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Cover Becca Chong @becasaru Left Julie Kim @cact.sus
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editor in chief AZADEH VALANEJAD deputy editor/podcast producer DAVONNA GILPIN chief creative officer MAL art director/community relations LARASATI web developer ÉLISE FU creative director NEVI GAETAN managing editor/lifestyle ARQUALA DAVIS DEPARTMENT EDITORS fashion SAMRUDDHI HARVE beauty KRYSCY art MARBELLA RAMIREZ act!on HEATHER NGO advertising AURORA ROSE CARPIO photo MADDIE ARMSTRONG translations JACQUELYN MANAGING TEAM senior managing editor SABRINA THARANI junior managing editors NAEMA BEGUM, KHADIJA HAQUE, TANYA MEHRA, MET, JULIANA SANTOS, TAYLOR R.
CONTRIBUTORS & WRITERS senior writers CHYENNE TATUM, VALERIE LOPEZ, MAY PERALTA SARAH BATHKE, MAFE MORALES, MAFE RAMOS, DIANA, DEAN MONROE, ANNIE BOURBONNAIS, ELLIE FORTE, TAYLOR LOUISE, VANESSA ARIAS, CHANEL WILSON, CRISTA BARDALES, JOYCE CHAI, SUMAIYA, FRAN, ISABEL RESENDIS, DANI, MCKENZIE GOODING, AIMI ATIFAH, YIMIKA, COURTNEY, BASHIRAT, TEA, ELLIE R., LEIGH L., ELAINE C., AMIR DEHGHAN editorial interns STUTI, MERLYN MALDONADO TRANSLATIONS translators LUCÍA MEDRANO, GABRIELLA N. RITTERBUSCH, CHLOÉ, VALERIA FERNANDEZ, JASMINE NAHTA, ANABEL ZALDIVAR, JIN KIM
GRAPHICS editorial team lead NIAMH MURPHY graphics team lead JENESSA EDORA graphic designers XANA ANGELO, ALEX, CLAUU, ERINA N. (ASTRID), REBECA GOMES, ANDREEA, CAROLYNE (CHI) CHANG SOCIAL social media manager ABBY WEBSTER social media associates MIA CHANG, LEANNA social media intern JEZELLE, SAM LELCHUK, MACKENZIE BRIGGS VIDEO supervising producer VERONICA ESPINAL producers NOOR HADDAD, FAITH RODRIQUEZ video team ITZEL MARQUEZ, JANNAT BEGUM, MARINA QUINONEZ, JANE RIVAS, LUCY H, MAUI talent RJ FRANKLIN PHOTO photo editors DEGE, FRANCINE PODCAST junior podcast producer DEE-DEE podcast hosts CLAIRE CAMPION, ORANGE, ELLA, SILA CAKIRCA, ERINA N. (ASTRID), DIANA, JENNA, JUSTINE SHAFFER, CHYENNE TATUM, MAYA WHITNEY 3
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
INTERVIEW: ATARASHII GAKKO!!
FASHION: FESTIVAL OUTFITS
FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY: DANCE IN THE CLOUDS
INTERVIEW: LUNA LI
INTERVIEW: UPTOWN BOYBAND 4
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Photography courtesy of Willy Song
BY TEAM ENVI
Music festivals have officially made a comeback! On November 6 and 7, 88rising had their fourth ever Head In The Clouds Festival with a star-studded lineup consisting of 88rising artists and other wellknown Asian acts. The nights were full of pleasant surprises, collaborations, and iconic moments. Here are some of EnVi’s favorite performance highlights.
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If there is one thing anyone should know about ATARASHII GAKKO!, it is that they have a uniquely “ATARASHII GAKKO!” style, marrying Japanese culture with music and performance. Donning their seifuku (school uniforms), they entered the stage at the sound of school bells ringing—Mizyu with her signature pigtails, Suzuka in glasses, Rin with her charming curls, and Kanon with her sleek straight hair. ATARASHII GAKKO! then proceeded with their “Human Drum” stage starting the Head in the Clouds festival with a bang. Their leader, Suzuka, led the taiko-inspired dance, playing the members as if they were drums. The group broke out in a full-group dance, which led into a series of cartwheels and the next track, “Final Humanity.” In a carefully crafted yet chaotic performance, the quartet performed the rock-infused piano track with steady vocals, a series of lifts, and intense dance breaks.
DPR IAN AND Live Treat Fans From The Start The duo walked on stage in all-black ensembles to perform “Diamond + and Pearls.” Just a few seconds later, the crowd chanted “diamond, tea, pearls” from the Shang-Chi soundtrack. The second performance was “Boom” by DPR Live featuring DPR IAN, treating the audience to the first-ever live performance of the song. IAN performed his album, Moodswings In This Order—better known as MITO—starting with “So Beautiful.” While introducing the song he said, “I have a few words to describe this moment. This is so beautiful.” He visibly slipped into his
MITO persona after performing “Boom” with DPR Live to fit his album.
Stephanie Poetri, Unveiling Unreleased Music Following “Selfish,” Stephanie spoiled future music releases. “I’ll sing two songs that aren’t out yet,” she said as Grethel Bonilla, her guitarist, switched to an acoustic guitar. Stephanie then proceeded to perform “Picture Myself,” a song the singer expects to be “out next year.” Additionally, the Indonesian artist unveiled “Bad Haircut,” a song anyone who follows Stephanie’s Twitch streams will recognize. Flaunting her emotive voice, the soft ballad talks about “loving someone so much they look good to you even with a bad haircut.”
CL, The Alpha The “Alpha” did not hesitate to bring all her charisma in the first few minutes of her set. CL started with one of her iconic bangers, “Dirty Vibe,” which then fluidly transitioned into “The Baddest Female.” Throughout the melody, the solo artist proved her talent by demonstrating how to handle an audience as they screamed their lungs out.
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Photography courtesy of Miranda McDonald, Tony Nungaray, and Willy Song
ATARASHII GAKKO! Open HITC With A Bang!
Photography courtesy of Skyler Greene, Steven Rood, Miranda McDonald
“Doctor Pepper” was next up on the setlist. Eluding her authoritative glare, CL showed everyone who’s boss. Her stage presence is the product of multiple years of blood, sweat, and tears, none of which went in vain as she became an iconic moment engraved into the minds of thousands of audience members both online and in person.
Saweetie’s Love Letter To The Fans “Who’s a real icy girl? And icy boy?” yelled Saweetie as she talked to fans midway through her set. While rapping the lyrics to her hit song “ICY GIRL,” she gave out four of her Icy Chains to fans in the crowd. She then went to rap “Twerk that a** to an icy chain.” Already known by fans for her relatable personality, she made sure to compliment and give her fans treasured items. Fans raised their hands to the sky as she even threw her lipstick into the crowd.
Rich Brian’s End to Day One The real party began when a horn trio played from the darkness of the stage; Rich Brian feigned confusion as a group of “Edamame” came on stage. The crowd went wild when he burst into bbno$’s “Edamame.” For his last song, Rich Brian requested everyone turn on their flashlights and move with him. Again, the crowd lit up like an ocean of lights as he ended with “Slow Down Turbo.”
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sized gray jacket and his loose hair. They both shared a heartwarming presentation, hugging and playing around with each other.
NIKI, Golden Like The Gods The crowd illuminated the night sky as “PANDEMONIUM” began to play. Raw emotion presented itself as NIKI sat down to play piano for “Lose.” She took a moment to thank her band and dancers, and reflected on her dreams. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think growing up in Indonesia that I would ever have this opportunity.” She attributed her happiness to the fans and sang “Plot Twist” while playing her guitar for them. She fluidly transitioned to “Drive On,” leaving the crowd in complete vocal euphoria.
Joji Slow Dancing In The Finale
keshi, A Complete Musical Package Sultry guitar riffs filled the stadium as keshi began his set with the unreleased track “sins.” The set was a complete musical experience, featuring a talented band and alluring instrumentals for “beside you.” keshi got comfortable gearing up for “drunk,” removing his jacket and replacing it with his guitar.
He played a few chords and said, “You guys might know this one, it’d be great to have a sea of light though.” As the crowd turned on the flashlights on their phones, one individual stood out as he yelled, “I love you, keshi!” The song drips with emotion as the crowd waves their lights back and forth while singing along.
Eaj With Iconic Collaborations The mood immediately lit up again when Seori joined eaJ on stage to perform their collaboration song “It Just Is.” The singer showed up in a fluffy blue sweater, a black-spotted white skirt, and black-andwhite boots, blessing the crowd with both her stunning looks and her sweet vocals. The two artists harmonized to this clearly fan-favorite song, which now has more than 6 million views on YouTube. The hype only got stronger when keshi came up on stage to sing “Pillows” next to eaJ. He complimented the singer’s casual looks with his over-
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Near the end of his performance, Joji threw a quick thank you and stormed off the stage. Craving for more, the audience chanted, “Slow Dance! Slow Dance!,” referring to Joji’s biggest hit, “Slow Dancing In The Dark.” Racking up more than 281 million views on YouTube, it was no surprise that the crowd was anticipating the song. The ballad, which featured Joji as a dying satyr in the music video, was praised by many for its melancholic use of synths and Joji’s raw vocals. Joji returned with a laugh. He started with a stripped-down version of the song before going ahead with the original version. The crowd sang along without fail, screaming “In the dark!” at the top of their lungs. As the final act of the night, he sure ended Head In The Clouds 2021 with a bang.
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Photo courtesy of Miranda McDonald, @mirandamcdonald
THE TRAIL BLAZERS LEADING A CULTURAL REVOLUTION BY VALERIE LOPEZ
When you think of school, you think of order, rules, education, structure. These expectations are subverted by the Japanese group ATARASHII GAKKO!—“Atarashii Gakkou no Leaders” in Japan. Their name translates to “New School Leaders” in English. They are rising artists in the international music scene—their music exploring complicated feelings and various topics that are part of being young. ATARASHII GAKKO! are breaking stereotypes through music and performance, showing just how cool young women can be. In late 2020, the four-member group signed to 88rising and made their global debut with “NAINAINAI” in January. On
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November 6, ATARASHII GAKKO! had their United States debut stage, opening for 88rising’s Head In The Clouds Festival. EnVi Media had the chance to speak with the girls ahead of their performance on Saturday, discussing their last single “Pineapple Kryptonite,” their goals as artists, and breaking into the international music scene
Getting To Know ATARASHII GAKKO! ATARASHII GAKKO! may be new to the United States, but they are not new to music. The group was formed in 2015 with four members: Suzuka, Mizyu, Rin, and Kanon. When they came together, all of the members were in middle and high school. Hence the name “ATARASHII GAKKO!”
IF WE’RE DOING WHAT WE LOVE AND BEING CONFIDENT, WE’RE NATURALLY SHOWING THAT WOMEN CAN BE STRONG
Suzuka can be recognized for her short hair, glasses, and spontaneous personality. She takes on the role of leader. Mizyu is the oldest member who can be recognized for her pigtails and bangs. Rin is known as the nice one with curls. Kanon is the youngest member and is known for her sleek hair and elegant persona. More of their fun personalities can be seen on their Official TikTok page, where they have garnered over 3 million followers and 46 million likes. Their first music video was “Kamu to Funyan tofubeats Remix” recorded on a 360 camera. The video has a youthful and cute kind of appeal, a simple dance with fluorescent lights, and anime-style masks. ATARASHII GAKKO! officially debuted in 2017 with the piano-heavy rock track “Dokubana.” The girls have since gotten older and their music has grown with them. Their music explores exam stress, pointless school crushes, and existentialist topics. “We want to tackle as many different genres as possible and show our diversity to the world how we are able to do different kinds of music. We all love different kinds of music and that helps create variation for us,” they told EnVi.
The “ATARASHII GAKKO!” Style While they are a Japanese group, it is to be noted that they are not within the cute J-pop idol box. ATARASHII GAKKO!’s music takes inspiration from various genres including hip hop, dance, jazz, and rock. Their performance is just as dynamic. Their dances are full of stunts, sharp angles, head banging, and emotive facial 12
expressions. It should be noted that each choreography is created by ATARASHII GAKKO! themselves as they each have experience in dance. “I don’t think a girl has to act a certain way, just because they’re a girl. If we’re doing what we love and being confident, we’re naturally showing that women can be strong,” said Rin. Many of their charms were presented on the Head in the Clouds stage earlier this month. The group entered the stage in their seifuku, school uniforms, a performance costume they deem as an essential part of the group’s image. “When we started, it was a representation of our authentic selves, but now that we are older we are wearing it as a representation of Japanese culture, and it feels like we are wearing it like a costume, our fighting costumes.” Through their unique beats and unpredictable performances, they have created their own unique style, the “ATARASHII GAKKO! Style,” as the group told EnVi with a laugh. “We want to stick in their memory as weird, playful girls.” Suzuka added that she hopes people will say, ”Wow, amazing girls!” when they think of ATARASHII GAKKO!
A Quest To Spread Culture Since signing with 88rising, ATARASHII GAKKO! have taken it upon themselves to show off Japanese culture. Their videos feature tons of Japanese pop culture elements including sumo and school life. “As part of being representative of japanese youth we want to show japanese culture and our own charm to the world,” Suzuka told EnVi. In addition to including culture in their music videos, ATARASHII GAKKO! have created a mini video series on YouTube called, “Seishun Academy.” Each video explores aspects of Japanese culture in a humorous, digestible way for their new international fanbase.
“We made that video [series] to introduce Japanese culture, but with a standpoint of how it is different from American culture that their audience is so familiar with. We wanted to show it in a fun and engaging way in our style.”
On “Pineapple Kryptonite”
“We have a lot of feelings towards this song since this is one of the first songs we made from scratch with Money Mark. It’s like a baby. We have a lot of attachment towards this song,” they shared. “He inspired us a lot with his approach to music making. It was very playful. For example we were playing with kitchen utensils and picking up sounds from there. He taught us that music is everywhere in our lives.” What’s Next For Japan’s Music Leaders? ATARASHII GAKKO! released their
While they are dropping the album on an international level, ATARASHII GAKKO! shared in their press release that all songs will continue to be in Japanese. “Singing in Japanese is something we want to continue doing. Since we’re singing and rapping in Japanese, we wanted to do things in the lyrics that you can’t do with English. In English, you can fit a lot of words into a bar, but with Japanese, the language itself is very rhythmical. So we used that to our advantage.” Through their album, the group hopes to redefine what it means to be an Asian artist and counter stereotypes. Suzuka said, “We want to break the typical image that people have towards Asians, and show that there are some really unique Asian people out there. 88rising is showing that there are incredible Asian artists that can have a worldwide appeal, and we want to be a part of that.”
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Photo courtesy of ATARASHII GAKKO!
On September 20, ATARASHII GAKKO! released the first single from their SNACKTIME EP in collaboration with the legendary producer Money Mark. “Pineapple Kryptonite” is a dynamic song with a mix of soothing singing and cool raps. The music is striking and retro. The small sounds in the background of the track give it more of an extraterrestrial feel, which suits the theme and visuals of the video.
SNACKTIME EP on November 12. They worked with Money Mark for all five songs on the mini-album. The group revealed two songs ahead of its release: their single “Pineapple Kryptonite” and “Free Your Mind,” which was teased at the Head In The Clouds Festival.
Going all out is in this season. More sequins, more glitter, and more shine. A festival is the perfect place to go all out and be experimental. This maximalist trend was seen on multiple runways this season including Loewe, Versace, and Louis Vuitton.
BY SAMRUDDHI HARVE Music festivals are officially making a comeback this year. First up is the Head In The Clouds festival by 88rising. Having the perfect outfit is important to making the most out of a festival. Here is a roundup of key trends this season, along with accessories, to create the perfect outfit.
Co-Ord Set Co-ords—or formally coordinated sets—made their comeback in fashion this summer. Now, co-rds are a style statement. The Independent reported that “searches for coords online have spiked by 47 percent since the start of April.” NA-KD’s Gathered Detail pieces are the perfect look retailing in three colors. Top your look with a furry bucket, one of the hottest products for this quarter according to global fashion search engine, Lyst.
1. Fiorucci Faux Shearling Bucket Hat Blue, 2. Raven + LilyAida Small Hoops, 3. VEJA V-10 CWL WHITE STEEL BUTTER SOLE, 4. Gathered Detail Oversized Cropped Shirt, 5. Gathered Detail Loose Skirt, 6. Kosas 10-Second Eyeshadow, 7. O My Bag Nano Bag - Black Classic Croco, 8. Reformation Hermia Dress, 9. Charlotte Tilbury Easy Smokey Eyes To Hypnotise, 10. Enroute jewelry Black Clover Earrings, 11. Enroute jewelry Mira Pearl Necklace, 12. Nae Paris Black Vegan Knee-High Boots, 13. Pangaia 365 Sweatshirt
Glitter! Glitter! Glitter!
14. Glossier Lip Gloss, 15. Ninety Percent Jenna Organic Cotton-Jersey T-shirt, 16. Womsh Vegan Jump Ink Boots, 17. Joey Baby Women’s Artisanal Amber Pearl Rainbow Necklace, 18. JW Pei Rantan Bag - Purple Croc, 19. House of Sunny Nice to Meet You Pants, 20. Pangaia Jersey it Bag in Flamingo Pink, 21. Flamingos Life Retro 90s All Black Shoes, 22. SOKO Jepesi Dangle Earrings, 23. Even&Odd Sunglasses, 24. NA-KD Overlapped Mini Skirt, 25. SOKO Uzi Cuff Bracelet, 26. NA-KD Cut Out High Neck Top
Dopamine Dressing “Dopamine dressing” is clothing and jewelry with colors and/or prints. After months of lockdown and sweatpants, consumers have been shopping for more colorful pieces in the post pandemic era according to The Cut. Vogue Business stated that experts believe fashion that improves the wearer’s mood” is “dopamine dressing.”
Music festivals like Head in the Clouds are the perfect opportunity to dip your toes into this trend if you haven’t already! Tie a colorful sweater by Pangaia around your neck— another major trend this season—for the chilly nights.
Edgy Cutouts Another trend that emerged in the summer are cutout pieces. Cutout pieces are sexy yet chic, perfect for festivals. Style this trend with cool sunglasses and accessories to finish your look.
PHOTOS BY MENDY K.
Check out some of the best fashion and beauty looks we spotted at head in the clouds! 16
Right Mariel Cahiles @yomarieeel Left Becca Chong @becasaru 17
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Left Andre @adiangco Right Kayla Paik @kaylapaik
Left Sunny @sbae00 Middle Chasu @chasupaku Right Carlo @carlo.redl
Bottom Left Julie Kim @cact.sus Bottom Right Becca Chong @becasaru
Left BJ Briones @_beej__
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Left June Kim @cookie.haven Middle Emma Mei-Li @emma.meili Right Jhervis @jhervis__ 20
Above Jon Yuan @numberonetopmodel 21
BY VALERIE LOPEZ Korean-Canadian artist Luna Li brought mellow vibes and psychedelic imagery as she rocked the stage at the 2021 Head In The Clouds Festival. This is on-brand for the Toronto-based “moon fairy” who is known for her ethereal multi-instrumental melodies and angelic vocals. After her opening act for day two, EnVi sat down with Luna Li to discuss her image, fashion, and goals as an artist.
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Photography courtesy of Mirand McDonald
AN ARTIST ENCHANTING THE STAGE AND CARVING HER OWN PATH IN MUSIC
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A Strong Musical Upbringing Before her band VEINS and stage name Luna Li existed, there was Hannah Bussiere Kim, a young half-Korean girl studying classical music at her mother’s school. From five years old she began learning piano, and with time she learned more instruments including violin, harp, and guitar. After high school, she attended university to study classical piano, but later dropped out to pursue her own musical explorations. “I’ve always very clearly known that I wanted to do music,” Luna Li told EnVi. “It’s been just part of my life since I was born. Being at the school and being raised in a community of so many musical people—my mom is also a musician— it’s always just been a huge part of my life.” In 2015, VEINS debuted with the Moon Garden album, among the 12 songs (coincidentally) is a song called “Head in the Clouds.” At 18, she was heavily immersed in the indie rock scene in Toronto, exploring her sound.
Creating The “Luna Li” Identity And Sound
magic in nature in the imagery for my music, so I wanted to find a name that fit with that.” After deciding to change her name, she and her bandmates tried brainstorming potential stage names. Luna Li and her bandmate took to the streets to see which name strangers liked best. The name “Luna Li’ reigned victorious to her benefit
In 2020, she released two singles, “Trying” and “Afterglow.” This was the start of a more experimental Luna Li. Throughout the year, she also released small minute-long multi-instrumental snippets of songs on her social media, building a solid following through her mystifying musical creations. Some of the creations ended up on her jams EP, including “castle cloud.”
SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME WAS WORKING WITH...OTHER WOMEN OF COLOR
In 2017, “Luna Li” was born. She released her first single “Opal Angel” followed by an EP of the same name soon after. Going from VEINS to Luna Li was crucial for her. Luna Li told EnVi, “I decided to change to something that was more of an artist name. I had already sort of discovered that I had taken a lot of inspiration from nature and took a lot of that melding
since that was also her favorite option.
In order to find her own unique sound, Luna Li has spent the past few years trying to meld her rock and classical musical backgrounds. She shared that she “started incorporating more violins, harp, and background vocals into the sound. It definitely feels like it’s been growing into something that’s more authentically me.” 24
Most recently, she released her single “Flower (In Full Bloom),” leading her 2021 EP of the same name. Five songs total, it contained some of her previously released singles from 2020 and 2021, including her song “Alone But Not Lonely.”
The Luna Li Aesthetic Luna Li’s aesthetic is a mix of nostalgic and mystical. She can be seen wearing unique bodysuits and matching sets, even items inspired by y2k fashion. The most important thing for her is wearing “something you wouldn’t wear in everyday life, something out of the ordinary.”
At the Head In The Clouds Festival, Luna Li sported a matching flower patterned two-piece set. It was created by a good friend of hers, Isla, who runs a sustainable clothing line called Heavy Flow. Her recent tour outfits were styled by her friend Lynne Weare. As someone who has been invested in music, Luna Li admitted she gets style tips from others more knowledgeable in the fashion realm. However, she sees this as an opportunity for her to support other women.
I hope that young Asian women who are watching feel inspired and feel like they can pursue what they want Luna Li shared, “Something that has always been important to me was working with other women, other women of color, and so for the visuals and for the fashion side I definitely turned to a lot of friends in Toronto who were working in those worlds.” In August 2021, a new item became a “Luna Li” staple: a butterfly guitar. She bought it from a father who mistakenly purchased the adult-sized guitar for his five-year-old daughter. After showing the guitar to her followers on social media, they expressed that it was a match-madein-heaven for Luna Li! “It was just this guitar that I saw online and my logo is a butterfly, so I was like this is perfect,” Luna Li said. “It sorta draws into the same theme of nature. I feel like butterflies are so beautiful. They represent beauty,” Luna Li told EnVi. “There is sort of a renaissance of [the] 90s and early 2000s coming back and I think the butterfly is part of that image.That’s why [I chose the Butterfly as my logo] too.”
On Performing At The Head In The Clouds Festival The butterfly guitar did not make it to the HITC stage. However, that did not stop Luna Li and her band from delivering a powerful performance. Her music abilities were put to the test at HITC as she performed with her vocals, guitar, and violin. Among the various songs were “Silver Into Rain,” “Alone But Not Lonely,” and “Cherry Pit.” 25
“My favorite instrument to play at shows is guitar because I love riffing solos and that energy is the most fun.” The festival was among the largest shows she has ever played, but she was excited about her stage. Luna Li just ended her opening show tour across the United States for Japanese Breakfast, an indie rock band led by Michelle Zauner, who she has previously cited as a source of inspiration. After some reflection, Luna Li said, “I had such a good time this weekend. It was just so beautiful and incredible to see this festival and see so many other asian women performing. It just made me really happy.”
Luna Li’s Vision For The Future Luna Li is a huge advocate for representation. It is on her list of things to do as an artist in addition to “welcoming and immersing people into the world of magic, creativity, and music.” Before the interview, Luna Li joked that she felt right at home with the Korean flags hanging from the ceiling of the press room. During her performance, she shared her enthusiasm for playing at such an event, calling this something she wishes she had growing up. “Another big part of why I do what I do is representation. I never felt like I was represented when I was growing up and so it’s really important to me to have my girls and other women on stage with me. I hope that young Asian women who are watching feel inspired and feel like they can pursue what they want to pursue.” In 2022, fans can expect a lot more activity from Luna Li. There will be new music, videos, and shows coming out. On the list, is her November show, which has been postponed to next February.
ARE REDEFINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BOY BANDS BY AZADEH VALANEJAD Growing up as a second generation child of immigrant parents comes with a unique set of challenges—the most common being identity. Alternative K-pop group, UPTOWN BOYBAND, are determined to push a new narrative and help bridge that cultural gap. EnVi met up with Roc Lee and Justin Trash, two-thirds of the Korean-Canadian trio, at 88rising’s Head in the Clouds music festival in Pasadena, California. Sitting in a plush booth inside the Rose Bowl’s Brookside Clubhouse, we chatted about Asian representation, their songwriting process, and what it means to redefine a new generation of boy bands.
A Second Generation Bond Hailing from Toronto, Canada, UPTOWN BOYBAND went into detail about their shared identity crisis experiences. “Growing up in Toronto was very confusing because we identify ourselves as Koreans. But at the same time, we were never really raised in Korea so we were really in be26
tween those two cultures,” said Roc. “We also realize we’re too western for Korea and we’re also too Korean for the western side of things,” added Justin. Add to that the lack of diverse representation in media, the guys also feel they didn’t have a lot of role models to look up to. Using this shared sentiment, UBB came together to “make music about the vision of being a second generation Asian,” as Justin put it. Even their name pays homage to their roots. Uptown Toronto is where K-town is, and “boyband” is used as a double entendre. On top of their shared stories of second generation Asians, the members come from creative backgrounds. Justin grew up writing poetry and skipping school to make music, and Roc studied fashion design. The guys, who met through a mutual friend in the industry, hope to inspire the next generation of Asian creatives. “We
Photograph courtesy of Mendy
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lights, Justin definitely gives off a more rockstar energy, but still fits in within the K-pop aesthetic. And sitting next to Roc— with his ashy blonde hair, warm smile, and good skin—it’s hard to imagine either of them as not being considered “traditionally beautiful.” “We weren’t in K-pop training camps, we were just kids who liked music growing up in Toronto,” added Roc. “And we were like, ‘We wanna make music, we’re gonna call ourselves a boy band, we don’t care what they say.’ This is our new definition of what a boy band should look like.” Along with the new look, comes experimental sound too. UBB’s music is inspired by some of their favorite artists including A$AP Mob, N.E.R.D., and Big Bang. “Our music takes sounds from things we grew up listening to: K-RnB, K-pop, hip-hop, trap music in the west,” said Justin. Like traditional K-pop, UPTOWN BOYBAND’s music is influenced by a variety of genres, including rap, pop, RnB, and hip-hop. But staying true to their nontraditional foundation, they aim to redefine the sound.
really want to bring that message forward and become those role models we didn’t have growing up. And that is essentially what we are trying to do with our music and art,” said Roc. When asked how they define a role model, Roc said, “Anybody that can inspire, give motivation, and give purpose to their community. Someone who can guide me towards what I can offer in the world.”
Redefining Boy Band In addition to bridging the cultural gap between east and west, UPTOWN BOYBAND is also unique for their knack of breaking industry tradition. “There’s an alternative route of making a boy band … We don’t take the traditional route, we’re not traditionally beautiful, we’re redefining all those things,” said Justin. With his tattoos and flaming red high28
“It’s a blend of both cultures. Essentially, we’re just trying to bridge that gap and create a unique sound that only we can make,” said Roc. He then leaned forward and with a mischievous smile hinting at exciting things to come, added, “our sound.”
The Creative Process The members describe their songwriting process as “natural” with a lot of free-flowing inspiration. “We sit down, we take inspiration from whatever we’re listening to currently, and we’ll knock down some melodies. Or if a concept will come first, we’ll build around what comes up,” explained Justin. “We believe the ideas that come out first, are usually the good ones,” added Roc. “It’s a very natural process, we have fun and I think that’s the most important thing: have fun writing songs!” The process seems to be working because they’re currently releasing one song a month. Their latest track and third single, “Tell Me,” is a catchy, upbeat song paired with breathy vocals and emotional lyrics
about trust issues. The music video has over 140K views on YouTube in just two weeks. Releasing one song monthly—on top of visualizers, performance videos, and a slew of other content including social media teasers—can’t be easy, but if it were up to the guys, they’d release even more. “We’re experimenting different ways to put our music out to the world and we definitely believe in the process,” explained Roc. “If it was up to us, we’d release a lot more music, but sometimes when you’re in a different structure in the industry there’s different roll outs and plans,” added Justin.
Rising Stars Heading Up UPTOWN BOYBAND’s excitement being at one of the biggest Asian music festivals shows on their faces as they list out all the artists they’re looking forward to seeing. (They both agreed they were most excited for CL, which, same.)
This is our new definition of what a boy band should look like 29
“It’s cool because it’s something that we’ve always wanted to experience, but also hopefully be part of next year and the years to come,” said Justin. When asked what their opening song would be in their Head in the Clouds lineup, the two looked at each other knowingly before teasing it’s unreleased. With an upcoming EP on the horizon, UPTOWN BOYBAND are more determined than ever to reach their goals. The self-made pop stars have words of advice for aspiring creatives too. “Don’t focus on other people’s journey,” said Justin. “You have your own lane, definitely keep the tunnel vision. And the more you look ahead instead of the side, the more you’re gonna be focusing on where your angle is.” Before wrapping up our interview to catch the next act, the guys added how much they love their fans, Club UBB. “World domination! We couldn’t have done anything without them. They’re the most beautiful people I know,” said Roc. “They’re all part of the journey, we’re super excited to show them what we’re creating.”
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