- POP: A GENRE UNMATCHED IN VIBRANCY

From elaborate dance moves to new fashion trends, Korean Pop (K-pop) has grown exponentially in the last few years. It has defied language barriers, brought Korean culture into the wider world and skyrocketed through the Billboard Charts.

So, what is it that makes K-pop attractive to such a large number of people? I sat down with the Exeter University K-pop society (@ kpopsocexe) to ask just that.

First of all, what is it about k-pop that you enjoy?

There are two main things. One is just the plain quality of the product. For every song, there’s a big eye-grabbing music video and a choreographed dance routine. I’m always surprised by the sophistication of some of the music, incorporating odd time signatures, interesting modes, some really beautiful chord sequences and inventive genre mixing.

The second part is the idols themselves. The distinguishing factor has to be the personality that comes with it, the interactions between group members, and the relationships that they then have with the fans.

I really enjoy the fashion and the style of masculinity idols present. The music is really varied, meaning I can find a whole lot of stuff I like. I love meeting other people who enjoy K-pop. They are all really nice, friendly and enthusiastic people.

Is there a particular feature of the genre that enticed you or drew you in?

Initially what grabbed my attention was the choreography. I remember being introduced to the song Stay Tonight by Chungha. I don’t know a lot about dance, but the extra layer it added to the performance was mesmerising, especially with Chungha’s skill and stage presence.

The music is unique. It’s not just a song, it’s the styling, the dance, the personality and the community.

While I don’t dance, it’s amazing to see the work that is put into the industry and how these people train for years and are genuinely extremely hard-working, talented, and making catchy songs that get me singing under my breath all day.

What do you personally think the best feature of K-pop is and why?

I don’t think it can be narrowed down to a single feature and I think that that in itself, is the best feature. The music, the visuals, the dance, the personality of the idols themselves, and everything else, are all parts of the product. It’s a mindset and culture which is very different to western pop, that provides a completely unique experience.

A lot of K-Pop is marketed to be quite an immersive experience so you can interact with lots of different content like Run BTS, VLive or Webtoons. Each fanbase becomes a tight-knit community with a lot in common.

There are a lot of good features in K-pop from the fashion, to the choreo, to the concepts utilised in the music. For me, it is the production value and the amount of effort artists go to to achieve excellence in their craft.

What would you say to someone who is interested in exploring the genre?

Twitter makes everything look scary, but when you actually dive into the fandoms, they’re just people who love the content, support their favourite bands, and appreciate and discuss the intensity of the industry.

The artists are very hardworking and put a lot of effort into their talents along with their releases. You probably won’t like everything you see, but K-pop is absurdly diverse, so don’t worry. Just get in there and explore.

Try a varied mix of groups and music. All K-pop, old and new (for example SHINee vs MCND) has a lot to offer, give it all a go. There are so many sub-genres and different sounds in K-pop; it’s really worth exploring as many different artists as you can to see what you like best.

Any additional comments you’d like to make?

Three personal recommendations that are favourites of mine, and good entry points for beginners include:

1. ‘Back Door’ by Stray Kids: a funky, upbeat hip-hop song by a boy group with two English-speaking Australian members, who self-produce and write all their own music.

3. ‘Fancy’ by Twice. Twice are one of the most popular girl groups in Korea, and ‘Fancy’ is one of their most iconic songs.

2. ‘Let Me In’ by Haseul from Loona. Loona is a slightly more niche group, but ‘Let Me In’ is some of their best work mixing a classical orchestral instrumental with a pop structure to create an unforgettable ballad, topped off with Haseul’s stunning vocals.

We’re all pretty tired of being judged as “Oli London’s” or “Koreaboos.” The music is good, the dancing is fun, the community is welcoming. Everyone has hobbies, this is ours.

There’s nothing weird about exploring music from around the world.