Is Infinite’s L making his debut as a photographer?

Woollim Entertainment has released a teaser video featuring L!

L (aka Kim Myungsoo) has been known for his passion for photography, as fans often see him snapping photos using his Canon digital SLR camera. This time, a teaser video has been released featuring L and his camera!

Though the only information released by Woollim Entertainment was that Bravo Viewtiful will be released in May, in both Korea and Japan, fans have guessed that Bravo Viewtiful is the title of L’s debut photo book. Several fans were also wondering if L is going to be an endorser for Canon

Let’s anticipate the official release of Bravo Viewtiful! In the meantime, take a look at the teaser below:

 Sources: (News, Photo and Video) – Woollim Entertainment’s official Youtube

Infinite returns as a “Man In Love” for 4th mini album

Infinite has released the MV for title track, Man In Love!

After leader Sunggyu and hip-hop unit Infinite-H‘s respective debuts, Infinite will finally be making a comeback as a group with their 4th mini album, New Challenge. The mini album, which will be released offline on March 25, will consist of seven tracks.

Infinite will also be having their first comeback stage on M! Countdown today.

Source : Woollim Entertainment’s official Youtube

Images : Infinite’s official site (1), (2)

Quick Reviews: Infinite-H, Yoari, and Ravie Nuage

Infinite-H – Fly High

Release: January 11, 2013
Producer/Distributor: Woollim Entertainment/Loen Entertainment
Genre: Hip-hop
Reviewer Rating:

As a business project, Fly High isn’t a bad move. As a work of musical art, this EP is a near-complete failure. The idea is to pair up Infinite’s two rapping members, Dongwoo and Hoya, with trending producer Primary and attack the idol hip-hop niche. I have no qualms with the choice of producer – Primary’s fantastic recent album raised his stock, and his penchant for crafting polished, mainstream-friendly sounds makes him attractive for this kind of crossover work. The problem lies in the flubbed execution.

Neither Dongwoo nor Hoya are accomplished rappers, and that’s a mild way of putting it. That shows in the dry, rudimentary flow exhibited by both throughout this entire EP. You could perhaps argue that the performance is excusable in the four love songs here – actually, you can’t, but let’s assume that for a moment – but that still leaves Victorious Way, a no-nonsense swag track. It’s not like Dead’P penned those particularly sizzling verses to begin with, but the pair’s monotonous delivery really don’t help. (If we’re splitting hairs, I will say that Dongwoo’s verse is slightly more interesting in tone and touch.)

The Infinite duo’s presence feels feather-light in the other tracks, where the guest vocalists’ choruses frankly outweigh all the verses and hooks. These choruses become the focus, and that is not how these songs are designed – consider Primary’s 입장정리 (Sorting Things Out), an approximate analog to this EP’s 못해 (Can’t Say It). The chorus there is low-profile and not too noticeable, because it’s a backdrop to the rapped narrative. Can’t Say It is the same kind of track, but the lack of an engaging rap verse pushes Gaeko‘s low-impact chorus to the forefront.

This is really more Primary’s album than it is Infinite-H’s – the pair has not a single memorable moment and all lyrics were written by (an impressive list of) other rappers. Fly High is a terribly uninspired release, and that truly is surprising – Infinite’s discography has been so exciting to follow precisely because of Woollim‘s inspired direction. At least the EP should be decent publicity for the producer.

Tracklist (recommended tracks listed in bold)

1. Victorious Way – Featuring DJ Wegun
2. Special Girl – Featuring Bumkey
3. 니가 없을 때 (When You’re Not Here) – Featuring Zion.T
4. 못해 (Can’t Say It) – Featuring Gaeko of Dynamic Duo
5. Fly High – Featuring Baby Soul

Yoari – 맘에 드니? (Do You Like It?)

Release: January 15, 2013
Producer/Distributor: i-NEGA/Mirrorball Music
Genre: Pop rock
Reviewer Rating:

I first heard Yoari in her rendition of Beyoncé‘s Sweet Dreams a few years back, shortly before her solo debut, and that husky voice stuck with me for a while. It’s a pretty unique tone that applies well to a lot of different genres, and sometimes that’s all you need to make it in this scene. Two years after a so-so ballad single, it seems like Nega Networks has found the right direction for this artist: pop-rock. It’s a wonder why they didn’t do this sooner – especially considering that the reason Nega didn’t debut Yoari as part of the Brown Eyed Girls in 2006 was because she was deemed a better fit for rock and sent away to ill-fated Sprinkler.

At any rate, Yoari takes absolute control in this new stage. Lead single Do You Like It? provides an energetic, adorably fierce backdrop as Yoari breaks out her sassiest voice (reminiscent of Jadu) and proceeds to bounce off the walls. It’s a ton of fun, and the fast-paced onslaught of guitar and synths actually give a welcome weightiness to the track. These are recurrent themes throughout the EP, as Yoari handles love songs with pluckiness and autobiographical stories of struggle with subtly dark humor. It’s also promising that the album’s only ballad – Lie, released as Yoari’s first single after contending on The Voice Korea - also plays to the gut-wrenching drama that her voice excels at. Nega really seems to know what to do with this artist now, and if so, we’re about to witness a career taking off.

Tracklist (recommended tracks listed in bold)

1. 맘에 드니? (Do You Like It?)
2. 니 이름이 뭐니? (What’s Your Name?)
3. 부르릉 (Vroom)
4. Level Up
5. Lie
6. 맘에 드니? (Do You Like It?) – Instrumental
7. Level Up – Instrumental

Ravie Nuage – 겨울노래 (Winter Songs)

Release: January 16, 2013
Producer/Distributor: Team Kabeto/Neowiz Internet
Genre: Pop, ballad
Reviewer Rating:

Their debut album was inspired by the sky and the clouds, the rivers and the plains – and was a darned good work at that. This time, Ravie Nuage scales it back for Winter Songs, opting instead for a collection of cozy ballads. As expected, the EP is awash in warm sounds and reassuring harmonies; the band returns to bossa nova rhythms in 사랑하고 싶어요 (I Want to Love), a shy song of longing led by Jeon Jin-hyun‘s nuanced piano work (it also has a really sweet back story), and offers a hand of caressing sympathy with the austere acoustics of 이 밤이 지나면 (When the Night Goes). There’s a little experimental piece in 향기 (Aroma), where Pomme repeatedly overlaps the end of lines with the beginning of the next. It seems to be a sonic device to express the sensation of being jolted with unexpected memories, and it’s a cool little touch once you get past the initial disorientation.

But in the end, this album is more of the same – and sometimes, that’s totally fine. I’ll gladly take more of this band’s breathtaking melodies, more of Pomme’s resonant voice, more of the densely packed emotion that their music evokes. While they haven’t shown overwhelming upside, there’s no denying that Ravie Nuage is doing some of the best ballad work in the scene these days.

Tracklist (recommended tracks listed in bold)

1. 사랑하고 싶어요 (I Want to Love)
2. 향기 (Aroma)
3. 고백 (Confession)
4. 이 밤이 지나면 (When the Night Goes) – Seokyo-dong Café Version

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the reviewer and not of hellokpop as a whole.

Agree or disagree? Or have a recent release that you’d like to see reviewed? Let us know with your comments below! Requested albums will be considered each week and may be selected to be reviewed in the subsequent week.

Sources: Photos – Daum Music (1) (2) (3)

The Dream Kpop Fantasy Concert press conference: Infinite

Woollim Entertainment‘s successful 7-member idol group, Infinite, has finally hit the Philippine shores for their special performances at the Dream Kpop Fantasy Concert.

On January 18, Myungsoo, Woohyun, Sungjong, Sunggyu and Sungyeol presented themselves to the press to talk about their interests, their music and so much more. Dongwoo and Hoya were unable to attend the conference, as they were in Korea busily promoting as the group’s sub-unit, Infinite H. Read on to see how the boys were able to capture the crowd with their wit and charisma.

Press conference:

Host: Welcome to the Philippines! Can you introduce yourselves to everyone?

Myungsoo: Hi everyone. I am L.

Woohyun: Hi everyone. I am Woohyun. Thank you.

Sungjong: Hi everyone. I am Sungjong.

Sunggyu: Hi everyone. I am Sunggyu.

Sungyeol: Hi everyone. I am Sungyeol.

Host: Since it’s your first time in the Philippines, what do you expect on this trip?

Sunggyu: It is our first time in the Philippines and it’s very cold in Korea right now. The weather here is very warm and we love the weather. We really wanted to be here and have a concert as soon as possible to meet our fans.

Host: What do you think of Filipino girls and will you ever date one?

Woohyun: We were really surprised that there were really so many beautiful and cool Filipinas. We will have a date with them on our concert.

Host (to the fans):  Are you guys excited to meet them?

Fans: Yes!

Host: You guys are so popular here. Do you guys know how popular you are here?

Sungyeol: Before we came here, to the Philippines, we were really really surprised how many our fans are. We really really appreciate it.

Press: K-pop has been very influential around the world. How do you feel about the influence of K-pop?

Sunggyu: We’re very proud that the influence of K-pop has been very great. As a K-pop star, I am very proud.

Press: Can you share your future plans with us?

Woohyun: We will give our fans performances. We’re planning to perform all over Asia, so we ask for your love.

Press: Your co-member, Hoya, received good reviews on his acting in Reply 1997? What can you say about Hoya’s acting in a gay role?

Sunggyu: The role that he played in the drama, rather than being gay, it was more like having more affection to the boy friend. We were really surprised that he had a good performance.

Press: Do you have plans of having any activities here, like a solo fan meeting, or a concert here in the Philippines, since fans have been waiting for almost three years already?

Sunggyu: First of all, we will work hard on our album. We plan to work on something for Asia soon.

Infinite: Philippines, saranghaeyo!

Infinite also expressed how grateful they were to perform in an event with Girls’ Generation. When asked what their favorite choreography was, Woohyun showed everyone their famous scorpion dance in Before the Dawn. Before the press conference ended, Myungsoo promised that they would be showing their passion in performing for their Filipino fans.

Stay tuned to hellokpop, as we will soon be bringing you an exclusive update on Tahiti’s press conference and more coverage of the Dream Kpop Fantasy Concert. Meanwhile, read our coverage of U-KISS’ press conference HERE.

Event covered: camille@hellokpop.com, rianna@hellokpop.com, sunlee@hellokpop.com
Photos edited: seckvoon@hellokpop.com

Special thanks to Ms. Happee Sy and PULP Live World

NELL reveals ‘White Night’ MV teaser

With its comeback drawing closer, rock band NELL has released a second teaser for its upcoming single Holding Onto Gravity. After revealing the first teaser for the new single, the band has now released a MV teaser for its track White Night. The new teaser was released on Woollim Entertainment‘s official YouTube channel and features actress Im Soo Jung.

Holding Onto Gravity will be the first release of a three-part Gravity series and is scheduled for release on December 3. Check out the teaser below:

Sources: News – dkpopnews & YESASIA; Photo – dkpopnews; Video – woolliment