The Korea Herald

Lee Hi returns -- more pensive, still passionate

Mar 15, 2016

21-year-old singer talks about new ballad, growing up, struggles at big label
Radiohead announces global shows amid album build-up

Mar 15, 2016

NEW YORK (AFP) - Radiohead announced Monday concerts in six cities around the world as speculation builds for the experimental rockers' much-anticipated but unannounced ninth album.　The band said it would play from May 20 to Oct. 4 at major arenas in Amsterdam, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles and Mexico City, with two shows in each city except London, where Radiohead will play three.　The British rockers were already announced as headliners for eight festivals including Primavera Sound in Ba
Korea to offer K-pop classes at 20 overseas Korean cultural centers

Mar 14, 2016

South Korea will run a program for teaching K-pop songs and dance moves to foreigners interested in Korean culture at its overseas cultural centers, the government said Monday.The "K-pop academy" is scheduled to open gradually at 20 Korean cultural centers in 18 countries across the world by August, starting with the Korean Cultural Center in Shanghai on Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in a release.The countries that will have the academies include China, Thailand, Indi
Surprise Kendrick Lamar album debuts at No. 1

Mar 14, 2016

NEW YORK (AFP) - A surprise new album by Kendrick Lamar opened Sunday at No. 1 on the U.S. chart in the latest triumph for the critically acclaimed rapper.　The album -- the fourth by the 28-year-old, entitled “untitled unmastered.” -- sold 178,000 copies or the equivalent in streaming in the United States in the week through Thursday, Nielsen Music said.　Lamar released “untitled unmastered.” without previous notice on March 4 in the wake of the Grammys, where he was the music industry gala's big
Travis, Disclosure to perform at Jisan

Mar 11, 2016

Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival has announced eight additional artist teams who will be performing at the event set for July.　The second lineup, posted on the festival’s official website Friday morning, includes English electronic music duo Disclosure, Scottish pop rock band Travis and U.K.-based electronic recording artist Squarepusher.　Five local teams -- rock bands Guckkasten, Hyukoh, the Monotones and the Solutions and indie folk duo Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon -- will also be performing.
Bassist to head Newport Jazz Festival

Mar 11, 2016

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) -- Jazz impresario George Wein took another step to secure the future of his 62-year-old Newport Jazz Festival on Thursday, as the nonprofit foundation that runs it named Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride as artistic director.　Wein, who is 90, also told the Associated Press that he planned to donate the bulk of his estate, around $10 million, to the foundation upon his death so that the jazz festival and its sister Newport Folk Festival can continue for years
[Album review] Nada Surf’s ‘You Know Who You Are’ refines power pop

Mar 11, 2016

Nada Surf　“You Know Who You Are” 　(Barsuk Records)　Expanded to a full-time quartet, New York’s Nada Surf continues to refine its glorious power pop on “You Know Who You Are.” 　There’s a tinge of melancholy across much of the album, albeit with an optimistic if guarded outlook. The glass may be half full, but it’s a thimble, not a tankard -- “One day, I’ll love somebody else, one day, I’ll be good to myself,” Matthew Caws sings on “Believe You’re Mine.”　The bandleader co-wrote two songs with form
[Album review] Violent Femmes sound like old selves on new album

Mar 11, 2016

Violent Femmes　“We Can Do Anything”　(Pias America)The Violent Femmes often sound like their old selves on “We Can Do Anything,” their ninth studio album and first since 2000.　 Singer-guitarist Gordon Gano and acoustic bass guitarist Brian Ritchie got back together in 2013 for a Coachella performance of their first album on the 30th anniversary of its release and later toured with Barenaked Ladies. 　All that came after a long feud fueled by Gano‘s decision to allow the use of “Blister In the Sun”
[Album review] Assassin shows versatility on 1st album in years

Mar 11, 2016

Assassin　“Theory of Reggaetivity” 　(Sound Age Entertainment)　 One of Jamaica‘s most underrated yet diverse and creative lyricists, Assassin A.K.A. Agent Sasco releases his first studio album in almost a decade.　In a transition from dancehall, the artist turns his multi-talented hand to releasing a completely reggae album called “Theory of Reggaetivity.” With guest appearances from Chronixx and Australian singer Elesia Iimura, Assassin -- born Jeffrey Campbell -- takes on topics such as achieveme
Singer Jun Jin to join KCON Japan

Mar 11, 2016

South Korean singer Jun Jin has been added to the star-studded line-up of this year's KCON Japan, his publicist said Friday.Jun Jin, who is one-sixth of the boy band Shinhwa, will perform at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, just outside of Tokyo, at the Japanese version of the world's largest K-pop festival, HNS HQ said. Started in Los Angeles in 2012, the annual event hosted by CJ E&M branched out to Japan, its first Asian destination, last year.Jun Jin will join 2PM, Block B, TWICE, BOYFRIEND and Day
Patti Smith, Bowie releases set for Record Store Day

Mar 10, 2016

NEW YORK (AFP) - Rare or new releases by musical giants including Patti Smith, David Bowie and the Doors will come out next month for Record Store Day, the growing celebration of vinyl's resurgence.　Created in 2007 by independent U.S. stores as a quirky tribute to their existence, Record Store Day has developed into an annual rite for shops around the world seizing on the growing market for vinyl.　The latest Record Store Day will take place on April 16 and feature more than 300 special releases
Kennedy Center taps Q-Tip as first hip-hop director

Mar 10, 2016

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Kennedy Center, the prolific Washington concert hall led by the US government, has tapped Q-Tip to a new position of artistic director for hip-hop culture. Q-Tip -- whose former group, A Tribe Called Quest, was at the vanguard of art-house hip-hop in the 1980s and 1990s -- will take the role for the Kennedy Center's 2016-2017 season. The 45-year-old New York rapper and DJ, whose real name is Jonathan Davis, will curate a series of hip-hop events in the upcoming season.
AOA to release fourth Japanese single

Mar 10, 2016

K-pop girl group AOA will release its fourth Japanese single “Give Me the Love” on April 20, the group’s agency FNC Entertainment announced Wednesday.　The track depicts the story of a woman who cannot help but keep falling in love. K-pop girl group AOA (FNC Entertainment)　The group’s new single is garnering attention as a Korea-Japan crossover featuring a famous Japanese solo musician Takanori Nishikawa, who performs under the name T.M Revolution. Nishikawa, who debuted in 1996, presents a uniqu
SNSD’s Yoona to release first solo track

Mar 10, 2016

Yoona, a member of popular K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, will release her first solo track since debuting with the group nine years ago, the group’s agency SM Entertainment said Wednesday.　“Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway,” the fifth song to be introduced on digital music channel Station, was set to be released at midnight. K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation member Yoona (SM Entertainment)　The song, urban pop music featuring the gentle sound of piano and acoustic guitar, concerns the lore tha
Singer Lee Hi tops iTunes charts in 8 Asian regions

Mar 10, 2016

South Korean diva Lee Hi, the heroine of SBS' talent audition show "K-Pop Star: Season 1," topped the iTunes charts in eight Asian regions with her first new song after a three-year hiatus, her South Korean talent agency said. The 20-year-old singer snatched the No. 1 spot on Wednesday afternoon on the iTunes charts for Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, for the new song "Breathe," YG Entertainment said. "Breathe" is the title track of her l