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The breathtaking rooftop view from ㅎㄷcafe (Hongdae Cafe) and the beautifully painted skyline set the atmosphere for the members of M.O.N.T to host their busking event on Sunday, March 24. M.O.N.T -- an acronym for the group's name, Members Of the National Team -- is a 3-member boy group under FM (Fly Music) Entertainment consisting of Narahcan, Bitsaseon, and Roda, who made their official debut on January 4, 2019, with their first mini-album, 'Going Up,' featuring their lead single being "Will You Be My Girlfriend?" Throughout the years, M.O.N.T has released various types of songs that catch the listener's attention from the first beat to the final note. Their latest title song is "마음대로 해 (IDGAF)," from their fourth mini album -- released February 27. The four tracks that make up this album show the members delving into new concepts, exploring different sounds, incorporating instruments, and continuing to mature their talents -- such as Roda taking part in writing lyrics, composition, and arrangements. On Sunday, M.O.N.T took busking to another level as the beautiful Seoul skyline, warm spring air, and sunset set the atmosphere for what became an intimate event between the members and MINT -- the group's fandom name. The members spent the evening with MINT performing songs from their latest album, including Narahcan's solo song, "LUCKY," and covering songs like Adele's "Someone Like You." MINT, who is known for being a respectful and friendly fandom, made the busking event memorable for the members as they showcased their love and support with enthusiastic cheers and posters. M.O.N.T was sure to make every second of their short return to MINT count as members Roda and Bitsaeon decided to be amongst the fans during their solo performances. When it was time for the performance of ‘Honestly,’ you could feel unique and surreal energy from both M.O.N.T and MINT -- as if finding each other for the first time all over again. Fans took the lyrics to heart and rekindled their love for the group with affirmations that they will, "get into M.O.N.T more than ever before!" The busking event concluded perfectly with a magical twilight sky. Attendees used their phone flashlights to take a memorable group photo with the members. Reflecting on the photo, MINT looked like the stars that shine brightly for M.O.N.T. We will continue to watch M.O.N.T shine brightly -- creating even more memories and sharing more special moments with their fans this year. You can find our full gallery of M.O.N.T's Busking event here Follow M.O.N.T on social media to stay up-to-date on their future projects! Twitter (X) | Instagram | YouTube | Fan Cafe | TikTok | Facebook Written and Photographed by Michelle H.

Written by Rebecca R. If you've been active on social media in the past week, you're likely aware that JUST B is captivating K-Pop fans with a storm. Earlier this year, JUST B and tour organizer, TheKStage, the boy group’s upcoming 2024 ‘Just Be With You’ North and South America' Tour -- which included Dallas, TX as their 5th stop. JUST B is a 6-member boy group under BLUEDOT Entertainment consisting of Lim Jimin, Geonu, Bain, JM, DY, and Sangwoo. JUST B debuted on June 30th, 2021 with their first mini album “JUST BURN” and its title track “Damage” produced by BANG YONGGUK. The group then released the EPs “JUST BEGUN,” “ME = (NEUN),” and “÷ (NANUGI).” Thanks to their powerful performances and unmatched charisma, JUST B’s fandom, ONLY B has grown significantly over the past 2 years, so ONLY B could not wait to meet their favorite group this year. Before the show in Dallas, K-Fuse was invited to join JUST B’s press conference where we got to learn more about the members and their experience on tour so far. Check out the members' responses below (Responses have been revised for clarity): Which song do each of you have the most attachment to among your songs? Bain: “Coming Home” is my favorite song because I wrote that song while I was on the road, and I was thinking of every ONLY B in every country. I love that song so much. Lim Jimin: I also like the song “Coming Home” because my voice is well-suited for this song. I also like how the melody complements our vocals. JM: I like the song “Camellia” because of its vibe. I like listening to that song on a rainy day. DY: My favorite song is “Daddy’s Girl,” our new song. And, actually, I like “I luv you Merry Christmas” because it is our first Christmas Song. Geonu: For me it’s "Medusa." We did our MAMA performance with "Medusa" and it’s a song that I really like because of the style/concept. Sangwoo: I also like "Medusa" because it was a fitting song for the group, and the process and production was very effective for us. Is there a music genre that JUST B wants to try in the future? DY: I actually am really interested in trying punk, pop rock, and metal is cool too. So, please keep an eye on us! Apart from JUST B’s activities, is there a genre or something that each member wants to try or learn? JM: My drama with Geonu will air on April 1st (Love is Like a Cat), so we really want to experiment more with acting. Lim Jimin: I would like to try all the genres. I am open to try any genre we can. You’ve already visited four places in the United States and Latin America, and Dallas is the fifth. Which food left the most impression on you. Lim Jimin: I personally like Korean food the most and yesterday we had spicy pork bibimbap and I really enjoyed it. Sangwoo: Even though there is a lot of American food in Korea, I really enjoyed trying the burgers and fries from Shake Shack and Five Guys. In Brazil, we also went to an all-you-can-eat steakhouse, and I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of food, but I wanted to try everything! Geonu: This might sound a little weird, but I loved Delta’s (airline) food. Haha it had chicken and rice. DY: I had chicken wings in the airport yesterday and they tasted quite different from korean-style wings, but I really enjoyed them. JM: I liked the hamburgers here in America. The patty is a lot thicker so the burgers are really big and I really enjoyed them. Bain: I’ve been enjoying the American breakfast like pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bagels with cream cheese. I love it! End of the press conference… We were so grateful to be a part of this press conference and getting the opportunity to check in with the members of JUST B as they approached the middle of their tour, but that was only the beginning. JUST B took the stage at Dallas’s Southside Music Hall in dark Diesel outfits which exuded a powerful energy like JUST B’s performances. They kicked off the show with their b-side “Get Away” as ONLY B screamed in excitement to have the boys in front of their eyes. They then proceeded to perform more of their popular b-sides like “Make It New,” and “RE=LOAD,” which was co-written by member DY. JUST B’s energy was immaculate from the beginning, but their presence grew exponentially stronger when it was time to perform their debut song “DAMAGE.” The red lighting, the fans singing, and the powerful execution by JUST B made the entire venue shake during this performance. The boys took a break after “DAMAGE,” and Geonu took a turn at the mic to express how the song has one of the most difficult choreographies in K-Pop and how excited he was for ONLY B to see it live. Then, JUST B moved on to the next segment in which they showcased their many talents by covering songs by other artists. The members danced to short versions of (G)-Idle’s “Super Lady,” LE SSERAFIM’s “Easy,” DPR IAN’s “Don’t Go Insane,” Tyla’s “Water,” Taemin’s “Guilty,” and ATEEZ’s “Crazy Form.” JUST B also took us back in time by singing a full cover of One Direction’s "Perfect." As if that was not enough, the members Geonu, Sangwoo, and JM prepared a special solo performance for the show. Geonu did a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” JM covered Wave to Earth’s “Seasons,” and Sangwoo showed off his dance skills with krump-style choreography to Busta Rhymes’s “M.O.P.” JUST B’s energy was through the roof and it never came back down. After the cover segment, the boys came out in jeans and the “Just Be With You” tour t-shirts for the last part of the show. JUST B kept the show going and performed more of their discography including “Camellia,” the English version of “Coming Home,” “Domino,” and of course, their latest title track “Medusa.” JUST B and ONLY B were having so much fun, it seemed neither of them wanted the night to end, but unfortunately the show came to a wrap with JUST B’s ending ments and performances of “Youth,” and “Paper Plane,” as an encore. The members picked up cowboy hats from ONLY B in the crowd adding the perfect Texan feel to the final stages. Overall, it was truly a night to remember and we are counting down the days to see JUST B in Texas, once again. Check out our full gallery photographed by Deborah R. K Fuse would like to give a huge shoutout to The K Stage Team for the amazing job they're doing with this tour, and an even bigger thank you to the K Stage Team, BLUEDOT Entertainment, and the members of JUST B for allowing us to provide coverage for JUST B's '2024 Just Be With You' Tour.

Welcome back, #SoundLovers! We want to introduce you to a group whose goal is to be a safe space for their listeners. "M1-KEY! "Deeper" feels somewhat new, right? We made a comeback so soon because we always miss you :) We hope you have a great time with H1-KEY~" -- RIINA, member of H1-KEY We had the pleasure of speaking with Grandline Group (GLG) Entertainment's four-member girl group, H1-KEY (하이키). The group -- consisting of Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel -- made their debut on January 5, 2022, with their single album Athletic Girl. Since their debut, H1-KEY have been striking all the notes and making their way into the hearts of listeners as they ranked 3rd after NewJeans and BLACKPINK for Girl Group Band Reputation. The girls continued to release songs that showcase their various talents with their 2023 album Rose Blossom, and the digital singles of their H1-KEYnote Project -- "Thinkin' About You," and "Deeper." H1-KEY introduced their H1-KEYnote project as the project that aims to share H1-KEY's various untold stories and messages with their fans, M1-KEY, as the group hopes to send comfort and sentiment to everyone through the power of their music with no restrictions to their expressions. The first song of the project, "Thinkin' About You," is a pop track with a warm tone. It expresses the mature and realistic longing for a lover after breaking up by portraying a strong and independent person who is sad about it yet never gives in to shedding a tear. the track was written and composed by many well-known singers-songwriters and producers including Ryan Jhun, Martin Stilling (known for writing and producing songs for artists such as Leon, Charli XCX, and Zedd), Moa Pettersson Hammar, and KIDDO. The second song, "Deeper," is a pop track mixed with modern rock sounds. With this song, the group aims to describe a self-healing journey of never losing hope during difficult time. Young K of DAY6 and Hong Ji Sang have once again joined forces to work with H1-KEY again in the song's overall production. Find out what these rising stars had to say about their H1-KEYnote project below! SEOI: Le us introduce our group first. 2, 3! H1-KEY: Go Run! Hi, this is H1-KEY! K Fuse: What inspired the H1-KEYnote project? SEOI: Rather than it being inspired by something, we started this project to showcase more of our own musicality and our voices. So far, two songs have been released as a part of this project, and though the details have not been planned yet, we will be releasing more songs in the future when we come across songs with the potentials to show our different charms. K Fuse: You're stated, in a previous interview, that you desire to be "artists whom you can trust while listening." How will you know when you have reached this goal? RIINA: I believe we'll know we've reached our goal when people begin to take notice of our song releases and five our music a listen. This marks our success as trusted singers, known for the quality of our songs. Be sure to check out "Deeper" and "Thinkin' About You," as H1-KEY continues to show you that you can trust them to be your comfort and safe space. STAY CONNECTED WITH H1-KEY X (Twitter) | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube K Fuse would like to thank the team at Helix Publicity, GLG, and the members of H1-KEY for allowing us the opportunity to provide coverage of H1-KEY's latest releases.

On a sunny spring day, JUST B was eager to meet their fans in the second stop of their 2024 JUST Be With You Tour - and the first on Latin American soil. JUST B is a six-member boy group -- consisting of Geonu, Bain, Lim Jimin, JM, DY, and Sangwoo -- who made their debut on June 30, 2021, under Bluedot Entertainment. Despite their recent debut, their fans knew members beforehand as they participated in the famous survival shows Under Nineteen (2018) and I-Land (2020). The performances during these two survival shows were a common topic between ONLY B (JUST B's fandom name), who began to line up as early as noon to meet their past picks and present biases. The venue surrounded by palm trees, was the perfect spot for JUST B to have a preview of Puerto Rican life. With fans dressed to the nines, the anticipation was on the rise! However, before JUST B would take the stage in front of concert attendees, they hosted a short press conference with local media outlets as they talked about the tour and participation in MNet's "ROAD TO MAX" project. K Fuse: This is only the second stop of your "JUST BE WITH YOU" Tour. Are there any places you're looking forward to visit while you finish out the tour? JUST B: For the restaurant we went to yesterday, it was up on the hill. So, we were able to see the city view from up there, and we would love to go further up to see more views! K Fuse: "JUST B was part of MNet's "ROAD TO MAX" project, where -- through fan votes -- you were announced as the winning artist that would be presented with the opportunity to perform a special stage at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS! Could you elaborate on what that experience was like for you?” JUST B: It was such an awesome and precious experience because we could get more familiar with our fans. Our fans voted for us to have a bigger stage to perform on, so the first thing that we want to say is that we thank you, and we are so grateful to you! If we have another chance like that, we promise to show a better stage than that one. Puerto Rico is known to be a lively crowd, and this came to life as a ten-minute countdown began at 6:50 PM. Fans were greeted by a special stage performance by the dance crew, with choreography directed by Impulse, that led to the official opening VCR of the concert. As the VCR ended, JUST B took over the stage with “Get Away,” which proved to be a perfect pick for an energetic night -- with the lyrics, “JUST B in the building,” the members showed their energy and prepared the fans for what was to come. JUST B maintained the crowd hype as “Make it New” and “RE=LOAD” played one after the other -- solidifying their stage control. Fans were screaming phrases like “Go off, king!” and “Slay!” while jumping up and down to the sound of the music. After the first three songs, JUST B took the time to talk to the audience and express how happy they were by being a in Puerto Rico. They expressed one by one what they'd done in Puerto Rico so far and commented how amazed they were by the crowd reaction. Some of the members, like Bain, introduced themselves in Spanish which earned higher screams from ONLY B. The concert continued with high energy songs such as "Try," "Don't Go Back," and DAMAGE," as the crowd waved their light sticks to the sound of the music. They stopped for a short period to interact with ONLY B, this time with a random play dance. during this segment, the members Geonu, Lim Jimin, and Bain danceed to G-IDLE's "Super Lady," with JM joining later. Sangwoo, JM, and Geonu gathered to dance to LE SSERAFIM's "Easy," earning the crowd's approval. DY, Lim Jimin, Geonu, and Bain covered Taemin's "Guilty," making the crowd go crazy! Bain then go onto cover Tyla's "Water" -- water effects included. Other songs the members danced to are ATEEZ's "Crazy Form," and DPR Ian's "Don't Go Insane" which described how the crowd was felling at this point. With this same excitement, the members' Geonu, JM, and Sangwoo performed their solo stages for the night. Following Geonu's cover of M.O.P's "Ante UP," the stage illuminated in a captivating blue light and smoke which made JM's honey-like voice stand out as he sang Wave to Earth's "Seasons." Sangwoo showed his krumping skills by freestyling Chris Brown’s “Back to Love” which took the crowd, and security guards, by surprise as he got down the stage and went around the venue to get closer to ONLY B. This followed a break where member Lim Jimin hinted at his solo stage in the city of Miami. All 6 members then covered the famous song “Despacito” originally sang by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. Puerto Rican ONLY B sang to each word of this song by heart. The concert concluded on an uplifting note with songs “ME=(NANEUN),” “Medusa,” and “Paper Plane” being performed. On this last song the members took the Puerto Rican flag and waved it around the stage showing their admiration and gratitude to the Puerto Rican crowd. Geonu also took from a fan the Puerto Rican national baseball team’s cap and wore it during the last part of the song. Although the show ended, the night was not over as the high touch and snapshot session remained as the last fan engagement activities. ONLY B had the opportunity to high five the members and take polaroids with their favorite members! This was a great chance for ONLY B’s who had general tickets to convey their love to JUST B. JUST B will continue their spring 2024 tour in Dallas, Denver, Monterrey and, closing on March 31st in Los Angeles. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy this concert filled with great songs and excellent engagement from the group. Tickets are still available! You can find our full gallery of JUST B's 2024 Just Be With You Press Conference and Tour here FOLLOW JUST B ON SNS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON TOUR NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Weverse Special thanks to N2O4 Entertainment, K Stage USA, the members of JUST B, and Bluedot Entertainment for this amazing experience of covering during JUST B’s tour. Written by Deyaneira Photographed by Clarimar and Deyaneira

Following an outstanding performance Krazy K-Pop Super Concert, AB6IX will soon be making their way back to the U.S. during their 2023 AB6IX WORLD TOUR [THE FUTURE]. Ticket Details Studio PAV is once again bringing us an unforgettable tour! The scheduled six-city tour will start off at the Patio Theater in Chicago, IL on November 3 and make its way to Jersey City, Atlanta, Dallas and San Francisco before ending in LA! While Studio PAV is most known for their Snapshot Sessions with the artists, Studio PAV presented a new benefit at ALL stops for ABNEW. ABNEW across all stops will have the opportunity to have a fan chat with the members of AB6IX if they are top tier Ticket holders. Concert Tickets and Snapshot Tickets can be purchased here. Tour Schedule 2023.11.03 | Chicago, IL - Patio Theater 2023.11.05 | Jersey City, NJ - White Eagle Hall 2023.11.07 | Atlanta, GA - Heaven @ The Masqerade 2023.11.09 | Dallas, TX - South Side Music Hall 2023.11.11 | San Francisco, CA - Blue Shield Theater 2023.11.12 | Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom

Last weekend – July 22 and July 23 – Los Angeles County experienced its second annual Rising Japan MusicFest! Rising Japan MusicFest gives attendees the opportunity to “experience Japan like never before – through music, food and culture.” The festival featured Japanese-American, Japanese and American stars like Def Tech, Shanice, Minami, Kawago Hina & Yonaka Band and more! The 9.4 acres area that makes up Marina Green Park was set up to host two artists’ stages, several food and sake vendors – including Asahi Beer, Daikokuya and Shin-Sen-Gumi, – as well as pop up experience shops. This was K Fuse’s first year at the festival, and it did not disappoint. Here’s what you missed at Rising Japan MusicFest 2023: Returning Artist: A Page Unturned LA pop-punk band, A Page Unturned, made their return to Rising Japan MusicFest for their second year. A Page Unturned was formed in 2017, and now consists of Damon Porras, Yoshihiro Imae and Matt Arsenault. The band released their first EP, A Page Unturned, on March 23, 2018, and has since released four singles. After several shows across Southern California, the band played their first international show in Tokyo in 2019. Best Vibe Shift: ARKTA Nu Metal duo, ARKTA, took festival-goers through a series of stories that express the “high and low points of life”. ARKTA is a hybrid rock band formed in 2020 consisting of members Tak who is from Los Angeles and kenken who is from Tokyo. The duo combines the two worlds of aggression and emotion to create a sound that was unlike any other heard at Rising Japan MusicFest. Around the Festival: ARCANE MAID CAFE, Food and Sake Tasting What better way to get attendees immersed in experiencing Japanese culture than with authentic food, sake tasting and a maid cafe?! One of the most popular aspects of Japanese culture is the customer experience at a maid cafe. For those who are unfamiliar with what Maid Cafes are, here’s a brief history. Maid Cafes are a type of “cosplay restaurant where the waitress – also known as “maids,”-- dress up in French Maid costumes.” Maid cafes started appearing in the 1990s, after Japan experienced an economic crash in the 1980s. This crash allowed more freedom for people to choose their own relationship, and left others isolated. The most alone during this time were otaku– anime and game enthusiasts. Maid cafes were established to create a safe space where people could enjoy the company of others. The atmosphere was designed to be accepting and relaxing for the customers while they enjoy a variety of food and drinks. The final aspect of a maid cafe is the live performance, which attendees were able to experience at the Bubble Stage! Arcane Maid Cafe was founded in 2016, and hosted its first standalone event in 2017. Since then, ARCANE MAID CAFE hosted the 2018 AniFest, began entering cultural festivals and creating their very own Maid Cafe Idol Group! We caught ARCANE MAID CAFE performing anime and vocaloid songs at the Bubble Stage. As our team traveled throughout the festival grounds, little did we know that we would also find the maids passing out Nezuko stickers. The Newbies: EPYTHIMiA “Hi, HOPE! We are EPYTHIMiA!” EPYTHMiA is a six-piece pre-debut Japanese vocal and dance group under Beau.T. Entertainment. While many HOPE – EPYTHIMiA’s fandom – know them as a five piece group consisting of Maito, K, R.D, Sirius and Reiya (Rei), new member AQUA was announced during their fansign at Rising Japan MusicFest. As EPITHYMiA is still developing their own unique sound, they covered songs from their seniors, KISHIN and AMAZO NIGHT– including fan favorite New Wave. Attendees then experienced a short meet and greet fansign after the show, where the members of EPITHYMiA would sign shirts for and take photos with fans. Check out our full gallery from Rising Japan MusicFest below: Rising Japan MusicFest | A PAGE UNTURNED | ARI PRADO | ARKTA | ARCANE MAID CAFE | DEF TECH | EPITHYMiA | IAKOPO | JULES LIESL | KAORU MIYAZAKI | KAWAGO HINA | KOZ | MINAMI | PEPPER OSAKA | RIHWA | SARA NANJO | SHANICE | WST Story by: K Fuse Photos by: Don M., Natasha A., and Emma V.

Nashville, TN is best known to the world as, “Music City,” for its rich history of birthing some of the biggest musical acts in the world and being a hub for music lovers and performers alike. Housing many musical genres in its years Nashville is starting to become a fan-favorite location for K-Pop concerts. On September 10th, "Music City" added to their ongoing K-Pop roster with the addition of Dreamcatcher’s latest world tour -- Apocalypse: From Us. Fans lined up at The Grand Ole Opry, in the Nashville heat, nice and early to wait for the show! Some went in for the group’s VIP Soundcheck experience, while others stayed outside passing out freebies and even participating in a random dance play hosted by local K-pop dance cover teams. Around 6 pm the excitement swelled as the doors to the venue finally opened and fans were able to see the stage, get merch, and find their seats. Fans quickly were seated and got to work with the local banner project to make sure every Insomnia had a banner ready to go! The show starts with Dreamcatcher’s iconic track Scream that was the perfect opener to get fans on their feet! Following then fans were treated to Odd Eye, and then we finally heard from the members themselves. Members JiU, SuA, Siyeon, Handong, Yoohyeon, Dami, and Gahyeon all expressed their gratitude to Nashville Insomnia for welcoming them to the city and for attending the show! After their individual introductions, the girls taught the audience the Korean word for, “cool,” as well as the word, “cute,” prompting the audience to repeat after them. Dreamcatcher was thoroughly impressed with Nashville’s Korean skills, so much so that SuA acknowledged a fan by patting their head overcome with Insomnia’s cuteness! After more jaw dropping performances, the members of Dreamcatcher had a fun game in store for their Nashville audience! The girls participated in a dance challenge, show of their individual charms and talents. Members JiU and Dami did a sexy cover of 2PM’s ‘My House,’ while Siyeon performed a fan favorite, ‘Paradise Lost.’ SuA, Yoohyeon, and JiU did a fun cover of, ‘Taki Taki,’ and finally Gahyeon did a cover f StayC’s, ‘Poppy,’ that, coupled with her cute pigtail look for the night, had fans double checking if their hearts had burst yet! All good things but eventually come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have some fun! After giving their closing statements to Nashville Insomnia, the group performed, ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Mind,’ surprising fans when some members walked into the audience giving fans a chance at a more intimate experience with their favorite girls! Following that was a fan favorite for this tour, performing their track, ‘Silent Night,’ Dreamcatcher treated fans to seven beat drops for this stop! That’s right SEVEN beat drops, fans and the girls were having such a fun time they never wanted it to end! SuA even asked an audience member if they should go one more time, handing over her mic the fan screamed, “ONE MORE TIME,” as the beat dropped yet again. Closing out their night with Insomnia, Dreamcatcher did a beautiful performance of, ‘Reason,’ and had a wonderful time hearing the whole theater sing along, a wonderful way to end a wonderful concert! Dreamcatcher for sure added their name to the list of phenomenal concerts held at the historic Grand Ole Opry and made a mark performing in the music capital. Stay up to date with DREAMCATCHER on: TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE Special Thanks: to Team Members McCayla and Robert for providing coverage for this show! to MyMusicTaste team, hf entertainment, and the members of DREAMCATCHER for allowing us an opportunity to provide coverage for the Nashville stop of DREAMCATCHER's Tour! Written by: McCayla M Edited by: K Fuse Team

Last night there was an explosion of many shades of yellow here in Charlotte where Bang Yong Guk greeted his US fans for the first time in 6 years. On June 6, 2023, The Fillmore Charlotte welcomed the South-Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and K-Pop legend for his first solo tour – THE COLORS OF BANG YONG GUK THE US TOUR 2023.  For most attendees, this show was one of familiarity and growth - - The venue’s energy was already set from the time Yong Guk took the stage where BABY - - the name of Yong Guk’s long-time fans - - welcomed him with roars that filled the 25,000 square-foot venue.  Yong Guk started the night with “G.M.T (Give Me That),” “UP,” and “Race” where his solid rap, husky growl, smooth vocals, and powerful stage presence had fans singing along to EVERY word.  The opening stages shouted mantras of “this is my return,” “I am back,” “be unapologetically you,” and “I will continue to push towards my dreams,” which he performed with a level of confidence that captivated not only BABY but new listeners and venue staff alike. The night continued with high-energy performances of “Rain on Me,” and “UFO” before changing the pace and slowing things down with “Hikikomori”. Fans were then hit with nostalgia as Yong Guk performed his 2011 solo debut single track “I Remember.”  The track was originally released as a duet with Yang Yo-seob of B2ST; However, it was later recorded featuring Yong-Guk’s former B.A.P bandmate, Daehyun, for their 2012 repackaged mini album, CRASH.  While Yong Guk allowed the track to play Daehyun’s vocals, he took this time to interact with BABY and take in their reactions to the stage - - which ranged from some fans screaming the lyrics to other fans tearing up and bursting into tears. As the night progressed, the energy never stopped.  Not only did Yong Guk continue to deliver powerful and confident performances with a setlist that made both long-time fans and new fans excited, but he also took the time to encourage and interact with fans. During his ment stages, Yong Guk continued to express his gratitude towards local fans and fans who traveled to come and watch his show.  He took the moment to express the importance of fans having fun by asking them if they were “ready to jump?” and by telling fans “We’re going to do this night right” where you saw fans switch from recording the high-energy performances to jumping along with Yong Guk to them. He then ended the night with words that highlight his personality that has been seen throughout his career by telling fans that he wants them to love themselves just as much as they love him. Check out images of the Charlotte show here

JUNNIVERSE were purely "Obvious" that they were all set to meet JUNNY here in Atlanta. On Tuesday, September 13th, 2022 the lights went dim and a powerful, echoing roar from eager fans began to fill the upstairs loft here at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA. It was within that moment that JUNNY lit up his first stage with "Color Me," which was undeniably a favorite amongst the hyped up crowd. The notorious ATL bark was heard loud and clear as the spirited singer-songwriter performed back to back tracks from his newest album. Blanc was the first full studio album released on August 12, 2022 by the Korean-Canadian soloist. It is a nine track album that draws on the artist's own life experiences which makes his first North American tour, sharing the same title, a more intimate experience overall. Throughout the self-reflecting setlist he didn't forget to admirably mention other artists, JAY B and pH-1, who have assisted him along his journey. He even eagerly asked Atlanta JUNNIVERSE to sing JAY B's verse during his performance of Nostalgia where you could hear some Aghases, in attendance, enthusiastically fulfill this request. The 16-track setlist almost seemed too short to the crowd who knew every lyric to every song. It didn't matter if it was one of his newest or an old favorite like "Not About You" or "For the Weekend." Even the soft sentimental stages of "Aura" and "By My Side" received a substantial amount of intense cheers, applause, and the popular ATL barks! But the humble JUNNY did not forget his devout fans as he closed this chapter of his still ongoing tour with his song of genuine gratitude, Thank You. As he quickly left down those same stairs that he first used to greet his Atlanta fans, he made sure to return to the stage one final time to autograph phones, signs, and even arms of several lucky fans before saying his final goodbye. Just like Blanc was intended to tell the story of JUNNY as "...an empty white canvas, taking in all sorts of colors that eventually create who I am," All in attendance that night were taken along a similar journey with the talented singer-songwriter. A night that began on an empty stage that eventually took on many different colors creating one of the most fun, artistic, and memorable concerts of the year!

Welcome back, #SoundLovers! We are excited to introduce you to this next group that we had the opportunity to talk with, BXB (비엑스비)! Before we get to the mini interview, let's take a moment to get to know this talented group. BXB -- short for Boys By Brush means the drawing of youth as they express many chapters of youth with the music of lots of genres -- was one of the first K-Pop boy groups to debut in 2023. The original five-member ensemble, consisting of Jihun, Hyunwoo, Siwoo, Hamin, and June, made their official debut as BXB under Wolfburn on January 30, 2023 with their 1st EP "Intro: Flight and a new beginning," featuring title track Fly Away (도약 / 跳躍). However, this was not the first debut for some of the members. Shortly after their debut, BXB participated in JTBC's reality competition show, Peak Time (피크타임), as Team 4:00 performing the song Replay by SHINee. Viewers would continue to see BXB on the show until they were eliminated on Episode 7 of the show. For viewers who were not familiar with the members of BXB, they were moved to tears by the heartfelt story of their past. Members Jihun, Hyunwoo, Siwoo, and Hamin made their first debut as members of group TRCNG -- with many more members on October 10, 2017. They went on to say, "When we re-debuted, we were dismayed and felt that the best members had left and that the ones remaining were the less capable ones. As we prepared for 'Peak Time,' we never felt confident that we were up to the task. ...We were so happy when the judges told us we were really good when we performed SHINee's 'Replay.'" After their appearance on the show, it was announced that maknae, June would be taking a hiatus due to poor health conditions. Even with this news fans of BXB and viewers of Peak Time took to social media to wish June a fast recovery, and encouraging messages to the rest of the members. In August of 2023, BXB would make their first comeback as a four member-group with the release of their 1st single album "Chapter 1. Our Youth" featuring title track Planet. Fans of the four-piece ensemble received the best Christmas gift imaginable when BXB released their 2024 comeback schedule! The schedule revealed that the group would begin releasing concept photos just one month ahead of their one year anniversary, followed by a January 4 pre-release track, Black Cat Nero, and would then make an official comeback on January 11 . On January 11, BXB released their 2nd EP "Chapter 2. Wings: Preparing for a vacation trip" along with the release of the music video for their latest title track, Airplane. Now, let's check out BXB's press conference, as they talk about their new album, memorable moments, and their goals for 2024: NACE: Let's give a warm welcome to BXB BXB: Hello, nice to meet you! NACE: So, if each of you could please introduce yourselves individually so that our journalists can get to know you a little bit more. Hyunwoo: Shall we start with the group greeting? BXB: Boys By Brush! Hello, we are BXB Jihun: Hello everyone, my name is Jihun. I'm in charge of vocals in BXB. Thank you. Hyunwoo: Hello everyone, my name is Hyunwoo. I'm in charge of rap and dance in BXB. Nice to meet you. Hamin: Hi everyone, my name is Hamin. I'm in charge of vocals in BXB. Nice to meet you! Siwoo: Hello everyone, my name is Siwoo. I'm in charge of BXB's rap. K Fuse: Can you tell us a little bit more about the meaning behind your upcoming single "Airplane"? Hamin: The title song "Airplane" is a pop genre song mixed with gospel genre. It's a gospel scene, a bit like a church or something like that. Also, the sound is, first of all, the sound of actual instruments, not digital, which can be seen as a special point. And in the story itself, it is a song that contains the message of escaping the boring daily life like a carousel, spreading both wings wide and flying like an airplane. K Fuse: Were there any memorable in the making of this upcoming album that you would like to share with us? Hyunwoo: As for memorable moments, the most memorable moment for me is when we filmed the music video, we filmed on a public bus and at the airport in a public place. It was really amazing because I felt like I had an experience that I wouldn't normally experience. I think that's what I remember the most because it was a special experience. Asked by Atlas Artist Group: What are you hoping fans will take away from this new album? Siwoo: I hope that through this album you will be able to shake off the heavy burdens you feel and rest comfortably when you listen to out songs. It's like sleeping on an airplane. Asked by Total Access Pass: How do you feel each of you have grown individually and together as a group this past year? BXB: We are very thankful that we grew a lot together during our first year together through a lot of stage experiences, shows and album promotions. If I were to say something about the team, because of the many team activities over the past year, the bond and teamwork between the members has improved greatly. Also because I have had a lot of stage experience, my appearance on camera and on stage has become more natural and cool. I think I can keep growing. Asked by WHOSE Melody Kpopwise: What goals does BXB want to accomplish together in the future? Siwoo: We have fans from all over the world and I want to find and meet all fans from all over the world through a world tour. Hyunwoo: And one more thing, if there is an opportunity to promote an album in North America, I would definitely like to do an album promotion in North America. Asked by Sworn by Sound: How does it feel to know that you have international fans who love you music despite the language barrier? Jihun: Each country, each language will have different meanings and moods. Sometimes I wonder if what we intended was conveyed well. I've always been curious. BXB only has the lovers of K-Pop genre to thank for that, including those of our music, despite that. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to our overseas fans. ___________________________________ BE SURE TO FOLLOW ON SNS TO STAY UP TO DATE ON NEW RELEASES AND UPCOMING EVENTS~! Twitter | Twitter (Members) | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Fan Cafe Thank you to NACE, Wolfburn, and the members of BXB for this exciting opportunity. Shoutout to all attending media outlets for their insightful questions for the members.

Welcome Back, #SoundLovers🎶! Today, we want to introduce you to an artist who remains very passionate about his career and fans -- XXIN! We had the opportunity to talk with XXIN ahead of his comeback about 'STILL ALIVE,' his return to the music scene, and his creative process. Check out our interview with XXIN below. South Korean rapper-songwriter and producer Shin Seunghoon (신승훈) made his official debut on July 28, 2014, as the rapper for Zenith Media Contents 5-member boy group ZEST -- who disbanded in 2016. Despite the group's disbandment, Shin Seunghoon continued to pursue his passion for music as he reappeared on the music scene on April 9. 2018, as the leader, vocalist, and main rapper in Luk Factory's 9-member boy group, NOIR. As a soloist, he goes by the stage name XXIN and made his solo debut on November 9, 2020, with digital single, "Don't Touch Me." After a three-year hiatus, XXIN has finally returned to the music scene with his 1st Single Album, "STILL ALIVE." XXIN continues to display his multifaceted talents in writing and composition. The first record we see of these talents is during NOIR's debut album 'Twenty's Noir,' where he would partake in writing five of the six tracks -- including the group's debut track, "Gangsta." He would then continue to write for the rest of NOIR's albums, 'Topgun,' 'Abyss,' and 'Up The Sky:  飛,' while also partaking in composing for, "Airplane Mode," "Lucifer," and more tracks. XXIN's experience in writing and composing has set the foundation for his solo career as he writes, composes, and arranges his own songs. K FUSE: First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to talk with us here at K Fuse, and sharing your story with our readers! Would you please take a moment to introduce yourself? XXIN: 안녕하세요~ 느와르에서 리더를 맡고있는 승훈입니다! 반갑습니다. Hello~ I’m Seunghoon, the leader of Noir! Nice to meet you. K FUSE: You're embarking on a new chapter after your solo debut in 2020! What motivates you to pursue this comeback? XXIN: 공백기간이 3년이 지나서 팬분들에게 얼른 새로운 음악을 들려드리고 싶어서 열심히 준비했습니다. After a 3-year hiatus, I wanted to quickly give fans new music, so I worked hard to prepare it. K FUSE: Is there anything specific you would like to share about 'STILL ALIVE'? XXIN: 뮤직비디오 속에 새롭게 시도해본 컨셉들이 많으니 재미있게 봐주셨으면 좋겠습니다 There are a lot of new concepts tried in the music video, so I hope you enjoy watching it. K FUSE: Is there a specific message you wish to communicate to your audience with 'STILL ALIVE'? XXIN: 이 곡은 제 이야기륵 담았는데 , 힘든 제게 팬분들의 응원이 많은 힘이 되었다는 내용을 담았습니다! This song contains my story, and the message that the fans’ support gave me a lot of strength during a difficult time! K FUSE: Can you elaborate on what inspired you to become a musician? XXIN : 처음에는 춤으로 시작을 하게되었는데 , 어릴적 힘들때 음악이 많은 힘이 되었고 , 저 또한 누군가에게 잠시나마 힘이 될수 있는 음악악가 되고싶다는 생각을 하게되었습니다. At first, I started with dancing, but music helped me a lot when I was going through difficult times as a child, and I also thought that I wanted to become a musician who could help someone, even if just for a little while. K FUSE: Could you describe the creative process you undergo as a member of NOIR and as a solo artist, specifically in regards to writing, composing, and arranging your songs? XXIN: 저는 곡에 있어서 멜로디를 가장 우선시 합니다. 그래서 제가 좋아하는 멜로디를 먼저 만들고 그위에 표현하고자 하는 가사를 입히는것 같습니다. I give melody the most priority in a song. So, I think I first create a melody I like and then add the lyrics I want to express on top of it. K FUSE: How would you say “STILL ALIVE” differs from your solo debut, “Don't Touch Me?” XXIN: "Don't Touch Me" 는 자유를 갈망하는 내용이라면 "STILL ALIVE" 는 팬분들의 사랑을 원하는 내용이랄까요 ^^. If "Don't Touch Me" is about longing for freedom, then "STILL ALIVE" is about wanting love from fans ^^ K FUSE: Was there a memorable moments when making of the M/V for “STILL ALIVE?”\ XXIN: M/V 중에 비를 맞으면서 춤을 추는 장면이 있는데. 물이 너무 차가워서 오들오들 떨었던 기억이 가장 크게 납니다. There is a scene in the M/V where they dance in the rain. My biggest memory is that the water was so cold that I shivered. K FUSE: What can fans expect from you after this comeback? XXIN: 앞으로도 이렇게 꾸준히 좋은 음악을 들려드리고 잠시라도 힘든 것들을 잊을 수 있게 해드리겠습니다! We will continue to deliver good music like this in the future. We will help you forget about difficult things even for a moment! K FUSE: Is there a message you would like to leave for your fans and our readers? XXIN: 긴 시간 기다려 주셔서 정망 감사합니다! 그동안 많은 일들이 있었고 음악을 그만할까라는 생각도 잠시 했던때가 있었습니다.  그런 저에게 큰힘이 되었던건 딱하나.  팬분들의 응원이었습니다! 저도 여러분들에게 그런 존재가 되고 싶습니다. 앞으로 좋은 음악 많이 들여드릴게요! I love you Thank you for waiting for such a long time! A lot has happened in the meantime, and there was a time when I thought about quitting music. There is only one thing that was of great help to me. It was the fans’ support! I also want to be that kind of person for you. We will bring you a lot of good music in the future! I love you. BE SURE TO FOLLOW XXIN ON SNS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON FUTURE ACTIVITIES | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | K Fuse would like to give a huge thank you to XXIN and Luk Factory for allowing the opportunity to provide coverage for XXIN's 1st Single Album"STILL ALIVE."

Sunday, March 3, 2024 marked a big step for the most renowned K-Pop convention on the Southeastern side of the U.S. K-Pop Mini Con -- based out of Birmingham, Alabama -- provides K-Pop experiences to the Southeastern states and hosted their first mini convention in Atlanta, Georgia! K-Pop Mini Con is a traveling on-day K-Pop convention who also hosts cup sleeve events, dance nights, meet ups, and more! This incredibly dedicated and diverse entity hosted it's highly anticipated event of season at Gas South District arena and theater. The venue was filled with several different activities which attendees could participate in -- such as PC trading, visiting their favorite vendor's booth, artist meet & greets, taking notes from dance and mental health panelists, joining in on random dance plays, enjoying a break with a boba from Kokee Tea during their pop-up and cup sleeve event, cheering on their favorite cover groups as they compete, and taking in the beautifully composed stages from Edgewood String Quartet and GSoul. The widely known venue in Duluth -- Gas South Arena -- opened its doors to convention attendees as they came dressed to impress and ready to dance. VIP attendees then parted from the others to pick up their "swag bags" and wrist bands for their meet and greets with Beomhan and G Soul. Panelists parted ways to set up at their stations on the second floor to discuss various topics including K-Pop and Mental Health, How to host cup sleeve events, Techniques for learning a dance, and more. In the next room of the second floor, you would fall in love with the big screen actors once again, as they played K-Dramas such as Dream High, Attorney Woo, Business Proposal, and Semantic Error. In the final room of the second floor, you would find many attendees in a half circle and running to the middle of the room to show their skill and knowledge during various levels of random dance plays. After enjoying a variety of events upstairs, attendees could make their way downstairs for an attempt to find that missing piece to complete their collection. PC trading and selling started as soon as doors opened with fans trading ATEEZ, BTS, Stray Kids, and NCT photo cards and pre-order benefit cards. Some attendees were found trading and selling PCs of other groups like P1Harmony, EVNNE, SEVENTEEN, and more! After passing the trading tables, attendees would stumble upon unique gifts -- like member slogans, fan-made hand bags, fans, one-of-kind tumbler cups, banners, keychains, and more -- that they could add to their memorabilia collections from venders such as KPOPXATLANTA, KPOP STORE IN USA, TAE JAEZ WORLD, and others! Tattoo artists, Studio Suede, were found in the back corner, and a skating rink where attendees could pass their time while waiting on friends as they met some of their favorite artists and influencers. The first meet and greet of the day was none other than Atlanta's favorite barista and newly debuted K-Indie artist, Beomhan! Attendees were able to spend just a few short minutes to talk to Beohman, as he took a moment to sign a personal item and poster, before posing for an and individual photo op. Next to Beomhan fans could engage in a meet and greet with mother-daughter K-Pop vlogging sensations, Bebop and Bebe! Renowned for their viral TikTok content and original hits like "Make Myself Proud," the duo are rising stars in the K-Pop scene. Following these two noteworthy engagements, it was time to head on back over to the theater where fans were eagerly waiting for the doors to open. (Read More About Beomhan's Meet and Greet, here) Fans were greeted by old friends and new found friends alike as they made their way to their seats. As the venue darkened, fans were greeted with a beautiful arrangement of TWICE's "Fancy" performed by the Edgewood String Quartet. As the quartet continued to play well-known K-Pop songs and medleys, fans could be heard softly singing along as to not over power the sound of the string instruments -- starting with Jungkook's Seven, and carrying over into SEVENTEEN's Don't Want To Cry. Following the String Quartet's performance was the angelic vocals of Kim Ji Hyun (aka GSoul). As GSoul's emotions filled the stage, the solo artist filled the hearts of many fans as he serenaded them and made songs personal by giving a short one word meaning or phrase for them. Following his performance, the con ended on a high note as fans engaged in a meet and greet with GSoul taking photos and having a short moment to talk to GSoul -- praising his performance and talents. YOU CAN FIND OUR PHOTO GALLERIES FROM K-POP MINI CON BELOW: CONVENTION DANCE COVER COMPTETION EDGEWOOD STRING QUARTET BEOMHAN GSOUL BE SURE TO FOLLOW K-POP MINI CON FOR FUTURE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE NEXT EVENT! K Fuse would like to give a huge shoutout and thank you to the staff and event director of K-Pop Mini Con, Gas South, Pocamarket, and Kokee Tea for hosting such an exhilarating event! Thank you to K-Pop Mini Con, Beomhan, Edgewood String Quartet, and GSoul for allowing K Fuse the opportunity to provide coverage of K-Pop Mini Con's Atlanta debut!