Page 53 – KultScene

‘Dramaworld’ Will Be A Love Letter To K-Drama Fans, Says Viki’s CEO [Interview]

September 18, 2015/in Entertainment, Features, Television /by Tamar Herman

Do you dream of landing a role in your favorite drama? So does Viki.

Many fans of Korean dramas know what makes them so loveable. The hand grabs, the open-eyed kisses, the manipulation by family members, the out of this world action, the romance, the friendship, the history, the magic, the drama, the laughter, the tears… There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. And now Viki, the website that brings you so many subbed dramas and Korean television shows, is ready to launch its first original web series, Viki’s very own “love letter” to drama fans.

“Dramaworld” is about a 20-year-old college student who is obsessed with Korean dramas and watches every drama featuring her favorite leading magic. Through some magic, she finds herself sucked into favorite drama.

“Dramaworld” stars Sean Dulake(“Jejungwon” and “Athena: Goddess Of War”,) Liv Hewson, and Justin Chon (Twilight.) Korean drama stars, including Super Junior’s Choi Siwon and Han Ji Min, will make cameos throughout the 10-episode web-series.

We interviewed Tammy H. Nam, the CEO of Viki, about the drama.

Can you please tell our readers a bit about “Dramaworld”?
The Dramaworld press release has a lot of background, but essentially, we decided to produce/invest in this production because we really wanted to create a show specifically for global fans of Asian dramas. Most of the shows we have on the site are produced for the local market, whether that’s Korea, Japan, China, U.S or whatever. Increasingly, viewers’ tastes are skewing global and the typical formats, storylines, even languages are being thrown out the window. Dramaworld is a perfect example of that.

It sounds like “Dramaworld” is based on every K-drama fan’s fantasies. Were any other plots discussed?
The director/writer Chris Martin, who we’ve worked with in the past, came to us with the script. We pretty much didn’t have any recommended changes because our visions are aligned – he knows the audience very well. Even though he’s American, he’s traveled and worked extensively in Asia and knows specifically the Korean film industry and global fan base very well. His Korean is much better than mine!

Also on KultScene: K-Dramas as a Window into the Realities of Korean Society

There’s a reason why international joint ventures rarely work out. Business cultures are extremely different from country to country. We had some initial bumps as well, mainly due to misunderstanding between parties, but it’s all good now. It’s certainly not easy, but we’re well positioned to make it successful – all the parties are bringing different strengths to the table and there’s mutual respect, especially since this is such a passion project for everyone involved.

Many Korean stars are being featured in cameos. Was there a lot of interest in Korea to see what could come out of a Korean-American drama?
Yes, there’s been an incredible amount of interest. We’re really excited to “reveal” who the new cameos are closer to the show. I think there’s a lot of curiosity about this format, the storyline, the platform. Everyone is very open to experimenting and also getting to know their international fan base better.

Web dramas have started to gain popularity in Korea, with many K-pop idols taking up roles. Was the popularity of web dramas taken into account when deciding to produce “Dramaworld”?
It’s easier to film for web because there’s so much more flexibility – you can do any timeframe, take more risks. That being said, the production team is awesome – they’re truly making this a TV broadcast-worthy show. While the intent was to make this a web series, if there’s interest from a TV broadcaster, we’d definitely be open to that.

How did you personally get involved in Viki and drama production?
I joined Viki in November 2011, a year after the company launched. While the company itself looks incredibly different now than it did then, the vision has never changes. We’ve always been “global TV powered by fans” and from a business model perspective, have been very much a global version of a Hulu, albeit with an amazing crowdsourced subtitling community. The drama production part is probably more a reflection of how this industry has changed – the lowered cost of production, many distribution options, more competition and need for differentiation. I hope this is one of many more interesting co-productions to come.

You described “Dramaworld” as a “love letter to drama fans.” Will “Dramaworld” feature many of the tropes that make dramas so enjoyable, such as love triangles, hand grabs, etc.?
Oh my gosh. That’s the fun part. You’ll have to watch to see how fun they are – if you’re a true K-Drama fan, you’ll recognize them immediately!

There have been other attempts at creating Korean-American dramas, such as the American remake of “Boys Over Flowers” and filming much of “The Heirs” in the United States. Do you see Korean dramas growing even larger in the American market?
Yes, but what I see happening is that companies like Viki will be taking the lead along with content partners and distributors, not Hollywood. It’s an industry that’s still a bit old fashioned in its thinking. It’s a brave new world. We want to help introduce many more millions of fans to Asian dramas in super fun ways.

How big of a market does Viki think there is to grow into of these type of hybrid Asia meets West dramas?
It’s hard to tell because I’ve never seen it done before. However, it will be done in a way that’s super approachable. My hope is that it introduces this new genre to many millions of new viewers who didn’t know what they were missing!

From the three main actors, only Sean Dulake has acted in Korean dramas. How will that affect “Dramaworld”?
Much of the cast is local, and the whole idea is a global mashup anyway. The tropes as you mentioned are written into the show itself, so the “Kdrama-ness” is the underlying theme.

Also on KultScene: 10 K-Pop Songs That Teach Basic Korean Phrases + Chance To Win Korean Study Guides

Liv Hewson is the star of the show, and playing the role of essentially every K-drama fangirl ever. What can we expect from her?
The casting director was very excited about Liv. She believes she’s a huge up-and-coming talent. I hope she becomes very successful and maybe we’ll have a part in helping make this happen.

Filming begins in late September, so how is the cast and crew preparing in the meantime?
I’m sure there’s a million things to do in preparation, but the filming is the fun part. I know the production team is on the ground with stage, rehearsals and everything else. They promised to share part of that process with the fans as well. Look forward to some fun videos from the cast and crew!

What is the most exciting thing about “Dramaworld,” that makes it different from every other Korean, or non-Korean, web series out there?
It’s a truly global mash-up, which I think reflects the international viewership of Viki and perhaps the future of viewers in general — no borders, either culture, language, country, ideas. We love that.

What can we look forward to seeing from Viki in the future? Are more original series down the road?
I hope so!

“Dramaworld” will premiere on Viki on April 17.

What are you looking forward to the most about “Dramaworld”? What’s your dream drama plot to get sucked into? 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.

5 Fantasy Collaborations with Non K-Pop Artists Pt.2

September 16, 2015/in Entertainment, MUSIC /by Alejandro Abarca

Having Korean artists collaborate with your favorite non K-pop artists is something that K-pop fans dream about. We imagine our fantasy collaborations in our heads and even become producers in our dreams for them, imagining what sound they could create together.

Some collaborations have started to happen and one can dare to dream that anything on our list could actually come to fruition. In the last list we had for you, we talked about G-Dragon collaborating with Grimes. That hasn’t happened yet, but we did see G-Dragon cameo in her music video for “REALiTi.” And his labelmate, CL, has been seen working with Grimes and her close friend Blood Diamonds in preperation of her American debut. Without further ado, let’s explore more of our fantasy collaborations between K-pop and non Korean artists.

5. SHINee’s Jonghyun & Years & Years

Years & Years’ vocalist, Olly Alexander, shares a similar style of vocals to SHINee’s vocalist Jonghyun. They both love to show off their incredible high pitches and it will truly be a match made in heaven. Just imagining Jonghyun singing this track with Years & Years gives us goosebumps. The chorus is perfect for Jonghyun to join them on the track and have a solo towards the climax of the song and even, perhaps, a dance solo at the end.

4. Red Velvet, Ariana Grande, Jessie J, & Nicki Minaj

The ladies of Red Velvet just came back with their first mini-album “The Red.” Their new brassy experimental pop song “Dumb Dumb” has gained attention online due to similarities to another popular track out there. The song in question is Jessie J’s collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. Yes, there are some similarities between the two tracks, but it’s clearly not plagiarism. Instead on focusing on that, what if instead we imagined the parties in question doing a collaboration track? It could be part two of “Bang Bang” and it could be a mass hit. Many fans out there have been already showing support and have created mashups of the two songs giving us a clear idea of what a collaboration between these eight powerful ladies would sound like.

Also on KultScene: Red Velvet ’s Conceptualization & Formidable Fashion

3. Day6 & Nick Jonas

Day6 has everyone in the K-pop fandom falling in love with their music and their looks. And that’s what exactly Nick Jonas did when he released his first solo album. Day6 has great vocals and Nick Jonas isn’t a stranger for boy bands. Just imagine Nick featuring in an English remix of “Congratulations,” adding his vocals to the song. His part could come after the rap and would not only be a great addition to the track, but would make the song very sexy. The song could have a repetitive synth and bass like Nick Jonas’ “Jealous,” making Day6’s debut track into more of a R&B style song while still maintaining the feeling of the original score. We can only dare to dream but having these boys together would be incredible.

2. Jessi and Azealia Banks

Both Jessi and Azealia Banks are known for being explosive rappers; they’re not afraid to say what’s on their minds and create incredible good music because of it. Jessi just released her single “SSENUNNI,” which could easily be re-released as a remix format featuring Azealia Banks. The collaboration would be an intense mix between the two artists and will surely make everyone talk about their track. And maybe after they collaborate, Azealia will go on a rant about Jessi and their “friendship” will end. Nevertheless, it’s a fantasy collaboration we would love to see happen.

Also on KultScene: 10 K-Pop Songs That Teach Basic Korean Phrases + Chance To Win Korean Study Guides

1. G-Dragon, CL, Taeyang & Drake

G-Dragon and Taeyang are known for being sentimental artists, and one who is no stranger to that either is rapper Drake. The three men could collaborate on a completely new track that will need a powerful female to feature with them, and the perfect candidate for that is CL. The collaboration track could be a mixture to Drake’s “Hold On We’re Going Home” and Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips.” The song would start with Drake’s sweet vocals and seductive rap followed by G-Dragon’s. For the chorus, Taeyang’s emotional chords would fit perfectly with the collaboration, and finalizing it with CL joining them in the climax of the song.

Did you like any of our fantasy collaborations? Which one was your favorite? 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.

10 K-Pop Songs That Teach Basic Korean Phrases + Chance To Win Korean Study Guides

September 15, 2015/in Features /by Tamar Herman

K-pop songs are filled with tons of catchy Korean phrases, and any longtime fan of K-pop has probably picked up a few words or phrases here and there. But many Korean songs have English choruses, leading to many K-pop fans just singing along with the English hook rather than taking in much Korean language skills. In this list, we’ve compiled some of the best Korean songs for learning a bit of Korean language, which will help you out if you ever find yourself in Korea, or if you just want to impress people with all of the cultural diffusion that K-pop promotes.

In case these songs aren’t enough for you, and you feel like you really want to get your Korean on, check out our giveaway at the bottom of this list for two books that will help you study Korean vocabulary and grammar.

1. “Hi” [Lovelyz “Hi~”]

Annyeong is a shorter version of annyeonghaseyo, or Korea’s formal word for “hello.” Lovelyz’ “Hi~” is the perfect example of a bright song to learn how to greet someone in Korean. (Fun fact: if you’ve seen the American TV show “Arrested Development,” you’ll need to re-learn the pronunciation since the characters mispronounce annyang throughout the series.)

2. & 3. “Oppa” & “Noona” [Psy “Gangnam Style” & SHINee “Noona, You’re So Pretty”]

The most popular Korean word in 2012 was easily “Oppa” thanks to Psy’s famous song “Gangnam Style.” Many people may not actually realize that oppa is actually the Korean word that technically means a girl’s older brother, and is what female call old males who they have a close relationship with, whether it’s brothers, friends, boyfriends, or husbands.

The equivalent term for males to call an older female was made famous in SHINee’s iconic 2009 debut song “Noona, You’re So Pretty.” Noona similarly means a boy’s older sister and can be used for women a younger man has a relationship with.

Fly to the Sky’s ‘It Happens To Be That Way’ Music Video & Song Review

September 14, 2015/in Entertainment, MUSIC VIDEOS /by Tam Huynh

On September 14^th, the ballad princes better known as Fly to the Sky released their mini album titled “Love & Hate” with “It Happens to be That Way” as one of their two title tracks. Why one of two title tracks you may ask? Brian and Hwanhee explained that they were rather troubled with the task of choosing one title track and the thought of having two just seemed to make sense. They further went on to explain that although both title tracks are ballads, with both have similar and different feelings, these songs will cause a wet autumn, filled with emotional rain. Let’s see if it’ll be literal rain or tears as we review “It Happens to be That Way”.

Meaning

I talk about our goodbye like it’s no big deal
But my heart is still filled with you.

In the aftermath of a bitter break up, sometimes the most natural reaction that one can make is by shrugging it off like it’s really no big deal. The last thing you want is for those around you to continuously pester you with a million and one questions as to why the two of you broke up, how it all came about and whose at fault. The best way to avoid these questions and without getting too in-depth when answering is by ending the conversation as quickly as possible in order to make it seem as though you’re actually doing okay. But what happens when you know that you’re not okay?

Also on KultScene: Playlist Sunday: K-Pop Songs Named After Movies

It’s rare for one to walk away from a relationship and not feel any sense of remorse, sadness or heartbreak; that space in your heart won’t be vacant until it’s fully repaired and ready to move on. So what do you do in the meantime? What happens when denying reality no longer works? Should you continue shrugging it off and act like you’re not pained by the situation or do you let your emotions take over, that way you can let your heart heal? Whichever decision you opt for, just remember that things will eventually work themselves out, so it’s okay to be angry, sad, and bitter. Don’t let your heart be consumed with all these feelings on it’s own. Express it and let it all out.

Song

As if ballads don’t get a rep for being emotional enough on it’s own, you know a song will be pulling at your heartstrings when it starts off with an orchestra of string instruments. There’s something about those violins in the beginning of “It Happens to be That Way” that quickly engulfs you in an ocean of emotions. Brian and Hwanhee are both extraordinary vocalists, they each have their own distinctive and unique techniques that blend extremely well together, hence how they’ve managed to perform and work as well as they have for the last 15 years. With Brian’s impassioned tone and Hwanhee’s commanding notes transcending throughout the song, these guys will for sure take you on a whirlwind rollercoaster of untamed emotions. Read more

Playlist Sunday: K-Pop Songs Named After Movies

September 13, 2015/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

The inspiration between music and movies is a two-way street, and K-pop knows it well. Especially given that K-pop releases and groups often rely on themed concepts for their latests comebacks. So it’s no surprise that groups draw from the silver screen for inspiration. So for this week’s playlist, we’re listing our favorite songs that got their name and overall concept from film.

When I first came across Brown Eyed Girl‘s music video for their song “Kill Bill”, I was slightly intimidated at the fact that it was seven minutes and thirty seconds long. You know you’re in for a treat when a music video is that long for what are usually a three-minute and few seconds song. In case you didn’t know, the song is based off of the American film/series “Kill Bill” starring actors Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, and Vivica A. Fox. B.E.G’s homage to the movie “Kill Bill” was brilliant. Everything from their costumes to the choreography, the music, right down to the original storyline was on point. Although there were bits of humor in the music video, the ladies didn’t forget to incorporate their sexy concept, in which they tastefully executed, per usual. If you’re a bit confused by the music video then you might need to watch the first “Kill Bill” movie in order to put the pieces together. Once that’s out of the way, everything should be crystal clear and that way you’ll be able to enjoy B.E.G’s “Kill Bill” a lot more!

— Tam

Also on KultScene: Purfles’ “A Bad Thing” Music Video & Song Review

Outsider is definitely one of my favorite K-pop rappers and, thanks to my father, many of my early memories relate to Star Wars. So Outsider’s song with the American hip hop artist Twista, “Star Warz,” is easily one of my favorite K-pop songs that vaguely relate to a film. While “Star Warz” has little to do plot-wise with the film series, the battle is just as serious as saving the galaxy in “Star Warz,” with Twista and Outsider attacking one another to claim the title of fastest rapper while still taking inspiration from the film series. “Star Warz an intergalactic lyrical tactic in the flow with the homie from overseas,” raps Twista. The orchestral backing of the rapping makes the song a dramatic tune that would fit right in during a dramatic scene of any film.

– Tamar

Being a horror films lover, I got excited when I saw a track named “Dracula” on f(x)‘s “Red Light” album. The song opens up with a narrator saying “Deep in the darkest night, when there’s no one around, his force is coming. There’s no way out.” Only f(x) can pull of a song that has so many elements to it. It has classical instruments, electronic, and even horror screams, making the track a little creepy but very cool. Luna’s vocals are amazing in this song and it’s really cool that they made the classic horror music sound with the girls’ harmonies in the chorus. “Dracula” is one of the best songs in the album, which could have gone a very crazy route but was executed perfectly.

– Alejandro

Also on KultScene: Red Velvet ‘s Conceptualization & Formidable Fashion

When I first heard HA:TFELT‘s “Bond,” it immediately took me back to the ‘90s and brought back happy memories of me playing “GoldenEye 007” on Nintendo 64 with my cousins and sister after school and being the best at it (please, don’t try to figure out my age). There were so many good games on the Nintendo 64 which I miss playing, although there are things like this Paper mario rom which give you the opportunity to play them once again. “GoldenEye 007” was definitely one of my favourite games, though. “Golden Eye,” of course, is one of the installments of the “Bond” series, and HA:TFELT’s track by the same name uses the movie’s theme song in the chorus to keep the same mysteriousness and suspense alive. In “Bond,” HA:TFELT is a Bond girl, singing an ode to Bond in her sultriest voice, longing for him. And if you’ve seen any of the Bond movies, you know this guy’s a player, so the song gives us the woman’s perspective. Moreover, the track features rapper Beenzino, who only makes the whole thing that much greater. The song managed to give us older fans a great throwback while still keeping it contemporary and innovative. I dare say the song is unique in K-pop and it’s a shame it was pushed back to the B-tracks.

— Alexis

In terms of songs inspired by films, few are as clear cut as Rainbow’s “Black Swan”. Rainbow borrow mostly from Darren Aronofsky’s film of the same name more so than it does “Swan Lake”, the ballet that film was based on. The monochrome palette is everywhere in the film, and Rainbow take it to the extreme by having their music video covered in it too, but also shot in black and white. Thematically, it also takes more from the film; it focuses on the evil, obsessive swan. Scared that her actions will result in a loss of her humanity, yet there is nothing she can do to stop it. The monochrome motif continues even with the music. The song’s jabbing synths are sparse and simple enough to sound like black and white in musical form. This song was made to show a darker side of Rainbow, something we had never seen before. So it was appropriate that they referenced a film that plays on the duality of what a person can be.

— Joe

What’s your favorite K-pop song named after a movie? Share all 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.

Red Velvet’s Conceptualization & Formidable Fashion

September 10, 2015/in Fashion, Features /by Alejandro Abarca

There’s no doubt that SM Entertainment is gearing up Red Velvet to be their next girl group sensation. Their fashion and music has evolved fast in their short career, but they’ve always maintained the playful feeling set in “Happiness,” their debut track. Since liveliness is their overall style, without a doubt, Red Velvet has shown us formidable fashion since the get-go. And now with their first album “The Red” out, the group has finally reached their full conceptualization, look and sound wise.

Let go back to last year, August 4 to be exact. SM Entertainment debuted “Red Velvet,” their newest girl band since f(x). Their look was very youthful and modern and appealed to the overall aesthetics and trends in fashion for that year. The ‘90s comeback was at its peak and SM’s stylist took inspiration from various internet fashion tribes like seapunk, normcore, and health goth. From that, they created Red Velvet’s signature look: a collage of many different ideas merged together.

Photo via SM Entertainment

Cheerleaders and school uniforms are a must to make a girl group look young, but Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy got upgraded versions and made the uniforms their own. The girls sported tennis skirts that were short in the front but long in the back, asymmetrical skirts, and tops that included sailor motives. The look was girly and fun, but with the outfits paired with creepers and the multi colored hair, the girls had a modern edge (and to the viewers a way to differentiate each member) that was needed to make a new group stand out from the cuteness of the rest.

Photo via SM Entertainment

Also on KultScene: Bastarz, Jean Vigo, “Zero For Conduct,” & Internal Rebellion

However, Red Velvet was still cute in their own way; their fashion made every K-pop fan want what they were wearing. Flash forward a few months after their debut and their concept completely changed. The group released a cover version of the late ‘90s girl group S.E.S. “Be Natural”, and their look took a 180 degrees turn. The four members were dressed in classy, form-fitted suits that gave the girls a mature and sexy look. Coming from the youthful and colorful concept, Red Velvet confused us all with this new image, serving us the direct opposite. But nonetheless, the fashion was still exciting and pristine.

We already knew that Red Velvet’s name had a meaning — red being their sexy side and velvet being their soft one — but until “Be Natural,” we hadn’t seen the group’s duality. “Be Natural” was clearly Red Velvet’s introduction to their red side, and their stylist nailed it with the fashion choices for this track and promotions.

Moreover, with their next single “Automatic,” SM introduced a new member and it was the first time that we got to see the two sides of the group. The fashion was incredible and very on trend for spring/summer 2015. The ‘70s fashion had a revival and was at it’s peak, which the stylist managed to incorporate into the look and still give it the modern spin that didn’t seem costume-y. They even wore one of the most exciting collections for this year, Moschino by Jeremy Scott one inspired by Barbie.

Their next single “Ice Cream Cake” followed, and Red Velvet sedimented what their signature look and sound would be. This time, the group upgraded normcore outfits that followed a similar resemblance to their “Happiness” looks (i.e. tennis skirts and uniforms) and added fun pieces like the light-up faux fur jackets to keep it lively. The sound was a little creepy and crazy and took a few listens before loving the song, sure, but it was clearly their unique, quirky sound. It was a song filed under their “Happiness” concept and not the sultry one from “Be Natural” and “Automatic.”

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When a K-pop band finally releases it first full-length album, it’s when they have a clear picture of their concept. But with Red Velvet, their first album “The Red” was a great surprise that works cohesively with their previous releases instead of differing. With “Dumb Dumb,” the stylist kept playing with the collage of styles that they’ve had since debut; duality extends to every factor of the group. We still saw some normcore and health goth outfits mixed with other pieces that make them very relatable and unique and keeping the concept alive. Even the costumes in the music video play an important role and give them that quirkiness that they are now known for. They even keep playing with different colors for each member, very a la Spice Girls, to distinguish each member.

Furthermore, the sound of the music really works. It’s all over the place, but still very put together, just like their outfits. And, more importantly, it was an easier listen than “Ice Cream Cake,” making “Dumb Dumb” a winner for Red Velvet. The track has some brass, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic themes in the music, thus making it a very good experimental pop track, something not even SM’s experimental girl group f(x) has played with yet.

The members are still young and have a fresh image that is very suitable for whatever style SM puts them through. But now with their fifth single, it’s clear that if it’s fun, crazy or sexy and provocative, it’s going to be a Red Velvet track with amusing sounds and looks. With “The Red,” the group released a solid album with experimental sounds, and some tracks are even reminiscent of the early Girls’ Generation and f(x) songs. Red Velvet continues to surprise everyone with their talents, and now with their full conceptualization completed, the sky’s the limit. We can’t wait to see what’s next and where their success will take them.

What do you think of Red Velvet’s completed conceptualization look and sound wise? 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.

Bastarz, Jean Vigo, “Zero For Conduct,” & Internal Rebellion

September 9, 2015/in Features /by Joe Palmer

First things first: Who is Jean Vigo and what does he have to do with Block B’s subunit Bastarz? Jean Vigo was a French director in the 1930s who made only four films in his lifetime due to bad health. Knowing that he had only a short time to live had an obvious impact on his career. All of his films have an exuberant anarchy to them that reflected his troubled life, none more so than his 1934 masterpiece “Zero de Conduite” which translates to, yes, you guessed it, “Zero For Conduct.” So the links between the song by Bastarz and Jean Vigo are not that much of a stretch. Bastarz’s using this as the title for their debut single shows an obvious influence from Vigo, but the links go deeper than mere reference. Block B’s situation within the K-pop environment mirrors that of the young protagonists– Caussat, Colin, and Bruel– of Vigo’s film.

“Zero For Conduct” the film is about three young French boys who hatch a plan to start a rebellion in their strict school. It involves all manner of playful plans and schemes. It plays as a critique of French society so stuck to their rules and authority that they have lost all meaning of fun. Similarly, “Zero For Conduct” the song is about the K-pop industry. Bastarz make fun of boys who prance around in makeup while still trying to be macho. Both parties are criticizing the systems they are stuck in; they are starting revolutions within the system.

You could say that all revolutions happen within the systems they are striking against, yet the particular settings of the school and K-pop world are particularly personal.

In Vigo’s films, the three protagonists’ lives are portrayed completely through school. The only times they are not on school grounds are when riding on the train on their way to school or on a walk around the town with their class and teacher. They spend all their time in an oppressive school so, naturally enough, they revolt.

If you are at all familiar with the life of a K-pop idol then you’ll know that this is not far from their lives. We always see idols on TV shows talking about their hectic schedules and how they have no time to rest. They go from recording an album to learning choreography to performing on shows to promoting their album to radio shows and so much more. It sounds like an oppressive situation, yet all are there by choice. What if they aren’t really though? What if the only way to get your music out to an audience is to be a part of an idol group? Which brings us on to the true author of this song, Zico.

With his solo work, producing work, and appearances on “Show Me The Money,” Zico seems like a man wanting to get back to his roots. Along with this “Zero For Conduct” is his call for revolution. He’s sick of the exhausting idol lifestyle. He’s sick of the pretty boys, the endless practicing, and the scolding agencies. According to him, “playing on stage without manners is the answer.” It’s time to take things a little less seriously in order to rebuild the system. This way, Zico’s work could go back to being as he originally intended, the work of the underground.

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This line from the Bastarz song also brings up some more similarities. The film, being about children, naturally contains many scenes of childish behaviour which becomes quite absurd at times. This sense of fun is included in the song through the visuals. P.O jumps around like a giant child. He wears dungarees and pirate hats and pulls all manner of ridiculous poses. He seems to be mocking the fashion and dance obsessed boys in other groups. There’s a nonchalance to his body language on and off stage that might look like a lack of commitment but is really just comfort in doing what he know he can do.

Using the visual is just as important, if not more, as the lyric to make a point in pop culture. To me, it’s clear again here that Bastarz are criticising the system they are in the middle of. There’s also an acknowledgment of the hypocrisy implicit in this. Bastarz and Zico can criticize K-pop all they like but they remain a part of the machine. To show their awareness of this they did not completely subvert the K-pop visual. The members still wear a lot of makeup. In some places it’s actually really heavy makeup suggesting they are happy to let us see it clearly, perhaps letting us know that they are aware of these rules that they must still follow.

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Hypocrisy is something that Vigo is quite aware of as well within his system. In one scene, the headmaster of the school is giving out about a boy saying something to the effect of, “I heard that they were disciplined for child-like behaviour.” When children are not allowed to behave like children, then some kid somewhere will try to change that. Yet the very fact that they are a child going up against those in power means that things won’t ever really change. They may make a dent, make themselves known for their courage, but the system always wins. Zico and Bastarz probably know this. That won’t stop them though. They will continue with music that is fun as hell and have as much fun as they can while doing it.

What do you think of both the Zero For Conducts? 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.

Dead Buttons Brings Classic Rock ‘N’ Roll Sounds To Seoul [INTERVIEW]

September 8, 2015/in Entertainment, Features, MUSIC /by Tamar Herman

Rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well when it comes to Dead Buttons, the Seoul-based duo classic rock band comprised of guitarist Hong Ji Hyun and drummer Lee Kang Hee. Mixing genres, Dead Buttons is a bit of classic rock meets punk meets blues and one of the best rock bands in Seoul today.

I had the chance to sit down with Dead Buttons earlier this summer to discuss their music, what they’ve been up to, their influences, and why they’re drunk on stage but not in the recording studio.

It’s so nice to meet you. Can you please introduce Dead Buttons to KultScene’s audience.
We play rock ‘n’ roll, and we’re from South Korea. Yea. We’re just a two piece band. We started playing together in 2012. First we were a three piece band. We had two bassists, but one quit, and then the other quit again. We’ve been two pieces for eleven month.

How did you pick the name?
HJH: I liked dead Kennedy and dead weather so I put the word dead, and the word button doesn’t mean anything.

How do you feel your music has grown since you don’t have a bassist anymore?
We can try more styles, new kinds, [without a bassist] because we were like a punk band but now we’re changing; psychedelic, rock ‘n’roll, now we can do everything, we’re not limited. I think that the instrument and player doesn’t matter. We don’t have a bassist, but we have bass. We care about the person who play music, but I think there’s a better chance at working together if we’re just two, face to face. We’re able to work better.

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What type of rock ‘n’ roll music are you doing nowadays?
Classic rock, punk rock, pop rock, We don’t define our genres because we want to do all the things we like. We do all kinds of rock. Right now we’re making a kind of reggae tune. We don’t mind [different] genres.

What kind of music do you two like when you’re looking for inspiration?
Too much. Even classical music, yea.

When you two want to make a new song, what do you do.
Jamming, mostly.

What was going to England twice like?
Cool -laughs-

How was it going to England to play, in comparison to Seoul?
It’s very similar within the UK and Korea. Because in UK, there is indie music too like there is in Korea, and it’s also not pretty popular. You have to do something, like if you want to be a popular band you need some media promotion. But we don’t do it like this. We need much experience, so we go to the UK and we hope to have our first tour in Korea, and also go to maybe Japan and Europe. We need much experience to be popular and to be a good band.

Actually, we love traveling so that’s part of it.

How often do you perform in Korea? How is it different playing in Korea versus overseas?
We play in Seoul once or twice a week. Actually, when we played in the U.K, K-pop fans came. I don’t know why they like us, but actually they start liking “K-pop” but they just like “Korean.” They like us because we’re Korean. K-pop, like “Gangnam Style” or the idol music, it’s popular because they have money. We’re not popular because we don’t have money.

We don’t want people to care where we come from, because we are musicians. Nobody cares about that. So, as Koreans, K-pop scene is really different to us.

So you guys want to transcend being Korean musicians and just be musicians?
We’re Korean but we’re musicians in the world.

How do you think the international audience sees you?
When we were on stage the first time, the audience is curious about us to see what kind of music we’ll play. But we don’t play K-pop, so they’re interested to see what else Korea has to offer. Most foreign people don’t have an idea about Korean band music. Even Korea [doesn’t have an idea about Korean band music.] So like it’s a fresh thing to the audience.

What’s the audience like here?
Usually, half the audience knows us already and half is new to us.

You’ve been playing together for two years and you’ve been abroad a lot. What’s the reaction to that here? Like, is that normal for indie bands here to go abroad or are you up and coming?
It’s pretty common. The Korean audience, after we go abroad, they get curious, they want to see what the international audience is looking. When they come to look at us afterwards, we have to grab their attention. We have this chance and do many gigs to attract the curious audience.

What makes Dead Buttons unique?
I don’t know, we’re fat? -laughter- We’re free? We’re not really the same or different from anyone else, we just have to play our music because we like listening to our music. Other bands, they’re doing some really tight music because they have to make this music to make money so all of their practices and gigs, they do tightly in order to make music. We’re more relaxed, we perform every time drunk.

Does any of your music get made sober? When you record, are you drunk or sober?
Actually, I think we were drunk when we recorded our EP. Oh wait, no, I ate chocolate instead. I was really tired. I was really fucked up because of a lot caffeine, I just drank Monster [energy drink] after Monster. We recorded five hours in one day because we don’t have money, so we had to focus a lot. We weren’t drunk because of that. But very high on caffeine.
Our album music is so fast because we were so high. We sing slower in person than our album version of our songs.

I know that you guys are working with Baltic? How did that happen?
First, two years ago at Zandari Festa 2013, a Baltic Records rep came to Korea and saw our gig. So they invited us to the UK, and then again last year at ZF, we were asked to release the album in the UK. So we released it two months ago, and we were in the UK for that.

[Dead Buttons will also be performing at this year’s Zandari Festa.]

What was that like releasing an album in the UK?
It’s just digital, we don’t have a CD. It’s funny because it’s on iTunes, but Korea doesn’t have iTunes service so I couldn’t listen. There’s a big difference between being on iTunes or not being on iTunes in Korea, though.

How did you two meet?
A friend introduced us, who was looking for a drummer. We were drunk, and blacked out, and the next day we woke up to text messages “Hey, we made a band! Let’s practice.” We had drunk like ten bottles of soju on a rainy day, so we can’t remember. We don’t remember forming the band.

You said you were working on reggae tunes, what else?
We’re working close to root music, more bluesy and more energetic punk rock, like Detroit Garage style. It’s more relaxed music. We’re playing to enjoy.

When you’re on stage performing, how much of it is improvisation?
We don’t speak when we’re on stage, we just play and play. Actually, we’re not really good at speaking. When we’re drinking, we speak a lot, but when we’re playing, it’s so different. We really love drinking, and traveling, and being with a lot of friends.

What city would you want to play in?
Cuba and Jamaica.

So you guys like the Caribbean?
In the summer, we want to play in Alaska, and in the winter we want to play in East Asia, the hottest place. In the Korea, summer is too humid and Korea is so cold.

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How often do you play in other cities, or do you stay in Hongdae?
Just 4, 5 times a year. 90% of Korean bands are in Hongdae. We like touring, so we plan to go to other cities and see the local scenes but Korea doesn’t have the local scenes. This isn’t even really a local scene. In Daejeon, there is just one band, Burning Hepburn. They’re really cool.

In Jeonju, there used to be the hardcore scene with the MF Crew. Do you know 13 Steps? A lot of the bands from Jeonju though came to Seoul and just disappeared. There’s no audience.

What do you think is your audience for rock ‘n roll?
I think that in the world, rock ‘n roll is the most popular music in the world. Everyone listens to rock, but in Korea rock ‘n roll bands aren’t so popular.

What do you want people to think when they listen to Dead Buttons?
“[It’s] Noisy, what is this, what the f**k, this is so loud, what are they saying?” Korean people don’t really have an idea about rock music. Because popular music is K-pop style. Maybe they call us death metal or hardcore, without really knowing what that is. But we’re retro rock.

Do you guys have any favorite classic rock bands?
HJH: I grew up up with Eagle FM, the US army radio station, so Pink Floyd, Muse, Rolling Stones, Nirvana. Too many.
LKH: I grew up in Paragauy and grew up with Argentina and Brazil’s MTV, so I knew music. I grew up with Green Day, Linkin Park. I moved in 2007.

Do you guys want to go overseas more?
We hope to go to the US but we don’t have a chance yet. We have to have a chance to go to SXSW. Everyone says that it’s hard for indie bands in Korea because it’s Korea, but it’s like that for rock ‘n’ roll bands all over the world. Pop and R&B are big nowadays, and rock is less popular.

What are you guys working on now?
We’re preparing to release a full album this year, we’re recording in August or September. Our producer is the Crying Nut keyboardist, and we’re recording in their studio.

Do you like Dead Buttons’ sound and style? 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.

Playlist Sunday: Lazy Summer Songs

September 7, 2015/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

Do you ever have those days where all you want to do is lounge around and do absolutely nothing? With summer coming to a close, those lazy days seem to happen more often expected. What do you usually have playing as your background music as you kick back and relax? Here are some songs that the writers at KultScene enjoy listening to on our less than productive, lazy summer days.

Kim Sungkyu of INFINITE is one of my personal favorite vocalists in K-pop, and his recent EP “27” is pure gold. “Daydream,” featuring Tablo and JW (also known as Jong Wan of Nell; the pair is also known as Borderline), is my very idea of a song to listen to while taking it easy. With a retro electronic sound and a looping piano melody, “Daydream” is literally dream-inducing. Tablo’s raps and Jong Wan’s vocals play off of both the rhythm and Kim Sungkyu’s breathy, auto-tuned style, pulling everything together. Yes, auto-tuned. Instead of using the audio fix as a way to mask less-than-perfect vocals, Kim Sunkyu makes auto-tuning into an element of his song. Listen to “Daydream,” then listen to all of “27” for one of the best K-pop albums this year.

—Tamar

Also on KultScene: Playlist Sunday: Energetic K-pop Tunes

People affliate the word “coffee” with caffeine, meaning it’s something that’s meant to wake you up and keep you alert but B.A.P’s “Coffee Shop” brings an entirely different meaning to the word “coffee”. There’s a sense of comfort and gentleness in the members voices, especially vocalists Daehyun and Youngjae, that quickly diminishes any stressful thoughts that may be on your mind. Rather than waking you up, “Coffee Shop” does the complete opposite as the melody slowly relaxes your mind, washing away your worries and as it cradles you to sleep. In need of a song that’ll ease your mind and allow you to enjoy our lazy summer day? Take a listen to “Coffee Shop” and you’ll thank me later.

—Tam

Also on KultScene: Jun Jin’s ‘Wow Wow Wow’ Music Video & Song Review

Really, what better way to end the summer than with F(x)’s “Goodbye Summer” featuring EXO’s main vocalist D.O? The back and forth between the angelic voices of members Luna and Krystal with the soothing addition of D.O is an appropriate euphonious blend for such a warm song, which describes the feeling of loving a friend in secret during the last few days of school together. On raps, we also have member Amber spicing up what would have been yet another boring K-ballad with her laid back verses and harmonizations. As the bittersweet tune progresses, the emotions behind their voices build up, and by the final cadences of the song, they eventually overpower the acoustics and piano accompaniment altogether. And just like the summer that is slowly coming to a close, the track concludes and fades out with a final mellow chorus of la la’s, leaving listeners in a rhythmic sway. In a little over three minutes, “Goodbye Summer” perfectly encapsulates what it means to bid adieu to a memorable time of one’s life or to that special someone.

—Shelley

What’s your favourite K-pop song to listen to on a lazy summer afternoon? Let us know 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.

Jun Jin’s ‘Wow Wow Wow’ Music Video & Song Review

September 7, 2015/in Entertainment, MUSIC VIDEOS /by Tam Huynh

After a six year hiatus from his solo activities, Shinhwa’s, Jun Jin, popped back onto the music scene with his newest song and music video titled “Wow Wow Wow,” which also features fellow member Eric. Due to the lengthy wait, fans all over rejoiced in excitement at the announcement of his comeback. Many hoped to see how much Jun Jin had matured musically since the release of his first solo debut single back in 2006, dating to his last solo project in 2009 before he left for his military enlistment. With the wait finally over, let’s dive right in with this KultScene writer as she reviews the long awaited Jun Jin comeback.

Song

Hearts stopped beating and quickly came back to life from the moment Jun Jin started the song with the “looking at looking at looking at you” along with the overlapping of Eric’s sexy whispers of “I’m looking at, I’m looking at you”. When was it ever okay (but in fact it really is okay) for an artist to start a song in such a seductive manner as Jun Jin and Eric did in “Wow Wow Wow”? Read more