Can JUSTB Change K-Pop?
When BAIN came out as gay onstage in LA in April, JUSTB’s members found themselves with something they’d never received before: Industry attention. But is the K-Pop industry ready to accept a group as outspoken as this one?
In his first U.S. tour as a soloist, ONEW chose to meet fans with a surprisingly intimate, stripped back concert.
In a new interview, the group reflects on what sets them apart from others and how they’re preparing for a massive North American tour.
the rookies
In-depth profiles about leading independent Asian musicians.
Minh Is Just Beginning to Find His Potential
For the past four months, Minh’s music has made gains on streaming services. In his first interview, he reflects on his new EP’s momentum and why he became a self-made musician.
On “Mediocre At Best”, Pluto Koi Is Packing Up His Insecurities
Pluto Koi used to be known as a hopeless romantic. Now he wants you a more complex version of himself.
Yel Is Turning Her Best Memories Into Works of Art
The California-based singer-songwriter makes dreamy, romantic music that is becoming a smash hit on streaming services.
Hikaru Utada’s Science Fiction retrospective, reviewed
Bouncing back after a challenging year, keshi gave a ferocious performance that jolted life back into his second album Requiem.
critically speaking
Essays from the frontlines of K-Pop and beyond.
From Rain to Kai, San and from20: How Male Sexuality Has Evolved in K-Pop
A new generation of male idols are embracing a fluid view of sexuality. It’s a major course correction from years’ past.
NewJeans Was the Future of K-Pop. Can KATSEYE Revolutionize That Vision?
A year ago, HYBE’s flagship girl group NewJeans declared war on the company. Now, a new girl group is looking to conceptualize HYBE’s vision for K-Pop without the “K”.
BoA in Japan: Soft Powers and Teenage Dreams
In 2001, BoA was the first of her kind: a K-Pop star landing number one’s in Japan. Her success transformed K-Pop into a global super power.
Essential reading from the API music scene
infinite scroll
How JUSTB Could Change the K-Pop Industry Just By Being Themselves
When BAIN came out as gay onstage in LA in April, JUSTB’s members found themselves with something they’d never received before: Industry attention. But is the K-Pop industry ready to accept a group as outspoken as this one?
Can CRAVITY Rebrand Into a Hitmaking Group?
CRAVITY has struggled to find an audience and an identity since debut. This week, their company announced a rebranding. But what if the solution is to give members more control?
From Houston, ONEW Emphasizes Happiness and Freedom
In his first U.S. tour as a soloist, ONEW chose to meet fans with a surprisingly intimate, stripped back concert.
82MAJOR Break the Rules on ‘SILENCE SYNDROME’
In a new interview, the group reflects on what sets them apart from others and how they’re preparing for a massive North American tour.
Meet WEST OF EDEN, A Giant Group Much Larger Than it’s Four Artists
The Seattle-based group succeeds because of their strong friendship and an extremely creative team of designers, producers, and artists.
With ‘NOW Project’, MONSTA X Comes Full Circle
To celebrate their tenth anniversary, the group released a digital album with re-recordings of music made while their leader SHOWNU enlisted in the military. The new music shows how transgressive MONSTA X has become since debut.
pryme! Code Switched So Hard He Became A Musician
Growing up, pryme! learned how to fit into other peoples’ expectations for him. As he’s begun to release music and find an audience, pryme! says, “I can be seen.”
NewJeans Was the Future of K-Pop. Can KATSEYE Revolutionize That Vision?
A year ago, HYBE’s flagship girl group NewJeans declared war on the company. Now, a new girl group is looking to conceptualize HYBE’s vision for K-Pop without the “K”.
TEEN TOP’s NIEL Takes an Important Step Forward with “SHE”
NIEL never had time to think about what kind of artist he wanted to be. Now as a CEO of his own company, the singer has the freedom to find out.
Lyle Kam’s Catharsis Chasing Recollections
After six years of releasing music, Kam wondered how he could outdo himself. The result is a new EP, out next week, titled re:collections. “Every song could be a single,” he says in this interview.
Minh Is Just Beginning To Find His Potential
For the past four months, Minh’s music has made gains on streaming services. In his first interview, he reflects on his new EP’s momentum and why he became a self-made musician.
Everybody Wants Aura Like JENNIE
In a fiery Coachella solo performance, JENNIE offered a new perspective on how to be a global pop star.
Keshi’s Defiant Coachella Performance
Bouncing back after a challenging year, keshi gave a ferocious performance that jolted life back into his second album Requiem .
From Rain to Kai, ATEEZ’s San and from20: How Male Sexuality Has Evolved in K-Pop
A new generation of male idols are embracing a fluid view of sexuality. It’s a major course correction from years past.
Away From The K-Pop Machine, ONEW Is His Own Maestro
The singer begins his first North American tour on April 24th, and over the past year, has released the most freewheeling music of his career.
brynne Wasn’t Supposed To Make This Album
For months, brynne has been working on a project that has a strikingly independent and experimental sound. But is he ready to release a debut album into the world?
The Mad Scientist: Hikaru Utada’s ‘SCIENCE FICTION’, Reviewed
Hikaru Utada’s twenty-five year retrospective project SCIENCE FICTION makes a case for the singer being one of Japan’s most forward-thinking, experimental artists.
There Is No Limit for C.Y. Ing
The singer walked away from pursuing a career in music in 2024. Now he’s ready to talk about why it was important to forge his own path.
“Requiem” Tests The Limits of keshi’s Power
Requiem was supposed to shoot keshi into superstardom. How far has it taken him?
brynne Isn’t Quite Ready To Leave Behind His Hometown
On his new single “hometown”, brynne admits that he’s scared to grow up.