If the first thing you think of when you hear the word K-pop is “Gangnam Style,” you definitely need an update of the newest K-pop trends. The rising influence of K-pop worldwide is one you want to be part of.
Like their American counterparts, there are many groups and solo artists that laid the foundation, singers that are currently hot on the charts and musicians that are on the rise.
The OG Group
Girls’ Generation, also known as SNSD debuted in 2007 with nine members and recognized for their youthful, fresh vibe and impeccable, dramatic visuals. SNSD’s focus in music genre is aimed toward bubblegum pop and electropop. Each album of SNSD’s discography shows a different side of the group that varies from a cutesy vibe to sassy attitudes.
The height of their popularity began during their promotion of “Gee,” in 2009. Girls’ Generation recently finished their promotion of their new song “Lion Heart,” which was their first single as an eight member girl group. Girls’ Generation strong reputation has caused them to influence many of the debut of new girl groups, and allows for them to have a strong appeal towards to people of all ages. SNSD continues to dominate Asia and areas outside of Asia with their music.
Rising Stars
iKON debuted in 2015 as a seven member group. They are often referred to as the “next Big Bang” because of their immense talent. They display a huge amount of professionalism and maturity. They recently released their songs “Rhythm Ta,” “Airplane” and “My Type,” which are categorized into hip hop and R&B.
Each of their songs engross their listeners and express different emotions that show the different sides to the band. Their songs exceed the expectations for typical K-Pop groups, and are even compared to their seniors who have been in the music industry much longer than them. iKON’s booming and rapidly increasing popularity is often perceived as a threat to other groups in the industry.
Popular Soloist
Ailee is not your typical K-pop star. She was born and raised in New Jersey and only began to pursue her singing career in Korea after dropping out of college. Ailee was first recognized for her singing talent through her cover videos on YouTube and then later in music shows. She debuted as a solo singer in 2012 and was eventually dubbed as Korea’s Beyoncé.
Ailee’s songs range from dance, R&B and electropop. They highlight her strong vocals, especially through her new album “Vivid.” She is an extremely talented solo artist and is a musician new K-poppers should listen to.