Stray Kids has been making steady progress since their debut in 2018. Last year, they became the first JYP Entertainment artists to sell a million copies of an album with their second long-player “Noeasy.” With “Oddinary,” the band pushed the envelope further, selling 1.3 million units in pre-orders alone, up by nearly 400,000 compared to their previous release, “Noeasy.” “It’s all thanks to St...

All the bandmates participated in the making of the nine tracks. Along with Soyeon, Minnie and Yuqi took part in composition and lyrics of several songs -- Minnie for “Already” and “Escape” and Yuqi for “Polaroid” and “Liar.” “As it’s our first studio album, we paid extra attention. We’re always writing songs, so we’re happy to be able to finally show them to Neverland,” Yuqi said, referring to...

“How have you been, guys? To be honest, I don’t think I’ve been so well in the past two years. We had to wait indefinitely for the end of the pandemic, and all I could do was miss you guys. I realized this today. Although we’ve done so many things to continue the show without an audience, it became clear to me today that a concert becomes whole when the artist and audience come together in one pl...

While Big Hit Music did not reveal the exact number of tickets sold, around 45,000 will be attending the three concerts in total, given that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism allowed the group to invite 15,000 spectators for each day to provide some physical distancing amid the ongoing concerns of coronavirus spread. This will be the largest in-person concert in Korea to take place sinc...

During the interview, Lee was ever so careful in putting her answers into words, pausing now and then to mull her thoughts. Her decision to perform Jung Joon-il’s “Hug Me” during the 2021 singing competition also followed a weighed and considered process. “I think I was the most honest with myself with that song. I tried to deliver the message that, ‘I’m in pain, so please hug me,’ which is som...

Kisum, whose real name is Jo Hye-ryung, made her debut in 2013 with her collaboration with singer Se-A, “First Love.” She gained recognition through the 2015 Mnet’s female rapper survival program, “Unpretty Rapstar,” and has been actively releasing music both for herself and in collaboration with other musicians. While she has less of the boisterous, bubbly energy iconic of Kisum’s early days, t...

In less than a year since their official debut, Blitzers have definitely come far but the group hopes to go even further in 2022. “It’s been a hectic year. And thankfully, we spent a happy one, making a debut and even receiving a prize. I want to say a word of thanks to Blee who have been with us since the beginning,” Sya said. “Although we’ve worked hard, I personally feel we spent a short tim...

Formed through the YG audition TV show “YG Treasure Box,” which aired in 2018-2019, the band debuted in August 2020 with “The First Step: Chapter One,” fronted by lead track “Boy.” Dropping two more singles and a studio album since then, the the bandmates state they have become more mature both mentally and physically. “If we had shown a boy-like freshness before, we’re more mature in this albu...

Taeyeon was recently named the most popular K-pop female soloist, marking the highest album sales among all female Korean artists according to Gaon chart data of the past decade. “Although it might sound cheesy, I honestly think that it was possible because everyone made their best effort and those efforts made the right synergy. I couldn’t have done it alone. We just discuss, suggest, persuade,...

Among the other B-side tracks, SinB recommended “Tweet Tweet,” a song of a new style for the members. “Our fans liked the track when the highlight medley was released. I want to perform this song at a concert or a fan meeting.” Eunha’s favorite was “Lemonade,” which she described as a fresh yet spicy tune that could be enjoyed around the seasons. Umji recommended “Mirror,” a song that sparked a...

Repositioning themselves as a trio will not be easy. But with their long-held chemistry, the unwavering love and support from their global fandom, hopes are high that the members will see another breakout career with Viviz. Meanwhile, all three members had tested positive for the coronavirus and are currently self-isolating. Umji tested positive on Jan. 28, Eunha on Jan. 30 and SinB the followin...

This change in attitude is also visible in her songs, which Heo explains are her way of releasing her thoughts and emotions. While all her songs sing of life and love, and that life is all about love, “It Doesn’t Matter” voices a more cynical and sad tone compared to “So Life Goes On,” which has a pinch more positivity. “There’s something I always say to people around me, and it’s that love is ...

De Perio added, “When you look at K-pop idols, they’re giving us content constantly, they‘re giving us more music and they’re able to connect with fans in a way that is really genuine. And people look for courage and hope in those connections, I think. I think that‘s where K- pop is different than other genres. They’re making that effort to connect with fans more frequently.“ Nodding fervently t...

Chinese bandmate Aurora hoped to spread a healing energy to people with their new song, while Japanese bandmate Haru added, “I hope that ‘Rica Rica’ is heard by many people. It’s an easy song to follow, even to a foreigner like myself. I hope many people enjoy the song.” B side “Dear Leaf” is a gift for fans who have waited such a long while for Nature, the band said. “It’s our fan song for Lea...

No K-pop idol group stands exceptional to the concerns of the “seven-year jinx,” when they decide whether they will continue as a group. The phrase was coined as groups often disband or lose a member after seven years, the maximum period in which artists and agencies can sign a contract. Whether the members will get past the notorious seven-year mark is almost impossible to predict, even for the...