Following a slew of K-Pop groups that embarked on European tours in 2015 comes Loen Entertainment’s five member boy band, History. Comprised of Kyungil, Dokyun, Sihyung, Jaeho and Yi Jeong, History debuted in April 2013 with the critically acclaimed “Dreamer.” A supremely talented quintet, History’s unconventional sound and bold concepts make them stand out in the highly competitive boyband market and will undoubtedly make their tour an unforgettable experience for all STORIAs, History’s fans.
Arpeggios Entertainment organized three shows for Helsinki, Finland on Feb. 20, London, UK on Feb. 21, and Paris, France on Feb. 24. Meanwhile, a final show has been set for Bucharest, Romania on Feb. 27, organized by Kompas Events.
Their Musical Style
History has consistently switched up their sound with every comeback, giving them an element of surprise with which to delight their fans. The boys have also introduced many genres into their music to showcase their incredible versatility. For example, the concept for “Dreamer” could have come straight from a Broadway musical, while follow-up song “Tell Me Love” is a 90s style techno dance song. Each song is diverse: “What Am I To You” incorporates Latin influences, “Psycho” was a throwback to 80s electronica, and the band’s latest single, “Might Just Die,” mixes both classical and hip hop influences. All of this, plus History’s exemplary vocals and rapping, add up to a truly unique style that we can’t wait to hear performed live.
History’s first music video, “Dreamer,” features carefree dance moves highly reminiscent of Fred Astaire, while they make a stark 360 degree turn in “Psycho” and “Might Just Die,” both of which involve sexually suggestive choreography. The latter has all the classic boyband staples of body rolling, ab flashing and raunchy choreography, but it is executed with such amazing finesse that when the members throw themselves on the floor towards the song’s conclusion the viewer is sure to be bowled over! Be sure to keep an eye on Kyungil during “Might Just Die”- his choreography had to be altered for broadcast performances in South Korea.
Their Daring Music Video Concepts
With “What I Am To You” and “Psycho,” History ventured into bold new territory. The music video for “What Am I To You” was shot in Germany and features scenes of Kyungil drinking heavily, downing pills and smoking marijuana, while Yi Jeong is beaten up by thugs. “Psycho” gave all the members a chance to show their acting abilities, with each representing a facet of Yi Jeong’s multiple personality disorder. He obsessively stalks a woman and an evil facet of his character, represented by Kyung Il, tries to harm the girl, only for Yi Jeong to fight back. History’s youngest member replicates the mannerisms of Norman Bates from Hitchcock’s eponymous thriller “Psycho” and by the conclusion intends to murder the woman who torments him. While the music videos may play before the show, here’s to hoping that their concepts will be carried over into History’s performances!
The idea of members sending hearts into the audience will surely make stomachs fill with butterflies, but any STORIAs in the audience are sure to keep an eye out for interaction between Kyungil and Yi Jeong. The two members have the most adorable father-son/brotherly relationship that’s filled with hugs, silly interactions, and far more. Meanwhile, don’t forget about the other three. Just because they’re in the middle of the group age-wise doesn’t mean that Sihyung, Jaeho, and Dokyun will be annoyed. No, there’s going to be a lot of fun interactions from History at these shows so be prepared!
Yi Jeong’s Creative Input
Youngest member Yi Jeong proves his musical dexterity on the group’s latest mini album, “Beyond The History.” He showed off his talent by composing the title track “Might Just Die,” a feat relatively rare in K-Pop. Yi Jeong also wrote the electronic hip hop song “Ghost,” as well as his own solo rap track “1Century,” which showed a much edgier side to his usual persona as a main vocalist. The youngest member’s solo stage will surely wow the crowd.
History’s forthcoming European dates promise to be outstanding and will surely garner them even more acclaim, while increasing their fanbase significantly.
Tickets for the London show at the O2 Academy Islington are £95 for VIP tickets, including a meet and greet and early entry, or £35 for the normal tickets. They’re on sale now through Weeze Events.
Tickets for the Paris show at the Divan Du Monde and the Helsinki show at the Gloria are €99 for VIP or €39 for the standard. Tickets are also available through Weeze Events (Paris tickets , Helsinki tickets).
The final show in Bucharest will be held at the Palatul National al Copiilor, and tickets are on sale for 300-150 RON. They can be purchased through Bilete. What do you love about History? Are you going to their tour? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/History.jpg640960Eve Backhousehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngEve Backhouse2016-01-11 12:56:062016-01-20 08:03:30Get Excited For History’s Live Tour In Europe
After starting more than a few highly talked about feuds, performing in major stages like 2015 MAMA, and coming out with some of the hottest collaboration tracks of the year, there’s no denying the popularity and influence of the hit show Mnet “Unpretty Rapstar.” Whether we’re talking about season one or two, there’s no doubt that both installments showcased a lot of talented female rappers that are slowly becoming household names. It was only a matter of time before these acts made their way to the US where they’ve also established a fan base.
The first “Unpretty Rapstar” contestant to hold a show in Los Angeles last October was Jessi. But while we still have to wait for that season’s winner, Cheetah, to pay us a visit, the latest winner Truedy and semi-finalist Heize are set to host a K-Pop Club Night in the City of Angels. The two rappers will perform at the Conga Room inside the LA Live on January 22. Tickets are already on sale through Powerhouse and they’re $35. However, this is a 21+ event — sorry kids!
Unlike Jessi or other “Unpretty Rapstar” participants, Heize and Truedy hadn’t had a long career before appearing in the show. Despite this, the tracks that they have released, either independently or because of the show, were fire. So let’s revisit a few of their songs to get us hyped and ready for the show.
“Don’t Make Money” by Heize
Among the songs in the semi final, Heize’s “Don’t Make Money” is one of the best. With the concept in mind — Heize telling her family not to make money because she’s going to provide for them — paired with the pump up beats make it the perfect song to turn up to.
“If It Wasn’t for Music” by Truedy
Truedy started off the season strong, and that’s how she rapidly landed a feature one of the first songs. And if Verbal Jint being the producer wasn’t awesome enough, season one’s winner Cheetah also featured on the track. Interestingly, Truedy’s old school flow fits perfectly with Vebal Jint’s clean and modern sound. As a result, “If It Wasn’t for Music” offers a perfectly balanced throwback feeling.
“I Know” by Heize
Based on the fierce and sexy image Heize portrayed on “Unpretty Rapstar” and what she repeatedly said throughout it, we’ve come to associate it her with a harder concept. After all, she wants to be the first female rapper signed to Illionaire Records. So imagine our surprise when we came across “I Know,” a song where she sings more than raps — and is not bad at it. On the contrary, “I Know” is a chill song to sway. It’s unlikely that Heize will perform this track on the concert, but even so, we dig it.
“Bandz Up” by Truedy
Compared to her first win track, “Bandz Up” produced by Dok2 fits her hard image better. On this track, we can honestly say Truedy spit fire and showed that her style fits more traditional hip-hop feels rather than something more experimental.
“My Boyfriend Thank You” by Heize
While Heize was still on “Unpretty Rapstar,” news broke that she had dated fellow Korean rapper Crucial Star. Is this song about him? We’re not quite sure. However, we do know that this song resembles Crucial Star’s laid back flow and soft beats. With Heize’s soft and girly vocals, “My Boyfriend Thank You” is also a feel good song.
As previously mentioned, Heize and Crucial Star used to date, so it makes sense that two rappers who share a similar style and flow would collaborate. The end result is “After I’ve Wandered a Bit,” a song about taking a break from a relationship. Even if the theme is a bit somber and the rap is serious, Heize’s voice at the chorus gives the song an overall bittersweet feel.
“Pride (feat. Gummy)” by Truedy
Ultimately, Truedy was the season’s winner. And with her crown came the last featuring song, which was a collaboration with singer Gummy. Even if Truedy didn’t produce it herself, “Pride” was tailor made for her, with it’s bouncy, old school hip-hop feel.
Which of these songs are your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Untitled-design.png7681024Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelumhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAlexis Hodoyan-Gastelum2016-01-07 18:14:522016-01-08 10:40:165 Songs to Get You Ready for ‘Unpretty Rapstar’ Heize & Truedy’s Los Angeles Show
Becoming a popular K-pop girl group is hard. Not only does a new group debut every other day, but female artists have to compete with male groups who get most of the attention from the fan girls. Definitely, not an easy task. However, Apink stood the test of time and is now one of the most popular girl groups and Korea. Said popularity has spilled abroad recently, with them touring China, Japan, Singapore, and now their “Pink Memory” North American tour is just around the corner!
The lovely girls of Apink are headed to the US and Canada early next year. Their stops are Vancouver on January 5 at the Orpheum Theatre, Dallas on the 6 at the Verizon Theatre, San Francisco on the 8 at the Regency Ballroom, and Los Angeles on the 9 at Club NOKIA. Tickets have been on sale since November and they go from $50 for general admission, to $250 in Vancouver and $215 for the US stops for the VIP meet and greet. You can buy them here.
Thanks to big shows and festivals like KCON and the Korea Times Festival we’ve been able to see a wide arrange of Korean acts over the years, but Apink’s concert will be the first time since 2012 that a female K-pop group holds a solo concert in the States and fans are ecstatic. But to add to the excitement, let’s revisit eight of their songs to get us hyped up for the upcoming shows.
1. “Mr. Chu”
Among the standouts release by the sextet, the one that shines the brightest is no doubt “Mr. Chu.” While still sticking to their overall cute and feminine concept, “Mr. Chu” is one of those feel-good dance songs you can’t help but cheer up when you listen to it.
Apink has its fair share of earworms, but none gets into your brain and refuses to leave like “No No No.” The chorus and the point dance moves, of course. “No No No” is one of those songs you just can’t sit in your seat and clap along to. You must get up and sing and dance along with the girls.
3. “Hush”
After becoming one of the standout rookies when they debuted, they came back with “Hush.” Unlike a lot of Apink’s singles, “Hush” relies a lot on the electro pop beats that were very popular in K-pop when it came out. Even if the song differs from what we’re used to from them, it’s a nice change that breaks the sameness of their cute and girly songs.
4. “I Got You”
This B side from “UNNE ANNE” followed the same sound as “Hush,” being an electro pop extravaganza. In true Apink fashion, the song is incredibly catchy and easy to sing along to. However, the song stands out for being a cool mix of their usual concept with this new electronica concept. “I Got You” would’ve made an awesome single. But since this wasn’t the case, we’re left with a true hidden gem only fans or people who take the trouble of listening to the whole album know.
5. “Like a Dream”
But not everything is a dance party. With such talented vocalists, we obviously have to include a mid-tempo ballad. It’s a little reminiscent of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow,” but with Apink’s signature sugary and youthful vocals.
6. “My My”
When one thinks of Apink, songs like “My My” is what comes to mind; innocence, femininity, and a bit (or a lot) of cheesiness without tapping into the ridiculous. “My My” is a complete throwback for its bubblegum pop reminiscent of S.E.S or other ‘90s Western pop acts. The melody goes perfectly with their sugary vocals, creating an uplifting, feel-good song.
Fast forward a couple of years, the girls of Apink are not so young anymore, and we got a glimpse of their transition into womanhood with “Luv.” Still cute, still feminine, but this song has a touch of maturity we hadn’t seen before from them, stating that these girls are growing up. The girls are now singing about deeper kinds of love and seem more in tune with said feelings. “Luv” is a nice break from the lively tunes, showing us that Apink is not only about the rainbows and unicorns in life.
8. “Remember”
Having their cake and eating it too, “Remember” starts off as a sweet ballad but then turn into a fresh pop synth symphony. It sounds completely different from anything Apink has done before, but at the same time, it’s familiar. After “Luv,” the girls went back to their cute concept, but the flavor in “Remember” is seasoned differently. Like it was left to marinate longer and now has a more flavorful and rich taste to it. It’s a great summer jam, making it a great song to dance and have fun to at the show.
What’s your favorite Apink song? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Untitled-design-8.png7681024Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelumhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAlexis Hodoyan-Gastelum2015-12-24 15:39:202015-12-24 15:39:208 Apink Songs to Hype You Up for their North American Tour
Boston was the fourth and also the second to last stop on Beenzino’s five city North American Tour sponsored by CHL Entertainment and PlatinumKShows. December 11 marked the first time that a non-American Korean hip hop artist was performing not only at Royale but Boston in general and, boy oh boy, were the expectations high! As a fellow Bostonian, I can’t begin to tell you how long this crowd has waited for a show like this to hit town, and to have Beenzino be the first was an absolute honor.
Not that I ever doubted Beenzino’s ability to work the crowd, but damn does this guy know how to get his audience hyped. He has this artistic aroma that naturally fills the air, on and off the stage, which the crowd feeds off of. There was nothing that could’ve prepared us for what was to come; starting from the few seconds before he hit the stage whilst teasing the audience with his deep voice peeping through the dark shadows from the side of the stage, to that very second that the beat dropped as he came out leaping and started with “Jackson Pollock D*Ck“ as his opening number. It didn’t take much before the crowd lost their minds; it honestly really only took a simple subtle “hey Boston” before the room ruptured into a frenzy. That’s how you know it’s going to be one hell of a show if all the artist has to do is crack a “hey” into the microphone which then causes automatic madness.
He went hard the instant he stepped foot on that stage, with a drink in his hand, already gleaming with that “Asian glow.” I thought Beenzino was going to start off slow and ease the crowd in with his set but nope, Zino meant business and absolutely wanted to waste no time whatsoever. With ShimmyTwice as the DJ, the Jazzyfact duo were pulling out all the stops and took us back in time with oldies like their very own “A Tribe Called Jazzyfact,” “각자의 새벽(Each One’s Dawn),” “Slow Down,” “Summer Madness,” “Boogie On & On,” “Mitch As F*Ck,” including his featuring tracks “Nike Shoes,” “I Get Lifted,” “Welcome To The Show,” and “The Color.” Among the crowd favorites were “How Do I Look?,” “Up All Night,” “Break,” and his latest single “We Are Going To.”
The energy was nonstop and was always at an all time high. Beenzino fed off of the crowd, which was clearly well received considering he put in 200 percent throughout the two-hour and some extra minutes show. Zino was way more interactive (in both Korean and English) with the crowd than I had expected; he told us about all the good food he had eaten since being in town and the sheer look of excitement that was on his face as he talked about his first trip to Dave & Buster’s was incredibly cute for this 28-year-old. He also made a quick shout out to his friends that came along for support while being on tour and to his girlfriend, Stephanie, who was watching the show from the second floor. As he was saying that the crowd all looked to the right, zoomed in and focused on her, to which Beenzino exclaimed “No, don’t do that… It’s kinda weird. Focus on me okay, focus on me, focus on me. It’s my night.” At that moment he looked like a sad puppy that just had his chew toy taken away from him. Ah, what a cutie. A majority of the crowd were rowdy fan boys, to which he responded along to quite playfully with, at one point even telling one of the guys that kept screaming things at Zino every time he started to talk, that “he needs help.”
Although about 80 percent of the audience was Korean, Beenzino made sure to make that extra effort to crank out all the English that he knows, even in moments where he struggled to translate transitional words from Korean to English, as he chuckled in semi embarrassment. But the fan interactions didn’t stop there, as he continued to smile and respond to those who shouted random and funny things at him. The utter shock on Beenzino’s face when a male fan told him to take off his shirt could leave one gasping for air from laughter due to the response that he gave “No man, I’m not taking off my shirt! Why would you say that? You’re not a girl!” But then he pulled his printed Givenchy hoody, quickly exposing his belly button; pure hilarity that Zino. While in transition for his next stage, he asked some fans in the front row what their favorite song of his was and a few people responded with “Break” and with a mischievous smile he said he hates that song and continued asking for songs until someone said “Aquaman,” which then ended up being the song he was waiting to play. Read more
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/B4.jpg40006016Tam Huynhhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTam Huynh2015-12-14 08:25:482015-12-14 13:05:53Beenzino Made Boston ‘Boogie On & On’
INFINITE is returning to the Americas with their solo tour for the second time. INFINITE Effect will land in Vancouver on January 7, followed by stops in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Santiago, and a final stop in New York on January 19. Anybody who missed INFINITE coming to this side of the world in 2013 will definitely want to see the group in 2016. But what will they be seeing?
Along with INFINITE’s most popular songs, like set opener ”Before The Dawn” and encore ”Come Back Again,” INFINITE will be performing a large variety of songs, along with some of their newest songs.
”Up To You”
The setlist for INFINITE Effect contains every song off of INFINITE’s most recent “Reality” EP, which was released earlier this year. “Up To You” comes at the end of the show, but will be a great way to pump up the crowd with it’s playful, funk vibe. “Up To You” makes a good show of giving each member a time to shine, without any harmonizing or distortion to distract from the vocal clarity of each voice. It will likely be one of the highlights of the show as INFINITE gets a second wind ahead of the finale.
”The Chaser”
Personal bias aside, “The Chaser” is one of INFINITE’s best songs hands down and no performance by the group is complete without this song. Sharp, distinct retro sounds are now considered the representative element of INFINITE and set the group apart from other K-pop groups. No song displays these aspects of INFINITE’s music more wholly than “The Chaser.” The synth-pop song recently appeared on Rolling Stone’s “50 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time,” and there’s a reason for that.
In the INFINITE Effect setlist, “The Chaser” is followed up by INFINITE’s latest single, “Bad,” and that’s pretty good. The two songs have distinct, yet similar, dance-synth retro styles. “Bad” is one of INFINITE’s strongest songs to date, with a more aggressive style than the group used to lean towards and it comes out in the vocals and the dance. The dramatic song will be one of INFINITE’s last songs on stage but, as the saying goes, it will definitely not be the least of their performances.
”Kontrol” (Kim Sungkyu)
INFINITE has numerous extremely talented singers in the group, but it’s leader Sungkyu who really makes a splash when it comes to his solo stages. The last time INFINITE was in this part of the world, Sungkyu was performing songs from his “Another Me” EP, and his latest music shows him as a more mature, expressive performer. Sungkyu’s “27” EP is one of the best albums out of Korea this year, so if you haven’t listened to it yet, you may want to prepare yourself for his soul-filled synth-rock performance.
The last time INFINITE was in North America, INFINITE F wasn’t a thing yet. During their One Great Step tour, Sungyeol and Sunjong had a set while L had his own one. This time around, the subunit will come together on stage for what is sure to be a sweet performance of “My Girl,” preceded by a remix version of “Heartbeat.” “My Girl” was originally in Japanese, but INFINITE F will be performing a Korean version of the song. The song is a light, upbeat tapping tune that makes the most of the subunit’s soft vocals, and will definitely provide a light touch amidst the stronger songs dance songs performed by INFINITE as a whole.
”Together”
Only INFINITE would end a concert on a song that isn’t even a B-track, let alone a single, but the soundtrack to their “Grow” documentary. “Together” is a soft ballad promise to INFINITE’s fans, Inspirits, and has been sung as the final encore at INFINITE Effect stops. The song was composed by Woohyun, and reflects INFINITE’s feelings. Needless to say, prepare tissues for both the audience and the band at each stop because there will be many people crying as they sing along to this heartfelt tune.
Also look forward to performances of “Back” and “Last Romeo,” which are two of the singles INFINITE has released since the last time they brought their tour to this part of the world.
Tickets are currently on sale for INFINITE’s Los Angeles stop, and range between $50-$150 USD. They can be purchased on AXS’s site.
What are you looking forward to the most at INFINITE’s concert? What’s the song you want to see INFINITE perform the most? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/INFINITE.jpg6711024Tamar Hermanhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-11-30 05:54:282015-12-07 15:37:536 INFINITE Songs That Will Prepare You For INFINITE Effect
The Illionaire show at the Belasco in Los Angeles, CA, last Friday night was the most lit Korean hip hop show year. I arrived early to get the feel for the place and to steak out a spot at the corner of the stage, not realizing just how insane this show would be. You never know what kind of crowd will be drawn to concerts that headline international stars. Friday nights are known to host a very eclectic crowd from the Ktown Elite, such as Dumbfoundead and Sean Rhee, to the hardcore Illionaire fangirl. The crowd was a sea of diversity, all ready to lose their minds the moment Dok2 and The Quiett stepped on stage.
And boy did they deliver! Dok2 and The Quiett both showed up on stage just before midnight and greeted the suddenly intensely screaming crowd with free hats from Dok2’s new brand, 808 Hats. They fired off hats into the crowd and even a few in the skyboxs above the stage. They greeted the crowd and immediately started cranking out the hits live.
Songs like The Quiett’s “2 Chainz and Rollies” warmed the already hot crowd up as they danced and surged against the stage. It was a packed house singing along to “Profile,” as the rappers hopped around the stage and made contact with fans. Dok2 teased fans by reaching out with his hand and yanking it back while The Quiett stared a few women down, making them instantly scream for more.
But it was “YGGR” that really fired up the crowd. The entire club shot up their Illionaire signs with their hands in the air and sang along so loud you could barely hear the DJ spinning the track. All in all, it was a hardcore show that was all adrenaline and no downtime. Albeit a short show, ending just after 12:30 a.m. and Illionaire doing a short set of songs. However, no one was complaining because by the time they stepped off stage, we were all spent.
by Yasamine Entesari
Once the guys were off stage, I decided to head down to the green room and see if I could ask a few questions. Mind you, Illionaire is one of the most hardcore hip hop record labels in South Korea. I wasn’t expecting to even get the chance to see them, let alone meet them and enjoy a few questions while they posed for pictures for us.
“Welcome to LA. How are you liking the city of Angels?” I asked while rifling through my camera bag. “It’s LA,” Dok2 replied and chuckled as he put his phone down. I then mention how he seems to always be hanging out in Hawaii or Las Vegas, to which he told me he actually did come here every month for work and smiled wide. I guess the availability of CHARTER FLIGHTS BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND HAWAII and vice-versa makes way for worry-free travel for celebrities like Dok2. As I juggle trying to keep my cool, be a professional, and pull out my camera and flash, we talk about future collaborations, to which Dok2 only gives an aloof “We’ll see.”
by Yasamine Entesari
I quickly lift up my camera to take the shot and both Dok2 and The Quiett go from smiling sweet hearts to thug life in an instant, flashing that Illi sign and looking hardcore. I take a few shots and and thank them profusely. They are so sweet, thanking me back for coming to the show and suddenly we’re in this never ending cycle of compliments and thank you’s until luckily my friend steps up and brings up the big question: why didn’t they bring any Illionaire hats?! Dok2 had a good answer though, they sold out fast. We joked we wanted to give them our money, to which he pointed to The Quiett’s own black Illionaire hat with purple embroidery on it. “You want this one? I’ll sell it to you for $500,” he said. “$500?! Do you take installments?!” I asked in disbelief. But in true Dok2 fashion, he answered, “Nah. Cash only girl.”
We’re all chuckling as I pack up my stuff and thank them again for their kindness and I tell them how much I enjoyed the show. They smiled the entire time as they sat back down and claimed their phones. It was such a surreal experience. I couldn’t be any more blown away at their down to earth personalities. Dok2 is charismatic and hilarious, while The Quiett is cute and well… Quiet. After meeting them, it’s not hard to believe these two men built the most successful hip hop record label in South Korea. Business is always on their mind.
Check out the rest of the awesome pictures from the show:
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What’s your favorite Illionaire song? Share your picks and overall thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/illionaire-01-e1448394983206.jpg7981200KultScenehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2015-11-25 12:05:192015-11-25 12:05:19Dok2 & The Quiett Made Us Feel The Link Between Them & Us in Los Angeles
I knew that I had to get my hands on INFINITE’s concert tickets once they announced their second world tour, ”INFINITE EFFECT”. As a relatively new Inspirit (INFINITE’s fan), I had missed the chance to see them two years ago, when they visited Singapore as part of their first world tour, “One Great Step.” The desire to attend their concert intensified further when the details for their Singapore stop was officially announced, especially because the concert was to be held at a smaller venue as compared to the previous time, thus propelling my friends and I to go for priority booking (at an extra cost of about 20 dollars), all in the hopes of getting to see our beloved idols in a closer proximity — and see them we did.
Press Conference
INFINITE has always been known for their outstanding fan service and constant gratitude towards their fans, but this was clearly highlighted to Singaporean Inspirits when they decided to have a public press conference in a mall, rather than a quiet one with only media representatives present. Needless to say, it became more of a crazy fan meet rather than a press conference as 1,500 teenage girls huddled together to get a glimpse of the dashing INFINITE members. Although the press conference only started at 7:30 p.m., most fans had been camping at the venue since early that morning despite the hot weather and the subsequent rain. I joined the crowd slightly later than the rest but still enjoyed a good long wait of about four hours. It was well worth it though, that was for sure. INFINITE had only arrived in Singapore that morning but they were all dolled up to perfection in their black suits and there was no sign of tiredness on their faces as they interacted with the fans. They came very promptly as well, which showed their love and consideration for their fans, who had been waiting for them for a long time. L even looked shocked at the number of fans who were gathered there for them.
video credits @PINGGVAELE
It was my first time seeing them live, and though I was constantly being blocked by the flailing arms of the fangirls in front of me, it felt amazing to see them with my own eyes and to be in the same venue as them. When they started to speak, I literally couldn’t breathe because of how surreal the situation was. Watching their interaction with the fans and with each other felt like I was watching a fancam or a video of them at an event or a concert, but the reality was that I was present with them, and this realisation made my heart pound even more rapidly than usual.
It was a tiring 30 minutes, having to squeeze with tons of other fans in a suffocating atmosphere, constantly screaming and cheering while desperately trying to balance my camera, tip-toeing for the entirety of the press conference in order to get a better view; but it was all worth it to listen to their adorable answers to the reporters present and to sense their sincere gratitude and love for their fans. Maybe the reason why INFINITE remains so dearly loved by their fans five years after their debut is because of how charming all the members are, not just in terms of looks but also the way they speak. Take for example, this question which came up at the press conference.
Reporter: What is the biggest challenge that INFINITE is facing? Hoya: The biggest challenge that I’ve had is that I haven’t been able to see my Singapore fans for the past two years.
How could anyone not fall for them? Though I had never seen INFINITE in real life before, I had attended “Running Man” fan meets before and I was used to such crowds. I also knew the best way to get a good video of the INFINITE members, and that was to rush to gather around their exit route before the press conference ended. While I wasn’t the first to think of that idea, I did make it there before most of the other fans did, and that enabled me to stand at a distance of less than five meters away from the members as they exited the venue. It was a precious experience, and it thoroughly hyped me up for the concert that was to take place the following night.
It was the 13th of November, also known as the day I had been waiting for for the past five to six months! Though I was exhausted from the previous night’s fervor, I was also very excited to finally attend the concert. Once again, the concert started right on time with a thrilling trailer that ended with the appearance of the seven INFINITE members. Though the concert venue was small and the capacity of the place was limited to 3,000 people, the deafening screams of the fans more than made up for the lack of numbers. The energy was very high, both for INFINITE and for the fans as the group started off with three of their hit releases, “Before The Dawn,” “Paradise,” and “Be Mine.” Unfortunately, Hoya (main dancer and rapper) was injured so he could not participate in most of the dances during this concert and had to remain seated at the side of the stage. Despite his absence, the rest of the members managed to fill up the stage and still performed their dances with much synchronicity and precision.
My favourite moments during this concert were probably when the members gave speeches because they were all so sincere and their true personalities really shone through. For one thing, they all made an effort to speak as much as they could in English, and some of them (L and Hoya) were actually pretty proficient in the language. From photos of the press conference the day before, I could tell that the members were all pretty tired, especially since they had hectic schedules and another concert lined up in Jakarta after Singapore. However, this did not show during their performances and speeches because they gave their all and brought a lot of energy to their stages. Dongwoo in particular was seriously high throughout the concert and his wacky actions made fans laugh out loud several times in the night. The best line of the night probably came from L though, and he repeated the same line two more times at the end of the concert and on his Instagram post: “I’m your darling L!”
After the energetic performances came some slow ones as the members performed their newest ballads “Standing Face to Face” and “Love Letter.” These two songs were the ones that I looked forward to the most, partly because I am a huge ballad fan and partly because I wanted to hear their voices live. The performances sent chills down my spine because of how good they sounded in real life, if it was possible they sounded even better than on their album. To watch their emotions, to hear the strength of the voices, to hear their high and skilful notes, no words could express how overwhelmed and blissful I felt in that moment. This is a phrase that I’ve been repeating a lot but INFINITE’s love for their fans really shined through their rendition of “Love Letter,” and I’m thankful that I got a chance to experience it.
The special stages put up by INFINITE H, Woohyun, INFINITE F and Sunggyu were fantastic as well. I especially loved the subunit performances because they went around doing fan service and interacting with the fans. Though they nearly got mobbed in the process, the members bravely stuck it out and continued throwing adorable stuffed plushies to their fans. They even gave sweet reminders for fans to stay safe even while rushing to catch the presents they handed out. This fanservice continued through other performances of songs from their latest mini-album “Reality” and they even performed their newest unreleased song, “For You” with a great choreography. I can’t wait for this song to be released!
The concert “ended” with a bang with their latest title tracks “Back” and “Bad,” and the reason why I’m using these inverted commas is because they obviously had an encore prepared for the fans. After about five minutes of fans alternatively chanting “Encore, encore” and “돌아와“(Korean for comeback), the members reappeared in fresh outfits and performed their debut song, “Come Back Again.” It was a nice throwback to their earliest days and started the members off on a sentimental note for their final speeches. I’ll be honest, I started tearing up during these speeches, not just because they were touching but because I couldn’t believe that the concert was ending so quickly. It had already gone on for around two hours and there was hardly a moment when the members were not on stage, but it was so fast-paced that I thought the concert had just begun. It might be a delusion but I had the impression that the members felt the same way. During their speeches, it was evident that they felt sad about leaving Singapore so soon after they had arrived, especially in the case of Woohyun and Dongwoo, who came close to tears as they spoke and sang their final song, “Together.”
I knew from watching concert videos that INFINITE would definitely perform this song at the end, but nothing prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster that I would feel as I heard them sing. A simple and heartfelt song written by Woohyun after the first world tour, I fell in love with it the first time I heard it, but it’s definitely different when you hear it live. Woohyun’s extra high note at the climax of the song gave me goosebumps and it was so beautiful, the way the members sounded when they sang in harmony. The song carried the concert to an emotional high, and that’s when it truly ended with white confetti falling from the ceiling. Together, they took a deep bow as they thanked the fans who had gone to the concert and the amazing band who had played for them the entire night. As I was furiously snapping photos, tears were also running down my cheeks because of this show of unity. The reason why I love INFINITE so much is because of the strong friendship between the members, and this bow reinforced my belief in them. No matter what may face them in the future, I know that they will always have each other along with the support of all their fans, including me of course.
All in all, as my first K-pop concert, INFINITE EFFECT really set the bar for me and I can’t wait for them to come back already. These two days that INFINITE was in Singapore were really two of the best days in my life, and they really reminded me of why I became an Inspirit in the first place. Even as INFINITE continues their world tour till next year, I hope that they will continue to receive the support of all their Inspirits and that they will continue to achieve great success.
Have you ever attended an INFINITE concert? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1447723898120.jpg20482048Anna Cheanghttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2015-11-16 21:36:592015-11-16 21:36:59#IFNTECT_SG: The Best 2 Days Of My Life
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Beenzino-North-American-Tour-Banner.jpg720960Tam Huynhhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTam Huynh2015-10-30 07:31:062015-11-30 18:49:025 Songs to Get You Ready For Beenzino’s North American Tour + TICKET GIVEAWAY
Seoulsonic returned to New York City last week as part of CMJ’s 2015 music marathon with a new set of acts performing at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) in Manhattan on Oct. 15. Three Korean indie acts — Sultan of the Disco, HEO, and WYM— performed throughout the night to showcase the music coming out of South Korea’s indie scene nowadays. I had a chance to speak to each of the acts before the show to hear about their careers and experiences at Seoulsonic.
[This is the second of a three-part interview/review series from the event. The interviews with HEO and WYM can be read HERE and HERE.]
Seoulsonic NYC 2015 began around midnight, but when Sultan of the Disco took to the stage wearing dragon-covered robes, shower shoes, and headbands, it was clear that the night was just getting started. The ‘70s inspired funk band hit all the right notes for the audience, getting everyone involved right away. With a full-fledged band onstage plus one member of the band dancing along to the rest with major aplomb, it was hard to not clap along and move to the sounds.
Sultan of the Disco is, when broken down, physical comedy meeting Korean musical innovation. Singing in both English and Korean, the group began its life as a dance troupe named Sultan of the Disco but over the years transitioned into a band with a heavy emphasis on dance. Their first single, “Magic Prince,” was released in 2007, and their latest song “SQ (We Don’t Need No EQ IQ)” came out this past July. Surpassing language barriers, the group’s played overseas in the past, although this was their first show in New York.
Lead vocalist Nahzam Sue sat down with me for a few minutes before the show began to tell me a bit about the band.
“We want the immediate reaction of the audience to be able to dance and enjoy it,” Nahzam told me before explaining the band’s unusual inclusion of a member who just dances along while the rest of the band performs. “One dancer remains in our team, so there’s that spirit. He just dances… There’s a lot of energy [shared] between us and the audience.”
And indeed, on stage later that night, J.J Hassan stood there on stage, dancing alongside the other members as they played their music. Nahzam also had his own moves to show off while he sang, going back to the group’s origins as a dance team.
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“At the beginning, it was me and three other guys. It wasn’t an official band, but a dance team,” said Nahzam. “One by one, during sessions, guys who played instruments joined us and the Sultan of the Disco dance group became the band we are now.”
The band that they are now has had an album, 2013’s “The Golden Age,” nominated as the best electronic/dance album at the Korean Music Awards, but they’re moving onto the future.
“We’re working on a new single now, that will be released by the end of the year,” the lead singer said. “The single will be a lot slower, a slow jam that’s different from what we’ve done. Even though our music is based in humor, we want to make our music maybe a little slower, groovier in the future [with more meaning.]. We want to be a more emotional band.”
Being emotional seemed like the last thing on their minds that night, though, as Sultan of the Disco connected with the audience through music, dance, and trying their best at talking in English. Pumping up the crowd in all the right ways possible, the band made a lasting impression at Seoulsonic NYC 2015 that the had us all wishing we were living in the disco age.
What do you like the most about Sultan of the Disco? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/sotd2.png12001600Tamar Hermanhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-10-27 16:06:532015-10-28 14:16:21Sultan Of The Disco Does Funky Right At Seoulsonic NYC 2015 [Interview]
Seoulsonic returned to New York City last week as part of CMJ’s 2015 music marathon, with a new set of acts performing at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) in Manhattan on Oct. 15. Three Korean indie acts — Sultan of the Disco, HEO, and WYM— performed throughout the night to showcase the music coming out of South Korea’s indie scene nowadays, brought together by Seoulsonic. I had a chance to speak to each of the acts before the show to hear about their careers and experiences at Seoulsonic.
[This is the second of a three-part interview/review series from the event. The first interview with HEO can be read HERE.]
Retro synthpop is at its best with the one man band WYM, the final act of the night at this year’s Seoulsonic NYC. Described as sexy danceable music by WYM, his music incorporates electronica elements and intense drum beats.
WYM, or Byun Joon Hyung, is a one-man band, created by the South Korean artist known as Bjorn, the Scandinavian word for ‘bear.’ “A lot of people outside of Korea can’t really pronounce my Korean name, but my surname is Byun and a friend suggested I use ‘Bjorn’ as my artist name,” WYM explained during our interview. The band name in turn stands for “Would You Mind?” and the Korean phrase, “우주마인드,” (lit. “space mind”) pronounced “wujumaindeu.”
On stage at Seoulsonic, WYM had an unpretentious stage manner and image, a sharp contrast from the heavily coordinated K-pop artists that have popularized South Korean music in the world. WYM stood behind a wide array of synthesizers, with the plastic tube of a talk box in his mouth to aid him in vocal distortion. A backing drummer, truly excellent at his craft, provided the only traditional instrument on stage during the set as WYM created his dark, wailing dance music.
The musician studied in the United States and collaborated early on in his career with a friend to create the project band MDS, which released remix music of Korean song in an electronic style. MDS released an album and a few singles before WYM was created.
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“I felt like I had to do something,” WYM said. “That MDS thing, I still wanted to do it. But I wanted to concentrate more on something that I really like and want to express, and show people what I can do, what I believe, what I can sound like. I started as a soloist under the name Bjorn, then I released a single “Empty Desire” in 2011. Then I thought I needed to do more band-ish stuff. But alone. So I created a name, WYM, as my solo project name. So under WYM I made an album and released it last year.”
The LP “After Moon” was released in 2014 and proved WYM’s worth as an artist whose songs you want to listen to while dancing in a club and then ruminating in a drunken state afterwards.
“I want to make sexy music. That sounds, like, really sexy but also danceable stuff. That, and I really want to do some really emotional stuff too. On the album, there’s some of all of that. I have everything, I think. “
What WYM can do is outstanding. On stage, in front of Seoulsonic’s eyes, he went above and beyond, transforming his normal voice into a mechanized instrument and creating beats that were at once fun, introspective, and haunting. The five-song set included synth and distorted elements, but also showed hints of reggae and rock before settling firmly in the world of electronic dance music. The thumping beats of the drums were just as important to the music as WYM’s electronic sounds, both coming together to get the crowd moving.
A year after releasing WYM’s first EP, it’s a big deal for him to be a closing act at CMJ’s Seoulsonic and he hopes to perform at this year’s SXSW, despite the difficulties of being a Korean indie musician.
“As an indie artist in the electronic form of music in Korea, it’s a really hard life, it’s not easy,” he explained. “People don’t really like electronic. I mean, people go to clubs to listen to really mainstream EDM stuff but not a lot of people listen to the kind of washed out stuff in Korea. It’s hard to be recognized, I think, but I was happy [to be nominated for the 2015 Korean Music Awards Electronic Dance Album of the year award]. With that nomination, Seoulsonic asked me to join. I was very honored to be recognized.”
The show ended with the audience cheering for WYM, as the tunes went in and out of danceable melancholy and euphoria, ending the show with “Trying.” Despite the late hour, WYM’s energetic electronica had us all moving to the rhythm before 2015’s CMJ Seoulsonic came to an end.
Do you like WYM? What’s your favorite Korean indie band? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/WYM2.png12001600Tamar Hermanhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-10-22 13:01:382015-10-22 13:05:25WYM Created Haunting Electronic Music At Seoulsonic NYC 2015 [Interview]
