America’s 2024 K-Pop Tours (Jan-Apr)

 

2024 is expected to kick off with a high Korean pop vibe in America given the numerous scheduled K-pop tours. Notable K-pop artists are expected to grace several stages across America throughout the first quarter of 2024 in appreciation of their international fans. Below are some of the K-Pop artists having tours across America between January and April of 2024.

 

1. VAV

VAV will start 2024 by taking over the US, from the East Coast to the West Coast, with the ‘Subcönscióus’ tour. This tour, set from 5^th to 21^st January 2024, is expected to revamp the group’s upcoming June mini-album titled “Subcönscióus”. This 6-member boy band will kick off the tour in New Jersey, before heading to Illinois, Puerto Rico, and Florida. VAV will then proceed to woo their legion of fans, the Vampz, across Georgia, Arizona, and Texas. VAV is expected to wrap up the ‘Subcönscióus’ tour in Washington and California.

 

 

2. IVE

IVE is a rising force in the K-pop industry and is validated after the group maintained a top 5 position in November 2023 TOP 100 Korean Singer Brand Reputation Rankings.  This sextet girl band is looking to solidify its global brand reputation with their first-ever world tour, the ‘Show What I Have’ tour. Taking place in North America, this tour is expected to kick off in March 2024 with the stakes of supporting the group’s latest “Ive Mine” EP. NJ’s Prudential Center, Newark, is one of the places where the IVE girl band is expected to showcase its charm and bond with its followers who go by the fandom name DIVE.

 

 

3. Car, The Garden

Car, The Garden is on the road again. This iconic figure is expected to hold the ‘Harmony’ tour across North America from 23^rd January to 6^th February 2024. Car, The Garden will be kicking off the performances performing in San Francisco before wrapping up in Toronto. Seattle, New York, and Somerville are other places where this legendary artist will be ushering his charms.

 

 

4. TWICE

This legendary girl band will sweep their American fans off their feet this coming January 2024. TWICE will be going on the “Ready To Be” world tour set to kick off in February through early March. The tour will start in Mexico before heading to Las Vegas on 16th March. The “Ready To Be” tour, the group’s 5th world tour, will promote TWICE’s twelfth EP titled Ready To Be.

 

5. GOT7’s BamBam

BamBam from the legendary GOT7 boy band will engage with his American fans early next year through his solo “Area 52” world tour. Spanning through February, this tour will see BamBam, the former GOT7 member, feature shows in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC among others.

 

 

6. MCND

MCND, run by TOP Media, will be having its ‘ODD-VENTURE’ tour in February 2024 across the US, almost a month after their Europe tour. For the US tour, this 5-member boy band is expected to kick off the performances at New York City’s Racket NYC venue on 9^th February. MCND is expected to gear up the performances with shows in Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas, before closing down the curtain in California.

 

 

7. Amber Liu

Global pop icon and former member of the F(X) girl group, Amber Liu, plans to strengthen her global footing in the entertainment industry with the upcoming ‘No More Sadness’ 2024 world tour. The tour is planned to take place in Asia, the UK, and the US. In the US, the tour will take place from the 17^th to the 30^th of January 2024. The US tour will kick off in Seattle, through Chicago and Toronto, before wrapping up in Washington.

 

 

8. ODD EYE CIRCLE

This trio girl band will be leveling up their game come next year with their scheduled “Volume Up” 2024 tour. Taking off on January 16 through early February, ODD EYE CIRCLE will be performing across Mexico and the United States mainland. In the US, the band will perform in several cities including Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, and San Francisco. The “Volume Up” tour will be in support of the band’s “Version Up” EP that topped iTunes charts worldwide upon its release in July 2023.

 

 

9. OnlyOneOf

OnlyOneOf is set to hit international entertainment arenas mid 2024 with a world tour targeted at Asia, North America, Latin America, and Europe. Under 8D Entertainment, this 6-member boy band is expected to start its US tour in Vancouver on 17^th April 2024. OnlyOneOf will then perform in Chicago and other cities before finishing off the tour in Los Angeles in May 2024.

 

10. Rad Museum, Miso & Tabber

Rad Museum, Miso, and Tabber will be showcasing their innate talents across North America early next year. The trio will be doing the ‘you,will.knovv’ tour from 19^th January to 6^th February 2024. The tour will start in Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto through Houston, before the curtains close in Seattle city.

 

—-Karen Mwenda

 

#Americas2024KPopToursJantoApril #kcrush #kcrushcontent #RadMuseumMisoandTabber #OnlyOneOf #kpop #kpoptour #OddEyeCircle #AmberLiu #MCND #BamBamGot7 #TWICE #CarTheGarden #IVe #VAV #kpopmusic #JanuarytoAprilTours #kcrushtopasianamericanmagazine #kpoptour2024 #kcrushgoogleindexed #kcrushamericamagazine #korea #koreangroups

 

Pop singer/songwriter Mika Hashizume is finally debuting his solo career with his brand new EP, ‘bleached’. The EP’s soulful lead track, characterized by R&B flavors and alternative elements titled “So I Don’t Forget”, was produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Patrick “J.Que” Smith, who is also one of the co-writers of Joji’s “Die For You”.

The drifting atmosphere of “So I Don’t Forget” carries a sense of nostalgia, and the fleeting worldview evokes a feeling of transience. The track is not only for listeners with a high sensitivity to music, but also for those close to Western music culture.

“In the beginning stage of creating the EP, I didn’t have a fixed concept, except for the fact that I wanted each song in the EP to represent styles and genres that I fell in love with after starting my song-writing journey. It was only after I assembled the five songs of the EP, and the title and theme ‘bleached’, captured the moment I embarked on the journey I’m currently on, and the moments my career changed courses.

Though the process, one of the best moments of my life, came with difficulties, like everything else. The one aspect that could visually capture this beautiful yet painful period of my life was ‘bleached’,” MIKA shares.

MIKA – “So I Don’t Forget”

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

With a track record of consistently pushing boundaries in both recording and live performances worldwide, MIKA demonstrated his international appeal with two captivating performances on the popular program “Drama’s Catchy Songs 2023” on Youku, one of China’s top online video and streaming service platforms where the performances ranked on all major top music charts.

In 2023, MIKA made a headline appearance at the TMEA Music Festival, sharing the stage with esteemed names in the lineup such as Taeyang, Le Sserafim, and more. Beyond his musical prowess, MIKA’s distinctive fashion sense and unwavering style have earned him coveted spots on the covers of esteemed publications like GQ, L’OFFICIEL HOMMES, as well as notable brand partnerships including Bottega Veneta, Tiffany & Co, Tom Ford, YSL, and more.

The new EP ‘bleached’ draws from MIKA’s emotions and experiences cultivated from growing up in different parts around the world like Hawaii, Tokyo and Beijing, marking a new chapter in his solo endeavours. Having took the Chinese music scene and Southeast Asia by storm, MIKA has grown a significant base across Asia with Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India  and the Philippines in his Top 10 streaming markets worldwide.

‘bleached’ Track List

1. stupid love
2. melancholy song
3. forever you
4. 那一刻我觉得这世上不会有比我更喜欢你的人了
5. So I Don’t Forget

 

 

Stream the EP ‘bleached’ here

https://mika-digital.lnk.to/bleached

 

 

About MIKA

Born and raised on Honolulu, Hawaii, MIKA embarked on his music career in 2016, moving to Tokyo to enter the group, INTERSECTION. Debuting in 2018, they collectively wrote and released their self-titled album ‘INTERSECTION’ in 2019, which combined the sounds of Western and Eastern pop. MIKA then broke through the Chinese music market after entering the show “CHUANG 2021”, with his versions of “So Sick” by Ne-Yo, “永不失联的爱” by Eric Chou, and “输入法打可爱按第五” that accumulated more than 880+ million views, as well as dominating the Chinese top charts that propelled MIKA to pop music stardom.

After the completion of the show, MIKA made his China debut with the group INTO1, having released 4 albums in both Mandarin and English. Within the two years, MIKA released covers and singles such as “Beautiful”, which ranked #1 on multiple charts.

After five years of journeying through different countries and collaborating with diverse groups, MIKA is poised to make his solo artist debut in 2023. From production and lyrics to creative direction, MIKA has crafted an EP titled ‘bleached’, merging his immersive musical journey with the earnest and introspective world of MIKA.

 

▶️Instagram https://www.instagram.com/28mmika

▶️YouTube　https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfwKISeDJDc1z8DLNBL6ZWw

 

#MIKA #BleachedMIKA #MIKAnewsolo #INTO1 #kcrushnews #INTERSECTION #CHUANG2021 #Epop #Cpop #Jpop #TMEAMusicFestival #kcrushtopasianentertainmentmagazine #kcrushamerica #DramasCatchySongs2023 #Youku #MikaHashizume #MIKAnewEP #GRAMMYnominatedproducerPatrickJQueSmith #kcrushsince2014 #Japanese

 

Japanese dance/vocal/rap group LIL LEAGUE have released their new single ‘FeiLong’, the official theme tune of the SoftBank Winter Cup 2023 national high school basketball tournament.

FeiLong is the name of a mythical flying dragon from Chinese legend, and LIL LEAGUE’s new single is an up-tempo song that cheers on the young basketball athletes, likening their determination to reach the top with a dragon that soars ever-higher into the sky. Tokyo-based trackmaker KENTZ, who has produced numerous gold and platinum-selling hits, has created a hard-sounding track with its roots in 2000s hip-hop and breakbeat.

LIL LEAGUE performed ‘FeiLong’ during their first solo concert-hall tour of Japan this year, titled LIL LEAGUE LIVE TOUR 2023 “LIL GATEWAY”. The group’s powerful performance of the song on stage left fans hungry for its release, which has finally come.

As LIL LEAGUE prepare for the release of their first album ‘TRICKSTER’ in February 2024, be sure to check out this energetic single that will conclude the group’s debut year!

 

❏ LIL LEAGUE MEMBERS

Sena Iwaki (19)

Tatsuhiro Nakamura (19)

Kodai Yamada (18)

Matora Okao (15)

Haima Momoda (15)

Sora Nanba (14)

 

❏ RELEASE INFORMATION

LIL LEAGUE

‘FeiLong’

Digital single released December 20, 2023

Download and streaming links:

https://lilleague.lnk.to/1220_feilong

 

LIL LEAGUE

‘TRICKSTER’

First album released February 28, 2024

List of formats (10 formats in total)

▼ General distribution editions

① Limited edition first pressing CD: RZCD-77898; 3,500 yen (including tax)

② Live version CD + Blu-ray: RZCD-77899/B; 7,700 yen (including tax)

③ Music video version CD + Blu-ray: RZCD-77900/B; 5,500 yen (including tax)

④ CD only: RZCD-77901; 2,500 yen (including tax)

 

▼ Made-to-order limited physical edition with goods

* Exclusively available from the LDH official store and mu-mo Shop

* Limited made-to-order production (reservations accepted until Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 23:59 JST)

⑤ CD + trading card holder (Sena Iwaki version): RZC1-77902; 4,000 yen (including tax)

⑥ CD + trading card holder (Tatsuhiro Nakamura version): RZC1-77903; 4,000 yen (including tax)

⑦ CD + trading card holder (Kodai Yamada version): RZC1-77904; 4,000 yen (including tax)

⑧ CD + trading card holder (Matora Okao version): RZC1-77905; 4,000 yen (including tax)

⑨ CD + trading card holder (Haima Momoda version): RZC1-77906; 4,000 yen (including tax)

⑩ CD + trading card holder (Sora Nanba version): RZC1-77907; 4,000 yen (including tax)

 

★ CD purchase links:

https://lilleague.lnk.to/0228_1stAL

 

Tracklist:

Visit the link below for full details (Japanese):

https://lilleague.jp/news/detail.php?id=1112972

 

❏ LIL LEAGUE official links:

https://linktr.ee/lilleague

 

#LILLEAGUE #kcrush #LILLEAGUEDebut #Japanese #FeilongLILLEAGUE #newsingle #LILLEAGUErapgroup #JPop #SoftBankWinterCup2023 #TRICKSTER2024 #TokyobasedtrackmakerKENTZ # LilLeagueMemberSenaIwaki #TatsuhiroNakamura #KodaiYamada #MatoraOkao #HaimaMomoda #SoraNanba #kcrushtopasianentertainmentmagazine #kcrushgoogleindex #dance #vocal #rap #newgroup #debutgroup #EXILETRIBE

 

• Legendary artists including Jinusean, Hyolyn, Dynamic Duo to perform
• Exclusive ticket sales on Interpark with various discounts and package deals
• Will be held at Jeju Shinhwa World on December 30th and 31st

Jeju Shinhwa World, the largest integrated resort in South Korea, is preparing to celebrate the upcoming New Year with a legendary countdown concert.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeju Shinhwa World had scaled down or canceled countdown events in the past, but last year, they successfully hosted an unprecedentedly large countdown concert, attended by over 20,000 people over two days. Thanks to the generous support of residents and tourists, they are now announcing an upgraded version of the ‘JSW Countdown 2024’ concert.

This year’s event will take place on December 30th and 31st at the outdoor special performance venue at Jeju Shinhwa World. The theme is “Jeju’s Best Countdown with Legendary Artists,” and it will feature popular singers who have dominated the Korean music scene, providing a stage that anyone can enjoy.

The concert on the 30th, themed as a “Legendary Special,” will feature legendary artists such as the emotional ballad legend Wheesung, the girl group legend Sandara Park, and the first-generation Korean hip-hop legend Jinusean. The lineup combines popularity and musicality, promising a hit song medley that will resonate with the audience. It’s designed as a performance that everyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy. In particular, Jinusean’s return after six years since the “2018 Countdown Party” held in 2017 has generated high expectations.

The concert on the 31st, marking the end of 2023, will feature a lineup that represents the trendy music scene. It includes the powerful female rapper Mirani, the versatile vocalist Hyolyn, the owner of a captivating voice Kim Jong-kook, and the top-notch Korean hip-hop duo Dynamic Duo. Following their appearance at Jeju Shinhwa World last year, Dynamic Duo is set to ignite the last night of the year with their mega hit song “Smoke,” which went viral throughout the year.

The event will also feature DJ performances by DJ Kite (December 30th), DJ Muraoud (December 30th), and DJ Basedrop (December 31st), which have gained great popularity among the MZ generation. Attendees can also enjoy various food booths and a special fireworks display that will beautifully light up the night sky for two days.

Jeju Shinhwa World had previously unveiled the final lineup of ‘JSW Countdown 2024’ on December 16th and officially started ticket sales on the 17th. Tickets are available exclusively through Interpark, with regular prices of 66,000 KRW for a one-day pass and 88,000 KRW for a two-day pass. Discounts are available for Jeju Shinhwa World hotel guests and Shinhwa Rewards members, with one-day passes at 44,000 KRW and two-day passes at 55,000 KRW. Jeju residents and Shinhan Card customers can also book tickets at 33,000 KRW for one-day passes and 44,000 KRW for two-day passes.

 

 

They are also offering a room package called ‘Adieu 2023,’ which includes accommodation, concert tickets, and a beverage voucher. The concert ticket type (one-day or two-day) is provided based on the duration of the stay. Guests can choose between ‘M Lounge’ wine set and ‘S BAR’ beer set for their beverage. The stay period is from December 30th to 31st, and reservations can be made until December 29th.

For more details about ‘JSW Countdown 2024’ and ‘Adieu 2023!’ packages, you can visit the official Jeju Shinhwa World website [www.shinhwaworld.com].

Introduction to Jeju Shinhwa World

Opened in March 2018, Jeju Shinhwa World is one of the largest integrated resorts in South Korea. It offers a variety of tourist facilities, including premium hotel brands, theme parks, water parks, multipurpose convention centers (the second-largest in the province), over 40 dining establishments, Shinsegae Premium Outlets with more than 60 brands, and a foreigner-only casino, making it one of the largest integrated resorts in the country. Jeju Shinhwa World boasts over 2,000 guest rooms and provides facilities tailored to a diverse range of travelers, including family tourists, business travelers, and VIP guests. Located in Jeju’s Andeok-myeon, known for its breathtaking landscapes, the resort is adjacent to some of Jeju’s most beautiful beaches and offers convenient access to the natural wonder of Gotjawal, a unique volcanic forest found only on Jeju Island.

[‘JSW Countdown 2024’ l Image provided by Jeju Shinhwa World]

 

#JSW #JSWCountdown2024 #kcrushnews #JejuShinhwaWorld #JejusAndeokmyeon #kcrushamerica #kpop #hiphop #pop #ShinsegaePremiumOutlets #kcrushtopasianentertainmentmagazine #2023countdowncelebration #Wheesung #ballads #DJKite #DJMuraoud #DJBasedrop #Jinusean #SandraPark #DynamicDuo #Hyolyn #Mirani #InterparkTicketSales #hiphop #newyearcountdown #koreanJejuisland #KimJongKook #JejusBestCountdownWithLegendaryArtists #ticketssoldnow #ticketssoldonInterparknow #Shinhwa

When the hit anime series ‘Initial D’ began broadcasting in 1998, it sparked the street-racing and Eurobeat boom. Now, on December 20, 2023, a dream collaboration album has been released featuring two Eurobeat legends who each created music for ‘Initial D’ – “King of Eurobeat” Dave Rodgers, and m.o.v.e member MOTSU. The album is titled DAVE RODGERS ‘EUROBEAT KINGS feat. MOTSU’.

Download and streaming links:

https://avex.lnk.to/EURO_KINGS

The two legends collaborated on cover versions of m.o.v.e’s hit song ‘Gamble Rumble’ in February 2023 and Rodgers’ hit ‘SPACE BOY’ in July, surprising and delighting fans of Eurobeat, before finally releasing brand-new song ‘FLASH INTO THE NIGHT’ on December 13. Don’t miss these high-octane Eurobeat tunes born from the incredible chemistry and crushing power of two superstar artists.

‘Initial D’, the driving force behind the street-racing and Eurobeat boom, now has an official successor: ‘MF GHOST’. This all-new anime series from ‘Initial D’ creator and manga artist Shuichi Shigeno began broadcasting in October 2023, drawing attention from fans around the world. The Eurobeat scene grows stronger every day – now’s the time to climb into the passenger seat!

 

Release information

■ DAVE RODGERS ‘EUROBEAT KINGS feat. MOTSU’

Collaboration album released December 20

AVCD-63541　2,000 yen + tax

Download and streaming links: https://avex.lnk.to/EURO_KINGS

 

Tracklist:

M1. DAVE RODGERS ‘FLASH INTO THE NIGHT feat. MOTSU’

M2. DAVE RODGERS ‘Gamble Rumble feat. MOTSU’

M3. DAVE RODGERS ‘SPACE BOY feat. MOTSU’

M4. DAVE RODGERS ‘FLASH INTO THE NIGHT feat. MOTSU’ (Instrumental)

M5. DAVE RODGERS ‘Gamble Rumble feat. MOTSU’ (Instrumental)

M6. DAVE RODGERS ‘SPACE BOY feat. MOTSU’ (Instrumental)

M7. DAVE RODGERS ‘Gamble Rumble feat. MOTSU’ (Extended ver.)

M8. DAVE RODGERS ‘SPACE BOY feat. MOTSU’ (Extended ver.)

 

=================================

■ DAVE RODGERS ‘FLASH INTO THE NIGHT feat. MOTSU’

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ourEp0JAVk4

 

■ DAVE RODGERS ‘SPACE BOY feat. MOTSU’

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3phhdxzCqzg

 

■ DAVE RODGERS ‘Gamble Rumble feat. MOTSU’

YouTube: https://youtu.be/-zu5KOWemAw

=================================

■ Original version of DAVE RODGERS ‘SPACE BOY’

Download and streaming links: https://va.lnk.to/nII98

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvUTNX0FDPA

 

■ Original version of m.o.v.e ‘Gamble Rumble’

Download and streaming links: https://avex.lnk.to/GambleRumble

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhTxlm4REQc

=================================

 

About Dave Rodgers

Known to his fans as the King of Eurobeat or even the Emperor of Eurobeat, Dave Rodgers is the shining star of the Eurobeat world. He created numerous Eurobeat songs for the ‘SUPER EUROBEAT’ series, which is synonymous with the birth of major Japanese record label avex, and has produced and composed music for top J-pop artists including TM NETWORK, Namie Amuro and V6. He also provided several Eurobeat songs for the ‘Initial D’ anime series, such as ‘SPACE BOY’, ‘BEAT OF THE RISING SUN’ and ‘DEJA VU’, becoming a favorite among anime fans and gearheads while also becoming a mainstay of online memes and finding fans around the world!

 

About MOTSU

At age 22, MOTSU visited the United States and taught himself rap and dance, before making his debut as the leader of dance music unit MORE DEEP. Since then, he has launched and participated in multiple music projects, including m.o.v.e, ALTIMA and motsu×DJ KAYA, operating at the forefront of the Japanese music scene. He has also been proactive in pursuing a global career, with successful overseas performances in around a dozen countries outside of Japan, helping to lay the path for other Japanese artists to follow.

Since the early days of rap and dance music in Japan, MOTSU has used his unique performance skills, his gift for producing sound and lyrics, and his distinctive music sense to transcend borders and genres, representing Japan to reach audiences around the world with unstoppable momentum.

 

Links

<DAVE RODGERS>

■ Official website: https://www.daverodgers.it/

■ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/daverodgers2020

■ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedaverodgers

 

<MOTSU>

■ Official website: https://avex.jp/motsu/

■ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/Motsu_MC

■ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GhettoBlastaMotsu

■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motsumc/

■ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@motsumc

 

#DaveRodgers #MOTSU #kcrushnews #rapanddancemusic #Japanesemusic #Eurobeats #FlashIntoTheNight #SpaceBoy #GambleRumble #animeseries #InitialDanimeseries #kcrushamerica #kcrushtopasianamericanmagazine #kcrushgoogleindex #ghettoblastaMotsu #DaveRodgersandMotsu #dancemusic #m.o.v.e #ALTIMA #motsu×DJKAYA

 

Rising K-pop sensation, xikers, is set to embark on their inaugural European tour through “2024 xikers WORLD TOUR TRICKY HOUSE : FIRST ENCOUNTER IN EUROPE.” The ten-member boy group, managed by KQ Entertainment, will showcase their talent in seven European cities, including London, Madrid, Berlin, Milan, Amsterdam, Warsaw and Paris. The tour kicks off in London on January 28, 2024 and concludes in Paris on February 10, 2024.

Debuting on March 30, 2023, with their first EP, ‘HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing’, xikers quickly gained recognition as “monster rookies.” Their debut EP secured top positions on various Billboard charts, including No.1 on the Emerging Artists Chart, No.4 on the World Albums Chart, and No.75 on the Billboard 200 Chart.

Following their debut, xikers exceeded expectations with their second EP, ‘HOUSE OF TRICKY : HOW TO PLAY’, setting new sales records within the first week. Their global popularity was further solidified with performances at major events like “KCON LA 2023”, “2023 KPOP LUX by SBS Super Concert in Madrid”, and “2023 KOREA ON STAGE IN LONDON”.

Their recent U.S. tour, “2023 xikers WORLD TOUR TRICKY HOUSE : FIRST ENCOUNTER IN USA”, was a testament to their international appeal, captivating audiences with energetic performances and a dynamic discography.

xikers embarked on a successful tour of six cities in the U.S., filling over 10,000 seats and garnering recognition for their talent, paving the way for future success on a global scale. Their debut U.S. performance in New York solidified their status as burgeoning ‘performance blockbusters’, eliciting vibrant applause from fans. The tour reached its dazzling climax in San Francisco, marking a spectacular finale to xikers’ U.S. journey in 2023. The group expressed gratitude to their dedicated fan base, officially known as “road𝓨.”

As they gear up for their first European tour, xikers anticipates creating more unforgettable moments with their fans. The group’s versatile musical sound and powerful dance performances are expected to captivate audiences across Europe during the “2024 xikers WORLD TOUR TRICKY HOUSE : FIRST ENCOUNTER IN EUROPE”.

Tickets for the 2024 xikers WORLD TOUR TRICKY HOUSE : FIRST ENCOUNTER IN EUROPE will go on sale on December 18, 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM CET local time.

Information regarding ticketing for the shows can be found on: mmt.fans/bw3N

2024 xikers WORLD TOUR TRICKY HOUSE: FIRST ENCOUNTER IN EUROPE – Tour Dates

• 28 Jan – LONDON – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
• 30 Jan – MADRID – Live Las Ventas
• 01 Feb – BERLIN – Huxleys
• 04 Feb – MILAN – Magazzini Generali
• 06 Feb – AMSTERDAM – Melkweg
• 08 Feb- WARSAW – Progresja
• 10 Feb – PARIS – Élysée Montmartre

About KQ Entertainment:

KQ Entertainment is a fast-growing global entertainment and content company based in South Korea that continuously evolves with the expanding domestic and overseas markets. Using a system that considers the characteristics and needs of musicians to nurture artist development better, the label aims to create a positive impact on the music industry. The system in practice creates a virtuous cycle that establishes a new paradigm of artist discovery, support, and production between idol groups and musicians for a mutually beneficial relationship growth in innovating music. KQ Entertainment currently houses the global phenomenon ATEEZ, and super rookies xikers, as well as top producers and artists EDEN and Maddox.

About MyMusicTaste:

MyMusicTaste organizes fan-initiated concerts around the world. We’re driven by our mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world. We’ve successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, Machine Gun Kelly, ATEEZ, and more in over 40 different cities. With the simple idea – empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert to 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. Our service currently supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 languages.

 

#xikers #kcrush #kcrushnews #KQEntertainment #xikerseuropeantour2024 #London #Berlin #Milan #Warsaw #Paris #kcrushmedia #kcrushtopasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #MyMusicTaste #WorldTrickyHouseWorldEncounter #monsterrookies #XikersReadyToConquerEuropeTour2024

 

Celebrated artist Phoenix Storm has once again captivated audiences with his latest musical masterpiece, “A Christmas Flavor.” The K-pop sensation, whose illustrious career spans over a decade, teams up with bass music producer JAPANDA to bring a fresh and vibrant holiday spirit to the music scene.

Known for his exceptional contributions to the industry, Phoenix Storm has left an indelible mark on the global music landscape. His previous work on Snowman’s “JUICY” music video achieved remarkable success, earning 2x Platinum certifications in Japan and amassing an impressive 55 million views. The album “Snow Mania S1,” on which Phoenix played a pivotal role, soared to unprecedented heights, securing its place as the best-selling album in the first week of release—a historic feat in Japan’s music history for a boy band’s studio album.

In 2022, Phoenix Storm received platinum and multi-platinum accolades for his contributions to three chart-topping hits, collectively selling a staggering 2,600,000 physical copies. The artist’s influence continued into 2023 with significant contributions to NCT’s chart-topping hit “Kangaroo” and Kim Jae Joong’s acclaimed “Born Again” album.

“A Christmas Flavor” is set to become the new holiday anthem, infusing the season with Phoenix Storm’s signature style and festive charm. The track is a testament to the artist’s ability to transcend boundaries and deliver a musical experience that resonates with audiences globally.

Experience the magic of the holiday season with Phoenix Storm and JAPANDA’s “A Christmas Flavor,” available now on all major streaming platforms.

For updates, follow Phoenix Storm on Instagram and check out his website!

 

 

#PhoenixStorm #kcrushnews #JAPANDA #AChristmasFlavor #streamingplatforms #kcrushamerica #jpop #kpop #KangarooNCT #KimJaeJoongBornAgainalbum #topasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #music #newmusic #christmas #snowmansJuicymusicvideo #newholidayanthem #kcrushmedia #kcrushgoogleindexed

 

K-Pop solo artist KIM WOOJIN is heading to Europe for his “THE MOMENT TOUR EUROPE”. He is ready to take on five cities in Europe with stops in Paris, Warsaw, Berlin, London, and Madrid. The Europe tour kicks off in Paris on January 17 and continues through three more cities before reaching the last stop in Madrid on January 25.

KIM WOOJIN is a K-Pop male solo artist under KREATION Music Rights. KIM WOOJIN made his solo debut in August 2021 with the album ‘The moment : 未成年, a minor.’ and imprinted his name to K-Pop listeners by entering the iTunes Chart in 13 countries worldwide, including Taiwan and the United States.

He proved his potential for success as a solo artist and even participated in the writing of the entire album. KIM WOOJIN recently won the Top Artist award at the Asia Top Awards 2023. As he took his first step as a solo artist, he remained active in acting, participating in K-Drama OSTs for K-Dramas like ‘King The Land’ and ‘Reborn Rich’, and went on global tours and musicals. The solo artist completed The Moment Tour India 2023 in October. As a headliner for various famous festivals as well as concerts, he kept his promise to his long-awaited fans in India.

KIM WOOJIN quickly surpassed 1 million views on his official debut song as well as pre-debut, attracting global fans with his steep rise to popularity, proving himself as a rookie-monster. His pre-debut song “Still Dream” surpassed 1 million views in just 210 hours, and his official debut song “Ready Now” also quickly reached 1 million views, kickstarting his career as a solo artist with a flourish. Furthermore, his official SNS and Spotify followers also presented significant growth rates, showing a remarkable increase in fandom indicators.

KIM WOOJIN starred in ‘Beyond The Wardrobe’, a Brazilian HBO Max original, playing the character Kyungmin’ making him the first Korean to lead an HBO Max series. Through this show, he succeeded in drawing enthusiastic attention not only from Brazil, but also from several South American countries. Additionally, he surprised fans by challenging the musical “Sherlock Holmes: Secret Of The Anderson Family” based on his experience in acting and global tours.

KIM WOOJIN participated in songwriting in his second mini-album ‘The moment : 美成年, Bounce.’, proving his limitless growth by sincerely capturing his story. As an extension of the last album, it contains a desire to present more challenging and bright songs as a gift to CUBS (official fandom name) and to be recognized by the public with his songs. “The moment” series captures the emotions we have experienced in our lives or at the moment and inserts messages throughout the album to bring sympathy and comfort to the public. KIM WOOJIN unravels his message and aspirations to the world in his way in every album and shows off his refreshing vocals.

In 2022, KIM WOOJIN proceeded with his first world tour “STILL DREAM” in 27 cities in various countries, including the United States, Europe, South America, and Japan. The tour was named after “STILL DREAM,” his pre-debut single. Through the world tour, which has been a long-awaited dream, he expressed his eagerness to run toward his dream with his fans. At the time of the world tour, not only the entire mini-album tracks but also the drama OST that he participated in, showed off a variety of charm to the audience. Fans are paying keen attention to his upcoming tour, awaiting what setlist will surprise fans this time.

It has been over a year since his last world tour KIM WOOJIN 1ST WORLD TOUR 2022 ‘STILL DREAM, the upcoming THE MOMENT TOUR EUROPE is sure to be a meaningful time not only for CUBS (official fandom name) but for him as well. During his previous Europe tour, KIM WOOJIN had no choice but to raise his in-ear monitor volume because the fans cheered so passionately. He conveyed that the cheer was loud enough to cause tinnitus all day long after the performance. As this tour is also expected to be full of energy, it is exciting to look forward to the stage where KIM WOOJIN and CUBS(official fandom name) will be together.

Proving his capabilities as a solo artist, KIM WOOJIN is ready to take center stage on his second Europe tour. He has showcased his presence through special performances combined with an attractive voice.

With fascinating tracks and choreography that allows him to show who he is, KIM WOOJIN invites fans to his unique shows through a series of live performances. After the tour announcement, he has garnered keen attention from local fans alike as they anticipate making memories together through his second Europe tour.

Pre-sale tickets for London will go on sale on December 16, 09:00 (GMT) and general sale for all cities will start on December 18, 09:00 (GMT). Information regarding ticketing for the shows can be found on: mmt.fans/bw2B

 

KIM WOOJIN: THE MOMENT TOUR EUROPE – Tour Dates

17 Jan – PARIS – La Bellevilloise

19 Jan – WARSAW – Hybrydy

21 Jan – BERLIN – Columbia Theater

23 Jan – LONDON – O2 Academy Islington

25 Jan – MADRID – Changó Club

 

About KREATION Music Rights:

Established in 2020, KREATION Music Rights is a K-pop agency that aims to innovate communication between artists and fandom.

 

About MyMusicTaste:

MyMusicTaste organizes fan-initiated concerts around the world. We’re driven by our mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world. We’ve successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, Machine Gun Kelly, ATEEZ, and more in over 40 different cities. With the simple idea – empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert to 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. Our service currently supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 languages.

 

 

#KimWooJin #KimWooJinEuropeanTour #kcrushnews #MyMusicTaste #KREATIONMusicRights #kpop #tour #europeantour #KimWooJinTour2023 #kcrushamerica #Paris #Warsaw #Berlin #London #Madrid #koreansinger #TheMomentTourKimWooJin #CUBSKimWooJinFas #kcrushtopasianamericanmagazine #ReadyNowKimWooJin #kcrushgoogleindex #kcrushcontent #kpopidol #kdramaOST #MyMusicTasteKimWooJinTour

 

Che’Nelle has released ‘I AM’, her first CD and digital single with Japanese lyrics in six years, on December 13.

Che’Nelle made her global debut in 2007 on the major US label Capitol Records. Her song ‘Love with DJ’ from her first album was a big hit in Japan, and the album reached No. 1 on the Oricon Western music charts in Japan, and also won the Rookie of the Year award at the Gold Disc Awards. Later, ‘Baby I Love You’, a cover of TEE’s famous song with English lyrics, created a sensation in Japan and made her a household name in the J-pop world. After that, ‘Believe’, the theme song for the movie ‘BRAVE HEARTS Umizaru’, and ‘Happiness’, the theme song for the Fuji TV drama ‘Dear Sister’, became big hits. But with a number of personal events since 2018 such as childbirth and childcare, as well as restrictions on visiting Japan during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been six years since she has released a CD or sung a new song with Japanese lyrics.

The title track, ‘I AM’, was composed by SUNNY BOY, a producer and songwriter who has produced numerous hit songs. It is a ballad with a chill and beautiful melody typical of Che’Nelle, and with lyrics that preach the importance of self-acceptance.

With the lyrics “I am all I want” and “I am all I need”, the chorus teaches the importance of affirming and accepting yourself as you are. Che’Nelle hopes that listeners will feel the same way after listening to her lyrics. She tells her listeners, “Even if you have a day when things don’t go well, as long as you know your own self-worth, you can handle anything.”

The first pressing of the CD includes a bonus message card from Che’Nelle to remind you to love yourself, reflecting the song’s theme.

 

Release information

■ Released Wednesday, December 13

1. I AM
2. Ame no Sei
3. I AM (English version)
4. I AM (Chinese version) *digital exclusive

https://avex.lnk.to/IAM_CheNelle

 

CD ‘I AM’

AVCD-61384 / Price: 1,155 yen (including tax)

 

▼ CD purchase links:

https://avex.lnk.to/CheNelle_1213CD

 

Che’Nelle official links

■ LINE: https://page.line.me/?accountId=che_nelle

■ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh5Jn_Vg4oa5CQK3v-4a0vA

■ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chenelleworld/?hl=ja

■ Twitter: https://twitter.com/chenelleworld

■ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chenelleworldjapan

 

#CheNelle #CheNelleJapaneseLyrics #IAMCheNelle #composedbySUNNYBOY #kcrushnews #JPop #JapanesePop #CDCheNelle #DigitalSingleCheelle #BelieveThemeSongForBraveHearts #kcrushamerica #kcrushmedia #loveyourselfisIAMtheme

 

Japanese mannequin duo FEMM will be performing their final show with the collaboration with  fancyHIM on Christmas Eve in Tokyo, Shibuya.

fancyHIM continues to provide fashionable and exciting nights that transcends gender, they can clearly be titled as “Tokyo’s cutting edge.” FEMM has a long history with them, since fancyHIM were the ones who first discovered FEMM back in 2015, and kept on collaborating. It is truly a “home ground” for FEMM.

This event will feature a number of guest artists who have a close relation with FEMM, such as singer-songwriter Yup’in who worked with FEMM in the group “FAMM’IN,” and Micro Mica who co-starred in their Europe tour “FEMM-Isation UK/EU tour 2022,” and “KANNAGI,” who are a vogueing dance duo. As for DJs, UNA + MATCHA, who are famous for spinning at high fashion events and are close performing buddies with FEMM for years. PELI, the designer of “PAMEO POSE,” and UNO FUMI, DJ and fashion press for “PAMEO POSE.” “Wabisabi,” who captivates with music and costumes of various genres. Artists based in “FancyHIM,” are “fancyBOYS”, “NAOPIS + TARO” who are also a model and product designer, “CLOUDOM” who is active as a DJ and beauty Youtuber, BCG, who consist of Gwns who actively works to protect the cuteness of orangutans, and ERI KAWAKAMI, a painter. “SHINTAKA” from Osaka is also performing.

The last performance outside of Japan will be “Last FEMM-Isation” in London, which will be held on December 16th. This will be an emotional show and will be a must see for sure. They will have special merchandise for the day as well.

 

“HIMM & FEMM”

Date: December 24, 2023

Venue: BAIA Shibuya

official site:

https://passmarket.yahoo.co.jp/event/show/detail/02nrfep8upf31.html

 

『Last FEMM-Isation』

Date: December 16, 2023

Venue: The Lower Third (London)

Afternoon performance: https://link.dice.fm/Q2874d426e29

Night performance: https://link.dice.fm/gafa1aeb6fcb

JPU official site:

https://jpurerecords.com/blogs/news/last-femm-isation-concert-london

 

2023/11/15 Distribution release

『CHERRY』

1.CHERRY

2. We Flood the Night (MYLK Remix)
3. SUN
4. Living in the Spotlight
5. Butterfly to the Moon

 

FEMM / Profile

Two mannequins with intentions / Female rap duo by RiRi and LuLa. Their first album “Femm-Isation” entered the top 10 of the US Billboard chart “World Albums” and was selected as “Best Indies Album” at all HMV stores in the UK. The latest album “Tokyo Ex Machina” features participation from world-class producers such as “Jenna Andrews,” who worked with BTS, and “Kool Kojak,” who worked with Ariana Grande and Doja Cat. “We Got Each Other”, which was one of the first to incorporate Y2K pop punk, was ranked on the major US radio chart “Mediabase Activator Chart” for 12 consecutive weeks. In 2023, which will be the 10th anniversary of their activities, they announced that they will cease their activities by the end of the year.

 

Music release information:

Latest album “CHERRY”

DL & Streaming: https://femm.lnk.to/1115CHERRY

 

We Got Each Other (Music Video)

https://youtu.be/_FEBK7xZOEA

 

Falling For A Lullaby (Music Video)

https://youtu.be/lpBoFZL_dBA

 

Crystal Ball (Music Video)

https://youtu.be/CYh9RUBiQyI

 

YouTube: https://bit.ly/2THLXBn

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FEMM____

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femm____

Official Website: https://femms.jp/

 

#FEMM #fancyHIM #ChristmasEveInTokyo2023 #Japanesesingers #kcrushnews #JPop #CHERRYalbumFEMM #JapanesemannequinduoFEMM #mannequinduoJapanese #kcrushmedia #WeGotEachOthermusicvideoFEMM #CrystalBallmusicvideoFEMM #FallingForALullabyFEMM #TokyoEvent #rapduobyRiRiandLuLa #RIRI #Lula #Y2KPopPunk #kcrushamerica #rap #pop #kcrushtopasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #ButterflyToTheMoonFEMM #FEMMIsation #kcrushgoogleindex #TokyoShibuya #Shibuya

 

Japanese band THREE1989, whose three members were each born in 1989 and whose band name is simply pronounced “Three”, have been selected to provide the ending theme tune to the new TV drama ‘kiss×kiss×kiss~LOVE ii SHOWER~’, which began broadcasting on TV Tokyo on Thursdays, November 2. Their ending theme song ‘Aiiro’ was released on November 8.

TV Tokyo has teamed up with avex to create a series for broadcast television based on the successful show ‘kiss×kiss×kiss’, which was originally shown on dTV®, racking up some 220 million views and an audience including more than 5 million women. The new song will be used as the ending theme for the project’s second season.

The song is closely based on the TV series itself, with the band members reading the show’s script before writing the lyrics and composing the music. The song was arranged by kei matsuura, who worked with the band early on in their career. Each episode of the TV show tells a different story, and the song’s lyrics express the diversity of modern romance through the conceptual use of “color”, using as few sounds as possible and featuring a piano melody that shines from the intro, resulting in a mellow love song.

 

 

THREE1989 profile

• THREE1989 (pronounced “Three”)
• Shohei (vocals)
• Datch (DJ)
• Shimo (keyboard)

THREE1989 was formed by three members who were each born in 1989. Each of the three members write the music and lyrics together, uniquely blending 1970s, ’80s and ’90s sounds such as New Jack Swing, funk, disco and R&B, interwoven with dance music to create a sound that is both modern and what the band call “New Nostalgic”.

The band are set apart by vocalist Shohei’s incredible singing technique and stunning voice, DJ Datch’s play style that uses scratching and samplers to go beyond the usual framework of a DJ, and keyboardist Shimo’s impressive multi-instrumental abilities.

The band have already held headline shows at prestigious venues in Japan such as Liquidroom in Tokyo and appeared at multiple Japanese music festivals, as well as performing overseas in countries such as Taiwan, South Korea and Spain. They have also worked with several artists from around the world, releasing musical collaborations with Ink Waruntorn (Thailand), Midas Hutch (The Netherlands) and LINION (Taiwan) – placing THREE1989 firmly on the global stage.

 

Further information

Official website: https://www.three1989.tokyo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/three1989.tokyo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/three1989tokyo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/THREE1989tokyo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@three1989tokyo

 

#Three1989 #Japaneseboygroup #kcrushnews #threememberband #newmusic #three1989tokyo #LiquidRoomTokyo #kcrushamerica #kcrushcontent #Shohei #DJDatch #Shimo #jpop #newjackswing #funk #RnB #disco #dancemusic #kissxkissxkissTVshow #Aiiro #TVdramakiss×kiss×kissLOVEiiSHOWER #topasianentertainmentmagazine #americanmagazine #googleindexed #globalstageThree1989 #TVTokyo #Avex #keimatsuura #topjapaneseboygroup #newnostalgic  #Shohei #vocals #Datch #DJ #Shimo #keyboard

 

SEOULCon Announces Official K-Pop Lineup and Programming Details With League of Legends’ World Champion T1 Team Alongside Global Brands

Cultural Event Offers Asian Entertainment Diaspora of State-Of-The-Art Technology, Interactive Netflix Programs, and More

 The world’s largest influencer expo with 3,000 teams from 50 countries participating

 SEOULCon, a dynamic two-day exhibition, is set to captivate audiences with its celebration of Asian entertainment and culture on December 30 and 31. Organized independently and driven by a passion for promoting diversity in creative expressions, SEOULCon aims to connect various facets of Asian music, media, technology, art, and consumer entertainment entities. In a world where Asian influence continues to shape global pop culture, the exhibition provides a platform to unite these diverse elements into a seamless, immersive experience. SEOULCon’s attendees will explore and appreciate the rich tapestry of Asian artists and cultures, offering a multi-sensory, live event that bridges the present, the new, and the next in Asian creative expressions. The full music artist lineup consists of K-pop heavyweights such as Jay Park, APINK, ASH ISLAND, CHUNG HA, DJ Soda and LEE GIKWANG of HIGHLIGHT.

The exhibition will take place at various locations within the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), including the Art Hall, Oullim Square, and Design Lab, and will house all programming listed below. There will be over 20 programs created to showcase the latest lifestyle of Seoul, amongst the present and future of technology companies that are highlighted through the ‘Seoul Tech Meetup & Technology Demonstration’, which showcases the innovative technologies of Seoul-based tech companies such as AI, robots, fintech, biotechnology, mobility, and notably popular content creators.

T1, as one of the most prominent teams, has won a record total of four League of Legends World Championship titles (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2023), two Mid-Season Invitational titles (2016 and 2017). ‘T1 CON’, a fan meeting program of the world’s top e-sports club T1, will be held. The T1 team, including Faker, will hold an event to repay the fans who have supported them throughout the year.

SEOULCon aims to secure the ‘content industry’ as a new driving force for the Seoul economy through various programs such as the exhibition related to Hallyu content, beauty activations presenting a sustainable fashion in Seoul launching shows for promising small and medium-sized enterprises, and exhibitions and demonstrations of the latest technologies. The event’s focus is to enhance its competitiveness in the global social media and business lifestyle industries by showcasing invited content creators who share a common interest in SEOULCon’s initiatives and bring them together to collaborate.

 

 

Consumer Entertainment

Popular Netflix programs such as “Single’s Inferno” and “Physical 100” who’ve become global sensations when first premiered, have continued their commercial dominance and cultural omnipresence in 2023. Some of the cast members from both programs will participate in panels and a live Drawing Show.

 

Hallyu Star and Global Influencer Awards

On December 30, the Hallyu Star and Global Influencer Awards will collaborate with the 2023 APAN Star Awards for an awards ceremony featuring multiple entertainment categories such as domestic broadcasting and OTT drama; to be attended by actors, journalists, and global influencers. This ceremony will be attended by numerous Hallyu stars. The 2022 Grand Prize Winner was Song Joong-Ki from the hit Netflix series, Vincenzo.

 

Street Fashion and Sneakers Market

Starting from December 30 for two days, the “2023 SEOULCon:ORIGINAL SEOUL” will feature numerous domestic and international street brands, presenting hip fashion trends. Each brand will showcase their latest lineups, limited-edition goods, and conduct brand-specific events. Brands participating will be including Musinsa, Another Shop, Kasina, Peaches, LEVI’s and more.

 

2023 SEOULCon Media Trailer

On December 31, the 2023 Media Trailer will kick off their program where popular or highly anticipated content participants, including those from past successes or upcoming works, engage in experiences and talk shows with the audience. This will feature a showdown between the popular Netflix series ‘Physical 100’ cast and global content creators attending. Winners of ‘Physical 100’ program, including Woo Jin-yong, along with celebrities like Jo Jin-hyung, and Australia Tarzan, will face off against notable creators. ‘Single’s Inferno’ participants from previous seasons such as Oh Jin-taek will also host relationship counseling and talk shows in a panel.

 

 

K-Pop Random Play Dance & Meet and Greet

At the DDP Oullim Square, from December 30 (Saturday) to December 31 (Sunday), the K-Pop Random Play Dance will take place, bringing together entertainment networks and domestic dance crews to collaborate; KBS, DGDG Studio and more taking part in this installation. On the 30th, T1 from League of Legends will hold a fan meeting expressing gratitude to the fans who have supported them throughout the year.

 

K-Pop Concert

On December 31st (Sunday) from 18:00, the highlight of the 2023 SEOULCon edition, the K-Pop Concert, will take place with some of the biggest artists in the genre currently. As the clock strikes midnight on January 1 (Monday), the celebration will continue, heating up the atmosphere to welcome the year 2024. The lineup consists of Jay Park, APINK, ASH ISLAND, CHUNG HA, DJ Soda and LEE GIKWANG of HIGHLIGHT.

 

Notable Attending Content Creators

Anushka Sen is an Instagram influencer with an impressive 40 million followers. Representing India, Sen has been appointed as an honorary ambassador for promoting Korea as a tourist destination, expressing her aspiration to be a bridge connecting Korea and India.

Kika Kim, born to Korean parents in Russia, has amassed 36 million followers on TikTok since she began creating.

Attendees can look forward to musical artist showcases, captivating dances and various content experiences. SEOULCon promises a unique and immersive experience, bringing together enthusiasts to celebrate the richness of Korean arts in the heart of Seoul.

 

 

#SEOULCon #JayPark #APINK #kcrushnews #ASHISLAND #CHUNGHA #DJSoda #LEEGIKWANGHIGHLIGHT #kpopidols #kpopcontent #NotableAttendingContentCreators #AnushkaSen #KikaKim #KPopConcert #kpopmusic #kcrushamerica #SeoulBusinessAgency #KPopRandomDancePlay #KBS #DGDG #dancecrew #T1fromLeagueofLegendsfanmeeting #kcrushmedia #DDPOullimSquare #kcrushtopasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #googleindexkcrush #Netflix #NetflixseriesPhysical100 #WooJinyong #JoJinhyung #AustraliaTarzan #SinglesInfernoparticipants #OhJintaek #Musinsa #AnotherShop #Kasina #Peaches #LEVIs #streetfashion #sneakersmarket #hallyu  #HallyuStarandGlobalInfluencerAwards #2023APANStarAwards #SBA #WomensWearDailyKorea #kpopculture #eSportschampionshipT1

 

Based on the popular webcomic Pleasant Bullying by Kim Soong-nyoong, writer and director Um Tae-hwa’s Concrete Utopia the world seems to have come to its apparent end. Millions in the once densely populated city of Seoul, South Korea’s capital and social centre have been killed in a massive earthquake that decimated the country, and perhaps the world. But strangely amidst the destruction and impending decay, stands Hwang Gung Apartments.

In Hwang Gung Apartments, social collapse has occurred but over time the inhabitants begin to rebuild it one rule at a time but unfortunately not for the better. The residents, wanting a leader, choose Young-tak, an at first unassuming taxi driver played excellently by Lee Byung-hun. As his almost de facto second is Geum-ae (Kim Sun-young), his right-hand man Min-sung (Park Seo-jun), and Min-sung’s wife, a nurse played (Park Bo-young).

In this interview director Um talks about being inspired by the quest for ownership of space and apartments in South Korea, to create a film about social inequality and hierarchy. We spoke about how rather than in a way levelling the playing field, Young-Tak, Geun-ae, and other residents choose to exclude and push out others they now see as beneath them.

These themes that are relatable to anyone anywhere, the terrific performances by the film’s ensemble cast, flawless VFX that create an immersive and frightening new environment for the survivors, and Um’s steady directing make Concrete Utopia a very entertaining watch but one that doesn’t detract from the serious of the subject matter. Because why should class and what floor of a crumpling apartment building you hold onto matter if you lose your humanity in the process.

Follow this link to watch a previously recorded interview with director Um Tae-hwa and Lee Byung-hun which took place during a press junket.

Concrete Utopia is distributed by LOTTE Entertainment and Climax Studio Inc. It was an Official Selection and screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Fantasia Fest, and Stiges Orbita festival.

It has its North American theatrical release December 8th, and wide release December 15th.

 

Carolyn Hinds

Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12

 

For the seventh consecutive year, Kcrush America invites you, our readers, to vote for our year-end superlatives.  We love to hear from our readers, and we enjoy seeing who you view as the best each year. The past two years have yielded several surprises in each category, so we expect much of the same this year!

For 2023, soloists brought their A-games, especially those artists from idol groups who showed us what they’re made of away from their ensembles. Some of the top nominees include BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, BTS’ Suga (Agust D) and Jimin, and OMG’s Jini for their impressive solo work, while perennial voting favorites Eric Nam, Sunmi, KangDaniel, Shaun, and Jackson Wang have a tough climb ahead of them.

On the idol group side, (G)I-dle, Dreamcatcher, ATEEZ, Stray Kids, EPIK HIGH, and SHINee continue to shine, proving yearly that they’ll always be contenders. However, new school powerhouses like Le Sserafim, New Jeans, and the surprising-yet-surprisingly-dysfunctional Fifty-Fifty aim to knock previous generations from their podiums in our polls.

If the brewing drama in the K-Pop polls isn’t enough, you can, of course, vote for your favorite K-Dramas. Will Tale of the Nine-Tailed: 1938 and Mask Girl be worthy winners, or will there be a different King of the Land?

From December 13, 2023 to January 13, 2024, let your voices be heard! We can’t wait to see who your winners are this year!

#kcrushkpopmusicawards2023 #kcrushamericakpopmusicawards2023 #kcrush7thkpopmusicawardspoll #kpop #kpopidol #koreanmusic #kdramas #koreandramas #voteforyourfavorites #hallyusurveykcrush #rnb #kindie #ksoul #groupfavorite #soloartist #votetodaykcrushmusicawards #kcrushawards #kcrushcontent #kpopawards2023 #ATEEZ #BlackPink #EpikHigh

 

Highly acclaimed Japanese artist Vicke Blanka has announced his first-ever headline tour of North America, simply titled ‘Vicke Blanka North American Tour 2024.’  The tour will include a total of 10 shows, launching in Vancouver on January 31^st and closing in New York on February 20^th.

This year, Vicke Blanka has performed at a number of overseas events, drawing a peak attendance of over 5,000 fans per show.  In May, he played at Jeddah Events Calendar 2023  Anime Village at City Walk in Saudi Arabia, in July he performed at Riminicomix in Italy and at Japan Expo 22nd Impact 2023 in France (as Music Guest of Honor), before returning to Saudi Arabia again in August for Gamers8 Cosplay Cup Supported by WCS.  In December, he will perform at Magnificon Expo 2023 in Poland, and at Manga Barcelona 2023 in Spain.

In addition, his opening theme tunes for the anime series ‘Black Clover’ continue to be ongoing hits: His Season 3 opening theme song “Black Rover“ has now been played over 170M times, while his Season 10 opening theme song “Black Catcher” has surpassed 200M plays, ranking in Spotify’s Top 10 chart of songs by Japanese artists played by overseas users for the third consecutive year since 2020.

As Vicke Blanka continues his meteoric rise around the world, it will be exciting to see what kind of performance he brings when he hits stages across North America for the first time.

 

Tickets are on sale from Friday, December 8th, 7AM (PST).

 

★ Tour information

Vicke Blanka North American Tour 2024

• Jan 31 (Wed): Vancouver – VOGUE THEATRE (ticket)
• Feb 2 (Fri): Denver – GOTHIC THEATRE (ticket)
• Feb 5 (Mon): San Francisco – GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL (ticket)
• Feb 6 (Tue): Los Angeles – THE BELASCO (ticket)
• Feb 8 (Thu): Dallas – STUDIO AT THE FACTORY (ticket)
• Feb 9 (Fri): Houston – SCOUT BAR (ticket)
• Feb 13 (Tue): Chicago – PARK WEST (ticket)
• Feb 15 (Thu): Toronto – ANNABEL’S (ticket)
• Feb 18 (Sun): Montreal – RIALTO THEATRE (ticket)
• Feb 20 (Tue): New York City – PALLADIUM TIMES SQUARE (ticket)

 

★ Official links

Official website: https://vickeblanka.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO0qNLhe

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VickeblankaTV

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

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/VickeBlanka

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@vicke_blanka

French Link fan club: https://vickeblanka.fc.avex.jp/

 

#VickeBlanka #VickeBlanksUSTour2024 #VickeBlankaTV #BlackCloverVickeBlanka #JapaneseArtist #kcrush #kcrushnews #kcrushtopasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #officialrelease #newtour #VickeBlankaFirstNorthAmericanTour #BlackRover #BlackCatcher #MangaBarcelona #guestofhonor

 

ATEEZ is back with their second full-length album, THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL. This album has everything– hype tracks, ballads, hip-hop, rap, cinematic tracks, and dance grooves. ATEEZ only continues to thrive and show their talent with each new release. THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL is no different! Here’s how I rank each song.

WE KNOW: 8/10

“WE KNOW” ushers in the album with an interesting synth and an almost mysterious sound. This track is great to listen to because it’s unpredictable, with powerful vocals and bold rap around every corner. The chorus is a bit simple, but the song needs this easy-to-follow melody because of the explosive sound that surrounds it!

 

Emergency: 4/10

I was a tad disappointed by the chorus on this. It lacks a bit of originality in lyrics and melody. Hongjoong’s rap here is great, but the song falls flat for me coming right after “WE KNOW.”

 

Crazy Form: 9/10

“Crazy Form” shows all that ATEEZ excels at. With big rap moments and bold vocals, “Crazy Form” is insanely catchy. ATEEZ are unapologetic. Lyrics like, “We’re changing the game. Ayy, oh, ayy. We’re dancing every day” with the addictive beat is a clear sign that this group is here to fight for their place in the K-pop world!

 

ARRIBA: 8/10

The bass in this track is a star as it fuels so much of the song’s movement. “ARRIBA” is a track that seamlessly blends genres–with pop and Latin coming to the forefront. The rhythm in the song draws in listeners, and the unique beats help the track stay fresh.

 

 

Silver Light: 9/10

“Silver Light” opens with a static radio sound and then explodes into an electronic, haunting melody. The instrumental is reminiscent of synth-wave and gives a cyber-punk feel to the song. “Silver Light” is crisp, with plenty of amazing vocals and passionate lyrics. Take a look:

Those blue bruises

Come back and become a spark

So that nothing stains you

Burn it up far away, oh-oh

 

Follow me, silver light

Finally fly away

Piercing through the darkness into the light

Beyond that light

Shine on me, silver light

At last, rise up

Piercing through the darkness

Into the light, into that light

 

Crescent Part 2: 9/10

A stunning instrumental piece, “Crescent Part 2” creates a beautiful soundscape. With waves gently caressing the shore and the sound of a ship echoing in the background, it sticks within the world ATEEZ has created. Cinematic, “Crescent Part 2” invites listeners to stay within this world and keep listening!

 

Dreamy Day: 9/10

“Dreamy Day” carries on some of the instrumentation from “Crescent Part 2”. This track is uplifting and filled with caring lyrics: We capture this scene in our hearts, even if we have to wake up someday, all the memories never gonna fade away. With plenty of great vocal and rap moments, “Dreamy Day” is an anthem on this album.

 

 

MATZ (HONGJOONG, SEONGHWA): 7/10

And here come the unit songs! “MATZ” is in your face! With bold instrumentals and intense beats, Hongjoong and Seonghwa exchange confident rap throughout the track. It truly is a hype song! I love the line that says, “Two men, we’re on fire, it’s dangerous. We have chemistry that bursts, again, we turn up.” No truer words were spoken.

 

IT’s You ( YEOSANG, SAN, WOOYOUNG): 7/10

“IT’s You” is about impressing someone and the melody seems to follow this impression. With a mix of airy and bold vocals, the track is a wonderful display of each member’s unique contribution to the whole of ATEEZ.

 

Youth (YUNHO, MINGI): 7/10

This song opens with a retro R&B style. There’s a sense of comradery on this track that feels unique to the others, and that’s likely due to Yunho and Mingi’s genuine and long-held friendship. Their rap and vocals pair perfectly!

 

Everything (JONGHO): 9/10

I would expect nothing less than a stunning ballad as a solo track for Jongho. This apple-splitting vocalist is one of a kind, and truly remarkable in both his soft vocals as well as his powerful belts. Jongho has a special gift of conveying emotions so well, and “Everything” is passionate and emotional. There’s even a key change at the end!

 

FIN: WILL: 10/10

This track opens with the questions:

What does emotion mean to you?

Are you still tormented by the pain from the past?

Have you ever panicked and felt broken by sadness?E

Have you ever lost yourself in overwhelming fear?

Have you ever felt so down that you wanted to be alone in this world?

 

“FIN: WILL” truly displays ATEEZ’s mission to reach real people with their music. It feels personal, warm, and truthful. The drums increase and surge into a beautiful chorus of vocals and an explosion of cinematic sound. ATEEZ do cinematic like few others, and it’s truly their signature in the K-pop world.

FINAL: 8/10

This album was beautifully crafted. ATEEZ is such a special and needed group in K-pop, and I’m so thankful they’ve stayed true to their sound which is deep and powerful. I can’t wait to see what comes next! But until then, THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL will keep me listening on loop!

—-Ellie Boyd

 

 

#ATEEZ #ATEEZnewalbum #kcrushalbumreview #kcrushATEEZalbumreview #ATEEZTheWorldEPFINWill #kpop #kpopalbum #newkpopmusic #newateezsongs #kcrushtopasianentertainnentmagazine #EverythingATEEZ #jungho #YOUNGATEEZ #Mingi #Yunho #ITsYouATEEZ #YEOSANG #SAN #WOOYOUNG #MATZATEEZ #HONGJOONG #SEONGHWA #DreamyDayATEEZ #CrescentPart2ATEEZ #ARRIBAATEEZ #SilverLightATEEZ #CrazyFormATEEZ #WeKnowATEEZ #EmergencyATEEZ #kcrush2014official #albumreview #kcrushamericamagazine #googleindexed #asianamericanmagazine #krushcontent #TheWorldEPFINWillReview2023

 

K-pop girl group EVERGLOW is gearing up to meet their fans, “FOREVER” (official fandom name), in Europe through their highly-anticipated EVERGLOW EU TOUR [ALL MY GIRLS]. This series of shows marks the group’s first Europe tour and is sure to captivate fans in six different cities across Europe throughout January and
February of 2024.

EVERGLOW is a six-member girl group formed by Yuehua Entertainment on March 21, 2019, consisting of members SIHYEON, E:U, MIA, ONDA, AISHA, and YIREN. The group debuted with their first single album, Arrival of Everglow, and its lead single track, “Bon Bon Chocolate”.  Arrival of Everglow was met with immediate enthusiasm and public interest, debuting at number 6 on South Korea’s Gaon Chart and their track “Bon Bon Chocolate” peaked at number 5 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.

EVERGLOW’s momentum didn’t slow as they continued to rise in the charts and capture fans’ hearts domestically and internationally. After their debut album’s success and impact, each of EVERGLOW’s subsequent musical releases saw impressive success on domestic and international charts and further expanded the group’s reach globally. They are well-known and acclaimed for their powerful, charismatic stage presence and bold musicality.

Their latest album, ALL MY GIRLS marks their first album release since their 20-month hiatus, and fans’ anticipation is high. The lead single track, “SLAY”, is overflowing with a bold, unique musical sound and is accompanied by a music video with powerful, ethereal, and confident visuals.

In November 2023, EVERGLOW successfully completed their 2023 EVERGLOW US TOUR [ALL MY GIRLS]. Starting the show in New Haven, EVERGLOW held their U.S. tour in 10 cities; New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., St. Petersburg, Louisville, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Proceeding with their U.S. tour success, EVERGLOW is now ever more ready to meet “FOREVER” in their upcoming Europe tour.

Tickets for the EVERGLOW EU TOUR [ALL MY GIRLS] will go on sale starting December 11 at 1 PM (GMT) for Amsterdam and Warsaw. Tickets for Barcelona and Berlin will go on sale starting December 13 at 1 PM (GMT). Tickets for London will go on sale starting December 15 at 10 AM (GMT). Paris ticket sales will be announced separately later at MyMusicTaste. Information regarding ticketing for the shows can be found in the link: mmt.fans/bw2m

 

EVERGLOW EU TOUR [ALL MY GIRLS]

• January 23 – Barcelona, Spain – Sala Apolo
• January 25 – Paris, France – Le Bataclan
• January 27 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
• January 30 – London, UK – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
• February 2 – Warsaw, Poland – Palladium
• February 4 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys

 

About Yuehua Entertainment:

Yuehua Entertainment Korea is a global total entertainment group paving new pathways as a leader in the global cultural content industry through investments in new businesses in music, film, TV series and shows with unique methods or by discovery and production of differentiated content suitable for diverse markets.

 

About MyMusicTaste:

MyMusicTaste organizes fan-initiated concerts around the world. We’re driven by our mission to connectand amplify the voices of fans all over the world. We’ve successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, Machine Gun Kelly, ATEEZ, and more in over 40 different cities. With the simple idea – empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert to 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. Our service currently supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 languages.

 

 

#EVERGLOW #YuehuaEntertainment #MyMusicTaste #EVERGLOWEUTOUR #ALLMYGIRLS #kcrushnews #BarcelonaSpain #ParisFrance #AmsterdamNetherlands #LondonUK #WarsawPoland #BerlinGermany #kpop #koreangirlgroup #ticketsonsale #kcrushamerica #topasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #kcrushmedia #kpopidol #BonBonChocolate #SIHYEON #EU #MIA #ONDA #AISHA #YIREN #EVERGLOWSLAY #kcrushgoogleindex #music #kpopmusic #kpopconert #EVERGLOWEuropeanTour2023

 

South Korean Singer-Songwriter Zion.T releases the final single and music video “V (Peace) (feat. AKMU)” from his 10-track album titled [Zip] via THEBLACKLABEL. The K-Pop sibling sensations deemed “prodigies’, Akdong Musician (AKMU) link up for a second time after previously featuring Zion.T on their 2021 track “BENCH“.

“V (Peace) (feat. AKMU)” is the third single off of the album arriving two days after the release of “UNLOVE (prod. HONNE)” and “Stranger”. The colorful music video finds Zion.T being followed by a group of dancers wearing his face as a mask as he moves through various parts of the city. Throughout the video, a peace sign is made with the hands forming the shape of a “V” and you can see cameos from various talents such as M-Flo, Tanaka and Kunichi Nomura.

[Zip] lists an impressive lineup of features from various music fields, in addition to Akdong Musician, American jazz trumpeter Benny Benack III, pianist Seokcheol Yoon and British electronic duo, HONNE. The 10-track project tells various stories of daily life based on deep reflections and experiences with Zion.T participating in the songwriting on every track. The album mixes various genres including parts of pop, R&B, soul, folk, ballad, jazz and hip-hop with production from PEEJAY, Junu Park, Fisherman and Slom.

This is Zion.T latest solo project since his last EP [ZZZ] as he has since appeared as a judge on the hit show “Show Me The Money 10” where he co-produced and featured on “MERRY-GO-ROUND” which remained #1 on Billboard K-Pop chart for 12 straight weeks. He also collaborated with Gen Hoshino on the soundtrack for the Marvel action-film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and this past October, he also collaborated with Rich Brian and Warren Hue on the song and music video for “World Stop Turning” released through 88rising.

Zion.T has said of this project

“As I enter my twelfth winter, I release my third studio album, [Zip]. Looking back, I realize that I don’t release albums regularly. It seems more rare than an annual event, doesn’t it? 

The songs on this project were not created easily. Scattered at times, hidden at others, they eventually came together over time to form what they are now. 

While they may not be perfect, I believe that they’ve turned out quite wonderfully. I hope that among these ten tracks, there is at least one song that you would like to keep and cherish.

Once again, thank you for listening! Your support enables me to continue making music.

Zip.“

 

Stream The Album: https://lnk.to/Zion.T_Zip

 

 

More of Zion.T:

Physical Album Pre-Order

YouTube

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

 

About Zion.T:

Zion.T is one of the most original and commercially successful artists in South Korea.

He is a singer and producer best known for his ability to flawlessly blend his distinctive voice with elements of hip-hop, R&B, soul, jazz and pop. He has been nominated multiple times for ‘Artist of the Year’ with his unconventional yet deeply sincere music. His incredible talent in music, coupled with his unique sense for fashion and visualization, has solidified his position as an artist who transcends the musical landscape.

Zion.T has collaborated with global acts like PSY and G-Dragon and also featured on Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ soundtrack with Japanese artist Gen Hoshino. In 2021, he mentored aspiring musicians on Korea’s hit hip-hop competition show ‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’, where he co-produced and featured on ‘MERRY-GO-ROUND’, which topped the Billboard K-Pop chart for 12 straight weeks.

Noted as being one of the best live performers, he has toured all over the world starting SXSW in the US to solo concerts across Europe and Asia.

Zion.T has collaborated with major global brands, has landed on Forbes ‘Korea Power Celebrity’ list, and will continue to pave the way by setting new standards in the music industry as a legend-in-the-making.

 

 

#ZIONT #ZIONTNewAlbum #ZipZIONT #TheBlackLabel #kcrushnews #VPeaceZIONT #kindie #kpop #AKMU #kcrushamerica  #UNLOVE #producedbyHONNE #Stranger #kcrushtopasianamericanentertainmentmagazine #kcrushofficial2014 #newmusic #ZIONTsingersongwriter #koreansinger ##ZIONTsongwriter #koreanmusic #AkdongMusician #pop #rnb #folk #soul #PEEJAY #JunuPark #Fisherman #Slom #MFlo #Tanaka #KunichiNomura #actorChoiMinsik # #trumpeterBennyBenackIII #pianistSeokcheolYoon

https://windows10spotlight.com/images/30088

Korea…

…may look small on a map. And that includes a unified Korea, which comprises a considerably bigger landmass than if we just consider North or South alone. But Korea has a lot going on, North and/or South! Certainly, a reference to Korea as a whole, or one of the two Koreas will bring to mind a whole laundry list of things. The Korean War, K-Pop, K-Dramas, Hallryu, Gangnam Style, nuclear threats, kimchi, K-Beauty, BTS, Squid Game, and much, much more.

One thing Korea, at least the South, may be known for is its 24/7 non-stop energy and drive. Which may make it surprising for some to learn of one of Korea’s alternative names. What might that name be? Why, the Land of Morning Calm, of course! But what’s in a name? And why of all titles did Korea earn “Morning Calm”? Keep reading to learn the history and meaning behind this beautiful and serene title for one of Asia’s most vivacious nations!

 

Day and Night

Across the East Sea from Korea lies Japan, which many may know by its other name, the Land of the Rising Sun. But, hopping back to the other side of the East Sea, on the Korean peninsula side, is the Land of Morning Calm. Japan’s name came from the idea that the sun rises first on the Japanese islands and was developed as a point of national pride as Japan became more centralized and unified as an island nation. Rising Sun and Morning Calm are a fun and logical juxtaposition, but Korea’s title as Land of Morning Calm is not in reference or in relation to Japan’s title as Land of the Rising Sun.

So how and where did Korea’s name as the Land of Morning Calm originate from? Well, it is important to know that countries like China, Japan, and Korea among many others have different names in their own languages, and had names before their modern names, too.

For Example, South Korea is known as “DaeHanMinGuk/대한민국” or “Great Korean People’s Country” or more simply, “HanGuk/한국” which means “Korean (Han) People’s Country” today. But prior to such modern names Korea was known by a different one; Chosun, or Joseon as it is written more commonly nowadays. Ah, but now what does Korea’s ancient name and dynasty have to do with “Land of Morning Calm”? Everything, actually!

 

https://www.nathanielmerz.com/post/shooting-korea-s-majestic-mountain-pine-trees

 

The Joseon Dynasty

The year was 1392. This was when Korea was still ruled by the Goryeo dynasty. The Goryeo dynasty, interestingly enough, is often theorized to have given Korea its modern name, “Korea” after the name was written on maps during the Age of Exploration. However, the Goryeo dynasty was overthrown by the military general, Yi Seong-Gye in the year 1392.

Yi Seong-Gye would go on to found the Joseon dynasty which would rule Korea and influence its culture and language for the next 500 years. In fact, such Korean things as Hanbok or Korean folk clothing that is often seen in historical K-Dramas, Hangul which is the Korean alphabet, and most of the very Confucianized social customs and mores still seen in Korea today all have their origins (mostly) in the Joseon era.

But as for the name “Joseon/조선”, this is the part that is of particular interest to us today. The name comes from the Chinese characters “朝鮮” which mean “Pristine Morning” or “Morning Calm” and are pronounced in Korean as “Joseon”. The name, according to legend, was given to Korea ages and ages ago by one of China’s mythical rulers who looked out and saw the beauty of Korea’s mountains, rivers, flowers, forests, and general natural splendor. The sight brought a feeling of peace to the emperor especially when viewed in the early hours of the morning when the light just touched the Earth. Hence Korea’s first semi-mythical kingdom, GoJoseon, was believed to be the “Land of Morning Calm”.

Though the name is considered ancient, the Joseon rulers chose it to give their dynasty more legitimacy by invoking the legacy of a far older and more mythic dynasty from the past. In this way, politically and symbolically, they were not overthrowing a current ruler, the Goryeo dynasty, but rectifying the present age by reviving and rejuvenating an ancient and rightful dynasty instead.

The name “Joseon” has also not died out, with North Korea still using the name “Joseon” to refer to themselves, and their language is known as “Joseonmal” or “Joseon Speech/Language” to North Koreans rather than “Hangukmal” or “Korean Country Language” as it is known in South Korea.

 

What’s in a name?

Thus, the origins of Korea’s title of “Land of Morning Calm” originates from a myth and was carried into the modern era thanks to the reign of the Joseon dynasty who used the title themselves. But is there more to the name than just some ancient poetics and political maneuvering?

Yes, there is! Though modern Korea may have a reputation as a land where the party (and the work) never stops, it is certainly also true that Korea’s natural landscape and beauty are truly awe-inspiring. Whether in the majestic mountains, the deep forests, or the enchanting coasts, Korea is a country that has a great deal of natural beauty and splendor to behold. Thus, while a modern role as a 24/7 nation persists, one can experience firsthand the very serene, blissful, and calm feeling of looking out on the Korean landscape in the early hours of the morning, just as mythic emperors are said to have done. Before the hustle and perhaps after all the bustle, the moments in which the night turns to that soft morning light are truly tranquil. The name, Morning Calm, is also a quite literal one!

 

The Land of Morning Calm

We can thank Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, or “Morning Calm” dynasty for giving modern Korea this wondrous title. If one is lucky enough to come and pay a visit to Korea, one will be able to experience firsthand just how accurate of a name this is! Maybe after experiencing the restless nightlife and fast-paced experiences big cities like Seoul or Busan have to offer, one can encounter the serenity of the early mornings in Korea’s natural treasures as well.

 

 

—-Kevin H.

 

 

Works Cited

https://plus.google.com/+UNESCO. “December 1978.” UNESCO, 24 Apr. 2017, en.unesco.org/courier/december-1978.

Kim, Jinwung. A History of Korea: From “Land of the Morning Calm” to States in Conflict. JSTOR, Indiana University Press, 2012, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt16gh5vd. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

“Names of Korea.” KoreanAmericanStory.org, koreanamericanstory.org/written/names-of-korea/#:~:text=Joseon%20(hangeul%20%E2%80%93%20%EC%A1%B0%EC%84%A0%2C%20Chinese. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

 

#LandofMorningCalm #ahistoryofkorea #kcrushamerica #koreanamericanstory #UNESCO #JoseonDynasty #pristinemorning #chinesecharacters #GoryeoDynasty #DaeHanMinGuk #HanGuk #Korea #GreatKoreanPeoplesCountry #kcrushcontent #kcrusharticle #googleindexed #topasianamericanmagazine #americanasianmagazine #koreanhistory #Zeoul #Busan

 

Korean-Inspired Christmas Gifts

Christmas holiday is here and it’s time to pamper and show affection to our friends and loved ones. A thoughtful gift would go a long way in expressing your desire to be part of your loved ones’ life journey. It would ooze your support towards their dreams, even in the little things such as hobbies and likes. For your friends and loved ones who are obsessed with all things Korea, we’ve got you covered with Korean-inspired gift ideas that will blow their minds this holiday season.

 

Foodies

For food and drink enthusiasts, the choice for a perfect Christmas gift is endless. Kimchi and a pack of Ramyeon are by far the best Christmas food presents. Both foods are quite popular amongst Korean enthusiasts, especially K-drama fans. Korean Soju and Makgeolli are the best choices for a Christmas gift. Brewed from fermented rice, these two drinks are deeply rooted in traditional Korean culture infusing a taste of Korea in every sip

 

 

K-Pop Fans

Make a K-pop die-hard’s dream come true this Christmas with a K-pop-themed gift. It’s advisable to choose the gift bearing in mind the biased K-pop group or artist of the one receiving the present. A K-pop album is a collection of memories that would quench fans’ thirst for the K-pop act they support. An album usually contains a K-pop group’s photo cards, posters, tapes, and sometimes t-shirts.  K-Pop merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies, and caps would also go a long way in turning a fan into a legitimate army. K-pop posters and K-pop light sticks would solidify a fan’s loyalty towards their biased K-pop artist. K-pop-themed characters such as TinyTAN (BTS members’ characters), would also brighten a fan’s Christmas mood. K-pop groups-themed stationery such as pens, books, and pencil cases among others would also be a great choice for a Christmas gift. For instance, if your friend is a BTS die-hard, BT21 stationery would be the ideal match.

 

 

Health Freaks

Korea is known for traditional concoctions good for one health. To those who value health, the best Korean-inspired gift would be a package of Korean red ginseng root extracts. The extracts come in different forms including powder ginseng, ginseng tablets, and ginseng-infused teas. Talking of teas, Korea is also known to have a wide variety of specialty traditional herbal teas that would be the ultimate Christmas gift. Recommendable teas include citron tea, jujube tea, yuja tea, corn silk tea, and mugwort tea among others.

 

 

Traditionalists

As for our loved ones who admire history, tradition, art, and culture there is a way to make their Christmas memorable as well. You can gift such loved ones antique artworks that deeply reflect Korean history. A Hanbok, a Korean traditional dress, might be too much given that one won’t have an occasion to wear it outside of Korea. However, you can gift them vintage Korean wooden carvings or figurines of people in Hanbok to display in their living rooms. You can also gift these loved ones traditional household products, such as Korean traditional tea sets, to brag about with their fellows. Korean traditional game sets such as the Yut Nori game board would also be the best gifts ever as they would strengthen the bonds when learning the game and playing together.

 

 

Skincare Addicts

For your friends who are into self-care routines, giving them a touch of Korea’s 10-step skincare routine, or part of it, would make their Christmas insanely memorable. If you’re unsure of their skin type, you can get them a bundle of face sheet masks as they are a one-time-use sachet and can be used on all skin types. If you would wish to surprise them further, a tine secret investigation into their preferred brands wouldn’t hurt. If more, it would express your unwavering dedication to their satisfaction and well-being. Korean brands such as Etude and Cosrx would be a place to start for your Christmas gift quest, especially for their skincare package sets.

 

 

Language Nerds

For your linguaphile loved ones who find joy in perfecting their multilingualism and have an interest in Korean, gifting them Korean language books or a paid online Korean class package would mean the world to them. These resources would help them achieve their life goals making you a crucial figure in their life journey. Recommendable resources would be the TTMIK (Talk To Me In Korean) book series and online Korean class packages. For the book-warmers, a gift of Korean-inspired books depending on their biased genre would be the perfect choice.  Korean comics and print cartoons, famously known as Manhwa, are the perfect gifts for such individuals. You can also gift these bookworms bestselling Korean novels such as “Please Look After My Mother” by Shin Kyung Sook.

Do you have any suggestions for great Christmas Holiday gifts?

 

 

—-Karen Mwenda

 

 

#KoreanInspiredChristmasGifts #Koreangifts #kcrushcontent #GiftsForKPopFans #kpop #Manhwa #kpopgifts #topasianentertainmentmagazine #googlekcrushcontentindexed #TalkToMeInKorean #learnkorean #koreanskincareforgifts #koreanfoodgiftsuggestions #koreanhealthgiftsuggestions #koreancomicsandprintcartoons #koreantraditionalitemgiftsuggestions #kcrusharticle #christmas

 

This third full-length album from Red Velvet is a sonic adventure that truly displays the group’s evolution as professional artists. The incredible soundscapes created show their explosive dynamic as a collective and the lyrics of some songs provide a means for down-to-earth reflection. Red Velvet is unafraid to push the boundaries and break conventional molds. Chill Kill is a testament to their continual growth and artistry. Here’s how I rank the songs!

Chill Kill: 8/10

This song had surprises around every turn! It was anything but predictable. “Chill Kill” starts with a mysterious feeling–echoing vocals, anxious bass, and synths. But the chorus explodes with a positive and uplifting sound! It was likely just as much a shock to other listeners as it was to me! Hearing this song first made me extremely curious to see what the rest of the album would hold.

 

Knock Knock (Who’s There?): 9/10

This song almost feels like a melody from a music box and some have suspected that the song borrowed from Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”. I can see that possibility using the strings and haunting vocals. The lyrics are a bit eerie, too:

Knock-knock, open up the door

A gamе where we keep wandering around looking for each other

I’m falling more and more into it

It’s so bittersweet but I like the chase

Got a devil on my shoulder

A gently whispered voice

Like an angel, come to me

Starting again

Knock-knock, who’s there?

 

Underwater: 7/10

“Underwater” starts with a mesmerizing solo by Seulgi. This track has plenty of amazing harmonies, showing the power of the group’s union. The song feels ethereal and enchanting, helping listeners enter a soundscape that transports them to an underwater world.

 

Will I Ever See You Again?: 10/10

The melody of this song perfectly matches the question being asked in the title. The verse’s haunting echos and deep vocals reflect the fear in not knowing if you will see your loved one again. But the chorus explodes in a synth melody that is an absolute earworm. Be warned: this song is addictive!

Nightmare: 7/10

“Nightmare” is a great storytelling track. The waltz-like melody and use of bells transports listeners to a different place. Though the song’s title might feel more like Halloween, the chorus feels very much like Christmas. The highlight for me on this track was the rap– the rhythm is incredible.

 

Iced Coffee: 8/10

I really liked the soft entrance of this song. The ballad is so cute lyrically– “Cause you make me feel all this fantasy. I want more iced coffee.” Iced coffee truly makes me feel a rush so I love that Red Velvet compares this to being in love and being “up all night” from the caffeine.

 

One Kiss: 5/10

The beat in this song stands out, with its variety and the way it hustles the song along. The bass is also a standout in “One Kiss”. However, the song’s main melody falls a bit flat compared to other tracks on the album, making it easy to forget.

 

Bulldozer: 6/10

The groove in “Bulldozer” is great! It’s smooth and easy listening. I unfortunately feel like this one slides under the radar, too, as there are other songs on the album that are similar and more memorable. I do need to highlight the lyrics in this track, as they’re unique!

I’m a bulldozer

Hurry up when I give you a chance

I run away from what I see

I’m impatient

I’m your poet

I’m your pain

How to stop once you start

There is no such thing as a brake

I’m a bulldozer

 

Wings: 7/10

“Wings” opens with a delightful acapella harmony and uplifting melody. This track shows the vocal abilities of Red Velvet. The chorus is sweet as they sing, “Spread Your Wings, Butterfly!”

 

Scenery: 8/10

The last song on the album is a gentle ballad with an acoustic guitar and piano as the main instruments. This light instrumental allows listeners to hear the vocals much more easily, and wow are they worth listening to! Red Velvet is an incredibly talented group. “Scenery” feels sentimental and reflective.

 

Final: 7.5/10

Chill Kill is a lovely album to listen to. Each song is unique and brings something special to the table. Red Velvet delivered quite the full-length album here and proved why they’ve been so successful.

 

—-Ellie Boyd

 

#RedVelvet #RedVelvetChillKill #ChilKillRedVelvet #newredvelvetmusic #kcrushreview #kcrushnews #kcrush #kpop #newmusic #koreangirlgroup #kcrushamerica #RedVelvetnewalbum #SceneryRedVelvet #WingsRedVelvet #BulldozerRedVelvet #OneKissRedVelvet #IcedCoffeeRedVelvet #googleindexedkcrush #kcrushindexedgoogle #NightmareRedVelvet #WillIEverSeeYouAgainRedVelvet #UnderwaterRedVelvet #kcrushtopasianmagazine #KnockKnockWhoseThereRedVelvet #kpopidols #RedVelvetgirlgroup #RedVelvetChillKillAlbumRatingReview