Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
A college student asked me what made K-pop, well, K-pop. The gist of what I said was that K-pop has to maintain a Korean element. In my latest newsletter, I dig deeper into this with a K-pop expert.
“I’ve always said my ultimate dream would be a headline show at Red Rocks in Colorado,” said singer-songwriter Chloe Qisha. “There’s something about that amphitheatre that’s really legendary. At night, especially with how it’s lit, it looks beautiful. I also like venues where there’s staggered seating or standing because you can see everything clearly. It’s somewhere I’d love to see a show, but also somewhere I’d love to play.”
“Railay Beach in Thailand is a stunning car-free peninsula in the Krabi region in the south of Thailand,” said “Virgin River” actor Marco Grazzini. “Turquoise water, white sand, towering limestone cliffs – it’s the usual breathtaking landscape that Thai beaches have to offer, and that would drop jaws on film. I’ve been in and around Thailand numerous times over the past 20 years and Railay really stuck out to me for the serenity that it has.”
“In many ways, the internet has poisoned our minds and drained the lifeblood required for making music, but it has also granted listeners access to so many ideas and creative expressions that it’s possible our understanding of one another has been deepened and amplified,” said professor Alan Williams, who’s also a singer-songwriter. “Seeing my students listening to K-pop, Congolese street bands playing heavily distorted metallophones and Cambodian pop from the golden age before the Khmer Rouge gives me hope for the future.”
“So far I’ve shot in Turino, Northern Italy, Israel, Colombia, the United States and across Canada,” said “Palm Royale” actress Claudia Ferri. “I would love to have an opportunity to shoot in Newfoundland in the winter. I’m curious to see how people live in that kind of cold!”
Arianna Davis portrays a college cheerleader on the NBC series “Stumble.” As someone who started dance lessons at the age of two, Davis – who is also a singer-songwriter – is a perfect fit for this mockumentary sitcom, which delves into the intense and cut-throat world of competitive cheerleading.
David Bowie, Keanu Reeves, Britney Spears, PSY, Idris Elba, BTS, Matt Damon, Justin Timberlake, Venus Williams… Just a few of the notable folks I’ve interviewed. Click on the photo or the title to read my profiles. Enjoy!
“I am hoping to escape to a chateau in the south of France this summer,” said “Fleeting” musician Sarah Kinsley. “I’ve been so desperate to go to the Dolomites, the mountainside of northern Italy, at some point in my life. I don’t know if that will happen this year or maybe next. As long as I get to see them with my own eyes eventually I don’t mind when it happens.”
The Washington Post interviewed me to share my thoughts about Katseye and their relevance in the global pop market.
On March 20, BTS will make their long-awaited comeback with an album called “Arirang.” Since it was announced, fans and media have been speculating about the cultural significance of the title, the album cover possibly being an homage to a group of 19th century Korean students studying in the U.S., and whether the title hints at what kind of music listeners can expect on the upcoming record.
“Growing up in the American South as a mixed-race person made me acutely aware of the complexities of prejudice.,” said musician Henry J. Star. “This had a deep impact on my perspectives from a very young age. It has informed my creative voice in more ways than one.”
“Forth Worth has proven to be such a film-friendly spot,” said Tanner Beard, 41. “My family has a ranch just outside of Fort Worth close to the Mineral Wells area and it’s become like a back lot to explore ideas and stories for my company, Silver Sail Entertainment.”
As the duo ARKAI, violinist Jonathan Miron and cellist Philip Sheegog won a Grammy Award this year for their album “Brightside.” The electro-acoustic string duo vividly remembered how hard they worked for their first professional gig almost eight years ago in front of an audience that included global leaders.
The members of ENHYPEN take us inside the lore and the production styles of their individual takes on “The Sin : Vanish” remixes. I interviewed the Korean group in an exclusive feature article for Rolling Stone magazine.
“I don’t think I’ve ever written songs while on tour, ” said “Yoo-hoo” musician Shintaro Sakamoto. “I compose music when I’m alone at home. As for lyrics, I sometimes think about them while traveling, sitting in a car or plane, but I always finish them when I’m back home by myself.”
Ahead of next week’s full-length album release, “Evolve,” the South Korean rock group CATCH THE YOUNG sat down with me for an exclusive interview.
“I have been several times and it would be a dream to film something there that would hopefully center the city as a main character,” said “It’s Not Like That” actor Marissa Chanel Hampton. “It’s beautiful. Also, the Uffizi Museum is a favorite of mine due to their extensive Botticelli collection.”
“Puerto Rico has the longest winter holiday season in the world,” said “Liberation” star Irene Sofia Lucio. “So it is very hard to beat a Puerto Rican Christmas. It is not a white Christmas with hot cocoa and PJs. It’s hot, loud and busy. You don’t cuddle by a fire, you go out to the beach or to the outdoor market, or to Old San Juan and likely run into live music.”
For Abbey Romeo, having her life featured on the Netflix reality show “Love on the Spectrum” was a way to show viewers that autistic people are not that different from individuals who are neurotypical.
“Thailand is huge, but I personally love Chiang Mai, Pai and the southern islands,” said indie rock artist Meaningful Stone. “Thailand is, how should I put it, a place where sacredness and partying coexist. And since I love both, it’s a place I really need.”