Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Former members of the K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty (“Cupid”) reinvent themselves in their new group, ablume. Of leaving the group that made them famous, group leader SAENA told me, “I truly believe it was an act of courage for us.”
“I’m still scared sometimes, and there’s so much I’m still learning. But one thing I know for sure is that I feel freer and stronger than ever. For the first time, I’m not hiding. I’m finally moving toward what I really want — not what I think people expect from me.” —BAIN
Singer, cellist and beatboxer Kevin Olusola is famous for being one-fifth of the three-time Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix. But this May, he makes his debut as a solo artist with his album “Dawn of a Misfit.”
Epik High frontman, Tablo, talks about working with RM on “Stop the Rain,” which features highly personal lyrics from both artists: “I didn’t want him to be harmed in any way.” My latest exclusive feature for Rolling Stone.
“I feel Mexico has everything you could ask for,” said “Real Women Have Curves” co-star Florencia Cuenca. “And my personal favorite vacation includes a beach. There’s nothing like the motherland. I’m always longing to visit my family and friends, and eat delicious food. Because of my Broadway commitment right now, I don’t think we are going to be able to make that trip anytime soon. I am crossing my fingers that we’ll have a long and fun run!”
In Hangul, yadang/야당 refers to an informant (or a snitch). Since opening in South Korean movie theaters on April 16 in the No. 1 spot, “Yadang: The Snitch” remains in the top position, thanks to a thrilling plot and a cast of stars that includes Kang Ha-neul (“Forgotten,” “Squid Game 2”) and Park Hae-joon (“When Life Gives You Tangerines,” “My Mister”).
Leading up to the release of their infectiously catchy single, “Tea,” VVS released a series of enigmatic videos under “The 5 C’s” umbrella. The cinematic shorts presented the members as kickass warriors armed with swords, guns and roundhouse kicks – all of which was choreographed by “John Wick” stunt director Koji Kawamoto.
For musician Uwade, traveling around Norway with her two best friends was a bucket-list trip come true. “We got to see the Northern Lights, go snowmobiling and meet some very cute reindeer,” said the 25-year-old Palo Alto-based singer. “It was the middle of winter, so there was snow everywhere and basically no sunlight. It was wild and disorienting, but so beautiful.”
“Last year, my family and I took the train from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Whitefish, Montana, to visit Glacier National Park,” said The dB’s Peter Holsapple. “It was long-winded, but fantastic. We engaged a guide to take us around on Christmas Eve [during the day] who knew the park intimately. So we got backstories on everything. I would highly recommend getting sleeping accommodations on the train, though, for those two-day trips.”
“It’s not just about BTS’s music,” said Indian-British actor Taz Singh. “It’s deeper than that. They stand for values like self love, and they’re very real and vulnerable. I feel that is why so many people can relate and connect to them so well.”
John Ondrasik – better known as Five for Fighting – has been touring for decades. But rather than being jaded by life on the road, he said he considers it a perk that has yet to grow old. “One of the beautiful things about being in a touring band is seeing all aspects of America,” said the California native. “My favorites are the small towns between the big cities.”
In the late 1990s and early aughts, I interviewed Gavin Rossdale of the British grunge rock band Bush many times. But it wasn’t until our chat this year that I learned something new. He loves Korean cuisine. Not as in, “Oh, I love Korean barbeque.” Rather, he enjoys Korean food so much that he cooks it at home for his family. And when he does hire a chef to help out for larger get-togethers, it’s always his preferred Korean chef.
“When traveling with artists, I tended to fall into their lifestyle,” said “Gliders Over Hollywood” author Paul Rappaport. “If it was reggae legend Peter Tosh, that meant a healthy lifestyle of nuts, berries and mint tea with honey – plus a fair amount of ganja. When I went on tour with The New Barbarians, a band put together by Ronnie Wood to promote his solo album featuring Rolling Stones bandmates Keith Richards on guitar and Bobby Keys on sax, I barely ate or slept for an entire week!”
I wrote about KiiiKiii for Rolling Stone magazine’s annual Future 25 edition, which focuses on new artists who are making a mark in music.
“I love visiting Lisbon,” said “1923” actress Madison Elise Rogers. “The city has such a rich history and incredible food. I fell in love with pastéis de nata. I loved trying food from small local cafés. I visited Belém Tower, Praça do Comércio and wandered Alfama’s historic streets. I first visited Portugal when I was 17 years old and hope to return soon.”
“The Baxters” actor Josh Plasse is a former Golden Gloves boxing champion, co-screenwriter/actor/producer of the C. Thomas Howell film “Ride” and the author of his recently released fantasy novel “Dust” (Resolve Editions). Though the book is a work of fiction, Plasse said he utilized some of his travels as inspiration.
The BTS rapper J-Hope opens up about his new single “Sweet Dreams,” staying in touch with other members, and more in an exclusive Q&A. My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone magazine.
While hip-hop is a strong element of ONE OR EIGHT’s sound, the Japanese group also appreciates a good pop song. Their best collaborations are a fusion of both musical styles. Big Sean rapped on their song “Kawasaki,” while “Don’t Tell Nobody” – written and produced by Dave Stewart and One Republic’s Ryan Tedder – harkens back to the lush vocals of the ’90s boy bands.
“My band and I each have our own dedicated tub of Ben & Jerry’s, which we enjoy with peanut butter at night after the shows,” said Canadian musician LØLØ. “It’s the perfect combination.”
How does the multinational K-pop group AMPERS&ONE communicate? “Konglish all the way!”