Author: Denise Coley
It’s not often that I have the opportunity to speak with and interview directors of films I’ve seen, and even more rare to be able to speak to those who’ve produced one of the best action films in the last few years like A Man of Reason directed by and starring Jung Woo-sung, the found-family dramatic feature Broker by Japanese film legend Hirokazu Kore-eda, or The Guest, the intense psychological thriller feature debut by Yeon Je-gwang who’s work premises a very successful career following a successful premiere at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) The Guest…
This is my time learning of Vince, but it wasn’t my first time encountering his work. You likely have listened to some of the famous hits he has contributed to as well such as SUNMI’s “Gashina”, LISA’s “MONEY”, and BLACKPINK’s “Shut Down.” Though he has released a handful of singles over the past few years, The Drive is his first EP Album. With a mix of R&B, hip-hop, soul, and pop, Vince truly displays his artistry and skill as a solo artist. Let’s dive into how the tracks rank! Work: 8/10 “Work” is the first solo song I’ve…
She Her Her Hers is an alternative band consisting of the trio of Hiroyasu Takahashi, Tomasong and Taiki Matsuura. Despite the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, the group continued to work hard, releasing music and streaming performances online, and since the start of 2023 they have appeared in numerous events and festivals both domestically and internationally, expanding their activities proactively both at home and abroad. Against this backdrop, their new album ‘Diffusion of Responsibility’ was released on Wednesday, November 15th. In tandem with the release of the new album, they also announced a tour to accompany the release. It…
Not every guest is welcome, and certainly not those at a creepy motel located in the middle of nowhere. Written and directed by Yeon Je-gwang, The Guest is a psychological thriller that asks what would you do if you see someone’s worst nightmare begin to unfold before you. Based on his original short film which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won Best Thriller at the LA Independent Film Festival, The Guest had its world premiere at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival, and is Yeon’s feature debut. It stars Oh Hye-won, Jeong Sook-yo,…
Stray Kids don’t miss! I had high hopes for their latest album drop, ROCK-STAR, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Stray Kids brought their A-game and were as bold as ever! This group always has at least two or three hype tracks, as well as a sincere ballad, on their full-length albums. And don’t forget the incredible choreography that goes along with them. They met that quota on this album for sure! Here’s how I rate the album. MEGAVERSE: 10/10 Opening up the album with a bassy track and Felix’s classic deep vocals, I…
The Golden Maknae has released his debut solo album. With an all English tracklist, and plenty of features, I was curious how GOLDEN would display who BTS fans already know to be an unstoppable force. Jung Kook is a treasure, but I was disappointed with how some of this album played out. 3D (feat. Jack Harlow): 1/10 This track might feel a bit jarring to BTS audiences that are used to only the slightest hint of suggestive lyrics. “3D” is filled with sexual references and carries an explicit warning. Jung Kook has fully broken the “wholesome” mold and…
From playing the trendiest hits to endlessly streaming performances by various K-pop acts, Music Bank has become the global go-to for K-pop gurus and rookie artists in South Korea. Fashioned back in 1988, this record chart has grown to become a global sensation broadcasted in over a hundred countries through KBS World. Music Bank took over the then famous Top 10 Songs (가요톱10) show which had debuted in 1981 and was done away with owing to a controversy. Lee Hwi Jae and Song Hye Kyo (hosts – 2000) Airing on Fridays at 6:30 (KST), Music Bank took Korea…
Ruda (Sungjin Kim) is a professional dance coach specializing in hip-hop, with 17 years of coaching experience. He is also a popular YouTuber, running a channel named Rudakris, which features dance and K-pop. 1. Hello, Ruda, could you provide a brief introduction about yourself and share your experiences with us? Hello! I’m Kim Sungin, and I’ve been teaching dance for 17 years. I also go by the name Rudakris on YouTube. I’ve helped over 20 to 30 students pursue dance-related majors, and in 2015, I was responsible for choreographing the hip-hop section of the Gwangju Summer Universiade. 2.…
November 10, 2023 — South Korean Singer-Songwriter Vince marks his comeback with “Get Out”, the first single and music video from his upcoming debut EP, [The Drive]. Out today via THEBLACKLABEL, “Get Out” is a blend of R&B and disco-based EDM, the track sends a dual message, implicitly urging someone who can’t break free from the past to “get out” and also come “with me” (Korean translation of the title “나와”). Both charming and witty with a progression that builds up to a climatic drop, this song has an undeniable groove that makes you want to dance. Vince also announces the release of his…
Celebrating its fourteenth year of celebrating Korean dance and dancers, the Busan International Dance Market (BIDAM) which was held October 13th – 15th at the Geumjeong Cultural Center, is a program that brings the world of Korean dance and music culture to the world and the world to Korea. Created by critically lauded dancer and choreographer Shin Eun-ju whose acclaimed work spans decades, BIDAM seeks to show that creatives of all ages, backgrounds, and interests come together to showcase their abilities to speak their experiences in a medium that needs no translation. During my trip to Korea…
The not so cool kids in the corner Mike and Sav of the indie pop duo corner club, are back with a new EP. Some of you KCrush readers may remember listening to their interview on Candid Conversations back in August. Following up their 2021 freshman EP “little love lullabies” with “in the rearview mirror.” A beautiful rollercoaster of life’s ups and downs. Sav and Mike are no strangers to writing about experiences and man are they sharing some good ones. In the two years following their first release there has been a cross country move for both of…
On October 30, 2023, former Royal Pirates bassist James Lee announced his upcoming marriage on Instagram. Lee wrote, ” I have some great news [I] am excited to share with you. I’m getting married!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by james lee (@jamesjhl) In the post, Lee introduced his fiancé, Fafa, but did not provide details about who she is since Lee tries “to keep parts of my life private to remind myself to appreciate the experiences and moments we have [face-to-face,” but he added, “Fafa is a beautiful person inside and out…
Tickets are on sale now at https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/532452770265974741 We are back at the absolutely fantastic Deep Ellum Art Co, they really have a proper environment for us, 10/10 venue we can’t say enough good things about them. Let’s see you there, we’ve got so many new songs to play! *****Contest time!!!******* https://www.instagram.com/p/CywtcAlATv1/ Tag 2 friends in the above instagram post who you would want to go party with and you could win a prize pack with 3 free tickets! Like and share the post on your story for an extra entry. Contest ends Nov 3 at midnight. Winner will be drawn on Nov 4. This…
Korea has become the center of global attention not only from the flashy and mesmerizing K-dramas and K-pop realms. Korean food is increasingly gaining global acceptance owing to the associated health benefits. These dishes are from centuries ago and are embedded deeply within the Korean culture, The dishes have been fused with a pinch of modernity giving them a refreshing and comforting vibe. Here are some of the healthiest Korean foods. 1. Kimchi Kimchi is Korea’s most globally acknowledged food. Kimchi is a fermented and salted vegetable infused with other vegetables, seasonings, and chili powder. Although there…
Mari Kim, is a contemporary Korean artist, renowned as a digital fashion designer, music video director and pioneer of the “Eyedoll” style of art. She currently serves as the CEO of Japanese immersive entertainment studio Cocone N.Y, where she is the key visionary of their innovative digital fashion offerings. At Cocone N.Y. Mari leads a team at the forefront of digital fashion and social networking with over 15 years of avatar styling experience and over 16 billion digital items sold. Prior to her role as CEO at Cocone N.Y. Mari directed the critically acclaimed music video ‘Hate You’…
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In this interview, Carolyn speaks with Park Sun Young, Programmer of Asian Cinema at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), about the importance of promoting Asian cinema at international festivals for local and visiting international guests and industry insiders. As a programmer Park and her team have a very difficult job of sifting through hundreds of submissions each year to decide on their final selections for platforms such as the A Window on Asian Cinema platform, the New Currents platform which highlights first and second films of up-and-coming filmmakers like Pawo Choyning Dorji (The Monk and the Gun), and…
Set in 2006, a pivotal time of change for the people of Bhutan as they prepare for the dawn of democracy, The Monk and the Gun director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s second feature film is a whip smart comedic drama about the ways westernization and modernization can both negatively and positively impact indigenous communities. There’s a fine line between satire and pure comedy in film. Satire is used to poke fun at the expense of the subject to reveal the absurdity of their behaviors and even philosophy, whereas pure comedy is about showing the natural humor that arises through the…
With recently released dramas and others ongoing as well, the September Korean Drama Actor Rankings have seen a reshuffle. As compared to the August rankings, some of the actors and actresses have been dethroned as others leap closer to the top of the list. Below are the actors and actresses who made it to the top 5 list of the September Korean Drama Actor Rankings. 1. Nam Goong Min Nam Goong Min took the crown in this September’s Korean Drama Actor Rankings topping with a brand reputation index of 4.824,141. His role in “My Dearest” K-drama, whose first…
2023 kicked off with a blast, especially for K-Drama fans around the globe. With the unveiling of new dramas hitting the charts and the release of new seasons for ongoing series, life could not get any better. Here are some of the most thrilling series released in early January this year that ought to be on your must-watch K-drama list. 1. Crash Course in Romance Crash Course in Romance tells the story of sparkling chemistry fighting to rise above overpowering societal pressures. Nam Haeng Seon is a side dish store owner whose handball career was thrown under…