Profiles in Music
Meet WAKER, the K-pop Group Given a Second Shot at Success
Before joining the team, many of the group’s members had given up on their dream of becoming an idol. Now promoting their third album, the members look back at the long road to debuting as WAKER.
Profiles in Music
8TURN Wants You To Find Your Power
The members of 8TURN reflect on their new single and what “bruises” they’ve had to accept about themselves.
Q&A
In a new interview done in collaboration with KOHAI, the singer-songwriter considers why he’s drawn to superheroes and how a determination to succeed has fueled him since he was a teenager.
Listening Booth
On ‘TYPHOON,’ Luke Chiang Knows Good Things Take Time
The singer’s debut album comes nearly six years after a health issue nearly torpedoed his career. It’s worth the wait.
Profiles in Music
In K-pop, Few Groups Shatter Stereotypes Like 1VERSE
The boy group has become one of fifth gen’s most promising rookie groups without changing much about themselves. With their new single “WABIF” and an upcoming world tour, 1VERSE is proving that idols can be remarkably relatable, too.
In-depth profiles about leading independent Asian musicians.
the roookies
Minh Is Just Beginning to Find His Potential
For the past four months, Minh’s music has made gains on streaming services. In his first interview, he reflects on his new EP’s momentum and why he became a self-made musician.
Meet West of Eden, A Giant Group Much Larger Than It’s Four Artists
The Seattle-based group succeeds because of their strong friendship and an extremely creative team of designers, producers, videographers, photographers and artists.
Yel Is Turning Her Best Memories Into Works of Art
The California-based singer-songwriter makes dreamy, romantic music that is becoming a smash hit on streaming services.
Profiles in Music
KANG YUCHAN and from20 Enter a New Era With WAY BETTER
When KANG YUCHAN joined HELLO GLOOM and from20’s company WAY BETTER, the friends saw a possibility to chart a new path for idols. “Maybe,” from20 theorizes, “we could flip the whole culture.”
Hikaru Utada’s Science Fiction retrospective, reviewed
Profiles in Music
After more than 25 years in the industry, Crystal Kay is regarded as a pioneer of J-R&B and J-Pop. Now, about to embark on her first North American tour, she is just beginning to grapple with the meaning of her legacy.
Essays from the frontlines of K-Pop and beyond.
critically speaking
From Rain to Kai, San and from20: How Male Sexuality Has Evolved in K-Pop
A new generation of male idols are embracing a fluid view of sexuality. It’s a major course correction from years’ past.
With ‘One in a Million’, The Women of TWICE Finally Share Their Stories
In a revealing new documentary, the members share why a decade of TWICE was never guaranteed.
BoA in Japan: Soft Powers and Teenage Dreams
In 2001, BoA was the first of her kind: a K-Pop star landing number one’s in Japan. Her success transformed K-Pop into a global super power.
Essential reading from the API music scene
and all the rest….
Juju B. Goode Wants to Introduce You to Mr. Lee
Korean singer-songwriter Juju B. Goode dug deep into the sounds of K-Pop’s past and his own history to create a new persona: Mr. Lee
How Milky Day Created His Most Honest Music Yet With “Impulses”
Known for his self-affirming singles, musician and producer Milky Day pushed himself further than ever before on his debut EP “Impulses”. In this exclusive interview, he breaks down how he did it.
BZ-Boys Release Their First Mini-album “OUTLAW”
Once believing it was impossible, BZ-Boys have defied the odds and released their debut mini-album following a successful year of “firsts”.
At KCON Day 1, An Icon and 4th Generation Leaders Take the Stage
Several K-Pop groups made their North American debut at KCON, while Taemin performed for the first time as a soloist.
Jimmy Brown Wants To Talk About Love on His “Like the First Time” Tour
In this exclusive interview, Jimmy Brown talks about his upcoming North American tour and why love is such an important theme in his music.
At KCON Day 2, Past and Present K-Pop Collides
Hosted by MC Rain, Saturday nights’ KCON brought together a new generation of K-Pop with the industry heavyweights.
The Future of K-Pop Was At Lollapalooza
After decades of being ignored, K-Pop took over last weekend’s Lollapalooza with performances that will likely change the trajectory of the genre.
eaJ Announces His First North American Tour
Following the best work of his career with the “insomnia” trilogy, eaJ is headlining his first tour.
DPR IAN Announces New EP “Dear Insanity…” and Lead Single “Peanut Butter & Tears”
Ahead of two major festival performances, DPR IAN returns with “Peanut Butter & Tears”.
DPR LIVE + DPR IAN’s Electrifying Lollapalooza Set
DPR LIVE + DPR IAN’s joint set at Lollapalooza felt like a pre-cursor to a major breakthrough coming for both artists.
Rina Sawayama Deserves to Headline Lollapalooza
Meet the pop star with the best set at Lollapalooza: Rina Sawayama
TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Triumphant, Headlining Return to Lollapalooza
A year after TXT’s career-defining performance at Lollapalooza, the group returns as headliners.
At Lollapalooza, The Rose Gives Fans Their Flowers
The Rose performed two very different, brilliant sets at Lollapalooza Thursday and Friday night.
NewJeans’ Powerful Stateside Debut at Lollapalooza
NewJeans’ North American debut will likely go down in history as a career defining performance for the group.
BNZA’s Sublime New Single “U”
BNZA’s back — with a new single each month till the end of the year.
After a Rebrand, BBGIRLS Are Back As K-Pop’s Reigning Summer Queens
BBGIRLS debut with their new single. It’s their first since rebranding from Brave Girls.
KCON Announces Special Stages and WONYOUNG, RAIN, and Bang Chan as MCs
KCON announced several new additions to their stacked festival, as well as released new tickets due to high demand.
Your Guide to Lollapalooza and Chicago’s K-Pop Weekend
Superstars TOMORROW X Together will headline Lollapalooza, alongside a stacked lineup of K-Pop and AAPI artists. This guide covers who to see and some of the best K-Pop events in Chicagoland.
On “Losing My Grip”, Milky Day Takes a Sharp Turn
New Zealand-Korean singer-songwriter Milky Day releases his most unsettling single to date, “Losing My Grip”. The song offers listeners a new side to Milky.
ABOUT Plunges Into the Deep End of “Fortunate Islands”
Recorded during the height of pandemic lockdowns and released in the winter of 2020, the double album “Fortunate Islands” is ABOUT’s most conceptual, challenging project to date.