Well, it is a concert technically speaking. A scientific joint study between the O2 and Patrick Fagan has come to discover that 20 minutes of gig time can increase feelings of wellbeing by 21%. This is being compared to other options of leisure activities such as yoga, which only has an increase of 10%.

That being said, concerts can definitely help the uplifting of spirits. During this time of quarantine however, there is no way for people to attend these types of events. Personally, I’ve found it difficult to make up for that loss considering I went to concerts at least once every two months. Fortunately though, YouTube exists.

I’ve been using my time in quarantine to rewatch concerts I’ve been to in the past. Mainly K-CON 2019, but prior years too. I’ve also been watching stages on MNet or SBS. This may not be concert footage, but it allows for me to feel the connectivity of a live performance, and the fan chants always make it better. My favorite part of concerts is hearing the crowd sing back to the artist, so going through those old stages has really been able to bring that presence back into my life during a time where it is impossible to go out and find it on my own.

This quarantine has also proven to me that taking videos at concerts is just as important as taking in the moment. Now more than ever I am rewatching my own concert footage. It is keeping me happy and allows me to relive this experience when I cannot go out and make new ones.

Since no one can go to a concert for a while, I suggest taking the time to watch some live performances. After all, attending concerts can increase your life span up to 9 years. And at least at home, you can choose the line-up!

K-Pop is far from being a new concept. The movement of music began back in the 90s with the first generation of K-Pop music began to be cultivated by “The Big Three” of the genre: SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment.  However, within the past two years, I’d say that the growth of K-Pop outside of Korea has reached a peak it has never seen before. Personally, I believe that this growth is important to the world as a culture experience.

With the integration of music with other languages, it opens up more doors for artists around the globe. Not only is it creating a pathway for success, but it is broadening the horizons of those listening to music casually. If they hear a catchy song on the radio, people are much more likely to tune into it on their own free time. This can be seen through past hits in different languages such as Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and more recently, Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito.” There is an interest in these songs regardless of being able to speak the languages or not. That is exactly what K-Pop is doing for those who are becoming interested in it.

On top of that, K-Pop is not just a genre, it is an industry filled with different types of genres. K-Pop is usually referred to as any song spoken in Korean. However, the further you search into the music, one can come to realize that a “Satellite” by Loona sounds nothing like “Miroh” by Stray Kids (Thank god for that… no offense Stays.) But what I’m trying to say is, K-Pop is offering more than what local American’s realize. There is a song for everyone within that category, you just have to open your mind into pulling up that YouTube tab in the first place.

Groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have had the head start in beginning to open doors for those too skeptical to add K-Pop to their playlists. They have offered up a variety of songs that are more appealing to those outside of Korea. I know there is controversy when it comes to the westernization of Korean music but think of it this way: Taking a spin on something people do not recognize and turning it into something that they do will allow them to open their minds to other options. For example, I did not enjoy Twice music when I first encountered them (I should be put in jail for that, but that’s beside the point.) But, when I listened to Red Velvet’s RnB rhythm that is “Bad Boy,” I began to dive deeper and get used to music that I would never have listened to before.

Now these groups are touring in arena’s and stadiums. BLACKPINK made girl group history by being the first female Korean girl group to perform at Coachella in 2019. These groups are no joke, and are gaining a lot of traction, not only here in the United States, but everywhere in the world.

Listening to music in a different language is an important part of our society today. Especially with quarantine happening, it is easy to run out of things to keep one entertained. I find that it is so much better having multiple things to watch even if they do require a little more reading. It opens up possibilities for not only those creating, but those taking in creations.

If you’re a fan of K-Pop, there is a large chance you have heard of the Produce series. You know, the show that created I.O.I, Wanna One and IZ*ONE. Yes, the show that had that crazy scandal back in November when times were simpler, and people could still have schedules to cancel because of their crazy scandals?

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Yeah well, I had never watched it. Even though it seemed to be a turning point for the K-Pop industry, I had never been a fan of elimination reality shows. Especially the ones in Korea. I have trauma from mere clips of Sixteen, an elimination reality show that created Asia’s biggest girl group TWICE. Maybe I’m just too emotional, but some of the words told to those young girls were just awful. I wouldn’t dare watch a full episode of anything similar to that.

Until this past week, when I watched the first season of Produce 101.

Produce is an elimination reality show created by Mnet, a television network most popularly known for broadcasting idol related content.

If you have never seen an episode, Produce focuses on a select number of trainees from different companies as they complete challenges related to becoming an idol. Every week there is a different task, and the trainees are eliminated based purely on audience vote, both live and online.

At first, I was cautious, especially because I knew most of the trainees on this show. A majority of them are in groups that I love and didn’t think I would be able to handle it if they were given self-esteem blowing critiques. However, I soon came to find out that this would not be the case.

Each trainee was evaluated three separate times. Once in an audition, once in a group, and once individually. They then put them into a training rank, so that the celebrity trainers knew how to approach their teaching methods. It was actually really fun to witness because these trainers were set on improving the trainees they were handed, rather than seeing any of them as hopeless.

There was little to no critiques on appearance by the trainers when there usually are on reality shows of this kind which I loved. On top of that, all of the girls participating seemed to have a drive to learn and do better. As well as help each other even though they were competing.  One specific scenario of this would be when Sohye, an actress who had never sang or danced before was given extra practice lessons by her team member Sejeong in order to help her improve. It was one of the sweetest moments of the whole program. (I think Sohye is now one of my favorite idols, but that’s a whole different rant.)

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The show did a wonderful job of keeping me on my toes, even though I had the comfort of knowing who wins in the end, I still found myself feeling emotions of anger, sadness, happiness, and nervousness. If you want to watch an idol reality show but you are soft hearted, I would definitely suggest Produce 101 season 1. Only season one though because well… who else is serving like Somi?

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In February, LOONA made their long awaited return with their new song So What. With fun and empowering lyrics playing off of a strong and epic beat, it had to come with just as epic of a video. Personally, I believe that LOONA lived up to those standards.

Throughout the years before their debut as a group, LOONA released music a little differently in comparison to their KPOP colleagues. Each member of the group appeared individually at first, debuting with a solo of their own as well as a music video. This continued as a pattern, stopping occasionally to make subunits with the debuted girls. What makes LOONA stand out even more than this strange way of coming together, is that the group has its own intricate world in which they’ve created a web of stories through their music videos.

Coined as the “Loonaverse” LOONA uses lore to tell each member’s individual story. They take on characters, separating their true selves from their personalities within the Loonaverse. Fans or “Orbits” take the time to look through these music videos on a complex level, creating theories and storylines by doing this. It has become an essence as to who LOONA are as a group, and has brought in a big chunk of their audience.

In their previous comeback, Butterfly, the Loonaverse was shown through women from around the world reenacting popular scenes from these music videos. However, no new stories were told within it, and it had Orbits concerned for the future of the Loonaverse. When it was announced in August that LOONA’S longtime creative director quit, fans were more distressed than ever before. However, once the first teaser for the comeback was released on December 14th, fans were immediately put at ease.

In the Teaser, first member, Heejin, is seen stuck in the air on her way up from what fans speculated was her jumping at the end of the High Hi music video. She is also in one of the outfits well known from their Butterfly era. It was clear that LOONA was going to continue incorporating the Loonaverse into their Music Videos.

In the So What music video, fans were please when twelfth member Olivia Hye was seen stood with a torch, a call back to their teaser for a project called burn, a track fans assumed was the song that was going to be used before their creative director quit. Throughout the music video, it shows Olivia Hye’s build up to throwing the torch, and essentially lighting the Loonaverse on fire. Fire fills the sky and the moon is seen to be set ablaze. Throughout the video, there are other easter eggs at every turn, whether it be the subway from a subunit ODD EYE CIRCLE’S Sweet Crazy Love, or the ballet studio from Yves’ solo New. Sprinkled around the So What video of course is crisp choreography and powerful performances that make LOONA the group that can do it all.

But don’t stop watching when the song is over. At the end of the video, there is even more lore placed perfectly to make the audience want more. The camera pans to a white feather burning until suddenly it isn’t. In fact, the feather is still perfectly in tact. There are many theories already just from this scene alone, but one thing is for sure among multiple fans: this is symbolic of Haseul, LOONA’s third member who had taken a hiatus from this era to get help for her anxiety symptoms. It was the perfect ending for this video, bringing everything LOONA is to an ending that has Orbits ready for the next video.

It was still dark outside when I had received a message from a friend, telling me to get to the Allstate arena as soon as I could. It was 3:00 AM and I had barely slept that night. I believe my first response to her was “I don’t feel like getting jumped on the subway right now, hold a spot for me and I’ll leave my dorm when it’s at least a little closer 6.”

It was April 24^th 2019 and for most people that was just another Wednesday… but for me, it was the first time I would be seeing the international superstar group BLACKPINK in concert.

I remember the day of my BLACKPINK In Your Area Tour so vividly, from the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I had on the blueline to the Chipotle meal I had in the middle of the day. It was an all-day experience because even though the concert was being held in an arena, the entire floor was general admission. I wanted to get as close as possible, so me and a few friends teamed up to get the best spots possible.

Meeting new people is always a plus of these kinds of things. Waiting to check in, I met one of my now closest friends, as well as a couple of other people I was already friends with on the internet. Honestly, seeing the artist is great, but meeting up with companions that share the same interests as I do is probably my favorite part about events like this.

When we were finally let through those doors after soundcheck, I rushed towards the barricades, able to slither my way to the second row, behind a person I had met in line earlier that day. Music videos of the group were playing throughout the venue, and the energy was alive and sparkling, everyone ecstatic and ready to see these four girls perform.

BLACKPINK is made up of four women: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. They currently have only 13 songs, counting a feature from western artist Dua Lipa. So when I had initially bought the tickets, I had wondered how they would put on a performance that would last three hours, and still maintain the interest of their Blinks (Their branded fandom name.)

However, once the show had begun, every doubt I had ever thought about having simply washed away. The performances were stunning, using their sets of platforms and video backgrounds perfectly, laser lights and smoke conveying a radiant energy to their pop beats. It wasn’t the most dazzling performance I’ve ever seen, but boy did those girls know how to work with their audience.

The girls were always keeping the energy alive on stage by hyping up the crowd. I felt their positivity and I’m sure we as Blinks gave it back. This formula of give and take really worked in their favor, because everyone around me including myself, was having the times of their lives. It was the most fun concert experience I have ever had, even to this day. BLACKPINK will reportedly have a comeback soon, and with that comeback, Blinks look forward to another world tour in the future. If one is announced, you can bet that I will be spending money on a ticket to see the wonderful performances of BLACKPINK in my area once again.

Ever since the release of ITZY’s first single album “IT’z ICY” back in July, fans (coined as ‘Midzys’) have been waiting for any news regarding any new releases to be made by the girl group. Well I’m here today to tell you that the wait is finally over!

ITZY’s account posted a mysterious teaser image, showcasing silhouettes of the 5 members, starting the beginning of the “IT’z ME” era. They revealed that it would be the first mini album the group has ever done, as well as a release date of March 9^th.

ITZY, a girl group under the label JYP Entertainment, have been making the rounds as a group since February 11^th 2019. The group consists of five members: Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna. Being that they were the first girl group to come from the label since their very successful seniors TWICE, the public was keeping an eye out for them since before their debut. It is no surprise that when they released their first single “DALLA DALLA,” they became a massive success. The group went on to win multiple awards from Korean music shows, a rare occurrence in the world of KPOP, seeing as to how they were a new group. This branded them as “Rookie Monsters” as they continued to win high praise from the biggest award shows of the year such as the Melon Music Awards and the Mnet Asian Music Awards.

After the release of their second title track “ICY,” ITZY have been consistently active in promotions. Their activities ranged from participating in their first reality show “Paris et ITZY,’ attending KCON LA 2019, and being on a small world tour for their Showcase “ITZY? ITZY!” Making a name for themselves as rookies, these five girls have garnered the attention of KPOP fans everywhere, and Midzys have been on the edge of their seats waiting for any information on when they can expect new music from the girls.

Rumors had been circulating the Twitterverse for the past few months that the group would be making their long-awaited comeback at the beginning of the 2020 year. On February 18^th, the group’s verified account confirmed these speculations.

Today, the account tweeted another teaser image, this time showing all the members graffiti-like outfits, looking as fierce as ever. They also released album pre-order details, which include 3 versions of the new album and a photocard count totaling to 25 different selfies to collect.

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With more teasers and information to come, it’s safe to say that this comeback is absolutely one to get excited for.

My name is Daniela.

For me, music in general has always been about experience. When I go to a concert, it is not usually just about the music, but about the experience I have around it. For example, I went to a concert recently in New York. Yes it was a trip to see live music, but it was also an experience of essence since I had never been to New York before. In comparison to that, last summer I traveled to LA to participate in my very first KCON. I was not only there to go to a concert, but instead to experience culture on a different level in a place I had never been before.

First and foremost, this blog is for anyone who listens to KPOP and enjoys diving deeper into its meaning and content. Not only does this blog have commentary on new music (and old music) but I hope to emphasize the idea of concert travel. Being able to live an experience through text and photo.

Think of this almost like a vlog, however this site doesn’t allow videos without a price so I’ll just be writing for now! I hope this inspires readers to travel more and open up their minds. Going to concerts is not necessarily just about showing up 30 minutes before the show starts to sit in a crowd, but it is instead a greater experience!