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[Today’s K-pop] Onewe drops 2nd demo album

By Hwang You-mee

Published : Dec. 7, 2021 - 17:44

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(Credit: RBW Entertainment) (Credit: RBW Entertainment)
Boy band Onewe put out its second demo album “Studio We: Recording #2” on Tuesday.
 
“It feels more special because we can show the whole process of making music,” said Kanghyun through agency RBW Entertainment. Although all fans know the songs, it would let them feel the sensation of listening to them for the first time all over again, he added.
 
The bandmates wrote all the songs themselves, putting all of their hearts and more into their efforts, underlined Yonghoon. Multiple versions of some tracks give listeners a chance to imagine them working on the music more vividly.
 
Out of 12 tracks, Yonghoon and CyA recommended “In Course,” which fully demonstrates the bandmates’ skill in playing musical instruments. The main riff is based on one Kanghyun came up with while playing the guitar at a rehearsal before a performance, he confided.
 
The band looks to deepen its originality in the forthcoming EP, which is due out next month.
 
“In the second EP, we’ll be able to show our new sides,” said Dongmyeong.

Winner’s Mino aims for infinity and beyond

(Credit: YG Entertainment) (Credit: YG Entertainment)
Mino of Winner discussed his third solo studio album “To Infinity” in an online showcase Tuesday.
 
He was inspired by Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story” to dream big. Likewise, the LP projects the possibility of infinite growth reaching across genres.
 
But at the same time, the whole album embodies his taste -- hip-hop, sexiness and experimental sounds. To visualize the idea, he came up with a character he refers to as a  digital gunman -- “simple and dowdy but a name with an impact, my interpretation of a cowboy.”
 
He lists his name on the credits for all the songs, which range from upbeat lead track “Tang!” to the melodic “Losing U.” There were times when he wished he had a clone of himself, he admitted, but “I couldn’t take a break when I thought of my fans. They are always waiting and I want to show whatever I can.”

TVXQ!'s Changmin to release Japanese EP  

(Credit: SM Entertainment) (Credit: SM Entertainment)
Changmin of TVXQ! will unveil an EP named “Human” in Japan on Wednesday, announced label SM Entertainment on Tuesday.
 
The musician co-wrote the lyrics for the title track and reminds us that it is love that we need now to make it through our pain and loneliness -- in Japanese, English and Korean.
 
His first solo EP, “Chocolate,” topped Oricon’s international albums chart for two weeks when it came out in April 2020. It also landed atop major albums charts in Korea and iTunes top albums chart in 11 regions. The titular main track was No. 1 on Apple Music’s music video ranking in Japan. 
  
The new EP will include a Japanese version of “Chocolate” and an English version of “Gold Dust,” one of the six tracks from his Japanese solo album.
 
Changmin is currently appearing on the variety program “Bistro Shigor” and hosting a show on Naver’s Now.

BTS members open personal Instagram accounts

(Credit: Big Hit Music) (Credit: Big Hit Music)
The individual members of boy band BTS started using Instagram on their own Monday, as they began their year-end break from activities.
 
This is the first time they have opened separate accounts on the platform, and although they did so without notice, each had amassed about 17 million followers as of Tuesday afternoon. V set a record of reaching 1 million followers in 43 minutes. The previous best mark had been 1 hour and 45 minutes.
 
The septet is enjoying a long break, only the second since its debut, after wrapping up concerts in Los Angeles and participating in the 2021 Jingle Ball Tour. Label Big Hit Music asked fans to allow the band to spend the festive season with their families, for the first time since their debut.
 
Fans are expecting them to stay in touch, though, especially since they now have their own Instagram accounts.