INTERVIEW Meet Kyler Niko, songwriter behind K-pop hits by TXT, Le Sserafim London-based songwriter Kyler Niko / Courtesy of InnerV8 MusiqNiko's adventurous musical journeyBy Dong Sun-hwaLondon-based songwriter Kyler Niko's childhood dream was to become a singer.The long-standing dream of the talented boy ― who wrote his first song, “Weightless,” when he was 14 ― almost came to fruition when one of the world's biggest labels at the time found him and said he had the looks, voice, and songs they had been searching for. But then, they told him that they were unsure about just one thing: how to market him as a Chinese/Asian artist. This uncertainty remained unsolved, so he ended up not getting signed. At first, this frustrated Niko. He felt disoriented, too, but the negative feelings did not last long as he soon managed to discover a new career path as a songwriter. “In hindsight, it was a pivotal blessing in disguise,” Niko said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “My new path as a songwriter has acquainted me with some of the greatest friends and colleagues one could ask for. Writing music for different artists is theJul 13, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
YG's new girl group Babymonster to launch in September Seven members of YG's new girl group Babymonster / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentYG Entertainment's new girl group Babymonster will make its debut in September, the K-pop label said Tuesday.According to the agency, the group is now working on the choreography and music video for its debut song, which will be an intense hip-hop genre piece. It also said a lot of overseas music producers took part in the album's production, and will unveil details of the album and its release schedule later.Babymonster will be the first girl group from the K-pop powerhouse in seven years since BLACKPINK.The rookie group consists of seven members chosen from an open competition ― Ahyeon, Haram, Rora, Pharita, Chiquita, Ruka and Asa. (Yonhap)Jul 11, 2023
New look BBGIRLS gearing up for August release Seen are promo shots of BBGIRLS members who are in the final countdown to their scheduled release next month. Courtesy of Warner Music KoreaBy Hong Hye-minK-pop girl group BBGIRLS is teasing fans with a brand-new look ahead of its highly-anticipated release in early August.BBGIRLS released a set of new photos through their official social media channels on Monday, showcasing a more sophisticated and mature look.Each of the four members dazzled in the photos, exuding a cool, charismatic look while also highlighting their unique individual appeal. They radiated confidence and intensity, in stark contrast to the bubbly vibes of their last mini-album “Summer Queen”. Group leader Minyoung went with a stylish and seductive look, while Yoojung opted for a more laid-back and sporty image. Eunji showcased her innocent yet distinctive features paired with a deep, penetrating gaze that has become her signature. Yuna was seen in a free-spirited pose, a fitting image as the youngest member of the group. Along with the new photos, BBGIRLS also unveiled a new teaser video showing the grJul 11, 2023
ZB1 from 'Boys Planet' begins journey to make K-pop history The members of rookie K-pop boy group ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) pose during a press event at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of WAKEONE EntertainmentZB1 debuts amid high hopes By Dong Sun-hwaZEROBASEONE (ZB1), a project boy group consisting of the nine winners from the 2023 audition program, “Boys Planet,” is undeniably one of the most anticipated K-pop acts this year. It garnered 1 million followers on Instagram only six days after opening its official account and racked up more than 1 million pre-orders for its debut album, “Youth in the Shade” in just 13 days. This is the highest-ever number of pre-orders for any K-pop debut album. ZB1 members ― Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin ― are well aware that these achievements would have been impossible without their devoted fans, who mostly have been supporting them since the launch of “Boys Planet.” Hence, during a press event marking its debut ― which took place at the YES24 Live Hall in GwangjiJul 11, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
Organizer of HYBE fan event apologizes for humiliating fans with body searches &TEAM group members pose on bicycles. Courtesy of HYBEBy Jung Han-byulThe organizer of a HYBE autograph event has apologized for what fans described as invasive body searches that were conducted by security staff at the venue. In a statement released on Sunday, Weverse said “We would like to apologize to all the fans who attended &TEAM's autograph signing event on Sunday for the body searches conducted by female security personnel on-site.”Weverse Shop added that the pat downs were used to screen for electronic devices that could have been used to illegally film and record the fan event. Weverse Shop also made note that fans who had attended similar events organized in the past had actively cooperated with these measures.The organizer went on to explain, “On Saturday however, many concealed electronic devices were brought into the venue and body searches were conducted by female security personnel as a result. We apologize to all the fans at the event who may have felt uncomfortable and disturbed by what transpired. The fans didn't deserve to receive that kiJul 10, 2023
K-pop boy group EXO releases 7th album 'EXIST' K-pop boy band EXO / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentK-pop boy band EXO dropped its seventh full-length album titled "EXIST" on Monday, its agency SM Entertainment said.It is the group's first studio album in nearly four years following the sixth album, "Obsession," released in November 2019."EXIST" is composed of nine songs, including the main track "Cream Soda," as well as "Regret It," "Private Party" and "Cinderella."Preorders for the new album had reached 1.6 million copies as of Sunday, setting another record for the group, the agency said. Its comeback countdown show will be livestreamed on YouTube, TikTok and idolplus at 4:30 p.m., and the music video for "Cream Soda" will be released at 6 p.m.Debuting as a 12-member group in 2012, EXO has enjoyed Asiawide popularity with such hit songs as "Wolf" and "Growl" but was reduced to an eight-piece group following the departures of four Chinese members. Korean member Kai began his mandatory military service in May. Eight members took part in the "EXIST" project as the album was recorded before Kai's enlistment.Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen hJul 10, 2023
Boy group INFINITE to release new album after five years K-pop boy group INFINITE / Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop boy band INFINITE is poised to put out a new album on July 31, about five years after the release of its previous album, “Top Seed” in 2018.Its agency, INFINITE Company, floated a teaser on the group's official Twitter, Friday. INFINITE Company is a record label established by the six INFINITE members: Sungkyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Sungyeol, L and Sungjong. The CEO is Sungkyu, the frontman of INFINITE. The teaser features INFINITE's logo against a black backdrop. It also includes a message that reads, “Coming Soon, 2023. 07. 31,” but does not provide details about the upcoming album. INFINITE is scheduled to stage a series of concerts after making its comeback. It will perform in Seoul on August 19-20, before heading to Yokohama, Taipei and Macau. It has taken seven years for the group to hold a solo concert since its last show in 2016. "We could not perform as a sextet for a long time due to our compulsory military service,” Sungkyu said during a press event on June 28, which Jul 8, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
INTERVIEW Now it's rookie boy band 8TURN's turn to 'Excel' A teaser for K-pop boy group 8TURN's new mini-album, “Uncharted Drift” / Courtesy of MNH Entertainment8TURN returns with new hip-hop song 'Excel' By Dong Sun-hwaHow is the Korean dish budae jjigae (or “army base stew”) similar to K-pop boy group 8TURN? At a glance, the popular stew ― made with canned ham, sausages, vegetables, baked beans, instant noodles, kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste) ― seems irrelevant to the fledgling K-pop act that just arrived on the music scene.However, 8TURN's Korean Kiwi leader Jaeyun drew parallels between the two during a recent interview with The Korea Times, saying both of them are emblematic of diversity and harmony. “Budae jjigae combines various ingredients together, but still creates a great harmony of flavors,” he said in an interview at a studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul. “Likewise, all 8TURN members have different looks and distinctive characters, but we can still form harmony and display solid teamwork.”After likening themselves to different ingredients such as sausages and noodles, the eigJul 7, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
NewJeans prereleases 2 tracks on upcoming EP K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADORK-pop girl group NewJeans on Friday released "New Jeans," a song to be included in its forthcoming second EP.The song has a unique composition alternating between U.K. garage rhythm and Jersey club rhythm with smart lyrics and utilizes the team's name."Super Shy," another prerelease song unveiled together with "New Jeans," features the members' unique voices and refreshful and bouncy charms. The music video for "New Jeans" was uploaded on YouTube at midnight.The new EP, titled "Get Up," will hit various music services on July 21. (Yonhap)Jul 7, 2023
Le Sserafim tops Japan's rookie sales chart in first half of 2023 Le Sserafim recorded sales totaling 1.18 billion yen in the first half of the year. Courtesy of Source MusicBy Hong Hye-minK-pop girl group Le Sserafim has taken Japan by storm, topping the country's rookie charts and recording sales worth 1.18 billion yen in the first six months of the year.On Monday, Oricon released its mid-year charts covering the period between December 12, 2022 and June 11, 2023, where Le Sserafim was named the top-selling rookie artist in the first half of 2023. Oricon has been releasing its mid-year charts, which compile revenues from singles, albums, streaming platforms and DVDs among others, since 2018. Oricon announced on its website that Le Sserafim had logged sales worth 1.18 billion yen during the six-month period, becoming the first newcomer to ever top the 1 billion yen mark.Le Sserafim's popularity was mainly driven by its Japanese debut single “Fearless” released in January earlier this year. It topped Oricon's weekly and combined weekly singles charts on February 6, setting a new record for the highest first-week sales by a K-pop artist Jul 6, 2023
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