HYPNOTICASIA
On September 13th, 2025 in Irvine, California, a group of talents took the stage. The breezy skies over Great Park Live in Irvine set the perfect tone for a second night of island vibes, positivity, and reflection. Kolohe Kai’s What Aloha Means tour rolled into town, following the first night’s show on September 12, and delivered a heartfelt, soulful performance…
When it comes to carving out a unique space in K-pop, few groups stand out quite like Xdinary Heroes. As JYP Entertainment’s rock band under Studio J, the six-member powerhouse—Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon—are not only redefining what it means to be idols, but also what it means to be musicians in Korea’s fast-evolving music scene. With…
Kwon Ji-Yong—known to the world as G-DRAGON of Big Bang—brought his UBERMENSCH World Tour to a thunderous, heart-pounding, and soul-baring finale in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The Crypto.com Arena was not just a venue but a vortex of art, sound, and emotional catharsis as the K-pop icon closed out his global run in what was the 14th and final…
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Southeast Asia’s music scene, there’s a name you’ve probably heard by now: lullaboy. A rising star blending Eastern soul with Western polish! The singer-songwriter and producer recently made history as the first Singaporean act to perform at Summer Sonic Bangkok. In this exclusive interview with HypnoticAsia, lullaboy opens up about representing his country…
New Wave is a documentary film delving into the unexplored story of the 80s Vietnamese new wave scene. Hidden within this fun music documentary is an exploration of generational trauma, forgiveness, and motherhood. We met with the director, writer, and producer of the film, Elizabeth Ai, to discuss the journey of creating a fun yet sucker-punch of a film that…
Emerging from the fierce competition of PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS, Japanese girl group IS:SUE is quickly establishing itself as a bold new presence in the J-pop and global music scene. The quartet — Nano, Rino, and Yuuki (with a fourth member absent from this interview) — have turned their once-competitive rivalry into a tight-knit team dynamic, delivering performances filled…
Dressed in maid uniforms but shredding on guitars with high-octane energy, BAND-MAID has carved out a distinct space in the global rock scene. Behind the frills and fierce riffs is Miku Kobato. She is the band’s rhythm guitarist and one of its vocalists. Miku is known for her powerful stage presence and whimsical “po!” catchphrase. Fans across the world have…
ablume is a new girl group and re-debut of members Saena, Aran, and Sio (formally of the group Fifty Fifty). Their single “Echo” has been received by fans with lots of love, and the members have expressed eagerness to step into this next phase of their careers. What does ablume mean? The name ablume, meaning “blooming anew,” has personal meaning…
On a Tuesday evening at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, South-Korean artist BIBI commanded the stage, embarking on her first world tour [EVE]. BIBI has described herself as a storyteller first, and the production showcased that excellently. Watching BIBI live demonstrated that her live vocals surpass those of her recordings, as they cannot fully capture her sheer…
With a voice that has resonated through beloved anime like Black Clover and Fruits Basket, VK Blanka has already carved out a place in the hearts of global fans. But beyond the studio and anime theme songs, the genre-defying artist is taking the world by storm with powerful live performances that fuse emotion, spontaneity, and cultural connection. In this exclusive…