Mad Scientist Moments: VIXX, the Concept Kings

I’ve talked about many artists for MACG Magazine. VIXX is definitely a group whose Mad Scientist Moments I’ve wanted to focus on here. As I mentioned in my Rapid Review  of “Jekyll,” VIXX came out of the gate in a very unique manner. When I got into K-pop, a friend gave me a list of songs and videos to check out. On that list was VIXX’s “Hyde” and “On and On.” I was stunned when I realized they were still rookies.

I have a soft spot for this group. After eight years, they still surprise me with their talent, dedication and flair. From superheroes to robots, love equations to scientists, let’s take a look at what makes VIXX special.

BTS’ Interesting Use of Their Past

I’ve been a BTS fan since about mid-2014. I’ve seen them go from wearing 2-dollar shirts, to them throwing jackets that cost more than my rent. As they rose to fame and new fans join the fandom, I’ve noticed that BTS has an interesting way of handling their past. And I wish more artists did the same.

MACG Playlist: Songs I’m Currently Listening To

When I do these playlists, I try my best to be balanced. I’ve made it a goal to mix them with popular tracks/artists and lesser-known gems. I also try not to overload them with my favorite artists as it’ll just be the same songs over and over again.

However, for this playlist, I wanted to share some songs that I currently have on repeat. No themes, no common thread other than my loving them.

Remakes and Reboots and Sequels, Oh My!

Recently, NBC announced their plans for the upcoming streaming service, Peacock. Among the slated shows, they hope to launch a reboot of “Battlestar: Galactica” and a “Saved by the Bell” series. Compounded with the recent announcement of future Disney+ shows, including a Lizzie Maguire sequel series and the upcoming Face Off remake, I’ve found myself wading through anti-remake discussions. So let’s talk about remakes.

MACG Playlist: Don’t Worry, Be Happy

 I’m the type of person who hates being restless. It’s like this ball of energy that has to go somewhere or it’ll just fry me from the inside out. Whenever I get like this, I just have to crank up my music. But not to just anything. I need something lively, something that makes me move and get out of my head. I have to hear something other than the noise. Something … happy. You‘d be surprised how much changing what you listen to helps change your mood.

That might seem a bit shallow or ridiculous to some, but it helps me remember three things:

1. My worrying won’t change anything
2. My constant scrolling, updating, and monitoring won’t change anything
3. Sometimes, you just have to dance it out.

So here are some songs from my Happy Dance playlist. I hope it helps.

Police Conduct Search and Seizure at YG Office

When last we left the saga of Burning Sun-Gate, the police investigation turned toward YG Entertainment and its CEO and founder Yang Hyun-suk. At the time, police were concerned with (or at least what they told us) his connection to Burning Sun itself as he was one of the owners. Allegations of Yang providing prostitutes for business clients arose.

MACG Playlist: Collaborations with Western Artists

This might be the hardest playlist I’ve done so far. Firstly, I didn’t want to fill the list with only one artist or group. I also didn’t want it filled with songs that most fans have already heard. While K-pop artists are working with Western artists more now, it’s still a pretty small field.

Second, collaborations are tricky things. If done well, you have a beautiful blending of two artists working together to give us great music. If done wrong, you have a song that can sound uneven, too dissimilar to their other work or worst of all, boring.

So for this list, I just wanted to highlight some great songs we’ve gotten over the years and what made them so impactful.

Monsta X Fans Campaign for Wonho

2019 has been a long year for K-pop fans. After numerous tragedies, scandals and lawsuits, it seems like one thing after another. When news broke in late October of Monsta X‘s Wonho getting swept up in two scandals, it hit fans especially hard. On October 31, he announced his departure from his group and fans reacted. Many want to chalk it up to the typical outcries of the “Oppar Warriors,” fans blindly defending their faves. But this is far more than that.

Rapid Review: 4Minute's "Volume Up"

Welcome to another Rapid Review! This week, we’re going to look at 4Minute and their “Volume Up” EP. I originally intended to review their first EP, “For Muzik.” But that album wasn’t as interesting to me.

Mulan 2020: Something Old Something New

Editor's note: Originally published on MacGMagazine, July 19 2019

As a ’90s baby, I grew up watching much of the pantheon of Disney‘s animated movies. I actually remember watching the trailer for the 1998 “Mulan.” The animation was unlike anything I had ever seen, the story full of elements I was semi-familiar with but still felt brand-new. Fa Mulan was also groundbreaking because she was actually inspired by Hua Mulan, a Chinese warrior and heroine. The whole thing rocked my world. Mulan quickly dethroned Belle and Cinderella as my favorite Disney princesses. It’s been 20 years, and the movie still holds a very dear place in my heart.

MACG Playlist: Great Debut Tracks

Debut songs are a tricky thing. You have to introduce yourself, as a group or a soloist, to the public after months of waiting. Yes, you are much more than one song, but you still want to make your best impression. Today, I want to take a trip down memory lane and discuss some of my favorite debut songs. These artists hit the ground running with stellar debuts that captured our attention and love..

Kang Daniel’s Debut Album

While the series Produce 101 has aided many careers, Kang Daniel is easily one of their biggest successes. His appearance on the second season and the subsequent debut with the group, Wanna One, launched the young idol’s career to new heights.

Kang Daniel quickly became a household name, appearing on numerous variety shows, magazine photoshoots and even breaking world records. After Wanna One disbanded, fans everywhere eagerly awaited his next move.

MACG Playlist: Black Producers

Playlist time! My editor recently told me that June is (among other things) Black Music Month. Between the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and producer Tiffany Red‘s allegations of SM withholding payments from her, this felt especially timely.

Today, we’re going to focus on the Black artists and producers working behind the scenes of some of your favorite Korean songs. Before we get started, I want to give a special shout out to The Band 6, Big Bang’s tour band. While they’re not technically producers, they are a great band and deserve love. As someone who’s seen “Doom Dada” live, they deserve all the love.

Current Shifts in K-Pop

On May 7, Super Junior’s youngest member, Cho Kyuhyun, was discharged from the army. As a Super Junior fan, this is exciting news as we eagerly await for his future projects, both solo and with the group. But the news left me with some interesting feelings.

For starters, this is the first time in nearly 10 years Super Junior hasn’t had a member in the army. Think of all of the idol groups that have debuted and disbanded within that time. I’m sure you could measure how long they’ve been in the fandom by what member of Super Junior was in the army when they joined (Heechul for me). Yes, I’m happy that they’ve all finished their service, but a moment of silence is needed. It was the end of an era, everyone. We must pay our respect.

Secondly, I’m struck how much the scene of K-pop is changing.

Rapid Review: Geeks' "Backpack"

 For this edition of “Rapid Review,” I wanted to revisit one of the first Korean hip-hip albums I heard. I actually listened to more hip hop and rap than mainstream pop when I first got into Hallyu. I still listen to a few songs from this album but haven’t listened to the album in its entirety in a few years.

Kevin Feige Marvel’s New Creative Chief? Now What?

On October 15, Disney announced that Kevin Feige has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer. Previously the President of Production, the new position puts Feige as not only head of Marvel Studios but of publishing, animation, and live-action Marvel productions.

I’ve been on board for the MCU since the beginning. At this point, I had already fallen in love with superhero movies and am eager for more. However, I also had my hopes dashed by the cruel harbingers called Studio Interference and Rewrites. After experiencing “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Superman Returns” and “Spider-Man 3” in a single year, you’re hardly the same person.

Rapid Review: Ladies Code's "Pretty Pretty" and "Bad Girl"

Welcome to another Rapid Review, dear reader. Continuing our journey into 2nd generation Kpop, we’re checking out Ladies’ Code. Today, I’m reviewing their first two albums, “Bad Girl” and “Pretty Pretty.” I initially planned to only review the first album, but the run time isn’t even 15 minutes.

Ladies’ Code debuted as a five-member group in February 2013 under Polaris Entertainment. Interestingly, some of the ladies had already made a name for themselves prior to debut. Sojung was a top-eight finalist of “The Voice of Korea” season one, and RiSe represented Japan in the Miss Korea competition in 2009. The other three, EunB, Ashley and Zuny, all trained in various other companies pre-debut.

LAY Zhang Release 2nd Half To “LIT” Album

LAY Zhang has released the final six tracks of his “LIT” album, much to his fans’ delight. Teaming up with influential producers Scott Storch and Murda Beatz, LAY strives to leave his revolutionary mark on the international music scene.

Rapid Review: "Busker Busker's First Album"

 Welcome to another round of Rapid Reviews! Lately, I’ve been focusing on girl groups from the 2012-2014 range. I did that because frankly, the boys get plenty of attention. However, I’m taking a brief break from mainstream K-Pop to talk about Busker Busker! Busker Busker was a 3-member indie rock band that formed around 2011.

Lay Zhang Releases Summer Anthem ‘BOOM’

With summer upon us, the race for the song of the season is heating up. While there are numerous artists working for the title, a new rival enters the competition: Lay Zhang. And if I’m being honest, none of us are prepared for this album.

#WCW: Choi Myung-Hee, the Hero of ‘Healer’

This #WCW actually snuck up on me. Recently, I rewatched my favorite parts of the K-drama, “Healer.” I remembered just how much I love this character. No, it’s not Kim Mi-kyung’s Ahjumma, although she is a boss. And no, it’s not Park Min-young’s Yeong Shin. No, today, I’m going to be fawning over Do Ji-won as remarkable Choi Myung-hee.

Warning: Light spoilers for Healer ahead!!

Rapid Review: Ha:tfelt's "Me?"

Welcome to another Rapid Review! This time around, I’m exploring HA:TFELT and looking back at her 2014 album, “Me?”

While K-pop newcomers might only know her by HA:TFELT/Ha:tfelt, this artist has gone by many names during her long career. Debuting in 2007 in the legendary girl group, Wonder Girls, Park Ye Eun (A.K.A Yenny) is many things. Leader, lead guitar player, model and now an indie artist. She debuted as a soloist in 2014 under JYP Entertainment but signed with her current company, Amoeba Culture, once her contract expired.

MACG Playlist: Fabulous Women Part 2

Just because it’s no longer International Women’s Month doesn’t mean I’m done celebrating these women. Girl groups and soloists have really been killing the K-pop scene these past few years. Before, only a few girl groups got the International Artist, God-Level love and attention. But now? Now, it’s feeling like they’ll soon outpace the boys. And I’m here for all of it.

As always, this playlist will be a mix of songs you probably know and some songs you might have missed.

K-Pop Mad Scientist Moments: Brown Eyed Girls

I listen to a lot of music, but I’m picky about the groups I let near my heart. Girl groups are even tougher for me. Today, we’re going to talk about one of them: Brown Eyed Girls. I don’t think it’s a stretch to call this foursome iconic. While they haven’t been as chart-topping as SNSD or BoA, their influence subtly permeates through K-Pop.

#WCW: Lee Sung-kyung — A Legend in the Making

Welcome to the latest edition of MACG’s #WCW. This week, I want to discuss an actress close to my heart: Lee Sung-kyung. While her acting credits are far, I truly believe that this woman will join the ranks of Jun Ji-hyun and Gong Hyo-jin.

Rapid Review: F(x)'s "Pink Tape"

Welcome to another Rapid Review. Today, we’re going to look at f(x)‘s “Pink Tape.”. The second album from the group, it made quite a splash at the time, being the only K-pop album on Fuse’s 2013 Top Album list. Over the years, it has become an iconic K-pop album for the second- and third-generation fans. I wanted to take this time to see if it still holds up. To me, f(x) was an outlier. They weren’t as pristine as other groups at the time. Now that girl groups are even more popular, does it still deserve its iconic status?

MACG Playlist: Fabulous Women of K-pop

It’s ladies night, y’all!! To be more exact, March is International Women’s Month! When my editor asked me how I incorporate that into my writing, my first thought immediately went to a playlist. I love a good playlist. It’s practically a love language for me.

This playlist’s theme is not only female artists but songs that just make me feel powerful. Songs that inspire me to go forth and slay no matter what the world holds for me. Songs by empowered women that can empower other women.

Let’s do this.

Why Nae-il’s Cantabile Is My Comfort K-Drama

I’m not sure if anyone has noticed this, but the world feels really intense right now. It’s times like this where you want to snuggle into a pile of pillows, turn on a movie or show and just escape. A friend of mine called it “Depression-binging,” but it’s comfort food. Something hearty without feeling heavy or overly important.

For me, one of those shows is “Nae-il’s Cantabile” (or “Tomorrow Cantabile”). Based on the Japanese manga, “Nodame’s Cantabile,” it’s a great drama with remarkably low stakes and yet tackles trauma.

Mild spoilers for the first six episodes.

#WCW: ‘My ID is Gangnam Beauty’ & Na Hye-sung

Last year, I wrote about “My ID Is Gangnam Beauty” and its message on beauty. Now, months later, it’s still a drama with elements and characters I love. One of the things that sticks with me is the female roles. I loved so many of the characters, from the blunt and awkward Yoon Byul and the caring Eun (Played by Bae Da-bin and Park Yoo-na, respectively). Still, one character won my heart and that’s Park Joo-mi as Na Hye-sung.

When we first see her, Hye-sung gets the typical “Mysterious Figure Walking in the Airport” introduction. We don’t know her name or background, only that it’s been an incredibly long time since she’s been back in South Korea. Now, after years of watching K-dramas, I was immediately skeptical. Yes, our good guys have those moments, but this is usually how we meet the drama’s bad guy/antagonists. Also, she’s older and rich, another K-drama red flag. This isn’t my first rodeo, and my new babies must be protected!

But before we talk about her personality, we need to talk about clothes.

Favorite K-Drama Second Dudes: I’d Take These Boys Over Flowers Any Day!

Admittedly, this one proved harder than the ladies. It took me a while to find an equally enjoyable second-lead male. For my lists, I wanted characters I found myself rooting for or who made me anticipate their next appearance. While some roles were compelling, they just didn’t fill my heart with glee. Even the villainous ones made me too angry or annoyed to love.

That being said, this list consists of characters who wormed their way into my heart.

Rapid Review: RaNia's "Just Go"

Welcome back to another Rapid Review. We’re back at it with another 2nd generation girl group! I’ve been at this for quite a few reviews but every time I feel like I’ve fully explored this period of Kpop, I find a new group that invigorates me. And this week, that group is Rania with their first studio album, “Just Go”.

Favorite Female Second Leads: Second Lead, But Never Second Best

While the lead cast is important for a great K-drama, a great secondary cast can make or break it. Our leads might be propelling the drama, but the second leads can add levity or tragedy to the mix. I can think of dramas where I didn’t care about the lead characters but kept watching for a background story. I can also think of a few where I watched the core cast battle through a struggle and how epic it felt.

Today, I want to give a shout out to some of my favorite second-leading ladies and their lasting impact.

MACG Playlist: Songs That Gets Me Hyped

I’m not sure about anyone else but I’ve been feeling languid lately. Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s that time of summer where nothing is happening but everything is about to happen. Who knows? Still, I have quite a bit of things to do and I need to get motivated, which can only mean one thing. NEW PLAYLIST TIME!!

The goal with this playlist is simple: Songs that get me pumped and energized. Songs that get me so hyped up, I can’t stay still and feel happier afterward. No rules with this one, only going with what makes me feel and dance. Let’s get started.

Viki Launches New Watch Party Feature

In May, the streaming site Viki added their new Watch Party feature on the site. While only a month in, the site runs weekly showings so fans can join and experience their favorite shows together. Honestly, this is probably the best thing they’ve done.

After DramaFever tragically shut down in 2018, most international shows went to two places: Viki or Netflix. While Viki isn’t actually hurting for viewers, Netflix is a big competitor in the streaming business. With their recent move in producing more Asian dramas, Netflix is trying to shut out small sites.

Rapid Review: SPICA's "Russian Roulette"

Welcome to another Rapid Review! I’ve used this series to explore K-pop albums made during 2012-2015. Thus far, I’ve reviewed albums or artists that I know and love. Well, I decided to journey a little further out by listening to artists I myself missed. I got into Hallyu around 2013 but mainly listened to underground artists for a while. Today, I’m looking at SPICA and their first mini-album, “Russian Roulette.”

The group debuted in 2012 and made a name for themselves with their strong vocals. Unfortunately, they disbanded in 2017, but it’s never too late to discover a new band.

5 Albums To Help You De-Stress

Fun fact, dear readers, April is National Stress Month. While it seems that we currently have the stress part down, I figure it’s my responsibility as a Hallyu writer to help you relieve some of that stress. What better way to do it than with some tunes? After all, music is scientifically proven to help with stress, elevate your mood and even boost your immune system!

Now, we’re taking a break from the usual playlist and giving you a list of full albums that will help you de-stress. I picked albums that are calming and pretty chill without being loaded with sad ballads. Just because something is slow doesn’t make it calming.

Rapid Review: FIESTAR's "Black Label"

 Welcome to another Rapid Review! This week, we dive back into our look into early third-generation K-pop with FIESTAR. This is my first ever listen to them … I think? Like I’ve said, my friends gave me a lot of suggestions, and it’s very possible they got lost in the shuffle.

The Uneasy Future of YG Entertainment?

As we Hallyu fans dig through the rubble caused by Hurricane Burning Sun, I have looked to see if the foundation of YG Entertainment is safe. Honestly, it’s not looking too good.

Rapid Review: EXID's "Hippity Hop"

 Welcome back to Rapid Reviews! This week, we explore another album from 2012, EXID’s “Hippity Hop.” Unlike SPICA, I do occasionally listen to EXID, although I only started after the infamous fancam of “Up and Down” went viral. That being said, I like their style and eagerly look forward to their comeback.

BTS and The Voice: Presumptions or Bamboozled?

TV show “The Voice” released a video promoting that on the May 14 episode, BTS and the Jonas Brothers would be making a special announcement. Quickly, theories of the groups performing that very night or even a joint project spread through the fandom. With high anticipation, fans tuned in, eager for the awaited announcement! Only for the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift to announce their respective performances on “The Voice” season finale. Afterward, “The Voice” listed BTS as one of the other artists performing, although their stage will be pre-recorded due to their tour.

As you can expect, BTS fans were disappointed and angry at the slight. Frankly, I don’t blame them. Without any bias, to get Taylor Swift when you expect BTS is drinking an orange soda only for the taste to be grape.
Now, I’ve been a woman of many fandoms over the years. I have experienced similar disappointment. I’ve learned that reading or watching things thoroughly is key to save yourself from heartbreak like this. With that said, something feels iffy about this.

20 Years with NaNoWriMo!

In July 1999, Chris Baty and friends challenged themselves to write a 200-page novel in a month. “Everyone’s got a novel inside of them,” he wrote in an early email to his friends. It started off with 21 participants. The next year, Baty suggested moving it to November, to capitalize on the cold dreariness of the month. They also hammered out the finer details of the rules. By 2001, the participants grew from 21 writers to over 5000.

Today, November has been declared National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, and people worldwide dedicate themselves to write. In 2017, over 349,000 people signed up and over 50,000 successfully finished. Since 2006, hundreds of NaNo novels have been published, both in traditional publishing and self-publishing.

While there are rules, the annual event runs solely on the honor system. That said, the rules are pretty simple:

1. It has to be a new project
2. NaNoWriMo starts at November 1, 12:00 AM and ends November 30, 11: 59 pm
3. It has to be a solo project

That’s it. It doesn’t matter if you finish the project, if you verify your word count daily or at the end of the month or how exactly you wrote it. The principle of NaNoWriMo is simple: get in the chair and write. Often, people glorify the writing process as this mystical thing when showing up and doing the work is one of the most important things you can do.

I’ve done NaNoWriMo twice — once with my sister in 2013 and by myself in 2016. In 2013, I had no laptop, so I had to write everything by hand. My outline wasn’t finished and I had no real experience writing. In 2016, I was working a job with crazy hours. I had a laptop this go around but no outline. Both times, I succeeded.

Despite having two different circumstances both times, I discovered a lot of who I was as a writer. As I looked over my incredibly rough first drafts, I could see what areas my writing was the weakest. I figured out what writing habits I had and how I worked best.

NaNoWriMo doesn’t necessarily teach you how to write a book, but it will show you how YOU write your book. The maddening pace of it will reveal things about yourself, both as a writer and as a person. It can even give you a support system, as the site shows you local writing groups during the month. Even if you prefer to write alone, there’s nothing quite like knowing you have a community behind you.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a novel but felt hesitant, I highly recommend NaNoWrimo. It’s honestly changed my life, and after all, everyone has a novel inside of them.

EastBayExpress, NaNoWriMo

Editor's note: Originally published on MacGMagazine July 31, 2020

K-pop Social Night Makes History with #KPSNPODCASTFEST!

July 18 was a historical day in the Hallyu community as #KPSNPODCASTFEST launched. The digital festival was the first of its kind, showcasing various internet radio/podcast programs from the Hallyu community. K-pop and Hallyu podcasts such as Kpopcast Live and 106 & Seoul gifted fans with live broadcasts of their shows. This, of course, allowed them to interact with their fans directly. The jam-packed day featured 12 broadcasts for a total of 12 live episodes. Between shows, hosts played new and classic K-pop hits that had fans squealing in happiness.

Rapid Review: VIXX's "Hyde"/"Jekyll"

Welcome to another Rapid Review! Continuing into our dive into third-generation K-pop, we’re digging into VIXX‘s “Jekyll.” VIXX is a group close to my heart. They’re one of the few artists who just ooze theatricality and epicness from concept to comeback stages. Still, it’s important to look back on an artist’s beginning to better appreciate their journey.

k-Pop Mad Scientists Moments: SHINee

I’m not a fan of people declaring someone or something as the “Greatest of all time” or “Kings.” Opinions change and personal taste are very subjective. Your faves aren’t everyone’s faves. It’s as simple as that. So when I call SHINee one of K-Pop’s greatest groups, I don’t say it lightly.

I can’t say it any other way. Are they great at everything or with every album? Probably not. But SHINee just baffles me with their range and diverse talent. It’s one thing to build a dream team. It’s another to build it and make it actually work.