Though JYP Entertainment has been active in Japan for many years, girl group NiziU was an early experiment in “J-pop group produced by Korean agency.” With companies like HYBE, SM and Lapone following suit, this strategy has become more common as time has gone on. It’s changing the J-pop idol landscape and blurring the lines … Continue reading
Nine years into their career, Twice continue to straddle the line between various music markets, frequently releasing work in Korea, Japan and internationally. New single Dive heralds their latest J-pop album, hinting at a more mature summer sound. Twice have released their share of bangers in Japan, often mirroring the soundscapes present in their Korean … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
With so many K-pop acts releasing Japanese material this week, CSR’s Higher almost got lost in the shuffle. But a day late, it’s time to feature the song. This quickly follows their latest Korean comeback, released only a few weeks ago. If ever there was a group primed for the Japanese market, it has to … Continue reading
While K-pop has been consistently above average this year, my J-pop fortunes haven’t been so bright. It’s a real turnaround from this time last year, when I was able to feature fifteen beloved tracks. The choices were more limited this time, but it’s still worth pointing out some stellar work from a few favorites. What … Continue reading
TRENDZ’s music may be more inconsistent than I’d like, but January’s brilliant Go Up instantly landed them in my own K-pop hall of fame. The recently released Glow painted them in a smooth disco funk light and Japanese single Season Of You continues that approach. This is fluffy, inoffensive summertime pop at its most basic. … Continue reading
It’s pretty ballsy to name your single “Hot Mess,” essentially teeing up critics and naysayers if the song is anything less than amazing. But if we’re speaking of “amazing,” aespa already have a super solid track record. And with Supernova‘s incredible chart dominance this spring, the girls seem to have entered an imperial phase. Can … Continue reading
It appears there will be no full group comeback for SHINee this year, but that doesn’t mean the individual members won’t be busy. In between his many appearances on variety, Key has returned with a new Japanese single. Tongue Tied was made available last week, but today marks its music video debut. I haven’t been … Continue reading
Somebody needs to explain why TXT are hanging around in the snow for the promo images of their Japanese single album Chikai, which is set for release in the month of… July. If nothing else, I guess it’s interesting counter-programming? The same could be said for We’ll Never Change, which adopts a more subdued sound … Continue reading
K-pop/J-pop collaborations are growing more common lately (Fantastics x EPEX say hello!), and I can’t think of a better match than BE:FIRST and ATEEZ. Both employ a heavy hip-hop style with dramatic instrumentals and a free-wheeling, inexhaustible energy. I can’t say I’ve been a fan of either group’s recent work, but this duet is sure … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. June 2024 Overall Thoughts It’s been awhile since I’ve said this, but K-pop is in a … Continue reading
SM Entertainment is having a busy Monday, with no less than three comebacks across both the Korean and Japanese market. Super Junior’s Donghae and Eunhyuk join Red Velvet and NCT Wish in celebrating new music with the release of Japanese single You&Me. And like many acts this month, they’ve opted for a bright, funky summertime … Continue reading
NCT Wish debuted earlier this year as NCT’s final fixed unit. Straddling the line between Japanese and Korean promotions, they appear to be following NCT Dream’s bright sound template rather than the angular experimentation of units like 127. February’s funky Wish was a decent start, but new single Songbird feels like their true arrival. I’ve … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading
XY were one of 2023’s most exciting new prospects. Formed through Yoshiki Superstar Project X, they’re a hybrid rock band/dance-vocal troupe that can perform as one big group but also split into specialized units. Living legend Yoshiki provides an idiosyncratic touch as mentor and producer, but releasing new music in a timely matter isn’t one … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. CRAVITY released a new Japanese single … Continue reading
NCT Dream’s new Japanese single Moonlight has been kicking around for a few weeks now. In fact, I first wrote about it as part of my weekly J-pop series. At that point, we were unsure whether it would receive a music video or not, but I’m glad the track has gotten the promotion it deserves. … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 