Tanu I. Raj is a contributing writer to GRAMMY.com.
As K-pop’s first — and so far, only — hard-of-hearing boy band, Big Ocean is making waves by proving that sound isn't the only path to musical connection. Signed to Parastar Entertainment, an label representing disabled talent in Korea, the group debuted with their single "Glow" in 2024 on Korea’s National Day of People with Disabilities. Since then, the trio…
As pop and country music ruled the airwaves over the summer, Hanumankind helped bring a much lesser-known genre to global audiences: Indian hip-hop. His rambunctious track "Big Dawgs" almost instantly became a viral hit, taking over Tiktok and soon reaching No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 9 on the Billboard Global 200 chart — a first for…
It's almost too easy for people to find new music, from curated playlists on Spotify to fan recommendations on Reddit. With streams, views, and followers regularly touted in press releases, it seems unlikely for an artist to be popular without a digital portfolio. Or so one would think. Snow Man — arguably one of, if not the biggest group in…
At multiple points during our conversation discussing her latest album Buzz, NIKI falls back on one phrase. "I should speak for myself." While she cuts herself off often, physically but gently coaxing herself back on track, NIKI's latest release is defiantly personal. "I think it's going to mark a new era for me musically. Personally, it is my favorite thing…
"Understanding the latest trends, checking the stock market on the way to work, joining a company with pure spirit/ these are the obvious rules for us workers. Huh?/ Shut the f— up," J-pop star Ado screams on "Usseewa." Released in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the blatant rejection of societal expectations and conformity on "Usseewa" felt like a…
As is with most legends, there are different accounts of how the members of Atarashii Gakko! met. Some say they met in a supermarket aisle when they all reached for the last pack of discounted sushi, others say they’d known each other as kids. Yet others claim that the hallowed halls of their to-be-company Asobisystem were hard at work to…
Despite popular misconceptions, Korean music hasn’t always thrived on the glittering giant of K-pop. Even as the genre went mainstream and set the blueprints of the company/trainee system, South Korea has boasted a network of independent acts in a variety of genres. In fact, when it comes to finding artists outside of the K-pop spectrum, one is almost spoilt for…
How many times have you wished for a companion, a friend who knew you inside out? Someone who knows your strengths and shortcomings, your failures and successes? If you feel like playing a game, they're ready to be Player 2. If you want to write a song, they're here to help you pull melodies out of thin air. If you…
Whether you look at SEVENTEEN through the polished edits of their music videos or the grainy lens of a laptop camera (thanks, COVID-19), the cohesiveness simmering beneath is palpable. The members have a language beyond mere words: every nod is acknowledged, every nudge met with a smile, every pointed look ends in a fit of giggles. Their lexicon is dynamic,…
If ever there was a truth about K-pop, it is that its landscape is as unpredictable as it gets. Every year the industry churns out new acts and swallows up old ones. Longevity in an industry such as this, earmarked by new debuts and newer sensations every season, is an idealistic dream. Yet, as SUPER JUNIOR come off the 15th…
At some point during the conversation, the topic of the pressure of being BLACKPINK comes up. There’s a short silence on the other end of the call. Starkly different from the effervescent laughs until then, it’s pregnant with introspection as the four members of BLACKPINK—Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Rosé—think about the title that’s most often associated with their name: "The Biggest…
