The SB Mixtape 7/18/2019: Report To The Dance Floor

There are songs you can dance to. There are songs you want to dance to. And then there are songs that you have to dance to. The songs that instantly f…

SB Mid-Year Review, 2019: Comebacks Showcasing Artistic Growth

While most of our Mid-Year Review discussions zoom in on a particular aspect -- dances, albums, MVs -- the comebacks category looks at the way the…

Music & Lyrics: Owning Yourself

In a society where it is not uncommon to be constantly judged or scrutinised, it can be difficult for one to follow their own heart or mind. The n…

Managing Military Enlistments in a Changing K-pop Industry

The Hallyu industry has an inherent brake in its system: mandatory military enlistment for all able-bodied men aged 18–35. In 2018, the maximum ag…

Kountry: The Start of Something New

You’ve heard of K-pop. You’ve heard of K-rock. You’ve heard of K-R&B. Now get ready for K-country, aka Kountry. Korean music has been around s…

Music & Lyrics: Dear Mom

Mother’s Day is celebrated annually, although on differing days for certain countries. For most of the world, it is celebrated on May 12 this year…

Side B: The Rise of BTS

It’s just over a week since BTS dropped Map of the Soul: Persona. At the dawn of a new musical era, the band shift their focus from the universal …

BTS Stays Experimental with “Map of the Soul: Persona”

BTS has accomplished a lot over the course of their careers so far: from music show trophies and clinching daesangs to winning at the Billboard Mu…

BTS’ “Boy with Luv” Turns its Strengths into Weaknesses

My cousin once described the Chicken Little movie in this manner: "The only highlights were all in the trailer." Unfortunately, the same can be sa…

Music & Lyrics: Butterfly

The butterfly is present throughout all societies, with most civilizations granting it a meaning. These associations have been passed on to the cu…