K-Pop Journalist. Online Editor.
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in Dubai has officially confirmed to Gulf News tabloid! that K-Pop boy groups Seventeen and SF9, South Korean actress Ha Ji Won as well as singer Punch and duo Beatpella will be flying down to Dubai next month. The …
K-Pop fans are diverse, creative and dedicated. Their love is well-documented on social media and is seen through fan-run projects. Whether it’s trending hashtags on Twitter locally or securing a star for their favourite artists on Dubai’s Walk of Fame, avid listeners in the UAE …
Kevin Woo is not unheard of in the music scene. The California native has been in the K-Pop limelight in over a decade. It all started back when he was first discovered by a Korean talent agency at the age of fifteen and later found success in male outfit U-Kiss — an acronym for Ubiquitous Korean International Idol Super Star — formed in 2008.
Woo departed from the K-Pop group two years ago and left his hosting position at Arirang’s talk show ‘After School Club’ in 2018 to expand his solo career. Since then, he has gone to build a name for himself as a soloist, from gaining his own fan base collectively known as Klovers, dropping his own merchandise, to releasing solo music, hosting and performing at US-based Korean music and culture convention KCON, and others.
Last month, the Korean-American made his own history in the UAE and arguably caught our full attention when he joined forces with locally-based DJ and production duo Hollaphonic on electro-pop track ‘Over You’, a first for any K-Pop act in the country.
In an exclusive email interview with the multifaceted K-Pop singer, Woo shares with tabloid! the creative process of ‘Over You’, how the collaboration with Hollaphonic came about, his thoughts on K-Pop’s popularity in the UAE and Middle East, what’s musically inspiring him these days and more.
Thank you very much. This is very exciting for me since this is my first international release with an international group. Hollaphonic is, as many here know, a British DJ duo who also produces great music. I had the chance to connect with them and we wanted to collaborate on an English track with K-Pop inspiration.
They worked on this track in Thailand on a writing trip and I got to co-write the lyrics and melodies. It was actually a quick process that resulted in an amazing feel-good summer jam. We had such great chemistry despite being in different countries and musical backgrounds and we can’t wait to have more synergy in the near future.
It’s a fresh take on a break-up anthem type of song and we wanted everyone listening to it to be able to relate and sing along. The track is liberating and empowering for everyone and I want people to be able to dance to it. The contrast between the bright sounds and the lyrics is, in my opinion, one of its coolest aspects.
KCON is the biggest K-Pop convention in the world and after releasing my first international single, I wanted to showcase it to an American audience of K-Pop fans. It’s really a perfect place to debut the track because this song has perfect balance of K-Pop and electro-pop elements. It was such a surreal moment for me to perform at such an iconic venue and the crowd response was wild. It was a huge success to debut “Over You” at KCON.
So far the response has been fantastic. It’s been so interesting to see the reactions from all parts of the globe. I felt once again that music truly has no language barriers. We released the lyric video for “Over You” specifically on my YouTube Channel but we’d love to film a music video, especially in Dubai, if we have the chance!
Visiting the UAE has always been on my bucket list and if the opportunity arises, I’d fly over in a heartbeat. – KEVIN WOO | K-Pop musician
Since this collaboration was so great and we had so much fun working on it together with Hollaphonic as well as top producer Jeff Miyahara of Tokyo Monsters and artist & producer Alex Syps, you can expect more music from us in the future.
Ever since I debuted in U-Kiss I’ve witnessed K-Pop evolve into this global phenomenon. In the beginning, it was rare to see any Korean artists to be mainstream in other parts of the world, although I did have many fans and world tours. So seeing music platforms stream K-Pop consistently and seeing fans hungry for more, is so exciting. Being Korean-American, this was always my dream to perform and succeed not only in my motherland but also internationally. These are historical times.
I think that social media has a lot to do with the growth of K-Pop around the world.
With these platforms, fans are more directly connected to their favourite artists.
I think that’s why there is more demand for K-Pop artists to UAE and Middle East. I’ve seen many UAE and Middle East fans covering Korean songs and dances on the internet.
Although our cultures are drastically different, it’s deeply moving to know that K-Pop can connect us and unite us all.
I’ve been listening to a lot of K-Pop such as BTS and BlackPink. I also enjoy listening to Western music at music festivals and concerts. Some inspirational artists include Khalid, Ed Sheeran, and Ariana Grande. I also get inspired by my travels and being around talented musicians and industry leaders.
‘Rewrite the Stars’ with Jimin Park of 15& has been my favourite so far because it’s one of my favourite soundtracks. We had so much recording together since she’s my good friend and we had no idea it would be so well received. We have 2 million views on my YouTube Channel.
Through YouTube and social media, the popularity allowed us to even perform it abroad at a special event.
Visiting the UAE has always been on my bucket list and if the opportunity arises, I’d fly over in a heartbeat. I want to meet my fans in the UAE and Middle East and perform for them in the near future.
Thank you so much to my fans in the UAE and Middle East for showing your love for K-Pop and for me. I’ve always wanted to meet my fans in person, so please continue to support and I’ll try my best to see them very soon.
I want to thank Hollaphonic for giving me an opportunity to connect more closely with my fans in the UAE and Middle East. Thank you!
FULL INTERVIEW HERE
The remaining SuperM members have arrived down in Dubai yesterday. Following Exo members Baekhyun and Kai’s arrival on Sunday, Lucas and Ten from NCT’s Chinese sub-unit WayV were seen striding Dubai International Airport yesterday early afternoon and were joined by SHINee’s Taemin and NCT 127’s …
UAE fans have spotted the two members of the prominent K-Pop boy group Exo walking through Dubai International Airport early Sunday afternoon. The arrival of Kai and Baekhyun led to excitement on social media from their fans or Exo-Ls, with some even questioning the reason they …
All K-Pop groups have their own distinct, sleek choreographies that go well with their catchy songs. It’s one of the key features that makes the song memorable to fans.
Gulf News tabloid! wanted to get a taste of the dancing skills that South Korean acts pull off so breathtakingly. Along with more than a dozen other participants, we attended a K-Pop dance class at the fourth annual K-Pop Academy hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi, where we were taught the dance routine to now-disbanded K-Pop boy band Wanna One’s song ‘Kangaroo’ by professional trainers KyungJin Roh and GyoengA Lee.
If you’re a fan of the global cultural phenomenon and love dancing, here’s a quick guide that might encourage you to take up a K-Pop dance class or even prepare you to become a K-Pop dancer:
Whether you want to pursue a career as a K-Pop dancer, sharpen your dancing skills or you simply love Korean pop, sign up to a dance class. The hands-on experience will give you an idea of how K-Pop idols train together and what it’s really like to learn from a professional K-Pop dancer. Roh, one of our dance trainers, is exclusive to Korean entertainment agency Starship Entertainment and has shared the stage with groups such as BlackPink, Winner, AOA and iKon as a backup dancer.
Aside from the K-Pop Academy, there aren’t many such dance classes held in the UAE. An alternative would be watching dance tutorials from YouTubers like Brian and Ellen, imlisarhee, and RPM Dance Crew and many more to help break down the moves easily. There are also mirrored dance practice videos of K-Pop groups’ performances and as well as fancams of a specific member performing on stage on YouTube.
There’s so much to learn in so little time. So, if you’re a slow learner, try to find out the name of the K-Pop song and watch the live performances or dance practice videos of the stars on their official YouTube channels beforehand.
If you prefer to learn during class, that’s fine too. The instructor will simply teach you the moves step-by-step that even a beginner can follow. Either way, you’re good to go!
K-Pop choreographies are often complex, energetic and fast-paced, but, most importantly, it comes with precise synchronisation that K-Pop artists achieve through endless repetition and practice. At the K-Pop Academy, it was, of course, less intense and had a more flexible approach. Though, it really educates you on just how much effort K-Pop acts put into their craft and to be one. So, it’s important to stay in synch with your teammates and to pay attention to every movement.
K-Pop members sing in unison while switching dance positions in an orderly fashion. Because K-Pop choreographies come with multiple formation changes and high-speed synchronisation, it can only be done by working as a team, which was seen between breaks when trainees were interacting and helping each other out to get the moves right. It’s all about teamwork!
If you want to take on K-Pop dancing as a profession and share the stage with your favourite artists, you have to be determined, passionate and hardworking. The Korean music industry is highly competitive and is known for its tough training system. The dance trainers shared that it may be difficult at the start but it’s important not to give up.
Monitor your moves and check the parts you fall short in. K-Pop’s signature dances have visual cues and gestures that are characteristic to a song. So, your emotions, aura and facial expressions are just as important. The majority of K-Pop songs are in Korean, so it’s essential to understand the meaning and feeling behind the lyrics to be able to control the power of each movement.
To help perfect your moves, film yourself dancing to see the areas you need to work more on. Overall, practicing is the way to go!
The sounds and beats of K-Pop songs are just as infectious as the dance moves. You don’t have to have some serious dancing skills on your first day. Whether you’re new to the phenomenon or a dance pro, just enjoy and move your body to the hypnotising rhythm. If you’re really serious about making it to the K-Pop music scene or becoming a backup dancer, try auditioning.
Hongdae district of Seoul is filled with youngsters dancing to K-Pop covers, and there are tonnes of online videos of talented groups around the world dressed in the band’s signature colour-coordinated clothing and wowing the crowd for carrying out perfectly synchronised dance routines.
You can also spice it up by adding your own touch and freestyle moves, like Korean-based group K-Tigers Zero, known for including a few Taekwondo moves to the choreographies here and there. It’s all about enjoying every moment and just having fun.
Client: Gulf News tabloid!
Fresh off their newest record-breaking album ‘Map of the Soul: Persona’, BTS’ addictive song ‘Boy With Luv’ featuring American artist Halsey represented a new and higher apex for the boy band this year.
K-Pop superstars Exo will be awarded a star at Dubai’s Walk of Fame in Downtown Dubai this October. The big news was officially revealed by The Dubai Stars on its social media handles last night. “We’ve seen the legendary @WeAreOneEXO take the music industry by …
Dubai-based DJ and production duo Hollaphonic has teamed up with K-Pop singer Kevin Woo on new song ‘Over You’.
Written alongside soul/pop singer, songwriter and producer SYPS with Hollaphonic and record label Tokyo Monsters on the production, ‘Over You’ is an electro pop track that seamlessly blends with Woo’s smooth vocals about being over a lover and just wanting to dance.
First revealed via a lyric music video on YouTube on July 3, the upbeat English song, which Woo had a hand in co-writing, gives off a refreshing vibe perfect for the summer.
The idea of working on a track for Woo came when the duo was told that the K-Pop singer was going to perform at US-based Korean music and culture convention, KCON. So, Hollaphonic — made up of Greg Stainer and Olly Wood — and the music production team at a studio in Thailand “decided to put something together for a gig that was effectively 10 days away”.
“I’m really really happy and excited about how it sounds. His voice is great, and his energy is just super,” Wood tells Gulf News tabloid!.
Wood said that they enjoyed working with the singer and they’re “getting a really good reaction from his fans.”
Formerly a member of K-Pop boy band U-Kiss, Woo performed the Hollaphonic X Kevin debut track for the first time on stage at KCON New York over the weekend.
“It’s a little bit of K-Pop and electro pop. It’s a sound that I’ve never done before and it’s a feel-good song for the summer. I can’t wait for you guys to jam out to it,” the singer said in a video posted online.
Though Hollaphonic has worked with Asian artists such as J-Pop idol group PrizmaX and Thai superstar Peck Palitchok, their new track marks the duo’s first cross-cultural K-Pop collaboration. It’s also a first for a UAE musician to work with a Korean artist.
“We just loved the way that Asia moves so quickly and is so energetic and is so creative that I think for us we are looking forward to making a lot more music in that part of the world, especially in the K-Pop world,” Wood said.
He went on to confirm that we should expect more K-Pop collaborations in the works.
“I’m sure we’ll do some more stuff with Kevin and then we got a few more acts from the K-Pop world that we’re in discussions with and talking to and being introduced to. So, I’m quite excited about that,” Wood added.
As for Hollaphonic’s side, Wood shared that they’re “looking and very focused on bringing K-Pop a little bit more to the UAE and to the region” and are in discussions with Korean music labels on bringing a version of KCON called K-Wave, created for the region.
The chart-topping DJ duo was the first electronic act to sign under a major record label in the Middle East. They have shared the stage with the likes of David Guetta, Seal, Tiesto, Coldplay, Major Lazer, and is Dubai’s first airport resident DJ in the world. Their single 2017 ‘Spaceship’ will be featured on Nasa’s moon tunes playlist.
As for Woo, he debuted with K-Pop boy band U-Kiss in 2008 under NH Media. In 2017, he departed from the group after his contract expired. Woo was also an MC for Arirang TV’s idol variety show ‘After School Club’ for nearly four years but left to pursue a solo musical career.
A music video and release of the digital single is yet to be announced.
Client: Gulf News tabloid!
A slew of scandals has hit YG Entertainment, one of Korea’s biggest entertainment agencies, since the start of 2019. It all began with the highly-publicised ‘Burning Sun’ scandal that involved former YG star and Big Bang member Seungri. Last Wednesday, the K-Pop industry and fans …