Category: KPOP NEWS

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

MONSTA X I.M. On Writing Love Songs For Solo Album ‘OVERDRIVE’

I.M. is ready to talk about love. The MONSTA X maknae is opening up about the love songs in his upcoming EP ‘OVERDRIVE’. In addition to that, the “God Damn” rapper revealed what he looks for in a person.

I.M. Explains Why ‘OVERDRIVE’ Features So Many Love Songs

Im Changkyun recently collaborated with Cosmopolitan Korea for the magazine’s June issue. In addition to the photo shoot, I.M. sat down for an interview and discussed the songs in his new EP. When it was brought up that ‘OVERDRIVE’ is mostly love songs, I.M. pointed out that it is unavoidable.

“I think love is just something you can’t help, that passes by, that floats by, that you send off. That’s also similar to my personality,” he said.

During the interview, it was mentioned that love is “a greater force that drives artists to create and sing.” I.M. quickly agreed saying, “To add to that, I think of love as uniqueness. Uniqueness that does not change even as time goes by and locations change.”

So what is it that Im Changkyun loves about people? The “Happy To Die” rapper says that his likes are complicated.

“I don’t hold on to people who leave, but I also kind of block people who come,” he said.

I.M. explained, “I don’t like shallow people. As you talk to someone, can’t you feel their depth? I like people with depth. Even if they’re swayed momentarily on the surface, I believe that depth doesn’t change.”

He then confirmed with a laugh that he has a lot of deep thoughts. “Me? I’m not a shallow person,” I.M. said.

As for fans who are struggling to find love, Im Changkyun had some interesting advice.

“Real love does not isolate. It connects us. So even if it’s hard, please love,” he said. “Even if the target is not necessarily a lover, it’s good even if it’s ‘stanning.’ Love connects you with the world.”

I.M. is currently preparing for his first solo album ‘OVERDRIVE’ which will be released on June 23, 2023.

Categories
K-POP STYLE KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Ferragamo Confirms NCT’s Jeno as First Global Male Ambassador

Ferragamo has found its new global ambassador. NCT member Jeno was chosen to represent the Italian luxury brand in its upcoming international campaigns.

NCT’s Jeno Named Ferragamo’s First Global Male Ambassador

The official Ferragamo Instagram account confirmed the news with a new image of Jeno.

“Ferragamo is pleased to announce K-pop artist Jeno Lee as the brand’s first global male ambassador,” the caption reads. “This partnership seals the relationship between Ferragamo and Jeno, who have started building ties prior to this announcement.”

The post also shares a statement from the brand’s Creative Director Maximilian Davis who is thrilled to be working with the NCT member.

“We’re driven by the same passion in our creativity and feel fortunate to have him join Ferragamo,” Davis said.

Lee Jeno admits that he is already hyped up about the collaboration.

“I am very excited to create a synergy with the brand and looking forward to disclosing our future projects! Stay tuned on both of us!'” the NCT Dream member said.

Being the first global male ambassador for Ferragamo is certainly a great honor for Jeno. Needless to say, fans are already looking forward to the new campaigns.

It’s no surprise that Jeno was chosen by Ferragamo. He started out as a child model before becoming a trainee for SM Entertainment. Lee Jeno is also the first K-pop artist to open for a New York Fashion Week show when he walked for Peter Do’s spring 2023 collection show.

In related news, fellow NCT member Doyoung was recently announced as the new ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana.

“I’m truly excited to become part of the great Dolce & Gabbana family. I feel a strong connection that I think can give rise to a powerful synergy between me and the brand. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Dolce & Gabbana and I will create together,” Doyoung said of the collaboration.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

MONSTA X’s I.M. On Why He Decided To Leave Starship Entertainment

I.M. is finally opening up about his departure from Starship Entertainment. The MONSTA X rapper revealed the real reason why he left the agency to sign with Sony Music Korea.

I.M. Reveals Why He Decided Against Renewing His Contract With Starship Entertainment

Im Changkyun recently teamed up with Cosmopolitan Korea for a sexy photo shoot in the magazine’s upcoming June issue. In the accompanying interview, I.M. spoke about his first solo effort with a new agency.

The MONSTA X maknae confirmed that he left Starship Entertainment to express himself better in his own music. Additionally, I.M. admitted he was craving a new environment.

“It was also a period where I needed the stimulation that comes from a new environment,” he said. “When I feel stable, I start to get complacent.”

“I’m not sure if it’s because I lived in Boston and Israel when I was younger and have experience dropping out of middle school to get home-schooled but I don’t have fears related to being placed in new environments,” I.M. added.

Im Changkyun also confirmed that he is aware of what he needs at any given moment, especially when it’s time to write music.

“I believe that the ego is straightened up when you’re isolated by yourself,” he said. “I quietly think about my inner self all the way to the bottom and face my honest emotions. Then I take those and use them when writing songs.”

“I’m only able to have these moments in the studio,” I.M. added.

“A thought I’ve had recently while reflecting on myself is that I will not dwell on failure,” he continued. “I think it’s fine to sing solo in front of 500 people after performing as an idol in venues that accommodate 15,000 people. It’s okay to head back to the ground.”

Back in August 2022, Im Changkyun decided not to renew his contract with MONSTA X’s agency. He later signed with Sony Music Korea.

I.M. is currently preparing for his first solo album ‘OVERDRIVE’ which will be released on June 23, 2023. It will be Im Changkyun’s first album after leaving Starship Entertainment.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Sabrina Carpenter Gushes About Joining BLACKPINK at BST Hyde Park

Imagine being on the same stage as your biggest inspiration. That’s exactly what will happen to Sabrina Carpenter at the British Summer Time Hyde Park music festival. The “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” singer is a longtime BLINK. So it’s no surprise that she’s understandably excited about sharing the stage with BLACKPINK.

Longtime BLINK Sabrina Carpenter Raves About Sharing The Stage With BLACKPINK

The official MTV Twitter account shared a video featuring Sabrina Carpenter talking about joining the BST Hyde Park line-up. The “Girl Meets World” star spoke about being a fan of BLACKPINK and how she’s excited to be in the event with them.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I love BLACKPINK,” Carpenter said. “I have been a fan of theirs for a long time and performing with them at the British Summer Time Hyde Park music event will be a dream come true.”

“I have never made a presence in London so this year will be my first,” she continued. “Doing this event with them will be great, I need to be super present that day, I don’t want to miss a beat, they are amazing and so talented.”

It’s certainly an exciting opportunity for Sabrina Carpenter. Needless to say, fans are already looking forward to BST Hyde Park this July.

BLACKPINK will headline BST Hyde Park on July 2, 2023. They will be joined by Sabrina Carpenter, The Rose, Caity Baser, Mae Stephens, and more. The additional acts will be announced soon. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

In related news, BLACKPINK member Jennie recently opened up about the passing of her first dog Kai. The “Solo” singer admitted that her pet’s demise was devastating for everyone in their family including their other dog Kuma. Jennie also revealed that her mother was the one who was affected the most by the loss.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

YG Entertainment Addresses WINNER Mino’s Attendance at Sister’s Wedding in San Francisco

YG Entertainment is addressing Mino’s recent trip to the US. The agency offered an explanation of how the WINNER rapper attended his sister’s wedding despite his military enlistment in March.

WINNER’s Mino Attends Song Dana’s US Wedding Despite Military Enlistment

On May 28, Song Dana got married in San Francisco, California. The former New F.O. member was escorted down the aisle by her older brother Song Minho. The WINNER rapper was beaming with pride as he walked down the aisle with his sister.

https://twitter.com/OnlyLookAtMino/status/1662740065834131456

Although people were happy for Song Dana on her special day, netizens also wondered how Mino managed to leave South Korea. Back in March, YG Entertainment had confirmed Song Minho enlisted for military service and would serve as a social worker.

Since then, YG Entertainment has addressed Mino’s attendance at the US wedding despite currently serving in the military.

“Song Mino was granted leave due to a family wedding,” the agency told News1. “It is possible to travel overseas during the military service period, but only for significant family events.”

There is a possibility that Song Minho immediately processed his leave from military service as soon as his sister’s wedding date was announced. Mino clearly wanted to be present for Song Dana’s special day and was eager to walk her down the aisle in place of their late father.

In related news, Mino’s fellow WINNER member Kang Seung Yoon announced that he is enlisting for military service in June.

“Kang Seung Yoon will be enlisting on June 20 to receive basic military training and is expected to serve as an active duty soldier in the army,” YG Entertainment confirmed in a statement.

“Respecting Kang Seung Yoon’s wish to enlist quietly, the time and location of his enlistment will remain confidential, and there will be no separate events on the day. We kindly ask for your understanding,” it continued.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

SHINee Confirms June Comeback With New Album ‘HARD’

SHINee is getting ready for their next full album. Onew, Key, Minho, and Taemin are currently preparing for a June comeback with a new LP ‘HARD’. In addition to that, the group will hold their first offline concert in Seoul in almost six years next month.

SHINee Confirms June Comeback With Eighth Full Album ‘HARD’

The official SHINee Twitter account dropped the first teaser for ‘HARD’ along with a new logo and header. The new LP, which is set to be the group’s eighth full album, will be released on June 26, 2023.

This is awesome news considering that it has been almost two years since SHINee released any full-group content. The last group effort was the Japanese EP ‘Superstar’ back in June 2021.

SHINee clearly has big plans for their June comeback. SM Entertainment also confirmed that the group will hold a three-night concert series ‘SHINee WORLD VI [PERFECT ILLUMINATION]’. The concerts will be held at Seoul’s KSPO Dome on June 23, 24, and 25, 2023.

Taemin had already told SHAWOLs about the concerts during SHINee’s 15th-anniversary fan meeting. During the event, the “Move” singer confirmed that the group would be holding a concert next month. In addition to that, he teased that the upcoming June comeback will not be their only comeback this year.

SHINee recently held their 15th-anniversary fan meeting ‘Everyday is SHINee DAY: Piece of SHINE’ at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Songpa, Seoul. The event was initially set to be held at the Ilsan Korea International Exhibition Center [KINTEX].

However, fans were unhappy about the seating arrangements in the venue. After SHAWOLs boycotted the event, SM Entertainment decided to move the fan meeting to a new venue.

The three-night concert series ‘SHINee WORLD VI [PERFECT ILLUMINATION]’ will be held at Seoul’s KSPO Dome on June 23, 24, and 25, 2023. SHINee’s eighth full album ‘HARD’ will be released on June 26, 2023.

Categories
BTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BTS Announces New Single ‘Take Two’ Featuring All 7 Members

BTS is releasing another full-member single this year. The new song “Take Two” will be dropped in time for the group’s 10th anniversary. That also means it will be one of the special treats for ARMYs in the upcoming BTS Festa 2023.

BTS Announces New Full-Group Single ‘Take Two’

BIGHIT MUSIC issued a statement about the new BTS single on Weverse. The agency confirms that RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook participated in the production of “Take Two”.

“To celebrate their 10th anniversary, BTS will release the digital single ‘Take Two’ this coming June,” the statement read.

“All seven members participated in ‘Take Two’,” it continued. “The song conveys their appreciation toward ARMY for all the love you shower them with and their desire to always be together with you.”

“We sincerely express our gratitude to ARMY for making the 10th anniversary possible with your endless love for BTS, and we hope that ‘Take Two’ will become a precious ‘Gift’ from BTS to you all,” it added.

The statement also confirms that the new single will be released on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. KST.

ARMYs are certainly pleased with the announcement. There were previous concerns that BTS’ latest single “The Planet” might be the last full-group effort until 2025. However, BTS clearly wanted fans to get a special gift in time for their 10th anniversary.

The announcement of “Take Two” is the first major update for BTS Festa 2023, the month-long event when the group celebrates their anniversary. BTS previously unveiled a special map teasing the event’s timeline.

In related news, BTS leader RM will be officially appointed as the public relations ambassador for MAKRI on June 1. MAKRI stands for the MDA (Ministry of National Defense) Agency for KIA (Killed in Action) Recovery & Identification. The organization works to recover the remains of war heroes who lost their lives in the Korean War and returns them to their families.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo Pays Tribute to Moonbin In 10cm Cover

Cha Eun Woo dropped a beautiful gift for fans as well as a beloved friend. The ASTRO member paid tribute to Moonbin in a touching cover of 10cm’s “Stalker”.

Cha Eun Woo Covers Moonbin’s Favorite Song ‘Stalker’ By 10cm

The new cover was uploaded on Cha Eun Woo’s official YouTube channel. In the video, the “True Beauty” actor delivers a beautiful rendition of the 10cm song “Stalker”.

Fans were quick to note that the song was chosen as a tribute to the late Moonbin. The “Mermaid Prince” actor had always loved “Stalker” and would constantly sing it. AROHAs also noted that the video was uploaded at 2:23 a.m. KST, or 2/23, which is ASTRO’s debut date.

Cha Eun Woo himself made sure people understood that he was paying tribute to Moon Bin. Before the video was posted, Lee Dongmin had shared several photos of Moonbin in his Instagram Story.

Not surprisingly, 10cm was pleased with Cha Eun Woo’s cover. Kwon Jungyeol’s official YouTube channel left a comment on the video.

“Thank you for the wonderful call,” they wrote. Cha Eun Woo immediately pinned the comment on the post.

Moonbin’s body was found in his home in Gangnam on April 19, 2023, at 8:10 PM KST. His funeral was a private event attended by family and friends. All members of ASTRO were present for the funeral.

Since Moonbin’s passing, ASTRO’s agency FANTAGIO has set up a memorial space on their building’s rooftop. Although it was initially set up in front of the building, the company decided to move the memorial space to a new location. This way, fans can continue to pay tribute to Moon Bin until the first week of June.

In related news, Cha Eun Woo was recently confirmed to be in negotiations to star in a new drama “Wonderful World”. He is expected to work alongside veteran actress Kim Nam Joo and Kim Kang Woo.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

T.O.P Confirms BIGBANG Exit, Teases First Solo Project

T.O.P has confirmed that he is no longer a member of BIGBANG. The rapper addressed his departure from the supergroup and revealed he left back in 2022. In addition to that, Choi Seunghyun is currently working on his first solo project since leaving BIG BANG.

T.O.P Officially Announces His Departure From BIGBANG, Continues Teasing Solo Debut

T.O.P recently shared a post on his official Instagram account. The post features a video of the rapper playing the keyboards while the photo confirms he is “still working on my albums.”

It seemed like a typical T.O.P post until one fan asked an important question in the comments. “TOP DID YOU LEAVE BIGBANG?” they wrote. Interestingly, Choi Seunghyun replied to the comment with a firm confirmation.

“I’ve already withdrawn,” he wrote. In a second reply, T.O.P explained that this isn’t a fresh update.

“I’ve already told you guys that I’m leaving and I’m now facing a new chapter in my life since last year,” he wrote.

Although T.O.P insists this isn’t a recent update, fans were shocked by his confirmation. Back in February 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Choi Seunghyun had terminated his exclusive contract with the agency. However, T.O.P was still expected to join BIGBANG in their group activities.

In April 2022, T.O.P reunited with G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung for “Still Life”, BIGBANG’s first comeback in four years. It was also the group’s first project as a quartet since former member Seungri retired from the industry. It would also become T.O.P’s last project with BIG BANG.

For now, YG Entertainment has not made an official announcement about T.O.P’s departure from BIGBANG. Likewise, Choi Seunghyun has not yet shared further details about his first solo effort.

Moreover, BIG BANG has not yet confirmed their plans for their next comeback. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Lee Hyori Regrets Releasing ’10 Minutes’ 20 Years Ago

Lee Hyori admits that she regrets one of the biggest hits in her successful career. The “Bad Girls” singer revealed that she feels guilty about releasing “10 Minutes” back in 2003.

Lee Hyori Feels Guilty About ’10 Minutes’ 20 Years After Its Release

In a recent episode of “Dancing Queens on the Road”, Lee Hyori revealed she did some research for an upcoming performance. The former Fin.K.L member confirmed she was going to perform “10 Minutes” and needed a refresher. However, Hyori says she ended up realizing that the lyrics sounded wrong.

“I looked up old videos of ’10 Minutes’ because I had to perform it, and the lyrics are about trying to seduce a man with a girlfriend in 10 minutes,” she said.

Hyori then added, “They’re so mean.”

Lee Hyori admitted that this wasn’t an issue for her when she was younger. However, her outlook on the matter has clearly changed.

“I didn’t think about it in the past, but I feel so guilty trying to sing the song again in my mid-40s,” she said. “I have to express it with confidence, but it makes me feel like I should apologize.”

Hyori added, “I think to myself, ‘Can I do this?’ Why would you seduce a man with a girlfriend?”

“10 Minutes” was released on August 13, 2003. It was Lee Hyori’s debut single from her debut solo album ‘Stylish … E’ which won the Album Bonsang at the 2003 Golden Disc Awards. The song was a commercial hit in South Korea and it started several musical and fashion trends in 2003. Local media dubbed the song’s popularity as the “Hyori Syndrome”.

These days, Lee Hyori clearly has moved on from her man-stealing songs. She has settled down with Roller Coaster guitarist Lee Sang Soon since 2013. In addition to that, she is part of one of the most anticipated shows right now.

“Dancing Queens on the Road” follows Lee Hyori, BoA, Uhm Jung Hwa, Kim Wan Sun, Hwasa, and Hong Hyun Hee as they travel around the country on a concert tour.

Exit mobile version