raul midon rocks

Raul Midon Pushes Musical Boundaries

American singer Raul Midon performs at Baekam Art Hall, March 5-6 By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The name Raul Midon may not ring a bell. But try searching for Midon's live performances on YouTube and you'll wonder why he's not yet a superstar. Midon is literally a one-man band on stage, armed with his distinctive soulful voice, while his fingers work magic on a guitar. When you have the immense talent of this man, a voice and guitar is all you need. ``I've always been a musician. I think music chooses you,'' Midon told The Korea Times. The 41-year-old blind singer has earned rave reviews for his first two albums, 2005's ``A State of Mind'' and 2007's ``A World Within a World." Being blind never stopped Midon from pursuing his dream as a musician. Midon and his twin brother were born in Embudo, New Mexico, to his Argentinean father and African-American mother. They became blind as babies, when they were placed in an incubator without proper protection for the eyes. Midon learned to play drums when he was four years old, and began playing the guitar when he was six years old. Later, he was accepted in the University of Miami's jazz program. After college, he started singing backup for stars such as Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin. Did he consider being blind an obstacle to pursuing a career in music? ``No, I think it is an asset. I think being blind helped me to focus and direct my life better. I knew what I could and couldn't do and with lots of practice I became good at it,'' he said. Midon writes and composes his own music, which he describes as a mix of ``eclectic, genre-jumping, pop, jazz fusion.'' His unique guitar-playing skills have also attracted a lot of attention. ``I absorbed a lot of techniques from studying classical, flamenco and jazz guitar. Then I started breaking the rules of those traditions and came up with something that was my own,'' he explained. Midon has been compared to Donnie Hathaway and another blind superstar musician, Stevie Wonder. He is flattered to be compared to his idols, saying that this only pushes him to become a better musician. Midon is grateful for the chance to work with Wonder, who played the harmonica on ``Expressions of Love,'' from his debut album. He recalled how his album producer, the late Grammy-award winning producer Arif Mardin, pushed him to write a letter to Wonder, in Braille, and ask him to play in the album. ``I wrote a letter and Arif, who is Stevie's friend, followed it up with a call and it all worked out. I can never repay the debt of that generous act. I was unknown and he extended himself. I am very grateful. He is, as you'd imagine, an extremely generous person, kind and of course, supremely talented,'' he said. When asked about his future plans, Midon said he is working on his next album and performing in concerts around the world. ``I'd like to change the world but for now I'll just keep playing music,'' he said. Midon is looking forward to his first trip to Seoul next month. ``I hope to bring to (Korea) a positive musical experience. I will do my best to be as creative as possible on stage and maybe I'll play some new songs never heard before,'' he said. Midon will hold two concerts, organized by Private Curve, at Baekam Art Hall, March 5-6. Baekam Art Hall is a three-minute walk from Samseong Station Subway Line 2, Exit 8. Tickets are 77,000 won and 66,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com. Call (02) 563-0595 or email info@privatecurve.com for English inquiries. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

japanese wave in seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporters

These days, it's hard to ignore the growing Japanese trend in Seoul. The Uniqlo flagship store in Myeongdong is packed with shoppers of all ages, buying sweaters and jeans. Just a few feet away, people are lining up to buy chewy donuts at Mister Donut.

Japanese food products like ramen and natto (fermented soybeans) are on the shelves of supermarkets, while new restaurants serve sushi, omurice (omelet rice) and tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet).

Teenagers avidly read Japanese manga (graphic novels), while listening to the music of L'Arc-en-Ciel and Ayumi Hamasaki. In the evening, college students and office workers head to the izakayas to unwind with Japanese beer or sake.

From movies and music to food and fashion, Japanese culture is slowly becoming a part of the Korean way of life. A new ``illyu'' or the Japanese wave is spreading among young Koreans who follow the Japanese lifestyle, whether they know it or not.

Cuisine

For a long time, you could only find good, authentic Japanese restaurants in Ichon-dong also known as Little Tokyo, but recently Japanese restaurants and bars have been sprouting up all over the city.

With all the glowing neon signs in Japanese and bright red lanterns hanging in front of a row of restaurants, one can be forgiven for thinking this is somewhere in Tokyo, and not in the middle of Hongdae.



Hongdae is now home to dozens of izakayas, which feature red lanterns outside the main entrance. Izakayas are Japanese-style drinking places that offer beer, sake and other alcoholic beverages, and side dishes. In Japan, izakayas are casual and cheap places for drinks after work.

Izakayas in Hongdae are packed with students and young office workers during the evenings. At Haruyama, the atmosphere was mellower and quieter than the usual Korean-style bars. Surrounded by subdued lighting, customers sit on tatami-covered benches and order Japanese sake and snacks such as fried octopus and croquettes. A glass of sake costs between 6,000 won to 8,000, while a bottle of sake starts at 50,000 won.

Doo Hee-eun, is a 25-year old graduate student who loves Japanese food such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki. Takoyaki is a round-shaped small dumpling with dried octopus in it and easily found at street vendors.



She often goes to okonomiyaki places or izakayas to taste okonomiyaki. ``Okonomiyaki is somewhat similar to bindaetteok, or Korean pancake-like dishes, but the difference is that I can choose what ingredients will be in my okonomiyaki and sometimes I cook it by myself at the restaurant.''

Okonomiyaki, described as a cross between pancake and pizza, is made of shredded cabbage, shrimp, squid, beef, pork, eggs and vegetables. Okonomiyaki is derived from the Japanese phrase ``okonomi,'' which means ``what you like,'' and ``yaki'' which means grilled.

There are several okonomiyaki places in Hongdae, such as Fugetsu and No Side. At Fugetsu, a Japanese restaurant franchise, there are different variations of okonomiyaki that one can try. A popular dish, Modanyaki is okonomiyaki with a layer
of fried noodles added to it.

Unlike in Japan where customers usually cook the okonomiyaki themselves on the hot plate on the table, here a server cooks it in front of the customer.

Doo said she tried Japanese cuisine, after watching popular Japanese dramas. ``I think the rising popularity of Japanese movies or dramas made Koreans to look for Japanese food. I first tried food appeared in Japanese drama out of curiosity and it turned out to be a delicacy,'' she said.

Supermarkets

Japanese food products are now increasingly available at supermarkets and department stores' imported goods section. Among the popular products are natto (fermented soybeans), soy sauce, ramen and miso (soybean paste). Because of the well-being trend, Koreans are starting to like natto, a traditional Japanese food known for its nutritional value.

Grocery shopping for Japanese food items is easier with the help of online shops like www.tokyo-snack.com, www.monolink.co.kr and www.oisii.co.kr. Japanese curry, ramen, udong, soba, sake, drinks, candies, chocolates, cookies and other snacks are all available online.

Fashion

Clothing retailer Uniqlo is one of the fastest growing Japanese brands in Korea. Uniqlo first opened at the Lotte Young Plaza in 2005, and since then, freestanding shops have opened in Myeongdong, Gangnam and Apgujeong. Another store will soon open in Sincheon.

Uniqlo is known for its simple designs, good quality and reasonable prices. Jeans, fleece sweaters, down jackets, cashmere sweaters and scarves are some of its best-selling items.

Lee Ha-na, who regularly shops at Uniqlo, said she really likes Uniqlo's cashmere items, which are much cheaper than Korean and other foreign brands.

``They have a lot of nice, basic clothes like turtleneck sweaters and jeans. It is a lot like Gap, but it's more affordable. The Gap here is too expensive. And Uniqlo is not too trendy like other Korean brands. I don't think there is any Korean brand like Uniqlo,'' she said.



Muji is another Japanese lifestyle brand with a growing presence in Korea. Muji offers minimalist clothing, accessories, paper products and household goods.

The edgy Japanese street style is also gaining fans among young people, spurring a demand for Japanese brands and Japanese-style clothing.

When Hollywood celebrity Paris Hilton was spotted holding a Samantha Thavasa bag during her visit in Seoul last year, many Koreans turned to online shops to get a hold of the Japanese brand.

Internet shopping malls such as Lotte.com, GseShop and KT Mall all have sections devoted to Japanese brand shoes, clothes, accessories and bags. Lotte.com's online mall www.tokyoholic.com offers brands such as Cecille, Tasse Tasse, Jayro and Le Souk.

KT Mall introduced Japan Enjoy (http://japan.ktmall.com), which not only sells Japanese brands like Tsumori Chisato and Takeo Kikuchi, but also foreign designer brands popular among Japanese such as Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith.

Lesser-known but stylish Japanese brands, not to mention knock-offs, are also sold on numerous small online shops and blogs.

Entertainment

Japanese dramas and cartoons have been regularly airing on cable channels, helping increase the popularity of Japanese stars.

Recognizing the popularity of Japanese pop culture, major bookstores in downtown Seoul already have extensive Japanese sections that are almost as big as the English sections.

Japanese books, comics (manga) and magazines continue to sell well. Young women can be spotted checking out trendy fashion magazines like An An, JJ, Vivi, Cawaii and Fruits for style tips. Teenage girls huddle over idol magazines Potato, Duet and Popolo featuring Japanese pop groups, Arashi, Kat-tun and News on the covers.

C.J. Kim, who is a big fan of Arashi, said the culture exchange between Korea and Japan is a good development in reducing the misunderstanding between the two countries.

``While there are definitely differences between the two countries, I can't help but feel that it would be so sad if these two countries continued to have such a hostile relationship in the future. I think by both countries exchanging cultures it really helps the younger generation to become more open-minded, not just Koreans but also Japanese,'' she said.

dj myagi

02-12-2008 17:10    
 
DJ Myagi Hits Clubs This Weekend 
 

DJ Myagi will perform in Seoul Feb. 15 at Club Circle, and in Busan Feb. 16 at Club Fabric.
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

International disc jockey Myagi, also known as Sole Claw, will hit Korea's club scene this weekend, with performances at Club Circle in Seoul on Feb. 15 and Club Fabric in Busan on Feb. 16.

A top Canadian DJ who has played all around the world, Myagi promises to give Korean partygoers lots of ``big, monster club tunes" that will have them on the dance floor until early morning.

Myagi, whose real name is Andrew Mavor, said he considers Seoul as one of his favorite cities to perform in Asia. `` I've always had great experiences in Asia, and especially in Seoul. Great clubs, great food and really fun people. I've played in Seoul and China twice now, and it stands out as some of the most fun ones I've ever played," he said.

Myagi started writing music when he was a 14 or 15 years old, and used a computer to create songs. A few years later, his music was published. ``I quickly started DJ-ing after that, as I fell in love with club culture and dance music," he said.

The self-taught ``bedroom" producer has now come a long way to becoming an A-list international party rocker. Myagi described his DJ style as fun and energetic.

``In the last year I've gone a bit deeper with my sound. Usually I'm bouncing around as much or more than the people on the dance floor, which I don't really notice until later and I see my photos! I enjoy the dynamic between the person providing the music and the crowd, and I think that's well reflected in my sets," he said.

Myagi said his music has evolved through the years, going through different genres. ``I once heard my music described as hip-hop on steroids, and I like that," he said.

He has done various remixes for indie bands, hip-hop stars, and stars like Crystal Method and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital. Last year, he did a remix of Crystal Method's ``High Roller," included in the 10th anniversary deluxe edition of group's album ``Vegas."

``Crystal Method have played my stuff for a few years now, but we hadn't actually met in person until September 2007 when they played in Vancouver, where I now live. I had no idea they were doing the Vegas Deluxe Anniversary album, but I had the idea for a remix of `High Roller' in my head for a while. I mentioned it to them, and that was it. It was perfect timing," he said.

Myagi is set to release a new album ``3 Years of Sunshine" this year. ``There's a lot of non-club tunes on the album, some funky, slower stuff, and some very `out there" kind of material, as well as a of couple monster tracks that have been really doing well for me on the dance floor. It's more influenced by old Orbital, Underworld and Chemical Brothers material than by anything happening in the mainstream of electronic music nowadays," he said.

When asked about trends in club music for 2008, Myagi hopes there will be more variety in terms of music and style. ``2007 was the year of electro-house music, which is good music, but it became too big. Variety is always important, and all the best DJs in the world know that. Last year, there was less variety. But there are some people switching into more experimental sounds, finding their own sound rather than copying everyone else, which is a good thing," he said.

Myagi will perform at Club Circle, Seoul, Feb. 15, and Club Fabric, Busan, Feb. 16. Advance tickets are 10,000 won. Tickets at the door are 10,000 won. Tickets are also available at ticket.interpark.com

 

K-pop slump

K-Pop Industry Undergoing Slump

Super Junior, the wildly popular 13-member boy band, sold more than 100,000 copies of their album that was released last year. By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Korean pop music may be as popular as ever, but popularity does not translate into record sales. The K-pop music industry continues to struggle with the decline in album sales over the past seven years. The year 2007 was no different. Based on the data of the Recording Industry Association of Korea, R&B group SG Wannabe's fourth album ``Arirang'' was the best-selling album of 2007. However, it only sold a total of 190,998 copies, as compared to SG Wannabe's previous hit albums in 2006 (341,642 albums sold) and 2005 (414,855 albums sold). Even more distressing for the K-pop music industry, only albums by SG Wannabe, Super Junior and Epik High managed to surpass the 100,000 sales mark. Super Junior, a wildly popular idol group, sold 164,058 copies of its second album ``Don't Don,'' while hip-hop stars Epik High sold 120,301 copies of its album ``Remapping the Human Soul.'' Other best-selling artists include Shinhwa member Shin Hye-sung, Seeya, F.T. Island, M.C. The Max and Toy. Surprisingly, the Wonder Girls debut album, which includes their hit song ``Tell Me,'' only sold 47,927 copies (ranked 15th best selling album). K-pop hit its peak in 2000, when hit albums from Jo Sung-mo, g.o.d. and Seo Taiji sold more than a million records each. Jo's album, which topped the sales charts in 2000, sold 1.98 million copies. In the following years, album sales have faltered, mainly due to the popularity of digital music. More people prefer purchasing and downloading digital music on to their computers or mobile phones, instead of buying the actual CD. The last time an album sold more than 1 million records was in 2001. Foreign music album sales also experienced a decline in 2007. The best-selling foreign album is the soundtrack to the hit film ``Once,'' selling 36,725 copies. Other popular foreign acts include Paul Potts, Luciano Pavarotti, Richard Yongjae O'Neill and Maroon 5. Sales of Japanese albums have barely made an impact, as only Japanese idol group Arashi and hip-hop duo M-flo ranked in the top 50 best-selling foreign albums in 2007. This year, several high-profile K-pop stars making a comeback and releasing albums that would hopefully lift the K-pop industry from the doldrums. Rocker Seo Taiji is making a comeback after a long break from the music scene. His album, released in 2000, sold 1.1 million copies, while another album released in 2004 sold 482,066 copies. Other male singers who will release albums are Tei and KCM. Boy bands TVXQ, Shinhwa and SS501 are also expected to come out with new albums. Pop divas Boa, Lee Hyo-ri, Ivy and Bada are expected to release new albums later this year, as well as hip-hop acts like Epik High, Jinusean and DJ Doc. K-pop Stars Go Overseas As record sales continue to drop, it is no wonder why Korean pop stars are increasingly going overseas to find new markets for their music. Male pop stars Rain and Se7en, as well as female singers Lim Jeong-hee, Min, G-Soul and Yangpa are preparing to debut in the U.S. Super Junior and Fly to the Sky are holding overseas concerts, while Big Bang and SG Wannabe are making their debut in Japan this year. Boa and TVXQ, known as Tohoshinki in Japan, have concentrated on activities in Japan last year. BoA is one of the most popular J-pop singers, while Tohoshinki is attracting many Japanese fans. According to Japan's Oricon charts 2007 year-end rankings, Boa's album ``Made in Twenty'' ranked 31, selling 340,093 copies. Tohoshinki's album ``Five in the Black'' sold 37,686 copies in Japan (ranked 294). Both albums are also available in Korea. Tohoshinki's album sold 28,484 copies in Korea, while Boa's sold 17,482 copies. Because Tohoshiki's album is considered a ``foreign album,'' it was the second best-selling foreign album in Korea in 2007. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

McCartney Designs Adidas Women Golf Wear

By Cathy Rose A, Garcia Staff Reporter Even as more young women take up golf, there is a lack of stylish golf outfits available in the market. Now, top designer Stella McCartney hopes to bring a sense of style to the course by introducing a women's golf wear line for German sports giant Adidas. Recognizing the growing number of young women golfers, McCartney created a golf wear collection that merges fashion with functionality. ``I think it is about time that women who play golf can now echo what they wear in everyday life on the green. It's exciting for me to bring a bit of an edge to golf,'' she said, in a statement. The golf wear range was introduced in Seoul during the Adidas by Stella McCartney spring/ summer 2008 fashion show at Fradia, Hangang Park, southern Seoul, Thursday. Instead of a usual runway fashion show, the hall was turned into a mini-park with a pool, golf driving range and a running track. Models showed how the clothes were not just stylish but also functional by playing golf, jogging and even doing yoga stretches. Seeing the models, clad in tailored Bermuda shorts with crisp white tops while practicing golf swings, is almost enough to make you want to take up golf so you can wear the cute outfits. McCartney's golf range is inspired by men's silhouettes and traditional tailoring, but with a touch of femininity. She created smock tops, ribbed polo shirts, cropped pants and swing jackets, which came in shades of khaki and white, with a hint of metallic colors. Her Garbato golf shoe offers waterproof technology, but includes details such as embroidery eyelets and a removable kiltie tongue that covers the shoelaces. If golf isn't your sport, you can still dress up in McCartney's designs for the gym, running, swimming and tennis. Her spring/ summer 2008 collection features a subtle combination of shades, with metallic tones and hints of pop colors. For gym-goers, the collection offers short-sleeved light jackets, loose-fitting tank tops, leggings and hooded jackets. Some of the items are stylish enough to be worn both inside and outside the gym. McCartney designed running outfits using lightweight materials. Some pieces were inspired by vintage running styles, but with a modern twist. The tennis collection features flirty skirts and feminine one-piece dresses, while the swimwear collection includes sexy cut-out swimsuits and sporty bikinis. The collection is also becoming more eco-friendly, with the inclusion of 100 percent organic cotton pieces and a new packaging concept with boxes made out of 100 percent recycled paper. McCartney has been collaborating with Adidas since 2005, reaping critical acclaim and commercial success. She is the daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. McCartney was previously chief designer of French fashion house Chloe, and now has her own fashion label. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr