but he gave it his all, singing a message of hope and determination for the future.

In this series of releases, LANGYI, a member of WARPs UP, has been performing covers of multiple theme tunes from the anime series ‘Fruits Basket’. The first release was a cover of WARPs UP’s own song ‘Pleasure’, which was followed by a cover of ‘Again’, originally sung by Beverly, who praised LANGYI’s version as a “wonderful cover”. Recently the two artists met for their first joint Instagram Live broadcast.

Anime series ‘Fruits Basket’ theme song cover project

‘Pleasure’ Chinese version (WARPs UP self-cover)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_uyTs6gijY

‘Again (Beverly) covered by LANGYI (WARPs UP)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSXb4DsiewU

WARPs is an abbreviation of Wind Assemble Radical People-syndicate, with the concept of “creating a wind of innovation”. Rather than forming groups with fixed lineups, its members work together in different permutations. As one, this group of talented individuals are stronger than the sum of their parts. They aim to create a new world that reflects their values, transcending existing genres and boundaries. The Chinese-Japanese group WARPs UP are one of the various units under the WARPs umbrella.

Release information

Single: ‘Pleasure’

Out now

1. Pleasure

2. Pleasure -Anime ver.-

Download and streaming links: https://warpsup.lnk.to/Pleasure

Mini-album: ‘Prep.20/21SS -Chapter RLSM-’

Out now

1. Hali Gali

2. Cloud 9

3. One Hundred degrees

4. SUPERNOVA

5. Pleasure

Download and streaming links: https://warpsup.lnk.to/Prep2021

Music videos

‘Pleasure’ music video: https://youtu.be/j98v9k9_0I0

‘Pleasure -Anime ver.-’ music video: https://youtu.be/vVK7vO5hN34

WARPs UP links

WARPs UP official website: https://avex.jp/warps/

WARPs UP YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/WARPsyndicate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warpsup_official/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WARPsUP

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warpsofficial

Weibo: https://www.weibo.com/7028502927

Hello! Let’s start this interview by asking what you’ve all been up to lately.

Castle J: Hello ~ This is Castle J, the leader of MCND! I am doing really well these days ~ I make music, dance and basically having a great time. I hope Gem is all doing well too.

BIC: Hello! This is BIC!! I am working hard to prepare for our next project.

MINJAE: Hello, this is Minjae of MCND. I am working on our choreography and singing so I can show you guys that I’ve improved on my skills.

HUIJUN: Hi!! This is Huijun, the charming voice of MCND! All our activities for <MCND AGE> are over but we’re currently preparing for something else!

WIN: Hi, this is Win the maknae of the group. We’re currently focused on our next project.

Tell us about MCND’s Justin Bieber – Second Emotion (feat. Travis Scott) dance cover video that was posted on May 9th.

MCND: We all enjoy Justin Bieber’s music and listen to his songs regularly. We recently got into “Second Emotion” and checked out the choreography, which we thought was really cool. It felt somewhat free, groovy, chill and yet sophisticated. We thought that we could show it through our own performance. The original dance video had a really great feel and mood to it. We felt the street concept of it was a cool idea, so we also took that route.

Tell us the reason for selecting Second Emotion to cover and any interesting experience that you had while filming it.

MCND: We shot a dance video in America before we had our debut, and we felt this video had a similar vibe so we were pleased. Like we mentioned earlier, covering Second Emotion was due to the fact that we liked the feel of the choreography, and we were really immersed in dancing since it was so chill and groovy. We felt it was a fun and cool process.

How long was the process of filming the cover video for Second Emotion?

MCND: We practiced hard for over two weeks for our latest cover video. The actual shoot took about four hours since we tried our best to get the best quality video.

You’ve uploaded cover dance videos of pop acts like Billie Eilish, BLACKPINK, Post Malone, BTS, ITZY and so on… Which sticks to your mind the most?

Castle J: For me, it’s DALLA DALLA by ITZY, which I remixed for the first time.

BIC: Second Emotion!! It’s the most recent video that we shot and it was the first time that we got to show GEM a cover of a hip hop song of a foreign artist.

MINJAE: I personally like our cover of “Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK the most and think it’s cool.

HUIJUN: Troye Sivan & Lauv – I’m So Tired COVER by Minjae and myself. This was also the start of [PLAY MUSIC GROUND].

WIN: Second Emotion which is our latest cover. We filmed it with confidence and the result was also satisfactory.

How did you usually practice for a dance cover video? Which cover dance was the most difficult to work on?

MCND: We think our cover video of DALLA DALLA by ITZY was the hardest to shoot. The process of delivering the mood of the song into choreography was difficult and especially because it was shot during the middle of summer, it made it more difficult and also memorable.

What kind of cover videos do you wish to film in the future?

Castle J: If it means we get to showcase a new side of us in our own music style, I’m down to try anything.

BIC: We’d go with anything as long as we can showcase our charm!

MINJAE: Would love to do a cover of songs that suits the style of MCND.

HUIJUN: If possible, I want to try doing all types of covers.

WIN: I’m sure we can cover any song quite well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a69fpctg3GI&feature=youtu.be

J.Chung.

#MCND #Kpop #CoverVideo #Interview #kpop #kpopidols #kpopfandom

Korean weddings are particularly intimate affairs with both guests and hosts following a set of traditional rules regarding everything from gifts to food. With particular emphasis on the traditional, Korean weddings therefore provide the perfect opportunity to dabble in original Korean cuisine which has developed over the course of hundreds of years to create highly unique and distinctive dishes. As Korean desserts slowly become part of the cultural zeitgeist, we found it pertinent to take a look at five of the most popular desserts at Korean weddings in the list below.

5. HobakJuk – Pumpkin Porridge

Concentrated yellow in color, Hobak-Juk is a traditional sweet dish that has steadily gained popularity at Korean weddings. The main ingredient here is Korean cheese pumpkins that are sliced and added into glutinous rice flour. The mixture is then boiled and seasoned with several options such as black beans and rice cake balls before serving. Alternatively, sesame seeds may also be utilized for garnishing. Hobak-Juk is quite sweet and frequently served in bangjja bowls, bronzeware that is quite popular in Korean communities. The dish’s simple texture makes it a popular choice at weddings and it is usually one of two or more dessert options at such ceremonies.

4. DotoriMuk – Acorn Jelly

Loosely translated into Acorn jelly, Dotorimuk is a sweet delicacy popularly served on special occasions such as weddings. Making Dotorimuk is a pretty complex process as fresh acorns are first grounded and then mixed with water. The mixture is then boiled and forced to go through another series of processes which results in its final form that resembles brown jelly. This brown jelly can then be made into any required shape with the help of designated utensils. Decorated with sesame seeds or slivered carrots, the final dish is presented to guests in individual single serving plates.

3. Hotteok – Pancake

Although more commonly known as a street food in Korea, intricate forms of Hotteok have in recent times, become part of the wedding menu. Made from wheat flour, milk and sugar, these pancakes are usually filled with brown sugar, peanuts and cinnamon to give them a unique taste. Recent modifications to this age old dessert includes honey glazing, coconut shavings topping and even a serving with vanilla ice cream. The high sugar content of the Hotteok makes it a favourite at wedding dinners and more and more millennial Koreans are deciding to have this particular dish at their weddings. Whilst Hotteok is not the primary dessert at weddings, it is usually a member of a trio of sweet dishes presented to the guests.

2. Tteok – Rice Cake

Made in a variety of colors and with different types of fillings, Korean rice cakes (locally known as Tteok) are a must at every family affair. Shaped into form using steamed rice, Tteok may contain a variety of fruits, fragrances and flowers that add to its sweet and savoury flavour. The most popular rice cakes at traditional weddings are Bupyeon, made with soybean, cinnamon, honey and jujube. Considered to bring good fortune to those who consume it, Korean rice cakes have slowly become part of the dessert menu at weddings after years of being associated with the Korean New Year. The cakes are usually served in tandem with another dessert, usually Hoddeok.

1. Wedding Cake

The star of any Korean wedding is the wedding cake. Usually consisting of three or more tiers, the Wedding Cake is decorated with either edible flowers or other embellishments to give it a royal look and feel. Each layer of the cake is encapsulated with white frosting and the top of the cake may have figurines in likeness with the bride and groom. Frequently placed at the center of the venue where all guests can take a peek at the marvellous beauty of the cake, the cake is usually served to the guests themselves at the end of the wedding. With both the level of intricacy and the height of the cake representing the wealth of the bride and groom, the wedding cake has become the most important dessert at Korean weddings.

—-Sami Yabbasi

Since the K-pop supergroup released their new English-language single at 1 p.m. on Friday, “Butter” debuted at No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs chart in 101 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Argentina, India, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.

The music video made history by gaining over 10 million views on the BTS official YouTube channel in 13 minutes after its release – it has been viewed over 138 million times as of Saturday – and still counting.

“Butter” set a new record for having the most views for a YouTube music video premiere with 3.9 million plus concurrent viewers, and hit No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes chart after two hours of debut.

The group had set the previous record with their 2020 single “Dynamite,” their first single in English. The music video earned 101.1 million in its first 24 hours of release.

BTS will be performing “Butter” for the first time ever on TV at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on May 23, where the act has been nominated for four categories – top duo/group, top song sales artist, top social artist and top selling song.

BTS will also be appearing and possibly performing on the May 25 edition of “The Late Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “Good Morning America” on May 28.

The septet have also prepared something special this year to celebrate their eight anniversary with their fanbase ARMY.

“BTS 2021 Muster SOWOOZOO” is a special two-day event, scheduled for June 13th and 14th, which will feature various events, with June 14th titled ‘World Tour Version’ to showcase the group’s foreign language songs. (Details on the ticketing and streaming are said to be announced very soon.)

BTS hosts such events each year on their debut anniversary – June 13th – to spend time with their fans. Although there wasn’t one held last year due to the pandemic, the group chose to stream their shows over a two-day free streaming event Bang Bang Con.

Formed in 2010 by Korean music producer Bang Si-hyuk – BTS consists of seven members V, j-hope, RM, Jin, Jimin, Jungkook, and SUGA who in time became one of the biggest groups in mainstream global pop.

–J.Chung.

The Indonesian island of Bali, often the favourite destination of backpackers, is packed with exquisite spots of nature and culture that attract millions of holidaymakers each year. With lush green forests, lava spewing active volcanos and a series of centuries old buddhist temples, Bali has just about everything a tourist could ask for. We take a look at the top 5 vacation spots in Bali below.’

5. Mount Batur

An active volcano hidden away on the Eastern side of Bali, Mount Batur towers over the plains surrounding it. Visitors often hike to the top of the volcano, a trek that is physically demanding and takes two hours minimum. The views from the top are breathtaking with Lake Batur on one side and a slew of forests on the other. Although lava last flowed from the volcano almost twenty years ago, the site nevertheless provides a breathtaking view of the crater from the top. With temperatures at midday too hot due to direct sunlight, the best time to undertake the hike is at pre-dawn. Following this schedule will enable one to catch the sunrise at the apex of the volcano, along with a sun drenched instagram perfect picture to remember the moment by.

4. Ubud Monkey Forest

Famous for naughty monkeys who will pounce at tourists’ belongings the first chance they get, Ubud Monkey Forest is a treat for tourists and photographers alike. Thousands of grey long tailed macaques make this forest their home, jumping through endless rows of towering trees as they eye the tourists below. An added treat when visiting this forest are ancient sculptures of animals that line the walkways, adding to the mystic and mysterious feel of the forest. This is not all as there are a couple of ancient temples hidden away in the forest as well. Each of these temples is more than 500 years old and showcases a specific period of Balinese history. With its rich flora and fauna along with stunning ancient relics, the Ubud Monkey Forest is one of the most visited vacation spots on the island.

3. Uluwatu

Perched away in the Southernmost corner of the peninsula, Uluwatu is a place of wonder and serenity. Most famous for the Uluwatu temple that is built right at the edge of a hundred meter high cliff, the area is dotted with white sandy beaches perfect for surfing. The Green Bowl and Balangan are the most famous in this regard, always filled to the brim with both professional and aspiring surfers as they master the waves with throngs of tourists chilling nearby. The jagged and elevated rock formations that make up the rest of the coast provide a perfect backdrop for some great photos as well. Paragliding is also available for tourists here enabling them to take in some stunning sights from above. In a nutshell, Uluwatu has everything for tourists; ancient temples to satisfy history buffs, great beaches for surf lovers to unwind on and plenty of hotels nearby to rest in.

2. Tegalalang Rice Terraces

One of the most visited tourist spots on the entire peninsula of Bali, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces have a level of awestruck beauty that is hard to describe. Consisting of rows upon rows of stepped rice terraces on hilly slopes as far as the eye can see, this vacation spot envelops all those who visit it with a sense of wonder and amazement that is unmatched. With clear blue skies providing the perfect backdrop to lush green rice paddies, tourists can walk on several of the walkways that snake across the landscape to discover the area properly. A slew of restaurants and cafes that dot the outer periphery of the area provide refreshments while long jungle swings are also available for the more daring tourists to test their fear of heights.

1. Kelingking Beach

Containing what is quite possibly the most instagrammable spot in the whole of Bali, Kelingking Beach provides a stunning combination of turquoise water surrounded by a white sand beach with extreme waves crashing in. However, the real attraction is the view from the limestone cliffs that look down at the beach as one is mesmerized by the stunning artistry of nature at display. A steep, winding path leads down from this cliff to the beach itself with bamboo railings on either side providing limited security. The perilous journey down does not deter hundreds of thousands from attempting to descend down to a serene beach that has been argued to have the most aggressive waves in all of the peninsula. Quite possibly the most famous landmark in all of Bali, Kelingking Beach encapsulates the essence of Bali itself; a daring yet stunningly serene piece of nature that has no equal anywhere on Earth.

—-Sami Yabbasi

Hello, thank you so much for taking your precious time for this interview. Kindly introduce yourselves to our readers.

Meena: Hello, this is Bae Meena. I’m a vocalist and a bassist.

Myeong-jin: I’m Kim Myeong-jin. I am a drummer and a vocalist.

Jung-hoon: I am Han Jung-hoo. I’m a guitarist and a vocalist.

Tell us how you came up with the name “Drinking Boys and Girls Choir.”

Meena: We came up with the name in hope to always remain as boys and girls who love to drink. We also wanted to put “choir” in because we all sing together as a band.

We are curious on how you guys initially got into music.

Meena: When I was in high school, I got to listen to Marilyn Mason’s music through a friend, and that’s how I got into rock music and made up my mind to join a band when I got into uni.

And after watching Daegu’s well-known indie band A-FRICA perform, I was so impressed by the drummer that I joined the school band a day after enrolling. I was the drummer there for around three to four years. A member of an indie band who was invited to play at a rock festival at my school, asked me to join the band, and that’s how I got into the indie scene in Daegu from 2008.

Myeong-jin: When I was in grade 5 in elementary, I happened to see an idol girl band AIDA on TV, and got really into them.

When I later got into middle school, I naturally began learning how to play the drums and acoustic guitar. Around that time, the priest at the cathedral that I attended had started a band, and being in the band helped me a lot too. In high school, I never played in a band but I got to play different percussion instruments from being in an orchestra.

Jung-hoon: When I was in middle school, I heard Marry Me by Ellegarden play in the car. At the time, I had no dreams for myself, but when I heard the song play, I realized my path was music and being in a band. I began to play the guitar right after that incident and am still doing music till this day.

Pick just one of your songs that you love performing the most and the reason why.

Meena: If I had to choose, it would be I’m A Fucking McDonald’s. It was written based on real experience and it can help to relieve the anger that always exists in my mind.

Myeong-jin: National Police Shit is a really fast song with a section that goes by really quickly, so it’s enjoyable to play the drums to the music.

Jung-hoon: I feel that Red Shift has all the elements of our band. I think it best showcases a “cool” side of us.

Could you take turns to compliment your fellow band members?

Meena: Myeong-jin is not only a great drummer, but she’s really skilled as a songwriter and lyricist. I gain much consolation and even get emotional from listening to songs written by her. My favorite track from our upcoming second album is, “My Second Universe” by Myeong-jin.

Jung-hoon is extremely passionate. He joined the band only recently but I feel that he’s doing his best to fit in with the band’s atmosphere. I hope we can keep spending more time with him as a band.

Myeong-jin : Meena is an emotional and sensitive punk rocker. She really relates to the people who are in need and is doing her part to change the world. Jung-hoon’s best characteristics are the fact that he’s very faithful and zealous. He makes me look back on myself for always being lazy.

Jung-hoon: As the band’s leader, Myeong-jin is always so supportive and her drumming is beyond powerful. I admire how Meena is so incredibly energetic on stage. I’m always learning tons from the two members.

What kind of music are you immersed in nowadays?

Meena: I’m listening to a lot of Billy Carter, Bosudong Cooler, Dead Buttons. I really like the fact that the three bands are all very interested in issues concerning gender, human rights, environmental issues. Billy Carter’s latest album Don’t Push Me literally describes feminism so well, and I cried while listening to it. While working on our album last year, I listened to a lot of music by The Beths.

Myeong-jin : I’ve been listening to a lot of music by TENGGER members Itta and RAAI lately.

Jung-hoon: I usually like to listen to Nothing’s Carved in Stone – a team formed by the guitarist of Ellegarden that helped me choose the path of music. All the members are so talented and never fail to inspire me.

What is the first thing that you do when you get up in the morning?

Meena: I drink water. After staying numb for a while, I get up to brush my teeth. When I have the time, I always try to go for a jog in the morning or hike.

Myeong-jin: I yawn and then drink some water.

Jung-hoon: I think to myself that I want to sleep longer, then I consider sleeping for another 5 minutes or so. Then I spend more time zoned out.

Please name one possession that you cherish the most.

Meena: I can’t say that I cherish this the most but I think I’m the most attached to my phone. When smartphones first came out, I tried not to rely on it too much, but it now feels like it’s become a part of me. What else? Wireless cable..?

Myeong-jin: I try not to give too much attention to things and choose not to be greedy.

Jung-hoon: The songs on my playlist. They’re always with me wherever I go. I have some songs that are hard to find these days, so I consider them as my best friends.

Which country in the world would you most like to perform in and why?

Meena: I’d really love to revisit Indonesia for a tour. I also wish we could perform at the Oktoberfest in Germany. And I would love to visit all the countries that I haven’t been to yet.

Myeong-jin: I would love to perform in Japan, China, and other countries.

Jung-hoon: There are so many countries and cities that we haven’t been able to go so far, but I’ve always wished to perform at the rock festival in Japan.

Can we wrap this interview by stating your plans and hopes for the band’s future, and please add something nice to your fans as well.

Meena: Drinking Boys and Girls Choir’s second album is coming out in July. We hope that our new album will cheer you all up during the pandemic. We look forward to seeing you all soon.

Jung-hoon : Our second album is being released soon. I believe all the tracks on the album are really great. Stay safe and healthy. Please listen to our album and watch this space for our live performances!

–J.Chung.

#drinkingboysandgirlschoir #indie #rockandroll #bands #koreanindie #koreanhardrockbands #hardrock #sxsw2021

Singapore, often labelled as the jewel of South Asia, became an economic powerhouse in the late 20th century. The rapid urban development that resulted prompted Singapore to become a center for cultural and financial progress. As incomes rose, fields such as art and fashion found new patrons, prompting a revolution in the industry. Today, Singapore is one of the premier fashion hubs of the developed world, with plenty of talented designers and craftsmen contributing to a vibrant local industry. We take a look at the top 5 fashion designers of Singapore in the list below.

5. Max Tan

One of the younger fashion designers in the industry, Max Tan exploded onto the fashion scene after immense popularity launched his brand max.tan into the stratosphere. Most of Tan’s designs are his personal takes on minimalism. With duality featuring heavily into his clothing, Tan’s work plays on and challenges the well established notions of femininity and body size. With his primary focus on the younger demographic, Max Tan’s clothing lines can best be described as chic, playing on a combination of comfort and style. Max Tan has successfully infused his personal tastes into overarching themes to create fashion trends that speak to a wide variety of individuals.

4. Hayden Ng

Born in 1966, the story of how Hayden Ng stumbled onto the fashion scene is both inspirational and poignant. Completely self-taught, Hayden Ng spent his early years learning the basics of sewing himself. An opportunity arose in 1987, when Hayden was asked to dress Miss Universe Singapore. This once in a lifetime chance propelled Hayden to stardom and he opened his first store soon after. With his services consistently desired for both Singaporean Armed Forces and the National Day Parade, Hayden found himself turning into a celebrity at the onset of the 21st century. During this time, he consistently contributed to global beauty pageants as well, dressing Miss Universe Singapore in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Further success followed when Hayden founded the ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase that celebrated the diversity of the ASEAN region through haute couture and street fashion.

3. Keith Png

Self-professed style Guru and fashion designer Keith Png began his illustrious fashion journey with a diploma in apparel design and merchandise from one of Singapore’s top polytechnique schools. Providing exclusive attires to models and actresses such as Sheila Sim, Fann Wong and Lin Chi Ling, Keith has found unparalleled success designing creations for the entertainment industry. Keith has also become the go-to guy for marriage solemnization gowns with some of the top talent in the local entertainment industry such as Fann Wong and Wendy Cheng selecting him for gowns for their respective intimate ceremonies. With frequent collaborations with some of the top brands in the world such as Samsung, Air Asia and Ray Ban, Keith has found himself quite busy during the last decade. Keith is currently focusing on his lifestyle boutique brand, Hide and Seek, which he had launched in 2008.

2. Priscilla Shunmugam

Originally a lawyer, Priscilla Shunmugam found herself drawn towards fashion design while working in England. Deciding to pursue her passion, Priscilla launched her brand titled Ong Shunmugam soon after, introducing hipster heritage clothing into the bustling fashion industry of Singapore. Primarily known for her reimaginings of traditional clothing such as the sari and the cheongsam, Shumnugam has found considerable success in her niche. The response has been so positive that Ong Shunmugam is considering opening stores in neighbouring South Asian countries as well. Her groundbreaking work in infusing traditional dresses with modern spins has shot Priscilla to fame, with several reputable magazines and Awards celebrating her success with full spread adverts and interviews.

1. Benny Ong

Perhaps the most recognizable face from Singapore’s fashion industry to make it big on the global stage, Benny Ong has had an illustrious career in fashion. From designing workplace attires for some of the biggest corporations in the world, Ong has been approached by members of both British Royalty as well as Jordanian Royalty for creating attires for them, a testament to his talents as an artist. After decades of success in the industry, Ong decided to shift gears to textile art noting that fashion had become all about seasonal trends that waste the tremendous amount of work put into clothing. With his towering achievements and an unparalleled contribution to the industry, Benny Ong has rightfully been called the most influential fashion designer to ever come out of Singapore.

—-Sami Yabbasi

Summer is just around the corner! Soon everyone will be in tank tops and flip-flops heading to their favorite beaches or picnic sites. With fun times and travels ahead, I have you covered with ten feel-good summer bops to fuel your sunshine.

“Wave” by ATEEZ

The title alone recalls the soft ocean breeze and cool salty water—perfect for getting into beach vibes. ATEEZ brings an upbeat island sound with this tune. The lyrics also touch on some ocean imagery and good times as they sing “Hakuna Matata” (a reference to “no worries” from the Lion King). You’ll truly feel breezy and at ease with “Wave.”

“Our Summer” by TOMORROW X TOGETHER

No matter what season it is, when you’re with your person—it’s always summer. The last line in the chorus brings this thought to mind, “If we’re together, feel like summer.” TXT also has an acoustic version of this song that invokes deeper emotion than the light-hearted vibes of the original. I love both versions!

“Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” by BTS

This is a personal choice. My entire summer of 2019 was fueled by this song! I was always drinking strawberry acai refreshers from Starbucks and jamming to “Boy With Luv.” Ironically, my pink drink matched the pink BTS album this song comes from…coincidence? It’s such a feel-good jam and gets me dancing every time, which is exactly what you want on a summer playlist!

“MORE & MORE” by TWICE

“MORE & MORE” has a unique sound that perfectly matches the theme of the song. These song lyrics are about being your authentic self and how others will just want more and more! Summer is all about being your best self and TWICE gave a fun song to encourage that!

“Paradise” by Eric Nam

Summer is a time of freedom. School is out and vacation is in! During the year, it is easy to feel trapped and long for the moment of release. Eric Nam explores this feeling in his song, “Paradise.” Feelings of wanting to get out of the cage, but being trapped at the same can be difficult, but this song is hopeful! You will taste the outside world because “you were born to fly.” Jam out to Nam!

“Bon Voyage” by YooA

This song is what adventure sounds like. Every time I hear it, I envision myself somewhere else. Being on a cruise ship, snorkeling in the Bahamas, hiking next to mountain streams, jet setting across the globe—this song invokes the feeling of travel. If you haven’t heard it, do yourself a favor and take a journey with YooA!

“Anpanman” by BTS

Nothing but good vibes from “Anpanman.” “Anpanman” is a classic jam from BTS. Those who have been to their shows, or who have watched them virtually, know BTS have a blast performing this! Because of this, it’s the perfect summer song. No cloudy days here!

“Dolphin” by OH MY GIRL

The lyrics of this fun tune are about someone who pops in and out of your life like a dolphin. Check out these lines: “Whenever I’m off guard, you suddenly pop up and quickly swim away. I get splashed once again.” Here’s to catching your dolphin this summer!

“MY TREASURE” by TREASURE

A chill song, “MY TREASURE” is great for relaxing while getting your tan by the pool. The lines are encouraging: “It’s all good,” “It’s gonna be alright,” “We’re gonna be okay,” “Never give up.” If you need a summer pick me up, this is the song for you!

“What You Waiting For” by SOMI

Summer is full of the spontaneous! SOMI’s asking, “What you waiting for!?” Her anthem is all about needing to seize the day on your crush. This bop is perfect for any moment you want to get hype—from a party on the beach to a long drive with friends.

Summer 2021 is going to be amazing! Why not have an amazing playlist, too? These songs are perfect for fueling your adventures and sunshine-filled moments.

—-E. Boyd

AmPm, the Japanese masked production duo who debuted to global acclaim with their March 2017 single ‘Best Part of Us feat. Michael Kaneko’, have released their latest track: ‘Afterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)’ is out today, May 12.

‘Afterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)’

https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm210512_digi

‘Afterglow’ is a collaboration with Kimberley Chen, the Taiwan-based star singer who originally hails from Melbourne, Australia. It is a breezy summer tune with a refreshing dance-pop melody, bursting with love for that special someone.

A video was also released today – AmPm’s first ever full-length animated music video. The visuals match the song’s dreamy vibe, a bright and positive video that follows a young woman who enjoys fashion and dating as she spends time with her boo. Look out for hidden illustrations of AmPm that pop up from time to time.

‘AmPm / Afterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)’

https://youtu.be/CX3q9o6oKQA

Message from Kimberley Chen

“This experience has been so special. I feel so honored to be invited to collaborate with AmPm. During tough times supporting each other through music is something that my soul needed. Thanks to everyone that help made this happen! And I’m looking forward to finally meeting in person :)”

Message from AmPm

“This project came to life after we approached Kimberley to collaborate with us, and it’s a song that truly conveys her personality. We also think this dance is perfect for the coming season, so we hope you’ll put on headphones or earphones and turn up the volume.

“If it wasn’t for the current situation, we would have loved to have gone to Taiwan to work with Kimberley directly, but when life finally returns to normal, we hope to visit Taiwan to hang out and perform live together.

“This was also our first time to make a full-length animated video, so we hope you’ll check it out! It’s always fun to have the opportunity to work with the most talented artists, and hopefully the video expresses this feeling too.”

Release information

‘Afterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)’

Release date: May 12

Listen here: https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm210512_digi

Kimberley Chen profile

Kimberley Chen was born May 23, 1994 in Melbourne, Australia. She started singing at age 4, and soon began a career as a child actor and model, appearing in a commercial for McDonald’s that was aired in Asia. In 2005, she was cast as Young Nala in the musical production of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’, which was staged at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne and the Shanghai Grand Theatre in Shanghai. In 2007, she was picked to sing the national anthem at the Australian Football League Grand Final. She moved to Taiwan in 2010 to participate in the popular music audition show ‘One Million Star’. Her debut album followed in 2012, and the music video for ‘Aini (Love You)’ was a huge hit on YouTube, with over 100 million views. In 2018, she entered the upper ranking among contestants on ‘Produce 101 China’, which generated some 4.3 billion views. Chen signed with Taiwan’s R&B/soul label ChynaHouse in 2020, where she released her first single as a newly rejuvenated self-produced singer and songwriter. In December 2020, she released ‘Princess Tendencies’, a 31-song mixtape featuring hip-hop legends from Greater China and a new generation of Mandopop artists as guests. Chen has become one of Greater China’s most impressive female Gen Z artists.

AmPm profile

AmPm are a masked production duo from Japan who made a major global impact with their March 2017 debut track, ‘Best Part of Us feat. Michael Kaneko’. The same year, they were the only Japanese artist to perform at Spotify On Stage, a festival in Indonesia hosted by Spotify. In 2018, they dominated stages around the world, from Ultra Miami to shows in Korea and Japan, and even a headline concert in New York. In addition to releasing their own original music, AmPm have remixed tracks by popular overseas artists such as Afrojack, R3HAB and Nicky Romero, along with remixes for renowned Japanese artists like Gesu no Kiwami Otome (‘Black Parade’) and MONKEY MAJIK (‘Tokyo Lights’), and production for Ken Hirai’s track ‘Holic’. Collaborating with a plethora of dance-music vocalists, they have released more than 20 tracks to date. In March 2019, they were recognized at the Digital Contents of the Year 2018 / 24th AMD Award, winning the Special Jury Award. In June 2019, they produced V6’s ‘All For You’. Today AmPm are one of Japan’s most in-demand music production exports, with fans among artists and music lovers alike.

Music: https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm

Website: http://ampm.tokyo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampm.tokyo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ampm_tokyo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ampm.tokyo/

—

Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wvl6e2f5gzx2g5n/AAD_tvLMPMIoY2C1y2wTGvn6a?dl=0

KPSN PODCASTFEST ’21 Official Announcement from KpopSocialNight on Vimeo.

The event returns July 10 – 11, 2021 with over 20 podcasts, activities, and special performances! Early access tickets are just $10.00 and available at http://tinyurl.com/kpsnfun21

As a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, we’re helping to kick off pre-sale tickets at the 2020 price of only $5.00!

Get yours now at https://tinyurl.com/kpsnfun21 and learn more about the event.

Let’s make a huge impact this summer with K-P-S-N Podcast Fest 2021.

MGM Worldwide Television Group is to partner with one of South Korea’s top entertainment companies, SM Entertainment, to launch a competition show to recruit American males to produce a K-pop group – based in the U.S.

The talent competition will be open to males between the ages of 13 and 25. The selected contestants will be flown to Seoul train at the SM Entertainment campus, where they will be judged and mentored by SM’s founder Lee Soo-Man and the NCT members.

SM Entertainment founded in 1995, is one of K-pop’s top 3 of the most successful entertainment agencies/labels, having led the K-pop phenomenon worldwide.

NTC is a South Korean boy group formed by the Korean entertainment company that is currently made up of 23 members of various sub-groups.

“I look forward to making an unconventional audition show that all music fans around the world can enjoy,” Lee said. “I hope the audience enjoys watching the journey of new stars being born in Hollywood, that will be promoted as NCT-Hollywood in the global market in the future.”

Back in February, HYBE, the label of BTS, revealed their strategic partnership with Universal Music Group to debut a global K-pop group in the U.S. The members will be chosen from a worldwide audition and be televised next year, in 2022.

“This series is exactly the type of innovative programming that MGM is committed to creating on a global scale,” MGM Television chairman Mark Burnett stated. “K-pop is more than a genre of music; it’s a cultural phenomenon and we’re so excited to partner with the incredible Mr Lee Soo-Man and the team at SM to bring K-pop to the U.S.!”

— J.Chung.

The Multi-Platinum Artist Delivers Soulful Second & Third Singles From New Project

WATCH THE MANDARIN VERSION FOR “BLUE” WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “VEGAS” LISTEN TO THE MANDARIN VERSION FOR “BLUE” LISTEN TO “VEGAS”

Global Asian pop superstar, Amber Liu, released two new singles “blue” and “vegas” today with accompanying music videos through all digital streaming platforms via EMPIRE. Joining Amber Liu in the Mandarin-language version features popular rapper MaSiWei of Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers. The tracks are the second and third off Liu’s upcoming album and follow the simultaneous music video releases of hit single “neon”, which features Korean-American rapper Peniel of K-pop boy group BtoB in the English-language version, while the Mandarin-language version features Chinese-born rapper Blow Fever

The Mandarin version of the “blue” music video showcases Liu playing with a lighter while sitting alone in a dark, graffiti covered room. With flickering lights in the background, Liu sings as she breaks objects and pours herself another glass of alcohol. The gritty atmosphere adds to the melancholic meaning behind the lyrics. Midway, Liu is joined by MaSiWei as they continue to sing along to the melody. The one-shot production of this video mimics the emotional spiral one feels after experiencing heartbreak. “vegas”, a catchy love ballad infused with synth pop beats that keeps the music fresh and relevant, is a departure from Liu’s latest playful and colorful single “neon”. Throughout the music video, Liu is captured driving through the desert, on the balcony of her hotel room, and prancing around the Las Vegas strip in a compilation of home video style sequences. An intimate look into Liu’s world, listeners are able to connect with the message of the song. Despite the differences in style, “vegas” still stays true to Liu’s rhythmic, pop sound and showcases her ability to appeal to perfectly execute an array of music styles.

MaSiWei is a Chinese-born rapper who rose to fame in 2016 with the debut of Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers. Since their debut, the group has received international success, appearing in commercials for Beats by Dre and toured multiple continents. At the start of 2020, MaSiWei released his first solo project “Prince Charming” and most recently released his second solo studio album “Dark Horse.”

After cementing her star power in South Korea as a member of the record-breaking electro- pop-based K-pop girl group f(x), Amber returned to her native California for much of 2018. The move signaled a crossover into new audiences and solo success with fans and critics alike raving about her solo body of work. She soon signed with US management company Steel Wool Entertainment and United Talent Agency for US booking before leaving Korea-based SM Entertainment. Just last year, her EP “X” was released and she went on to perform on two back-to-back North American national tours; with the most recent being a 24-city tour in early 2020 with rising artists Justin Park, Meg & Dia and Justice Carradine. The megastar kept busy last year outside of music with visual language learning app, Drops, tapping her to teach Korean to K-pop fans and hosted her own show, “I’ll Ask The Stupid Questions” as an original program with international mobile streaming service, Ficto. Earlier this year, Liu was not slowing down with her international projects when she joined the fourth season of popular national Chinese TV survival reality series, “CHUANG 2021.” As a mentor, she offers her knowledge of what it takes to be an internationally-acclaimed pop idol as the show forms their new Chinese 11-member boy group from 90 contestants who compete to debut into the global market. As a singer-songwriter, she has multiple credits on f(x) hits such as “Goodbye Summer” and her own solo hit “Shake That Brass,” which she performed on the “CHUANG 2021” most recently to rave reviews.

ABOUT AMBER LIU

A California native, Amber Liu was discovered at the age of 15 at SM Entertainment’s global auditions in Los Angeles. Following a move to South Korea, she debuted in 2009 as a member of the female group f(x). The record-breaking electro-pop-based K-pop group quickly became one of the industry’s most popular and award-winning. In 2013, the group became the first K-pop act to perform at SXSW, with the New York Times’ Jon Pareles calling their performance “impeccable.” f(x)’s 2013 album ‘Pink Tape’ was called “one of the best Asian pop albums of all-time,” by Pitchfork and charted #1 on Billboards K-Pop Hot 100 and World Album charts. In 2015, Amber’s first solo release, the critically acclaimed album “Beautiful”, debuted at #2 on Billboard’s World Albums chart, with the title track’s music video, released the same day, garnering more than 1 million YouTube views in its first day of release. She has also made a career on television and film hosting travel and variety shows in South Korea and starring in the American indie film The Eagle and the Albatross.

ABOUT MASIWEI

Praised by the New York Times as the leader of the Higher Brothers, China’s breakthrough hip-hop group, and one of China’s leading rap figures, MaSiWei has released four high-caliber solo mixtapes since his debut at the age of 21, “P.E.I VOL.1”, “P.E.I VOL.2”, “P.E.I VOL.3″ and ”AFewGoodKids”, one Higher Brothers mixtape “Higher Brothers”, two full albums with the Higher Brothers “Black Cab” and “Five Stars”. With “Made in China”, “WeChat” and several other singles, MaSiWei has repeatedly created a global craze with more than 250 million music streams in total. Starting from the release of their first official album “Black Cab” with the Higher Brothers in 2017, they have had sold-out tours at home and abroad. Their single “Lover Boy 88” with Phum Viphurit and KnowKnow became a summer love song phenomenon. After, their “Five Stars” album with outstanding hip-hop artists including ScHoolboy Q, Denzel Curry, Soulja Boy, J.I.D, became a global hit.

In 2019, the Higher Brothers released the single “Friends and Foes” with Snoop Dogg, and it made them the first Chinese rapper to create the theme song for an American drama with western rappers. With the release of Higher Brothers hit album “Prince Charming” in 2020 and his second solo album “Dark Horse” in 2021, MaSiWei has traveled the world with his music and as part of the Higher Brothers, he is one of the few representatives of Chinese rap in the Western music scene.

South Korean veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung is now the first Korean to win an Oscar in an acting category at the 93rd Academy Awards, for a supporting role in playing an eccentric grandmother in the hit movie “Minari” this Monday.

The film was written and directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung, loosely based on his childhood past. The family film features the relationship between Soon-ja (played by Youn Yu-jung) and her grandson David (played by Alan Kim) in a farm in Arkansas.

Since its premiere, “Minari” attained top star reviews and Youn’s acting drew a vast amount of attention from the public and critics, even though she speaks mostly in Korean in this movie.

Youn began her acceptance speech at the Oscars by “forgiving” people for mispronouncing her name, and praised the Minari family and the director of the movie. She even added that she “usually just watches the show on television” and that she couldn’t believe she was there in person. She finished her speech by saying that she didn’t believe in competition. She thanked her “two boys who make me go out and work.” And added, “This is the result because mummy worked so hard!”

Youn has lived in the States for over a decade in the past, so she doesn’t have trouble communicating and making witty acceptance speeches.

For “Minari”, Youn received numerous best supporting actress trophies and nominations from film festivals and critics’ awards, including the Critics Choice Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the BAFTA Awards, and now at the Academy Awards.

Youn became the second Asian actress to win an Oscar for a supporting role after Japanese actress Miyoshi Umeki won the supporting actress award at the awards more than 60 years prior, in 1957.

–J.Chung.

BTS is known for their honest lyricism, hauntingly beautiful melodies, and on-fire tracks. BE is an album that shows a different side to the group. This album was meant to be reflective of the time in which it was written, mid-pandemic 2020. These songs are personal, heartfelt, and journal-entry-esc. Here’s how they rank.

Life Goes On: 7/10

“Life Goes On” is a chill song that fits in perfectly with the 2020 vibes. Each of the members had a chance to shine in this encouraging ballad. At first, when the single dropped, I was a bit surprised. This sound is different than what BTS normally delivers. But this song normalized them to the world. BTS were affected by the pandemic, just like the rest of us. Sure, they could have produced an upbeat, synth-driven song. Instead, they gave ARMY a melody that hugged them and told them it would be okay. Take a peek at some of these lyrics:

“One day the world stopped without any warning.”

“Time goes on its own without a single apology.”

“There’s no end in sight, is there a way out?”

“Close your eyes for a moment, hold my hand — to that future let’s run away.”

Fly To My Room: 6/10

Jimin and Taehyung’s voice on this is excellent, as well as the smooth rap breaks from J-Hope and Suga. This song has a nice laid-back vibe to it. Overall, it gets this score from me because this song is not one I would seek out, but I wouldn’t skip it on a playlist either. The lyrics touch on moments that capture the emotion of quarantine. Check these out:

“This room is too small to fill my dreams.”

“This room may be my emotional trash can but it will hug me.”

“The delivery food is three stars.”

Blue & Grey: 8/10

This ballad is beautiful and full of depth. The soft vocals, mellow rap, and melancholy instrumentals made this a fan favorite. It explores depression and feelings of hopelessness, reflected in the colors blue and grey. This song had been worked on by Kim Taehyung and solo artist NIve. Originally, it was going to go on V’s upcoming solo mixtape, but it was decided to make it a part of BE. I’m so happy it made an appearance here first because the song meshes so well with the others and was my favorite track on the album.

Skit: –/–

Do I understand what they’re saying? No. Does it matter? No. I love this throwback tradition having a comeback in this collection. Just listening to the members interacting, recognizing their voices, and hearing them laugh is a real treat.

Telepathy: 6/10

“Telepathy” has some great vibes and a retro groove to it. I enjoy the upbeat atmosphere it creates. Like “Fly To My Room,” this isn’t a song I would intentionally look up to listen to, but I’d bop along to it if it came on. “Telepathy” appears to be written to ARMY. It talks about being close even when far apart. Check out some of these lines:

“Even though right now we’re far away our hearts are still the same, aren’t they?”

“Even if you’re not by my side, even if I’m not by your side, we all know we’re still together.”

“When the days all feel the same, I’m the happiest when I meet you.”

Dis-ease: 6/10

An aptly named track for the pandemic, “Dis-ease.” The best part of this song has to be when it goes off in the bridge. I remember the first time I heard it, I was shook by how good it was! This classic hip-hop vibe was interesting to hear from BTS. It reminded me of some of their earlier sounds and I enjoyed that they incorporated this feel again. “Dis-ease” explores the hardships of the pandemic, but also encourages listeners to keep moving forward.

Stay: 5/10

‘Stay” was a bit too electro-pop for me, personally. However, I do appreciate the message the song is giving off. It seems like BTS is again singing to ARMY. They remember the times we had with them and replay it in their minds. They affirm that they know “I know you always stay.” Don’t worry, BTS, ARMY is going nowhere!

Dynamite: 9/10

Sure, for the most part, it’s a word salad. To be fair, BTS didn’t compose the track. Despite some of the goobelly-goop word pairings, it’s a song the world needed. “Dynamite” is upbeat, full of joy and hope, and has a stellar key change at the end. There’s a reason why it has stayed at the top of the charts in many countries. “Dynamite” is the gift BTS gave the world to jam out to at a time when many needed a happy song that made them dance.

Final: 6/10

This is not my favorite BTS album. However, it is a BTS album that we needed! These tracks help capture 2020 through the lens of one of the world’s most beloved music groups. It was intentional, smart, and hit all the right emotions of our COVID year. It’s an ARMY time capsule and one I will go back to.

—-E. Boyd

Plot:

Something in the Rain is about a woman in her mid-30s, Jin-ah, who lives with her parents and manages a coffee franchise. She has a terrible boyfriend, who is both boring and abusive. She comes in contact with her best friend’s little brother, Jun-hi, who is now in his 20s. They end up working in the same building and forming a close friendship, which buds into a relationship. This is an against-the-odds love story, with their age difference and the fact they knew each other through childhood. How will they tell their friends and family? This premise was one I absolutely adored and it had so much promise. Warning: spoilers ahead!

Something in the Rain started so well. I’ve never seen a show portray new love this accurately and detailed. The little expressions as you stare over at your crush. The rush of excitement when you receive a text message. The butterflies were tangible from these characters. It was incredible to watch and I found myself happy crying at their new love. I would rewatch the first five episodes just for that fantastic portrayal. But it all goes downhill from there.

And the problem is, it’s not the usual K-drama downhill. Obstacles were bound to come up; that’s what makes a good drama. This was an abyss of crushed hopes and inflamed hatred for the character of Jin-ah. This woman’s choices were infuriating and made me want Jun-hi to dump her ASAP. She didn’t seem to care about his feelings and defied the boundaries that Jun-hi explicitly stated. She was selfish and prideful and would manipulate Jun-hi when he called her out. This made me want to scrap the show because it was incredibly frustrating. She didn’t deserve this man in the slightest. Jun-hi was the only saving value in this show, but I hated watching him get trashed on by the woman he loved. To be honest, I also ended up fast-forwarding through a lot of the second half of the show. Plot: 4/10

Setting:

The setting didn’t promote any feeling of excitement, and perhaps that was the point. This drama was meant to be in an everyday setting. You have the offices, the coffee shop, and their homes. However, I didn’t feel connected to any certain space. Other dramas have been set in the everyday and have still managed to pull this off well. An example would be Because This is My First Life or Itaewon Class. I didn’t hate the environment to the point where I felt it ruined the show. It was just “meh” overall. Setting: 4/10

Characters:

Jun-hi was an incredible character, despite his flaw of being Jin-ah’s walking mat. I wish he stood up for himself sooner. He excused so many of her poor behaviors. Not that he wouldn’t speak up about them every now and again, but she had no consequence from him for her errors. It took him to the last few episodes to finally draw the line in the sand. Jun-hi was selfless to a fault. He always put her above himself. He’s funny and sweet and brave. Who wouldn’t love him? Characters: 5/10

Jin-ah’s character on the other hand only plummeted. She started sweet and so incredibly relatable. She needed to be broken out of her insecurity and Jun-hi helped that. Unfortunately, Jin-ah swung the pendulum in the opposite direction. She made one selfish choice after another, not looking out for anyone else’s interests—including her best friend and Jun-hi. Her pride, trusting herself above all else, made me dislike her in the highest degree by the end of the show because of how she treated the characters I grew to love.

Theme:

Age is just a number. I loved this theme because it really is true. It’s a bit taboo to have a large age difference between couples and it comes with its challenges. However, with the right mindset, anything is possible. I think some of this show displayed how not to go about this (i.e. don’t hide it from your BFF and don’t treat the younger person in the relationship like a less mature individual). Yet it did display that Jun-hi’s maturity outgrew Jin-ha. Don’t judge someone just on a number! Theme: 7/10

OST:

This OST included almost all English tracks. The track “Stand by Your Man” by Carla Bruni was a bop! I sang along to it every time it came on. Another one that was often played in this drama was “Save The Last Dance for Me” by The Cats. A rendition of “I’ll Stand by You” by Jake Wesley Rogers was also a highlight. Besides that, nothing stood out. OST: 5/10

FINAL:

This show took me through the wringer. So many emotional lows and a few highs from the beginning. It is a drama I would re-watch the first few episodes of and turn it off before it’s ruined. I would recommend it to a friend who has already watched the better ones out there and needs a bit of a twist. I still watched Something in the Rain to the end but did so painfully. There are better romances out there, but few first episodes that are so good in displaying new love. Watch the first five or so episodes and then stop—that’s my advice! FINAL: 5/10

—-E. Boyd

K-Pop’s next generation stars, D1CE, are coming through on May 1st to meet their beloved fans in D1CE2nd ONLINE FANMEETING [Dear. MyDon1y]. The online fanmeeting will take place on the MyMusicTaste platform, greeting fans from all over the world.

After honing their skills on several survival reality TV programs, the five members have displayed their outstanding talent as a group and as individuals with covers and original songs. Every release leaves fans in awe of the talent and stage presence from the group.

Each member of D1CE has left an impression on fan seven prior to debut with their pre-debut track releases as units. They continued to impress with their debut song in August of 2019, “Wake Up” that pushed forth with a strong concept.

Songs like “Good Day” and “You’re My Destiny” have captured the attention of the public, with beautiful smooth vocals that comfort listeners like a soft hug. Their June 2020 release in particular, “Draw You,” garnered over 3.5 million views on YouTube.

With the announcement of member Jo Yong Geun’s enlistment into the military on May 6th, fans are even more eager to meet with all the members ofD1CE one more time.

This fanmeeting will bring D1CE and their fans, Don1y, together online. Ticket holders can also purchase a 1:1 Zoom Video Call voucher to chat with the members. These are limited in number, but promises fans the chance to talk to the members.

For this concert, D1CE is collaborating with MyMusicTaste, a technology forward platform that breaks the barriers set by the pandemic and brings fans and artists together to create a new way of connection.

Tickets for D1CE 2nd ONLINE FANMEETING [Dear. My Don1y] are available on MyMusicTaste, for all Korean and global fans. D1CE’s five members: Jo Yong Geun, Kim Hyun Soo, JungYoo Jun, Park Woo Dam, Woo JinYoung. Further information regarding ticketing and the show itself can be found throughhttps://mmt.fans/MwIjor through MyMusicTaste’s other social media channels.

D1CE [D1CE 2nd ONLINE FANMEETING [Dear. My Don1y]] May 1, 2021, 9:00PM KST – MyMusicTaste

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.

About DREAMCATCHER COMPANY (D1CE Entertainment):

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, DREAMCATCHER, and D1CE are the major artists that are currently associated with the label. With the debut of D1CE, the sub-label D1CEEntertainment was established in 2019

Japanese-Chinese boys’ collective WARPs UP released their new single ‘Pleasure’ on global download and streaming services today (April 23), along with new mini-album ‘Prep.20/21SS -Chapter RLSM-’. Up until now, these releases had been limited to China only, so this marks the first opportunity for fans to hear these long-awaited songs on music services around the world.

https://warpsup.lnk.to/Pleasure

The single ‘Pleasure’ is the opening theme song to the popular TV anime series ‘Fruits Basket’, whose latest season ‘The Final’ began broadcasting in April. This is the first ballad from WARPs UP, and carries the inspiring message that no matter our fate or circumstances, we all have the power to shape our own future.

The ‘Pleasure -Anime ver.-’ music video was released recently, featuring scenes from the opening of the movie, but today another music video that includes the group members has also been released. While the song itself is a ballad, the video includes an unmissable dance routine that showcases WARPs UP’s trademark skills.

‘Pleasure’ music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j98v9k9_0I0

‘Pleasure’ is also one of five songs on the new mini-album ‘Prep.20/21SS -Chapter RLSM-’. The release also includes ‘SUPERNOVA’, which recently topped the weekly J-pop chart on China’s major streaming service NetEase Cloud Music. The collection preserves this important formative period in the group’s history.

WARPs is an abbreviation of Wave Assemble Radical People-syndicate, based on the concept of creating waves of innovation. It is a project that produces a variety of unique artistic works and transcends national borders. WARPs UP are one of the groups within the WARPs project.

The group includes two members from Japan and two from China. The Japan side features RIKIMARU, a dancer and choreographer for many famous artists, and SANTA, a top-level dancer who has earned the title of World Champion at a world-renowned dance battle. Meanwhile, Chinese members MINGJUN and LANBYI gained performing experience as trained idols in China.

RIKIMARU and SANTA are currently appearing on ‘CHUANG2021’, the immensely successful Chinese TV audition show, and their incredible performances on the series have sent them soaring to stratospheric heights in China and throughout Asia. Now is the perfect time to catch up with WARPs UP and their history, as they reach all-new horizons for the future.

Release information

Single: ‘Pleasure’

Release date: April 23, 2021