When I first heard of HITGS (short for Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, and Story), I didn’t know what to expect, but the name speaks for itself. This rising K-pop group, made up of five talented young girls, debuted in late April 2025. Yet, by August, they had already released three songs and added more chapters to their “HITG-Story.”
Before stepping inside, I found myself wondering: What happens when you bring together fans of Korean music and rock in one room? That question was quickly answered the moment I joined the pit at Xdinary Heroes’ Beautiful Mind World Tour stop in Los Angeles at The Hollywood Palladium. Red lights bathed the stage, instruments gleamed, and the anticipation was electric.
When you mix culture, K-pop, and community, you get the annual celebration of all things K: KCON. Over the past 13 years, this global festival has drawn nearly 5 million guests to Los Angeles, spreading the culture and genre.
New K-pop girl group sensation HITGS made their grand debut in April 2025 with the release of The 1st Single Album – Things we love: H, consisting of two songs and a music video introducing their talents and fun, cute, and carefree style to the world.
The lively and dynamic South Korean boy band danced their hearts out on stage during their hour-and-thirty-minute set at the YouTube Theater for their final stop of their first-ever U.S. tour.
Xdinary Heroes have once again demonstrated their boundary-breaking creativity and distinctive sonic identity with their latest release, Beautiful Mind. The seven-track EP delves into a more rock-opera-inspired sound, further evolving their already rich sound.
K-Pop group The KingDom, known for their unique concept, kicks down the castle doors with their new EP REALIZE. Since 2021, each of their seven mini-albums has explored a different kingdom within their fantastical narrative – engaging their fans, KINGMAKERs, into their concept.
One evening last summer, I crammed into a packed venue on the Lower East Side to watch a performance by HEESU. The 24-year-old South Korean musician was performing as part of a showcase for rising artists in New York City. But with her powerful vocals and magnetic personality, HEESU sounded like the definite headliner.