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On February 17, Georgia K-Pop fans were greeted by a surprise announcement where they would have an opportunity to partake in a meet & greet event with their favorite barista -- Beomhan -- during his six-city "FROM ME TO YOU" USA Private Tour. The tour would start in Maryland on March 2, continue to Atlanta, Seattle, Virginia Beach, North Carolina, and a sold out event in Chicago! The Chinese-American singer, rapper, and dancer is no stranger to Atlanta or the K-Pop scene. On January 31, 2020, Beomhan was revealed as a member of the pre-debut group M.O.N.T. Arena under Fly Music (FM) Entertainment. With M.O.N.T. member Roda by his side, Beomhan released his first pre-debut project single, "Sun's Up," shortly followed by "Ashes" on August 20. He and Jay began appearing in several different K-Pop events and festivals across the U.S., serving fans as boba baristas before participating in FM Entertainment's 2022 New Year Kick-Off with Roda -- including more barista events, concerts, and a gallery showcase. In late 2023, the artist and company split ways from each other. During Beomhan's time with FM Entertainment, he was able to meet fans and build a loyal fanbase that continues to show love and support for him as he made his official debut on January 31, 2024, as a K-Indie artist -- with the release of his single, "Me, Myself, and I." This track highlights Beomhan's directness, and raw vocals. It serves as an anthem of personal discovery as it takes you through Beomhan's personal journey, exploring roots and passions that get temporarily forgotten during a toxic relationship. "Me, Myself, and I" is like an inner echo for listeners as it encourages them to embrace their independence and to take time to recognize that they do not need others to determine their self-worth. This track also serves as an introduction to Beomhan's Monday SNS lives, "Mental Health Mondays," -- where he takes time to talk about his personal experiences, gives suggestions based on his coping techniques, and provides his fans with a safe space without judgment. As K-Pop Mini Con opened the doors for their first convention in Atlanta, VIP-tiered fans were eager to jump in line for a chance to interact with Beomhan. Whether strolling through the aisles of vendors or patiently waiting in line, fans began to share stories of when they first met Beomhan -- along with their favorite memories of the artist. Soon after, Beomhan announced that the Meet & Greet would begin in just a few minutes. As the artist took his place at the table, fans began to make their way up one at a time to share their words of encouragement to the artist, favorite memories of past events, and SNS lives. Fans' hearts were warmed as they began to see the artist become more relaxed as time passed, watched him smile from ear to ear, heard his joyous laugh, and even share his own memories of his interaction with fans. Beomhan would joke around with fans he had interacted with from previous events and lives. There was even a brief moment when the artist would get emotional from all the encouraging words he received. As the meet & greet was coming to an end, it was time for one final moment for fans to present Beomhan with words of encouragement before posing for a photo -- where Beomhan would pose by picking up fans (wedding style), giving or receiving a piggyback ride, or just your typical peace signs and smiles. Once the photo opportunities wrapped up, it was time to send the artist off to his next event -- a short meet & greet over dinner at Paik's Noodles. Fans continued to cheer on Beomhan as he took his leave and graciously thanked everyone for their love and support and for coming to see him. Because the artist chose to take time to listen and talk to each fan, the barista event that was originally scheduled to be held during K-Pop Mini Con was rescheduled for Thursday, March 7, at Café Blue in Duluth from 6:00PM - 8:00PM. Fans were eager to interact with the new debuted artist as they lined the streets to Café Blue before Beomhan's departure to his next tour stop. You can find our full gallery from Beomhan's Meet & Greet, here BE SURE TO FOLLOW BEOMHAN ON SNS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON HIS JOURNEY AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | TWITCH | YOUTUBE

Black Roses were excited when Korean indie pop-rock band The Rose, consisting of Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, and Jaehyeong, announced their 2023 ‘Dawn To Dusk’ US/Canada Tour. Yet, Atlantans were disappointed to see that Atlanta, GA, was excluded from the stops this year. Although The Rose was performing at 2023 Music Midtown in ATL, Black Roses hoped to see them during their tour as well. But as they say, good things come to those who wait. While The Rose was in ALT for Music Midtown, they added an Atlanta date, much to Black Roses’ excitement! In just over a month, The Rose returned to Atlanta on October 28 for their much-anticipated show at the Coca-Cola Roxy, across from Truist Park. This marks exactly one year since The Rose’s last concert in Atlanta as they performed at the Buckhead Theatre on October 29 for their 2022 ‘HEAL TOGETHER’ World Tour. So, Black Roses in Atlanta hope this will become a yearly tradition now! The Rose upgraded in the venue as Coca-Cola Roxy is exactly double the capacity of Buckhead Theatre as the fandom continues to grow. It was a wise choice, too, because hours before the concert began, concert-goers were lined up outside the venue, going so far as to wrap around even Truist Park. The crowd proved that music truly breaks barriers as it included people of all ages, genders, nationalities, and ethnicities. Some Black Roses even confessed to traveling from outside the country to attend the concert. Since it’s Halloween weekend, there was a mix of attire, ranging from Halloween costumes, including animated characters and spooky fits (even staff was all dressed up!), to fan-made merch and previous tours’ tees. Dedicated fans also prepared freebies, including a physical ticket to commemorate the event since concert tickets are mainly digital now and a banner project for The Rose’s song “Lifeline” from their latest album, DUAL. Although the long line outside could have been a concern that one wouldn’t get inside in time to secure their post before the concert began, Coca-Cola Roxy handled the crowd efficiently. The Rose also began a few minutes late, so no one was missing them! On the other hand, for those who had been inside waiting for a while, Woosung briefly went live on Instagram. When the concert finally began, beginning with “Eclipse,” the crowd erupted with screams, happy to be reunited with The Rose again. They kept high energy, continuing into “Dawn” and “You’re Beautiful,” all from DUAL. The set list was a perfect mix of The Rose’s new hits, including “Back To Me,” “Alive,” and “Wonder,” and classic fan favorites, such as “RED,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Definition of ugly is,” “Yes (feat. James Reid),” “Sour,” and, of course, “She’s In The Rain.” There was never a dull moment, and the crowd knew all the words to even the newest songs! The Rose’s members interacted with Black Roses during the concert, reminding them of their promise to return. Dojoon also remembered asking their fans to bring friends or family next time, and they clearly did just that! As always, Woosung teased Black Roses by bringing out “two special guest singers.” It was Jaehyeong and Hajoon who showed off their vocal skills during “I.L.Y.” They might be the bass guitarist and drummer, respectively, but they are surely multi-talented, as are all the members! The Rose expressed their sincere gratitude to Black Roses for helping them chart on Billboard and always supporting them by listening to the music. Woosung said it’s “all for you guys, and it’s all for you guys.” He reflected on the reason for The Rose’s creation: to create music to help people get through all stages of life, both sad and happy. During the group’s final song, “Wonder,” the members thanked everyone again by bringing out roses and free tour T-shirts and throwing them into the crowd, including the balcony. While there was no encore performance this year, everyone left happy, having heard their favorite songs live. Some continued the exciting evening by waiting for a glimpse of the members by the tour busses, while others had VIP packages to meet the band. The Rose’s 2023 ‘Dawn To Dusk’ Tour will continue into November with shows in more states, including Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. More countries to come! You can find our full gallery of The Rose's performance in Atlanta, here Written and Photographed by Tiffany S.

The perimeter of Fort Worth's Ridglea Theater was lined with fans in anticipation of OMEGA X's performance Friday evening. With 8 stops across the United States and Mexico, OMEGA X returns to Texas with their "Keep Going" North American tour where FOR X can look forward to seeing igniting performances of OMEGA X's top hits such as "Love Me Like" and brand-new performances of their songs from their latest mini album, iykyk. OMEGA X released iykyk on November 7th, 2023, featuring the powerful and energetic title track “Junk Food.” This is their first release since they signed with their new agency, IPQ. “Junk Food” was a popular title release earning its spot in remarkable global playlists, such as K-pop Rising on Spotify. The title track has a compelling beat with sing-along English lyrics that make it the perfect song for fans to sing along and chant on this tour. The lights dimmed low and fans began to scream with excitement as OMEGA X took the stage to perform “Louder,” the first track on their new mini album. This song was the perfect way to open up the show as it quite literally caused the crowd to get louder than ever! OMEGA X maintained an electrifying vibe throughout the night as they performed dance-along hits, such as “Baila Con X,” “Vamos,” and “What’s Going On,” making the ground of Ridglea Theater shake at every chorus. While OMEGA X is known for their strong and powerful sound, the members brought out their soft side as they put on a special performance of their track “12.24.” The members wore a combination of reindeer ears and red noses on stage to share the Christmas spirit with their fans. One of the most special stages of the night wAas OMEGA X’a live performance of “Touch” which showcased a choreography created by members Hangyeom, Junghoon, and Yechan. The group continued to showcase the various colors of OMEGA X while continuously interacting with their fans from the stage. However, the interactions between OMEGA X and FOR X did not end at the barricade. Before the incredible show, FOR X had the opportunity to purchase fan engagement packages for the ultimate opportunity to meet and greet OMEGA X. Many FOR X reunited with OMEGA X from their last tour, CONNECT, and others got to meet the group for the very first time. FOR X also had the opportunity to purchase 1-on-1 polaroids with each OMEGA X member to commemorate this fan and artist encounter after the concert. What could have been an ordinary Friday night was definitely an unforgettable one for both OMEGA X and their supporting fandom, FOR X. Find our full gallery from Fort Worth, here! Written by Deborah R. Photographed by Deborah R. And Shaneice Make sure to check out OMEGA X’s most recent release iykyk now streaming on all platforms! X (Twitter) | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

In early December, KPOP soloist WOODZ (real name Cho Seungyeon) brought his highly anticipated “OO-LI AND” tour to North America. Despite being on the scene for years now, this is the first time that the singer has toured in the states, where many Moodz (his fandom name) were waiting. “OO-LI AND” expanded into five states and six cities before ending in the Big Apple on December 12. Despite this being the last stop of the tour, Woodz’s energy never seemed to decline as he danced around the stage, interacted with Moodz, played the guitar, and even walked through the crowd! The show started with a live band playing the first notes to “Busted”, gaining the anticipation of the crowd as the lights went down and Woodz came onto the stage. At the beginning of the show, he performed many of his rock related songs such as “Hijack”, “Who Knows” and "Dirt on My Leather” which did a great job at hyping up the audience. After five songs in a row, Woodz finally took a break to talk to the audience about Christmas time and to discuss some sad news that had been relayed a few days prior to the show. On December 10, it was announced that Woodz would be enlisting in the military at the beginning of 2024. He assured Moodz that he would be coming back and that they needed to wait for him. In order to bring the mood back up, Woodz stated that he had prepared a special song just for the stop. The lights on the stage turned red and green as he went into a live band rendition of Michael Buble’s iconic Christmas song, “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.” Shortly after, he did a small segment where he read Moodz signs, had small conversations with them, took selfies, and even had a singing battle with one lucky fan. He even took song requests for songs that were not on the setlist and sang acapella versions of “Accident” and “Rebound.” The concert continued on with many of his fast paced songs before slowing it down with “Multiply” where he personalized the song by changing a lyric from “LA” to “New York”, which excited up the crowd. Near the end of the show, he surprised the audience by bringing out a guitar and singing his new single “Amnesia”, which had not yet been released. The last shock of the night came as he performed “Bump Bump” and jumped off the stage before walking through the crowd and taking selfies, waving, and interacting with as many Moodz as possible, which served as great memories to end the tour. Even though the tour is over, fans have many things to look forward to, such as two new singles, new merch, and an “OO-LI Land” encore in Seoul at Jamsil Stadium. The next year and a half may be a bit difficult, but Moodz will be waiting patiently. Written by CeCe B.

On Sunday, February 18, MCND, the K-Pop group, made their last stop on their ODD-VENTURE Tour 2024 in Los Angeles, California, just nine days before the anniversary of their debut on February 27. Four years since the group's debut and two years since they toured in the U.S., created much anticipation for the occasion, a sweet time for both the group and GEM (MCND's fandom name) on the last night of their tour. But this wasn't just the second time MCND has been to LA as the five-members group -- consisting of CASTLE J, BIC, MINJAE, HUIJUN, and WIN -- counted in their beginning speech that this was their, "... fifth, sixth, or actually seventh time coming..." as they were thinking of the memories here shooting a music video, touring, and more. The energy was palpable from the moment the opening video flashed across the screen showcasing each member, and the beats of their first three songs filled the air. After releasing their 5th mini-album, "ODD-VENTURE," in November 2023, they kicked off the night with two songs form the album -- "ODD-VENTURE" and "Cruise." In between the second and third songs, the group introduced themselves --- and played Rock-paper-scissors ("gawi-bawi-bo") to see who would do the dance break for their song "Crush." **DRUM ROLL ~~~" HUIJUN stole the performance with his dance break and then the members smoothly joined him from the left of the stage as Win started up his rap. After the performance of "Crush," Castle J complimented Huijun's dance break by letting him know, "Huijun, your dance break, you ate that!" Already off to an electrifying performance with the high intensity of the previous song. MCND went onto the light-hearted “Pop Star.” Throughout the night the members would tease the following songs and make fan’s hearts flutter as Castle J explained that the fifth song of the night was for Gems and that while writing the song they thought of Gems because they are MCND’s “Treasure.” Fans waved their arms from left to right and soaked in the moment of the heartfelt song. Each song was accompanied by pretty visuals (abstract shapes, bursts of colors, etc.) on screen that matched the song’s vibes from a swirling vortex for “Treasure” that allowed you to dive more into the trances of the song to the beginning of “Back to you” where the screen looked like yellowish-orange bokeh moving. It was "Back to you" that stole the show, a breathtakingly beautiful slow ballad that showcased the members' vocal prowess. The piano ending and the lights that shone down on each member left the audience in awe. As Castle J and the members exited the stage just before the brief intermission, he leaped into the air, forming a heart with his arms raised high above his head, eliciting laughter and cheers from the audience. Each intermission kept the fans engaged as videos of MCND indulging in each others’ convenience store food combinations (noodles with sausages, different flavors, snacks, etc.) and tour interviews would play. Returning from intermission, the energy skyrocketed with "Player" as fans sang along “bang bang bang” and the stage bathed in flashing red lights as Bic led the crowd in jumping and smiling along. The excitement peaked during "nanana," with powerful orange lights shining on the stage, and the crowd hyping the members up with chants of "aye aye aye." Ending “nanana” the members looked drained as they drank their water and sat down after giving it their all during each song but didn’t want to show it as much. The members joked around about being tired as Minjae said the members were down (like man down) but Castle J got right up like ‘no, I’m not tired’ as he exaggeratedly shook his legs walking towards Minjae. The members teased the song “Juice” by asking the crowd if they liked juice and then saying what their favorite juices were like apple juice. A fan in the crowd said soju but Castle J thought the fan said “Seong Jun” which sounded like his real name therefore creating the joke of the night and laughter all around. Right at the beginning of “Juice” the members do a hip thrust and fans in the crowd all collectively look at each other in disbelief and say, “Oh Ooh!” Later in the song Minjae teased a shirt lift that would be a foreshadowing of events to come. At one point the members were lifting their shirts showing their abs and messing with Castle J exposing his abs for a good minute. During the chorus of “Play Pungak,” the members moved to the rhythm of the song with smooth body rolls. The energy of “H.B.C” had both the crowd and the members jumping, culminating in a moment where Castle J, caught Minjae taking a sip of water, which led to them both playfully splashing the crowd with their water bottles at the song's peak, eliciting ecstatic screams from the audience. MCND went through four different outfit changes starting with the biker rock style then going to the sporty and playful jerseys to blue denim outfits and lastly to their tour merch. During the performance of “Run” the lights dimmed down as they got into formation. As the lights flickered back on they danced around as echoing screams started to come from different areas of the crowd. Castle J, now more visible, flashed a knowing smile as the cheers intensified. Not only did he become visible, so did his upper body between the denim vest. Smiling as the cheers grew louder, he knew what he was doing, Bic had to glance behind him to catch on to what was going on, breaking out into a big smile and laugh. Going back and forth all night this concert was filled with so much energy and humorous personalities and showcasing each member's talents in rapping, vocals, and dance. Huijun hit a high note during his solo of “W.A.T.1,” witnessing his vocal strength. Nearing the end of the show the members made the announcement that two songs were left and the fans all simultaneously let out a devastating  and long “no.” Always coming back for an encore, phones were out in full force, capturing every moment of the encore for fans to relive again and again with songs like “#MOOD”, “Not over,” “TOP GANG,” and lastly a much-anticipated “ICE AGE” from their debut album into the ICE AGE. Grabbing the water bottles as if they were determined to drain every last drop from them. Splashing, pouring, and spraying water on each other, they also doused the crowd. Erupted into a deafening roar as the concert reached its epic conclusion. From watching the dance cover series on MCND’s YouTube page titled “Play Music Ground,” they were bound to show their dancing at the concert especially when “ODD-VENTURE,” “JUICE,” and “Not Over,” played. Not only their dance skills but their upbeat and powerful songs gave an infectious energy and fans sang along to the lyrics and mimicked the moves in the crowd. Each member appeared to have a blast on stage, creating a memorable moment that both fans and the group alike will cherish, filled with smiles and laughter. Castle J not only dazzled fans with his stage presence and rapping skills but also literally sparkled, sporting shiny gems below his eyes and near his tear ducts. Win gave powerful and smooth rap verses as Bic showed his versatile fast rapping and vocals. Huijun and Minjae blew the crowd away with their vocal range and dance moves. Experiencing the music, crafted by Castle J and the group, was a mesmerizing experience. Every member stole each fan's attention with their infectious smiles, performance, and talent. As the group’s name stands for “Music Creates a New Dream” Huijun expressed disbelief at already sharing his final thoughts of the tour as it was coming to an end. He acknowledged the unwavering support of U.S. Gems, despite not having seen them for a while. Win reflected on the tour’s journey starting in Japan then traveling to Europe and concluding in the U.S. The members thanked everyone involved and the fans. Minjae yelled through the microphone “I love you GEM” creating cheers all around and as the venue went silent a fan yelled “I love you” and Minjae reciprocated that with a strong “I love you too.” Ready to embark on their next journey, whether that be new music or promising to return with even more passion and energy for their devoted fans, we look forward to what MCND has in store for the near future. X (TWITTER) | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE Written and Photographed by Aliyah H.

#SoundLovers!!! We are back with another exclusive interview! In honor of their 100 days since debut --- We are beyond thrilled to introduce you to a fun and energetic group called CATCH THE YOUNG!  This is a group that is sure to grab your attention, as their bright and youthful sound feels like a breath of fresh air. Catch The Young has already created their own unique sound of Youth Pop-rock by capturing the essence of the 80s and 90s musically and creating a song for the listeners of today. The five-member boy band consisting of Sani, Jungmo, Kihoon, Namhyun, and Junyong, made their official debut on November 1, 2023, under EVERMORE ENTERTAINMENT with their first mini album titled, 'Catch the Young : Fragments of Youth.' For those who are just now meeting the group for the first time, take a moment to get to know them more with our interview below as they talk about how they started, their dedication to their creative process, their first fan meeting, and their goals for 2024! K Fuse: First, and foremost, we want to thank you for taking the time to talk with us here at K Fuse, and to share your story with our readers. K Fuse: Catch The Young is a rather unique name. Is there a special meaning behind your group name? What inspired the group name choice? Kihoon:  The name "Catch The Young" literally means telling the story of youth and conveying the energy of youth. It represents the intention to make music that allows people to feel various emotions and energy related to youth. K Fuse: Some of our readers may be discovering Catch The Young for the first time, and may not realize that Catch The Young did start out as the five piece quintet that we see before us. For Kihoon, Sani, and Namhyun, you have been with each other since 2021. Was there ever a time you were anxious about debuting? And what motivated you to continue to pursue a career in music with all the member changes that occurred? Kihoon: I was the first to join the company. There were definitely moments of uncertainty with each change that occurred. However, the anxiety of not debuting was overshadowed by the anxiety of going through the process of harmonizing again. Having new colleagues to make music together with was significant source of strength for me. Sani: If I said there was no anxiety, that would probably be a lie. It was likely a bit different for me, with the anxiety being more about the process of making music and being in a band rather than the uncertainty of debuting or not. K Fuse: For Jungmo and Junyong. Were there any challenges joining into a group that had already been training alongside each other for the last two years? Or did it seem to be a smooth transition for everyone? Jungmo: When I joined the team, it was right before the first concert (March 2023) which was held even before the debut. To be honest, I didn't have time to think about the other members in detail. I had to complete the songs prepared for the concert immediately upon joining. Catch The Young is a team that turns every cover song into our style, so the focus was on doing that together and feeling the pressure to do it perfectly, leaving no room for other concerns. Junyong: I joined shortly after Jungmo, and since I'm still a student and the youngest, the older members took care of me in various ways. So, I didn't feel an significant difficulties. K Fuse: There are a lot of references to the term "youth" in your songs. Could you share with our readers what significance the term "youth" holds for you? Sani: The term "youth" hold significance for us because we wanted to create songs that everyone can relate to. Youth is a universal experience, and it encompasses not only the challenges and anxious emotions but also the positive ones -- like overcoming challenges and exuding energy. By incorporating the them of "youth" in our music, we aim to connect with people of all ages, providing a source of empathy and strength through shared memories and experiences of the past and present. K Fuse: "My Own Way" talks about moments of growth by overcoming the fear of the vague future. Are you the type of person who worries about the future? Or are you ready to take on whatever the future has in store for you? Jungmo: There are times when the uncertainty of the future can be daunting, but I try to approach it with a positive mindset. I believe in facing challenges head-on and overcoming them. Even though worrying won't change anything, I think it's essential to quickly identify what I can do and make the right decisions. I've found that taking action rather than being paralyzed by worries is a better way to handle things. K Fuse: At what point did you start writing and creating your own songs? Sani: All of us have been interested in music since we were young. For me, it started around the age of 14 when I discovered a Japanese band called One OK Rock. I was captivated by their music, and that inspired me to start playing instruments. As I delved into playing instruments, I naturally began writing songs. Kihoon: My interest in band music sparked when I coincidentally watched a drama as a child. lather, when I decided to stop playing sports, I picked up the guitar seriously and naturally started writing songs. Namhuun: When I was young, listening to songs of Park Hyo Shin gave me comfort. I used to think it would be great to create songs that could provide solace like his music, and during my preparation for university of music, I officially started my journey in music. K Fuse: All of the member participated in composing the title tracks. What was the writing process like for you? Did you ever have a difference of opinions? Sani: The writing process was a collaborative effort where all members' opinions needed to be considered. Since we didn't have a strict time limit for completing each song, we had the flexibility to continuously refine and adjust the songs. The album creation wasn't a short-term process; instead, it involved working on songs we had started earlier, refining them through rehearsals, modifying sounds, and aligning harmonies. The variety of opinions naturally came into play, and we spent time coordinating and discussing different perspectives. Namhyun: In this album, except for "YOUTH!!!," most of these tracks were not created recently; they were songs we had been working on earlier and consistently refining over time. Since there isn't a definitive answer for the final outcome, ongoing adjustments were necessary to strive for the best, making that aspect a bit challenging and demanding. Jungmo: The process of refining the songs involve some steps such as arrangement and modifications, but as a band, aligning our instruments and vocals plays a crucial role. We spent a significant amount of time rehearsing together, fine-tuning the songs through the interplay of instruments and vocals. Rather than encountering differences in opinions among members, our focus was more on merging our individual thoughts into a better direction. K Fuse: Let's talk about your most recent event. On December 24th, you held your first concert since your debut -- Santa The Young. Were there any special moments you shared with your fans? Namhyun: The entire performance on that day felt like a special moment. It was our first solo concert after debut, and being on stage on Christmas Eve made it even more extraordinary. Everything about that day was special, especially the fact that we could connect with the fans at eye level and even make eye contact while singing. Junyong: Oh! And it was a White Christmas Eve. Performing on Christmas Eve when the whole world is covered in snow is not an experience you can easily have. So, it was a special moment shared with our fans on a special day K Fuse: Do you have any pre-show routines that you have already developed? Jungmo: We gather and shout words of encouragement to each other, saying, "Let's have a great performance!" Of course, new routines might develop over time? Sani: While what Jungmo mentioned is a routine we do right before a performance, there's also another routine related to the performance itself. before the show, we not only rehearse, but also have as many run-throughs as possible. That way, we can deliver a more flawless performance. K Fuse: Although you just made your debut in November, we are curious if you have any plans to release a full album? Sani: We haven't discussed the idea of a full album, yet. While we are preparing for the next album, the current trend in K-POP seems to favor frequent releases of mini-albums for continuous activities. However, for us, it's not about engaging in activities frequently, but rather, the most crucial aspect is whether we have created music that satisfies us. I think the transition to a full album will occur after we've prepared music that satisfies all of us to a certain extent. K Fuse; Who are some of your role models? Sani: I discovered the Japanese band ONE OK ROCK when I was 14, and they became my first love-like band that captured my hear instantly. Later, after starting to play instrument, I also came to like The Charm Park, an their music style resonated well with mine, so I respect and have been influence a lot by them. Namhyun: My role model is Park Hyo Shin. The starting point of my music journey was listening to Park Hyo Shin songs, where I received a lot of comfort. Wanting to convey comfort to others through music led me to start singing. Junyong: My role model is Crush. Even though he is a solo artist, I was impressed with his performances where he takes control of the stage during concerts. I aspire to create such captivating performances. Kihoon: As I started playing instruments, I began to like guitarist John Mayer, which sparked my increased interest in playing instruments. However, my current role model is Ritchie Kotzen. Jungmo: Being a drummer, I have been mostly influenced by drummers Larnell Lewis and Aaron Spears when it comes to drum sounds. K Fuse: Are there any other instruments that you would like to learn to play / or a skill you would like to master? Kihoon: I've always wanted to try dancing and acting. Currently, I am learning dance as I prepare for our album, and I would like to explore acting as well. If the opportunity every arise, I might even consider appearing in a drama. Above all, learning acting could be beneficial, especially when shooting music videos. Sani:I have learned various musical instruments, but I haven't properly delved into the world of wind instruments. I'm interested in learning instruments like the trumpet to add more diverse sounds to our music. Junyong: I still feel that my skills are lacking compared to other members, so I'll put more effort into polishing and improving my piano skills. K Fuse: What goals would you like to accomplish in your first year as "Catch the Young?" Sani: I aspire to win the Rookie of the Year award at music award ceremonies and acquire the title of "Super Global Band." Kihoon: I'd love to hear people saying, "A new global band has emerged: Super Global Band - Catch The Young!" Also, we aim to make it into the Billboard Hot 100, while achieving this may not be possible with just one album. Namhyun: Although it might be challenging right now, I dream of standing on global festival stages like Lollapalooza. Before gracing such stages, within one year, I want to hold our own concerts in Asia, Europe, Central America, and South America. K Fuse: Thank you, again, for taking the time to talk with us here at K Fuse. We are looking forward to watching you grow as individual artists, and as "Catch the Young!" Before we go, is there a message that you would like to leave for your fans, and our readers? Catch The Young: Catch The Young is dedicated to creating music that resonates with youth and exudes vibrant energy. We strive to deliver performances that transmit this energy to our audience. While we acknowledge there are many fantastic songs out there, we believe that we bring something unique that can awaken the youthful spirit within your hearts! SO DON'T HESITATE! JOIN US IN EMBRACING THE ENERGY THAT CATCH THE YOUNG CONVEYS THROUGH OUR MUSIC! LET'S HAVE A GEAT TIME TOGETHER! Thank you to Evermore Entertainment and the members of Catch The Young for this fun experience! Join us in wishing Catch The Young a Happy 100 days! By using the following hashtags: #캐치더영 #CatchTheYoung #캐치더영과캐쳐가함께한100일

Following a triumphant European tour, MCND made their mark in the States with their ODD-VENTURE Tour, delivering an unforgettable performance this past Wednesday night. Composed of members Castle J, BIC, Minjae, Huijun and Win, this talented group debuted with the EP "ICE AGE" in 2020, showcasing their distinctive sound to the world of K-Pop. Despite debuting admist a pandemic, MCND managed to cultivate a dedicated fan base, affectionately known as GEM. In 2022, MCND embarked on their inaugural American tour, and this year, they made their debut in Texas, bringing with their enhanced vocals, dance skills, and music to the stage. MCND's concert was an electrifying experience from start to finish, with GEM's excitement as they eagerly awaited the group's arrival. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as MCND made their grand entrance, greeted by thunderous cheers from their fans. Opening with "ODD-VENTURE" AND "Cruise," from their latest album, the group immediately captivated the audience with their dynamic performance and infectious energy. Between sets, MCND took moments to interact with the crowd, exchanging lighthearted banter and sharing their enthusiasm for being in Texas. The members' live vocals and sharp dance moves added an extra layer of excitement to the show, keeping fans on their feet and fully engaged throughout. As they performed hits like "Cat Waltz," "Stereotypes," and "Back To You," the energy in the venue reached new heights. MCND's genuine connection with their fans was evident as they shared laughs and exchanged cultural references, bridging the gap between Korean an Texan culture. Fans shared typical Texan delights like Buc-Ee's, the Dallas Cowboys, and Whatburger while Minjae playfully embraced the Texan spirit with a spirited "Yeehaw!" The exchange continued as MCND recommended Korean dishes like kimchi, kimbap, and tteokbokki, leading a playful banter when fans shouted out "Soju!" and "Samgyeopsal!" Castle J's response, "Wow! Are you Korean?!?" spared laughter among both the members and fans before transitioning to the next set of performances. The second half of the show saw MCND unleashing their more powerful tracks, including crowd favorites like "nanana" and "Spring." GEM's enthusiasm was infectious, with fans singing along to every word, and even dancing in the aisles. As the concert drew to a close, MCND took a moment to express their gratitude to their fans and promise a return to Texas. Their heartfelt speeches were met with cheers and applause underscoring the strong bond between MCND and their dedicated fanbase. Castle J praised the beauty of Texas and the crowd's energy, promising a return to the Lone Star State. WIN expressed gratitude to members, fans, TOP Media, and Studio PAV, vowing to return, especially after feeling the unique energy of Dallas. Minjae, appreciative of the Dallas energy, credited GEM for inspiring him to deliver an outstanding show despite initial tiredness from the pervious show. BIC, playfully challenged to speak English, humorously replied, "I can't English," but conveyed heartfelt thanks in Korean, promising to return soon. Huijun reflected on the tour's nearing conclusion, expressing gratitude for the memories made and asking GEM if they still had the energy for the final two songs of the night. Of course, GEM responded with a loud collective, "YES!!!" The night concluded with a powerful performance of "TOP GANG," and the iconic debut song, "ICE AGE." MCND's concert was an overall delight, leaving attendees with not just memories but also a newfound appreciation for MCND's diverse discography, making it an enjoyable experience for both devoted fans and newcomers alike. View our full gallery, here. Written and Photographed by Deborah R.

MCND (엠씨엔디) has finally made their way back stateside to perform for U.S. GEM -- the group's fandom name -- during their six city 2024 ODD-VENTURE Tour. MCND -- acronym for Music Creates New Dreams -- is a five-member boy group under TOP Media that consists of Leader and Main rapper Castle J, Main dancer and Rapper BIC, Lead vocalist Minjae, Main vocalist Huijun, and Maknae and Lead rapper Win. The group made their official debut on February 27, 2020, with their first mini album, Into the Ice Age featuring title track, "Ice Age," and the group's pre-debut track, "TOP GANG." (grrrrrr pow!) On February 13, the street leading to Atlanta's Variety Playhouse was greeted by the excitement and anticipation of meeting MCND from local and traveling GEM. With the release of their 5th mini album titled "ODD-VENTURE," the group also announced their 2024 ODD-VENTURE Tour, which would take place across Europe and the United States. As time neared for the fan engagements to begin, you began to feel the excitement and nervousness of GEM -- as they were preparing to meet their bias/(es) within just a few short moments. Once fan engagements had ended, it was time to wait for the show to start. Lights dimmed, cheers filled the venue, and MCND's opening video began playing, and a variety of light sticks began to illuminate the floor level of the venue -- including some of the group's acrylic light sticks --. As the five-member boy group took their places on stage, as MCND took the stage to perform "ODD-VENTURE," the first track from their latest album. This was a perfect way to open the show, as the members continued through the night with a high-energy, and a care-free vibe as they performed "Cruise," and "Crush." As the night continued, MCND was sure to keep the energy high as they performed fan favorites, "H.B.C," "Play Pungak," "Player," and "Not Over." The group took time to talk to GEM in between stages where they took suggestions from GEM to show their special talents. BIC performed a cover of Jungkook's "3D," Win created a freestyle sound -- with the aid of Castle J and BIC, Minjae performed a cover of EXO's "Love Shot," Huijun prepared a snippet of Shawn Mendez's "Nothing Holding Me Back," and Castle J finished the special talents stage by performing Taemin's "Guilty" challenge. While MCND is known for their high-energy and anthem-like sound, the members made sure to slow down and show their softer and more care-free side as the members took turns introducing the next stage with tags such as Castle J saying, Let's break the "Stereotypes!" before performing "Stereotypes," and Win's: GEM, this song is just for you. GEM is MCND's "Treasure." and slower fan-favorite songs including, "Run," "Back To You," and "Louder." Before the final stage, the group's oldest member -- Castle J -- started the night's ending mentions, as he asked fans to promise to come back when they return next time. BIC, Minjae, Huijun and Win followed by expressing their excitement about being in Atlanta for the first time, thanking GEM for coming out to see them, and giving GEM a reminder of their promise to Castle J before beginning their performances of "#MOOD," and "Not Over." As we all know, the last stage is not truly the last stage. GEM began to fill the venue with chants and cheers, "ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!" MCND happily obliged as they returned to the stage to end the night with the title track from their debut album -- "Ice Age," -- where GEM would fill the venue with: 우린 앗 차가워! Come into ice age Although the show would end on high, the night was not over. It was then time for the final fan engagement activity -- snapshots!!! It was time for GEM to take a polaroid snapshot with their favorite member or members before truly saying their final goodbye to MCND. During this time, GEM were sure to tell them members how exciting their show was, how much fun they had, how great each member's performance was on stage, and how they will be back when MCND returns stateside. MCND still has one final stop remaining on their 2024 ODD-VENTURE Tour! Don't miss your chance to experience this high-energy group as they perform in Los Angeles on February 18 at Avalon Hollywood! Tickets are still available, here. Be sure to check out our coverage and photo galleries of MCND's ODD-VENTURE Tour in Chicago, Dallas and LA here! We owe a huge thank you to the team at Studio PAV and TOP Media for this surreal experience to provide coverage for MCND during their 2024 ODD-VENTURE Tour in U.S.

Event Date : 24th December, 2023 |Venue : Seongam Art Hall, Seoul, Korea Titled 'Santa The Young,' Catch The Young prepared a special performance under the concept of becoming the Santa of 'Christmas Eve' to gift fans with a stage and songs. The show began with tracks from the debut album, 'My Own Way' and 'The Way To You,' heightening the audience's anticipation. In the first surprise segment, Catch The Young specially prepared a Christmas song, requested several times by fans during Instagram Live sessions, featuring 'Take Me Home For Christmas (Original. Dan + Shay)' in Catch The Young's unique rendition. Following this, the group performed the much-requested live version of 'A Rose Bloomed Between Buildings. (Original. H1KEY)' Subsequently, a Christmas medley unfolded, including songs like 'Talking To Myself,' 'White Christmas (Original. Bing Crosby),' 'Santa tell me (Original. Ariana Grande),' 'Last Christmas (Original. Wham!),' 'All I Want for Christmas Is You (Original. Mariah Carey),' and 'It's Christmas (Jelly Christmas 2012 HEART PROJECT),' creating a festive atmosphere. The next segment, named 'Santa The Young's Gift Time,' allowed Catch The Young to fulfill fans' written wishes. This included various requests, such as SANI and JUNYONG’s slick back challenge which is popular on SNS, KIHOON's three-pose photo time, and JUNGMO's aegyo. To fulfill the desire to give fans a solo stage, NAMHYUN played and sang 'Snowman' by Jung Seung Hwan on the keyboard, followed by a performance of 'If You Love Me' with JUNYONG and KIHOON. Before the hard performance of the day, the members took a moment to catch their breath with the song ‘First Crush.' The energetic stage, a trademark of Catch The Young, continued with 'The Living Daylights (Original. A-HA) + Black or White (Original. Michael Jackson),' 'From Now On,' and 'Addicted To That Rush (Original. Mr. Big),' exuding electrifying energy. During the performance of 'Addicted To That Rush,' SANI, who was playing the bass, jumped down to interact with fans under the stage, showcasing an unprecedented level of passion and energy. Approaching the final song, the members shared their thoughts on their first solo concert after the debut, expressing gratitude for the support and revealing their hopes for more concerts and delivering better music in the future. For the last song, 'Cactus Boy,' Catch The Young gifted fans with an emotional performance, concluding the show with an encore of the live stage version of 'YOUTH!!!' After the performance, during the photo time and farewell session with the audience, Catch The Young created unforgettable memories with the fans. BE SURE TO FOLLOW CATCH THE YOUNG FOR FUTURE ACTVIITES AND STAY TUNED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AMAZING ROOKIE BAND WITH OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! We want to give a big thank you to EVERMORE Entertainment for this amazing opportunity to work with such a uniquely fun group! Cr: Evermore Entertainment

Welcome back, #SoundLovers! We are excited to introduce another unique, and talented, artist to you! We had to joy of talking with Park Joonkyu, more commonly known by his stage name Q the trumpet about how he started in music, why he chose the trumpet, and his latest album, Christmas Afternoon! Check out our interview below. __________________________________________________________________ K Fuse: First and foremost, we want to thank you for taking the time to talk to us here at K Fuse. Could you please take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers? Q: Happy New Year Everyone, I am Q the trumpet, I wish you all well this year. Q: 안녕하세요! Q the trumpet입니다. 새해 좋은일 가득하시길 바랍니다. K Fuse: What inspired your stage name, Q the trumpet? Q: 제 본명인 박준규의 규를 알파벳으론 Kyu라고 쓰거든요. 거기에 제가 가장 열심히 연주하고있는 트럼펫이라는 악기를 대입시켜봤습니다. 결론적으로 Q는 트럼펫 그 자체 라는 뜻으로 해석할 수 있겠네요. Q: I would say due to my real name, which is Park Jun Kyu, and Kyu sounds like 'Q.' Therefore, I have added the trumpet -- which is the instrument that I love -- to my name. Therefore, it would translate to say -- Q (Kyu) is the trumpet. K Fuse: What inspired you to pursue music as a career? Q: 원래 20살까지 트럼펫은 그저 취미에 들어갈 뿐이었어요. 그러다 군대에 가게 되었는데(한국은 징병제라서            성인 남성은 국방의 의무를 수행해야 합니다.) 시험을 봐서 경찰악대로 입대하게 되었어요. 거기서 재즈와 대중음악이라는 장르를 처음 알았어요. 그때 너무 재밌는 음악이고 거기에 나라는 사람을 표현하기에 이렇게 좋은 장르가 또 없을 것 같다 라는 확신이 들게 되어서 바로 전공을 이쪽으로 바꾸게 되었어요. Q: For me, playing the trumpet was like my hobby until I was 20 years-old. However, when I needed to go to the military service, I was placed in the police band after the test. I learned jazz and pop music at the time. I thought it was so exciting to be able ot express myself with this genre, so I changed my major to this. K Fuse: You participated in and even won Vans Musician Wanted competition. could you tell us a little bit more about that event and your participation in it? Q: 반스라는 브랜드 내에서 직접 선정한 아티스트들끼리 경쟁하는 대회입니다. 다른 나라와 마찬가지로 그 당시에 한국 또한 코로나로 인하여 아티스트들이 할 수 있는 활동이 많이 없었습니다. 그때 전부터 지원하던 반스 뮤지션 원티드라는 프로그램이 눈에 띄었습니다. 사실 큰 마음을 가지고 지원한 것은 아니고 매년 내가 얼마나 성장했는지 궁금하기도 하고 좋은 기회로 선정되면 참 기분 좋을 것 같다 라는 마음으로 지원했습니다. 붙을거라고 생각은 전혀 하지 못했고 심지어 그 대회에서 우승을 할 거라는 생각은 단 한번도 하지 못했습니다. Q: The brand VANS made a competition where artists competed. Like other countries, lots of Korean artists did not have many activities that they could do at that time due to covid. The Vans Musician Wanted competition appeared in front of my eyes. At first, I didn't long to win the competition, but I thought it would be a great feeling to win this competition. K Fuse: You just recently released your Christmas album titled Christmas Afternoon. What can you tell us about the album? Q: 저는 1년중에 딱 두 날을 가장 좋아합니다. 하루는 제 생일이고 또 다른 날은 제 생일입니다. 공교롭게도 두 날 모두 겨울에 있어서 그런지 겨울에 앨범을 많이 냈습니다. 특히 크리스마스 기념 앨범을 이번 앨범까지 두 장을 냈네요. 크리스마스는 항상 제게 설레고 따스한 기분을 만끽하게 해주는 날이라 꼭 기념하고 싶은 마음에 앨범을 내게 되었습니다. 이번 앨범에 아주 즐거운 기억이 있는데 친구들과 함께 여행 겸 송캠프를 가서 쓴 곡들이라는 것입니다. 시골에 숙소를 하나 빌려두고 매일 일어나서 술마시며 게임하다가 영감이 나오면 바로 악기로 달려가서 연주하고 녹음하고 이야기나누고 그렇게 며칠을 보내니 이렇게 좋은 곡들이 나오게 되었습니다. Q: I like 2 days during the year. First day is my birthday and the second day is also my birthday :) Since my birthday is during the winter, I have released many winter albums. In particular, I have released two Christmas albums including the new album. I feel like Christmas is always a cozy and warm day, so I wanted to celebrate the coziness and warmth of that day. I have a lot of memories about this album. I wrote these songs during a time that I went to Song Camp with my friends where we rented a house, talked, drank and played games. As soon as we were inspired, we ran to the instrument to play, and record. We made many good things after doing this for a few days. K Fuse: Were there any memorable moments in the making of "Sleighbells Are Ringing Outside The Door" M/V? Q: 매 순간이 기억에 남습니다. 앨범을 만들때도 친구들과 즐겁게 놀면서 만들었는데 뮤직비디오 또한 그런 함께하는 행복에 대하여 같이 나누면 어떨까 싶어서 만들게 되었어요. 친구들이 한명한명 올때마다 채워지는 그림이 너무 기분이 좋았습니다. Q: Every moment is memorable. When I made the album, I made it while having fun with my friends, but I also made a music video because I thought about sharing the happiness of being together. Whenever my friends came, I felt so good. K Fuse: Based on your name, your specialty is the trumpet. Are there any other instruments you have mastered? Q: 딱히 다른 악기는 다루지 못합니다. 특히 양손악기는 제가 너무 어렵더라구요. 마치 색소폰이나 피아노, 기타같은 악기들이요. 기타는 레슨을 받으면서 연습중인데도 잘 늘지 않아요. 언젠가 무대에서 꼭 쳐보고싶네요. Q: To be honest, I didn't master any other instrument. Especially instruments using both hands -- like saxophone, piano, and guitar. I am learning guitar, it does seem to improve. I hope I can play the guitar one day on stage. K Fuse: Are there any instruments that you would like to study / master more? Q: 최근에 유포늄이라는 악기를 사게되어 연마중입니다. 그리고 올해는 색소폰도 연습해볼 생각이에요. Q: Recently, I have bought a euphonium, and am trying to practice it. Also, I will be practicing the saxophone more this year! K Fuse: As a former college music major and saxophone player, we were required to learn how to play all instruments. We give you kudos and admire your choice to play the trumpet. How did you get started playing the trumpet? Q: 이렇게 말하면 어이없으실 수도 있지만 처음 트럼펫을 잡게된 계기는 크게 특별하지 않아요. 중학교시절 학교에 윈드오케스트라가 있었고 그곳에 들어가 색소폰을 가리키며 저렇게 크고 구불거리는 악기를 하고싶다고 선생님께 말씀드리니 알겠다고 하시며 트럼펫을 주셨습니다. 크지도, 구불거리지도 않지만 저는 어쩔수없이 트럼펫을 시작하게 되었어요 lol. 하지만 결과적으론 아주 만족스러운 선택이었죠. 선생님이 알고 그러셨을지 궁금하네요. Q: Sadly, the story of starting the trumpet is not that special at all. I had the Wind Orchestra in my middle school years. I have picked a saxophone which is not big or round. But eventually, my teacher gave me a trumpet instead. I had to practice at playing the trumpet. Anyways it was a satisfying result. I am wondering if the teacher knew what was going to happen in future. K Fuse: Is there a message you would like to leave for your fans and our readers? Q: 특별하게 잘나지도, 잘 생기지도, 음악이 뛰어나다고 생각하진 못하지만 제 음악을 들어주시는 모든 분들께 항상 감사하다고 생각합니다. 항상 감정에 와닿는 음악을 하는 사람이 되고 싶어요. 2023년에 미처 이루지 못한 멋진 일들을 2024년엔 꼭 이루시고 나아가 건강한 한해가 되시길 소망합니다. 감사합니다 :) Q: I am not special, handsome, or highly qualified, but to all the listeners who listen to my song, I would give my appreciation. I hope my emotions touch your feelings, when you listen to the song. Anything that you could not achieve, I hope you could achieve in 2024 and hope you are well and healthy. Thank you __________________________________________________________________ BE SURE TO FOLLOW Q THE TRUMPET ON SNS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES AND UPCOMING EVENTS Threads | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube

Welcome back #SoundLovers to our latest #k_fuse_koverage as we were able catch a moment to talk with some of FNC's Rising Stars. Check out our latest interview with the members of AMPERS&ONE below. K Fuse: Thank you for taking the time to catch up and talk with us here, at K Fuse Could you please take a moment and introduce yourselves (as a group and individuals, what is your role / position within the group)? KAMDEN – Hello, I’m KAMDEN! I am the eldest member and rapper. Great to meet you all! BRIAN - Hi I'm BRIAN, and I am a vocalist. JIHO – Hello everyone, I am JIHO, the leader, and I am a vocalist as well. SIYUN – Hi, I’m SIYUN, and I am a vocalist. KYRELL – Hi, I’m KYRELL, and I am a vocalist, too! MACKIAH – Hi everyone, I am MACKIAH, and I am a rapper. SEUNGMO – Hello, I am SEUNGMO, the youngest, and I am a vocalist. Nice to meet you all! K Fuse: What was your first impression of each other when you first met? Was there a member with whom you had trained with before? Was there a member that you instantly connected with? BRIAN – First, when I met KAMDEN, I thought he always looks so uncomfortable because he always scratched his elbow. I thought he had a mosquito bite. I met JIHO for the first time during the Boys Planet, so I thought he was a cool guy. SIYUN, when I first met him, I loved his voice and was kind of jealous of him that he has a really charming voice. KYRELL’s first impression was that he was the nicest guy I have ever met! In case of MACKIAH, we both just instantly clicked because he was the first one to greet me in English when I first came to FNC. Lastly, I thought SEUNGMO was a really calm and quiet person, but now, as I know him more, and I feel like he is the craziest one in the group. SEUNGMO – For me, JIHO had the strongest first impression as he came to me first and talked to me and taught me to dance. When I first came to FNC, I was nervous and didn’t have anyone I knew. I got instantly closer with MACKIAH as we are the same age, and he was nice and friendly -- so he was always fun to be with. K Fuse: What do you think is going to be your biggest challenge transitioning from a trainee to a rookie idol? BRIAN – To be honest, it still hasn’t hit me that I’m actually an idol right now. It kind of feels the same as when we were on Boys Planet, so I am not really sure yet. SEUNGMO – I believe the biggest challenge would be that we need to practice more with more lessons compared to when we were trainees. Since we are debuting, we need to take a lot more time to practice so that we can show the public a perfect performance, which means we need to try much harder. K Fuse: What was the most memorable moment that happened during your debut showcase? BRIAN - Seeing the fans for the first time! SEUNGMO – I had to dance for the introduction at the debut showcase, and since it was our first time to see our fans, I was super nervous of doing it. KRYELL - Like Brian said, it was really interesting to finally meet our fans K Fuse:  What was the most difficult part about preparing for your debut? What made it difficult? BRIAN - I caught COVID during the recording of the album, so I wasn't in my best condition. SEUNGMO – It was hard to record the first title song, as it was my very first time recording in my life, so it felt awkward, and was difficult to get used to. KAMDEN - Since I started training when I was 19, I thought I would have a disadvantage of debuting because at that time, there were many K-Pop sunbaenims that debuted when they were pretty young. So, I thought I would go back in a few months. K Fuse: [BRIAN, SEUNGMO] Were there any funny, or memorable moments that happened during the filming of ‘On and On?’ Could you share some of those moments with our readers? BRIAN – While filming ‘On and On’ M/V, we had to do a lot of acting, but we were not that good at it, so it was awkward. However, thanks to the staffs, they helped us a lot with it, and I am glad that from the great editing, we can’t feel the awkwardness. SEUNGMO – There was a scene that the professor chases after us, and I was so scared of him that I rushed to escape from him. K Fuse: Between ‘On and On,’ ‘Sweet & Sour,’ and ‘Sheesh,’ which one was your most favorite to prepare and record? Why? BRIAN – My favorite to record was ‘Sweet & Sour’ because I think it fits my soft voice a lot. SEUNGMO – I guess it would be the title track, ‘On and On,’ because I put a lot of effort in it as it was our title track, so it was the most fun to record! K Fuse: What is the first thing that you want listeners to think of when they hear your songs? BRIAN – I want the listeners to feel warmth and energy from our songs. SEUNGMO – I want the listeners to feel our energy. Our song is really energetic and powerful, so I hope people can get energy and cheers from it! KYRELL - Ready for no breaks in the moment haha but in all seriousness I hope our music is the kind where you stick your earbuds in, close your eyes, lean your head back, and smile a little, you know? K Fuse: Is there a message you are trying to convey to your listeners with this album? SEUNGMO – I want to convey the message to not give up even if they face some obstacles and continue what they are looking for, and achieve their goals. K Fuse: Several of you have participated in survival shows in the past.  How does it feel to go from being on a survival show to finally being able to make your debut? BRIAN – It feels great to make a debut! The survival show lit a fire in me to do better and try harder in our new group. KAMDEN – I'm so happy to perform on more stages after experiencing it.. and the camera work is kind of fun, no? I wanna see more expressions of myself in the future! K Fuse: Every group has a mother and father type figure, who do you think is going to take on those roles? Or is there a member that has already taken on the role of the mother-figure and the father-figure? BRIAN – I think the mother in the group is definitely KAMDEN, and the father would be KYRELL as they are the cleanest in the group and order us around to do chores sometimes. SEUNGMO – I feel like as KAMDEN is the eldest in the group, he always does the parents’ role because he is always the one to tell us to do the chores and recycling and helps us to wake up in the morning. K Fuse: Is there a member that you think looks out for you the most? How so? BRIAN – I think JIHO looks out for me the most because whenever I am sick or tired, he always tries to comfort me to feel better. SEUNGMO – For me, it is SIYUN because he listens to me a lot helps me to wake up in the morning. K Fuse: . Is there a member who learns choreography quicker than the others, and then teaches it to the rest of the group? BRIAN – JIHO learns the choreography the fastest in the group. I sometimes feel like he is a printer. He prints out every movement really fast and with precision. SEUNGMO – I think it is JIHO. He is really good at dancing, and actually loves to do freestyle dance. K Fuse: Who are some of your role models? BRIAN – My role model is Jungkook from BTS because I love his angelic vocals. Yeonjun from TXT is also my role model because I love his clean dancing. SEUNGMO – My role model is Baekhyun from EXO because I believe that I can learn from him. Although, it’s been a while since his debut, he still takes vocal lessons and always tries his best. Also, I have always loved that he clearly shows that he loves his fans a lot. KYRELL– One of my biggest role models is Na Kamden! Just kidding he is my role model but among other artists in the industry I admire BTS's V for his unique voice and cool vibes K Fuse: What made you decide to pursue a career as an idol? BRIAN - A long time ago, I was hit by a car, and I almost died that day. After then, I decided to live life without regrets because I realized that we only have one life to live. I was always interested in singing but was too scared to try, but after the accident, I decided to give it a try. From then on, I suddenly discovered BTS and slowly started to like K-Pop, so I decided to pursue a career as a K-pop idol and to live without regrets. SEUNGMO – I got casted on the streets and started training from then. As I kept on seeing some of my trainee fellows make a debut, I thought they were cool. So, I started to think that I want to be just like them, so I decided I too wanted to be an idol. KYRELL – While watching YouTube I stumbled across some K-Pop music videos and I found music that I thought was really fun to listen to and watch performances of. I thought to myself: that looks like the most fun job ever! And there’s a whole long story after that but that’s how it all started! K Fuse: What are some of your hobbies? BRIAN – My hobbies are playing basketball, games, and drawing. SEUNGMO – I love to play games, so I often play an online soccer games with KAMDEN. KAMDEN – Recently, my hobby has changed to sleeping because of the busy schedule. K Fuse: What special talent do you have? BRIAN - I can flip my thumb backwards. SEUNGMO – My left second finger is so flexible that it can reach on the back of my left hand. K Fuse: What are your goals during your first year – both as a group and as individuals? BRIAN – My goal for the first year is to have no regrets! SEUNGMO – My goal for the first year would be winning the Rookie Award or to win the first prize at the music show. K Fuse: Have you all talked about any ideas for a fandom name? BRIAN - We have but, it is still not confirmed yet. SEUNGMO – We have talked about it a lot, but we couldn’t come out with a great idea. We’d love to get some ideas from our fans. K Fuse: What has been the best piece of advice you have received that you felt has helped you better prepare for your debut? BRIAN - Stay humble and keep working hard. SEUNGMO – My family always told me that they always trust me, so I have to trust myself and keep trying hard. This helped me to better prepare for the debut. K Fuse: Before we say our goodbyes, is there a message that you would like to leave for your fans, and our readers? BRIAN - Thank you all so much for reading and please look forward to more exciting content! SEUNGMO – Please look forward to our future performances and exciting moments. Thank you.

On November 10th, K-Pop rookie girl group, Purple Kiss, made their Kentucky debut at The Art Sanctuary in Louisville! Members Goeun, Dosie, Ireh, Yuki, Chaein, and Swan all came together to greet their Louisville PLORY! The girls brought the house down from the jump opening with fan favorites, "Nerdy," and "Pretty Psycho."' After the members introduced themselves and the tour, they kept the hits coming with their iconic title tracks, "'memeM," and "Zombie!" Members Chaein, and Ireh left the stage, and left us with Swan, Yuki, Goeun, and Dosie to entertain fans. Swan addressed the crowd on the correct pronunciation of Lousiville, stating how hard the members tried to get the pronunciation right, PLORYs assured the girls they were doing it correctly! The members mentioned that Lousiville was known for their whiskey and that some of the members had a drink the night prior. Fans got a laugh out of maknae Swan pouting that she is still too young to drink in America but assured us that the next time they come to Louisville she will be old enough and she'll have a drink with her fellow members and PLORY! Ireh and Chaein come back out giving fans a phenomenal unit performance of Charlie Puth's, "We Don't Talk Anymore," showing off the Main Vocalist and Main Dancer's charms. After that, they brought out chairs and gave fans a sizzling performance of Michel Buble's "Sway, making fans swoon. Ireh later pointed out a fan's sign that said, 'I'm Chaein's Girlfriend," and Chaein giggled saying she was super nervous to be performing in front of her girlfriend! Swan, Goeun, and Dosie then lit the stage up with their cover of Charlie Puth's, "Lightswitch," followed by a show-stopping performance of Lady GaGa's "Rain On Me." After all units finished the girls told us how they all were super hands on with choosing the units and which songs they sang! (Member Yuki didn't participate in Unit stages, as she was promoting with her project groups ELzUp during concert preparations, please support Yuki in both her groups!) We got to know the members a little better during their segment "Ask Purki," where fans got to ask the members their undying questions via post-it notes! Fans asked Yuki to teach them something in Japanese, she taught them how to say, "That's awesome," which quickly became the motto for the night. Another fan requested the group sing their song, "Biscuit," which they happily obliged with an acapella version of the song. Another question involved Swan once again mentioning wanting to drink with her members and stating that she was going to that night, causing Dosie to look at the crowd ans exclaim, "She is crazy!" After all the fun and games, the members of Purple Kiss and Louisville PLORY felt much closer after this! Like all good things, Purple Kiss' first time in Louisville had to come to an end! Putting on an adorable encore, fitted with cute headbands, hats, and keychains, the members of Purple Kiss bid their Louisville PLORY goodbye! What an amazing first meeting between artist and fan, sealed with a pinky promise to meet right back there where they first met! You can still catch the girls as they wrap up their tour: 2023.11.26 | Phoenix at Stage West at Herberger Theater Center 2023.11.28 | Los Angeles at Palace Theatre You can find our full galleries for Louisville and Nashville stops, here. Follow Purple Kiss For Updates and Future Activities X (Twitter) | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Weibo | Fancafe | Facebook Written and Photographed by McCayla M. Huge thank you to the team at Leo Presents, RBW, and of course the members of Purple Kiss for this opportunity 💜