Music
Fromis_9 opens up summer memories in new mini-album ‘From Our Memento Box’
- Girl group Fromis_9 dropped their second mini album of 2022 today, “From our Memento Box,” and a music video for the title track “Stay This Way.”
- The mini album includes four other tracks: “Up And,” “Blind Letter,” “Cheese” and “Rewind.”
- While their summer comeback was released as scheduled yesterday, their media showcase was canceled as five group members — Song Hayoung, Park Jiwon, Lee Seoyeon, Lee Chaeyoung, and Baek Ji-heon — were involved in a car accident Saturday evening.
- Pledis Entertainment issued a statement Sunday evening saying none of the members or staff involved in the accident have serious injuries and were taken immediately for medical examinations at a hospital. The five members will be given flexibility around any promotional activities to come with the company prioritizing their recoveries..
- Fromis_9 debuted in January 2018 under Stone Music Entertainment and were formed through the reality competition show “Idol School.”
K-pop girl group Fromis_9 is back for the summer with their fifth mini-album, “From Ofur Memento Box,” and a tropical music video for the title track “Stay This Way.”
Aside from “Stay This Way,” the mini-album includes four other tracks: “Up And,” “Blind Letter,” “Cheese” and “Rewind.” This newest album set a new personal record for the nine members, selling 160,000 pre-order copies.
Summer Walker accused of appropriating, sexualizing Hmong culture with provocative outfit
R&B artist Summer Walker is facing backlash for wearing an outfit to a performance at the Crypto.com Arena that repurposed a traditional Hmong necklace called a xuav for a revealing two-piece.
J-Hope first to solo debut after BTS break announcement with upcoming album ‘Jack in the Box’
South Korean rapper J-Hope recently announced his solo album “Jack in the Box,” the first solo debut of a BTS member after the announcement of their group break earlier this month.
On June 26, Big Hit Music announced the release of the upcoming album, stating:
Joji enters top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 chart for first time with viral ‘Glimpse of Us’
- Japanese Australian singer Joji’s latest viral single “Glimpse of Us” recently became his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Co-written by the 29-year-old singer, whose real name is George Kusunoki Miller, “Glimpse of Us” is a stripped-down ballad that explores the darker side of love with lyrics comparing a current relationship to a previous one.
- After its June 10 release, “Glimpse of Us” blew up on TikTok, where thousands have used the song for relationship-related videos.
Japanese Australian singer Joji’s latest single “Glimpse of Us” recently became his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Known for his previous popular songs such as “Slow Dancing in the Dark” and “Run,” the 29-year-old singer, whose real name is George Kusunoki Miller, has been a steadily rising force in the music scene for years. Earlier this month, his most recent single exploded on TikTok and various music charts.
Olivia Rodrigo has choice words for SCOTUS overturning of Roe v. Wade at Glastonbury performance
- Olivia Rodrigo paused during her Glastonbury Festival performance on Saturday to address the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States.
- “I’m devastated and terrified that so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this,” Rodrigo expressed.
- After identifying the five justices that voted to overturn the precedent by name, Rodrigo declared, “I hate you” before performing “F*ck You” with Lily Allen.
- Olivia Rodrigo has joined the many AAPI celebrities and lawmakers who have condemned the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
- The ruling to overturn the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision makes abortion no longer a constitution right, allowing states to make individual decisions on reproductive healthcare.
Olivia Rodrigo and Lily Allen dedicated “F*ck You” to the U.S. Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Olivia Rodrigo paused during her Glastonbury Festival performance on Saturday to address the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States with Lily Allen by her side.
Charlie Puth and BTS’ Jungkook finally drop long-awaited collaboration ‘Left and Right’
- Charlie Puth’s song “Left and Right” featuring BTS’ Jungkook dropped on Friday.
- Puth previously teased the song on social media and accidentally confirmed it during an interview earlier this month at the iHeart Radio Wango Tango concert.
- “Left and Right” is Puth’s third song in 2022, having previously released “Light Switch” in January and “That’s Hilarious” in April, all part of an upcoming third album called “Charlie.”
- Jungkook’s collaboration with Puth comes a week after BTS’ announcement of a group break to focus on solo projects.
Charlie Puth and BTS’s Jungkook released their collaboration track “Left and Right” on Friday.
After accidentally confirming rumors of their collaboration in an interview at the iHeart Radio Wango Tango concert earlier this month, Puth and Jungkook released a fun music video that serves as one track on Puth’s upcoming third album, “Charlie.”
Twice’s Nayeon is here to ‘Pop!’ off in solo debut
- Im Nayeon became the first member of Twice to make a solo debut after she dropped her namesake album Friday along with a music video for title track “Pop!”
- The album, “Im Nayeon,” consists of seven total tracks including “Pop!” and features collaborations with Felix of Stray Kids and rapper Wonstein.
- Nayeon received writer credits for the tracks “All or Nothing” and “Love Countdown,” while Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall helped pen “Candyfloss.”
- The debut solo comes shortly after Twice’s first U.S. stadium tour, their U.S. television debut and the creation of their individual Instagram accounts all last month.
Im Nayeon of K-pop girl group Twice made her debut Friday with a namesake album and title track “Pop!”
Just shy of three minutes, Nayeon brings her powerhouse energy to a vivacious, confident and bubblegum video for “Pop!” crammed with 14 outfit changes reflecting her resplendency. The album “Im Nayeon” is not just her name, but a play on words introducing her debut, as if to say “I’m Nayeon.”
Aespa makes English-language track debut with ‘Life’s Too Short’
- K-pop girl quartet Aespa dropped their first English language song today called “Life’s Too Short.”
- Originally performed at their Coachella debut, “Life’s Too Short” is one of two pre-releases alongside “Illusion” featured in their upcoming second mini album “Girls” out on July 8.
- The sophomore mini album includes the namesake title track, “Illusion,” the English and Korean version of “Life’s Too Short” and previously released songs “Black Mamba,” “Forever” and “Dreams Come True.”
- Aespa has an upcoming two-day showcase at the YouTube Theatre in Los Angeles on June 26-27 called “Showcase SYNK.”
After performing the song for the first time at Coachella’s main stage earlier this year, Aespa officially dropped their first English-language track, “Life’s Too Short.”
Part of the pre-release for their upcoming sophomore mini-album “Girls,” the music video for “Life’s Too Short” sees Aespa members Winter, Karina, Ningning and Giselle in a glossy early 2000s style, crooning about living their best lives while ignoring naysayers and the toxicity of people and social media. An earlier pre-release called “Illusion” surprised fans at the beginning of this month.
Co-ed K-pop group Kard arrives to ‘Ring The Alarm’ on first comeback in 2 years
- The wait is finally over for co-ed group Kard’s new mini album “Re:” and title track music video “Ring The Alarm.”
- The mini album includes six tracks, two of which are instrumentals.
- Their last comeback was in 2020 with the album “Way With Words” and title track “Gunshot.”
- Kard consists of four members, BM, J.Seph, Somin and Jiwoo, with J.Seph having completed his mandatory two-year military service in April this year.
Co-ed group Kard made their return yesterday with the release of their fifth mini album “Re:” featuring title track “Ring the Alarm.”
The mini album includes six tracks: four new songs and two instrumental songs, one for “Ring The Alarm” and another for “Break Down,” which all four members had a hand in writing.
Korea Singers Association face backlash after asking BTS to ‘reconsider’ their break
- The head of the Korea Singers Association issued a statement on June 22 in The Korea Times imploring BTS to “reconsider” the group’s temporary break.
- Lee Ja-yeon expressed concern that without BTS, the K-pop industry and the hallyu (Korean wave) would decline.
- Army was quick to descend on social media, criticizing the remarks and expressing support for the members to take their needed break and focus on their individual projects.
- BTS announced a break earlier this month following the release of their anthology album, “Proof.”
Lee Ja-yeon, head of the Korea Singers Association, is facing backlash after saying she was “concerned” about the K-pop industry following BTS’ announcement of their temporary break.
The June 22 statement from Lee comes via The Korea Herald, where she writes, “I’m concerned that the Korean wave centring around BTS, which has the strongest cultural soft power in Korea and the world, may fade away … Like a ‘second Beatles’ won’t arrive easily, it is unlikely for there to be a ‘second BTS,’ so I’m worried that hallyu may be cut.”
South Korean piano prodigy Yunchan Lim becomes youngest ever to conquer prestigious Van Cliburn
- South Korea’s Yunchan Lim made history after becoming the youngest pianist to win the world-renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition over the weekend.
- Named after the famed pianist, the quadrennial competition attracts several of the world’s most talented young pianists as it supports rising artists and brings their performances to the masses.
- While Lim performed an expansive repertoire of pieces, his most groundbreaking performance was a riveting rendition of Rachmaninov’s “Piano Concerto No. 3,” which moved the piece’s legendary conductor Marin Alsop to tears.
- Despite distinguishing himself as one of the brightest young luminaries in the classical world, Lim was humbled by the experience.
- “I am still a student,” Lim told Fort Worth Magazine. “I feel like I learn a lot still. It’s a great competition and I feel the burden of receiving this great and honorable award. I will push myself to measure myself up to the honor I received today.”
South Korea’s Yunchan Lim made history after becoming the youngest pianist to win the world-renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition over the weekend.
Named after the famed pianist, the competition is held quadrennially in Fort Worth, Texas, attracting many of the world’s most talented young pianists as it supports rising artists and brings their performances to the masses.
KCON LA 2022 reveals second set of headliners
- KCON LA have announced the second set of headliners for their 10thanniversary celebration.
- The second round of headliners include Ateez, INI, JO1, Kep1er, Lightsum, Loona, NCT Dream and TO1.
- KCON 2022 is a return to in-person KCON events after 2020 and 2021 were virtual only due to the pandemic.
- KCON LA 2022 will run from August 19-21 at Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The second set of headliners for KCON LA 2022 was finally revealed Tuesday by CJ ENM.
Joining the first round of headliners announced last week for KCON LA 2022 are Loona, Kep1er, Lightsum, NCT Dream, Ateez, TO1, JO1 and INI.
