XO Magazine's March 2012 isssue

XO

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MARCH 2012 No 13 - THE POP ISSUE

Follow Your Heart.

13

Queen of Hearts by Darren Black.

EDITOR IN CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Le’Keisha Sims

FASHION EDITOR AT LARGE: Taj Ragland

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Bethany Grace

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Charlotte Bibby Chris Winter Darren Black Francesca Secolonovo Kale Friesen Jesse Rhodus Bethany Grace

ADVERTISING / CONTRIBUTION: infoxomag@gmail.com

BLOG: xomagazineonline.tumblr.com

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/XOMAGAZINE ALL XO CONTRIBUTORS OWN SOLE COPYRIGHT OF THEIR WORK. CONTACT XO AT INFOXOMAG@GMAIL. COM OR CONTRIBUTORS DIRECTLY WITH ENQUIRIES.

editors LETTER:

Dear  Readers,  Welcome  to  the  new  issue.  Pop  2012.  Many  readers  have  often  won-­ dered  why  each  March  we  dedicate  a  entire   issue  to  Pop  music.  To  put  it  simply,  we  love  pop.  Pop  makes  people  happy;Íž  be  it  the  bubblegum  kind,  the  indie  kind  it  doesn’t  matter.  Pop  simply  makes  the  music  world  go  round.  The  Beatles  in  their  heyday  left  a  irreversible  mark  in  the  world  simply  by  singing  “I  wanna  hold  your  handâ€?.  But  putting  the  past  aside,  who  have  we  put  in  this  issue  you  ask?  Well  for  starters  we  feature  the  ever  popular  rise  in  K  POP  music,  our  Top  of  the  Pops  2012  and  Meg  Myers,  a  newcomer  who’s  destined  to  get  girls  back  on  their  guitars  again.  Over  beautiful  cover  star  Queen  of  Hearts,  LV VHWWLQJ WKH PXVLF VFHQH RQ ÂżUH ZLWK KHU XQDSRORJHWLF FRQÂżGHQW SRS tunes.  Also  inside  is  amazing  photography  by  our  amazing  photographers!  This  issue  is  also  combined  with  the  remnants  of  the  Rebirth  issue,  which  due  to  technical  issues  didn’t  get  released  in  full.  Lastly  I’d  like  to  thank  all  of  our  contributors  &  readers  for  their  hard  work  and  continued  support!  I  hope  you  enjoy  the  issue!  Stay  Fearless,  Le’Keisha  Sims  Editor  in  Chief  XO  Magazine Â

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MUSIC

STUCK ON REPEAT XO’S #NOWPLAYING FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. FROM THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. 1.

SLEIGH BELLS - REIGN OF TERROR Sleigh Bells are back with their Sophomore debut Reign of Terror. This time around the band is actually a band, the ideas are cohesive and we can definitely see contributions from Alexis and Derek. The album is a lot more guitar driven, and less about the noisy beats of ‘Treats’. Standout tracks include: Born to Loose, Comeback Kid, and End of the Line.

3.

DAUGHTER IN THE CHOIR - MEG MYERS Newcomer Meg Myers’ debut EP does not disappoint. She mixes rock and pop with diary style lyrics in her musical blender with producer Dr. Rosen Rosen, creating a refreshing new sound.

Our favourite tracks are Adelaide and witty, pretentious hating ‘Tennessee’

2.

DAVID BOWIE - YOUNG AMERICANS In 1975 Bowie was definitely feeling the ‘Plastic Soul’. Luscious and full of funk, Young Americans is one of Bowie’s classic albums. Our favourite tracks are Young Americans, and Fame.

4.

UP ALL NIGHT - ONE DIRECTION The boys finally made their America debut and to celebrate, we’ve been jamming out to their album. Full of fun party pop jams it takes us back to our middle school years, being totally obsessed with boy bands. America has been in a pop band drought for awhile now, if all works out 1D will be bringing that to a end. Standout tracks are One thing, Same Mistake and Stand Up.

GRIMES The young 23 year-­old Vancouverite, Claire Boucher, moved to Montreal in 2006 and has never been the same since. A true bad-­ass right from the start, she was expelled from McGill University in Montreal for skipping over a year’s ZRUWK RI FODVVHV +HU WRWDOO\ DZHVRPH UHEHO FKLOG HGJH DQG LQÀXHQFHV IURP WKH “illegal DIY loft culture” of Montreal set her apart from the crowd.

NOW PLAYING: OBLIVION

AZEALIA BANKS Formerly known as Miss Bank$, the Harlem grown rapper now known as Azealia Banks knew she made it big when she topped NME’s “Cool List” in 2011 and was featured in Nike’s 1Love video series. With her new debut re-­ cord entitled Broke with Expensive Taste ready to drop in September, Azealia is already getting her fans pumped with hot new jams like 212 destined to be played in the clubs on repeat.

NOW PLAYING: 212 FEAT LAZY J

RITA ORA Captivating the eyes (or should we say ears) of Jay-­Z, Rita Ora’s upcoming album from Roc Nation is set for release this summer. The album features col-­ labs with megastars Will.I.Am, Ester Dean, Drake, The-­Dream, and Stargate.

With the help of mentor and idol Beyonce, it’s no question that Rita is a super-­ star in the making and a major one to watch in the business.

NOW PLAYING: R.I.P, HOT RIGHT NOW

CHARLI XCX The  genre  “dark  popâ€?  just  earned  itself  another  hot  new  artist.  This  up  and  comer  goes  by  the  name  Charli  XCX.  At  only  age  19,  Charli  has  already  FDXJKW WKH DWWHQWLRQ RI VR PDQ\ LQ WKH LQGXVWU\ 6KH UHFRUGHG KHU ÂżUVW DOEXP DW only  age  14  with  borrowed  money  from  her  parents.  Currently  attending  the  Slade  School  of  Art  and  running  a  regular  club  night  called,  “Shut  Your  Pretty  Little  Mouth,â€?  we  can’t  wait  to  see  what’s  next  from  this  Goth-­pop  protĂŠgĂŠ.

NOW PLAYING: STAY AWAY, I’LL NEVER KNOW

TINASHE The  triple  threat  and  former  lead  singer  of  girl  group,  The  Stunners,  is  a  true  talent.  Since  her  departure  from  the  group,  she  began  her  road  to  a  strong  solo  FDUHHU $IWHU D WRQ RI YLUDO YLGHR KLWV KHU ¿UVW PL[WDSH ,Q &DVH :H 'LH PDUNV WKH ¿UVW IRUPDO SUHVHQWDWLRQ RI KHU VROR FDUHHU DQG GH¿QLWHO\ QRW WKH ODVW NOW PLAYING: LAST NIGHT ON EARTH

SUMMER CAMP Londoners  Jeremy  Warmsley  and  Elizabeth  Sankey  make  up  this  dynamic  duo  WKDW XVHG WR EH PLVWDNHQ IRU &KULV 0DUWLQ DQG *Z\QHWK 3DOWURZ 7KHLU ÂżUVW IXOO length  album  dropped  in  2011  called,  “Welcome  to  Condale.â€?  Often  branded  DV VW FHQWXU\ DOW SRS WKHLU PXVLF DOVR FDOOV LQĂ€XHQFH IURP ÂśV JLUO JURXSV and  80’s  synth  pop.  Let’s  just  say  their  summer  camp  is  one  we  would  gladly  attend.

NOW PLAYING: I WANT YOU, 1988

STOOSHE The  three-­piece  pop  group  that  calls  London,  England  home  consists  of  Al-­ exandra  Buggs,  Karis  Anderson,  and  Courtney  Rumbold.  The  group’s  name  comes  from  the  word  “stoosh�  which  can  describe  a  girl  who  thinks  she  is  nicer  than  she  is.  This  unique  alternate  meaning  to  their  name  gives  the  group  a  kick-­ass  edge  to  their  brand  of  pop  music.

SUMMER CAMP LA’s  Ramona  Gonzalez  goes  by  the  alias,  Nite  Jewel.  Her  often  airy  sounding  YRLFH UH¿QHV KHU WUDGHPDUN JHQUH RI SRS IXQN DQG œV V\QWK 5 % ,Q HDUO\ KHU ¿UVW IXOO OHQJWK DOEXP VLQFH KHU /3 *RRG (YHQLQJ LV UHDG\ IRU release.

Ɖ DAUGHTER

Elena Tonra and Igor Haefeli make up the London band, Daughter. Their per-­ fect blend of acoustic ballads and brooding melodies mesh in the perfect way to create something as interestingly unique as Björk and as majestic as Sinead O’Connor.

NOW PLAYING: LANDFILL

DELILAH

Delilah’s cool pop and electronica music style draws roots from her Paris-­ ian and London roots. Signed to Atlantic Records, Delilah’s upcoming album From the Roots Up is due to be released on the 26th of March.

FUN

Most well-­known for their song “We are Young”, this indie pop band based in New York is made up of former member of The Format, Nick Ruess, Andrew Dost, and Jack Antonoff. These fun guys illustrate the perfect marriage of indie pop and pop rock. With their popularity continuously rising, look out for this trio.

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A

ELIZ VET by THOM

POPE JOY

BORN IN NEW YORK CITY, RAISED IN MOTHERLAND RUSSIA, ELIZAVETA SINGS ‘IN A MANNER WHICH WOULD CREATE WITHIN YOUR CHEST A SAFE, MAGICAL, TRUTHFUL PLACE OF POWER BEYOND THE SLOW BURN OF STARS” OR SO THE LABEL SAYS. XO THOUGHT IT ABOUT TIME TO HAVE A PROPER SIT DOWN CHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM ENCHANTED POETRY TO BOTANIC OPERA.

XO: HI ELIZAVETA, YOUR DEBUT ALBUM, ‘BEATRIX RUNS’ HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED RIGHT? IF YOU COULD ONLY USE ONE PHRASE TO DESCRIBE IT WHAT WOULD YOU GO FOR? E:  Musical  time-­traveling  alchemy.

XO: YOU HAVE SUCH AN INTERESTING GEOGRAPHICAL HERITAGE. CAN YOU TELL US ALL ABOUT WHERE YOU GREW UP AND HOW YOU THINK THAT HAS AFFECTED YOUR SOUND AS AN ARTIST?

E:  I  was  born  in  New  York  City,  but  was  tak-­ en  back  to  Moscow,  Russia,  as  a  baby.  I  also  spent  quite  a  bit  of  time  in  Europe  in  my  teens  –  sometimes  studying,  and  sometimes  being  a  gypsy  of  sorts.  After  which  I  came  back  to  the  US.  All  these  things  have  contributed  to  my  obsession  with  being  free  to  develop  my  own  sound  and  my  own,  distinctive  self.

XO: YOUR EP HAS BEEN OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW, WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVORITE RESPONSES FROM NEW FANS WHO HAVE GOT IN TOUCH WITH YOU? E:  I  don’t  even  know  where  to  start.  I  have  re-­ ceived  emails  from  people  in  their  70s  and  an  11  year  old  recently  sent  me  her  version  of  the  Beatrix  story  (which  is  the  story  behind  the  re-­ cord  and  will  be  unveiled  online  in  the  coming  months).  I  have  also  received  messages  from  people  in  hospitals,  telling  me  how  the  music  was  helping  them  get  through  their  days  with-­ out  despairing.  And  then  there  were  all  these  emails  from  people  using  Dreamer  for  their  GDQFH FRPSHWLWLRQV DQG HYHQ ÀDJ URXWLQHV Pretty  amazing,  all  in  all.

XO: WE HEAR THAT YOU ARE A FAN OF POETRY? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POEM AND DO YOU SEE YOUR SONGS AS POEMS SET TO MUSIC? E:  Poetry  is  a  way  of  life.  In  fact,  to  me  life  is  poetry.  I  do  make  a  distinction  between  po-­ ems  I  write  and  song  lyrics,  however,  although  WKH WZR DUH GH¿QLWHO\ FORVHO\ UHODWHG , ORYH Billy  Collins,  Pablo  Neruda,  Stephen  Dobyns,  Rumi…  there  are  so  many.

XO: WHAT ARE YOUR BIG INSPIRATIONS AS A MUSICIAN? E:  Classical  music,  jazz,  bardic  tradition,  folk-­ ORUH P\WKV ÀRZHUV ODUJH ERGLHV RI ZDWHU DQG mountains.  Well  you  asked  ‘what’,  not  ‘who’.

XO: FOR THIS WRITER YOUR EP CONJURES UP IMAGES OF REGINA SPECTOR AND KATE BUSH ON A DOUBLE DATE MAKING OUT IN THE ROYAL BOX AT THE OPERA. WILL YOUR ALBUM FOLLOW ALONG THE SAME LINES OR WILL THERE BE AN UNEXPECTED TWIST? E:  Yes,  the  record  is  very  much  along  the  same  lines,  but  it  is  also  rather  up-­tempo,  which  may  take  some  people  by  surprise.

XO: YOUR VOICE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ‘ENCHANTED’ AND YOUR STYLE EVOKES A FAIRY TALE AESTHETIC. IS FASHION SOMETHING YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF OR DO YOU DO YOUR OWN THING WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTHES? E:  I  work  with  a  fantastic  up  and  coming  de-­ signer  out  of  Los  Angeles,  whose  name  is  Missy  Washington  and  her  company  is  called  L À\ , GR QRW SHU VH VHHN RXW WKH IDLU\WDOH aesthetic,  but  I  am  very  attracted  to  all  things  mythical  and  how  they  drive  us,  even  when  we  are  not  aware  of  it.  I  also  love  taking  visual  cues  from  the  past  and  bringing  them  into  the  present.  I  generally  prefer  things  that  are  hand-­ made  or  unique,  rather  than  mass-­produced.

XO: AND FINALLY, MUSIC PROVIDES YOU WITH A PEDESTAL ON WHICH YOU CAN SHOUT A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE? E:  Life  is  short  and  precious.  Honor  your  heart,  don’t  buy  into  the  hype,  write  your  own  story  and  feed  your  inner  poet  every  day. Â

XO: YOUR ALBUM IS CALLED ‘BEATRIX RUNS.’ IS BEATRIX REAL OR A CHARACTER YOU HAVE INVENTED AND IS THE ALBUM HER STORY? E:  Beatrix  is  a  character  in  a  story  of  adventure  that  is  behind  the  record.  It  will  be  unveiled  online  in  installments  in  the  coming  months.  I  am  excited  about  this  twist,  and  so  are  my  fans  who  already  know  it’s  coming.  Am  I  Bea-­ trix?  Yes,  probably  in  many  ways.  The  album’s  SDFNDJLQJ DOVR GHVLJQHG E\ L À\ FRQWDLQV D map  of  the  story  and  various  visual  clues  to  the  journey  of  its  heroine.

XO: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2012 AS AN ARTIST? E:  I  am  going  to  be  traveling  a  lot  and  perform-­ ing  concerts.  I  hope  my  record  spreads  far  and  wide  and  brings  a  moment  of  joy  or  contempla-­ tion  to  as  many  people  as  possible  –  that  is  all  an  artist  can  ask  for. Â

DRESS : X &O FASHION STUDIO SH ORTS: KTZ SH OES : STELLA ARSENIS HAT & SCAR F: KTZ CUFFS : I MO GEN BELFIELD FO R EUGENE LIN NECK LACES : J O LITA J EWELLERY FOR BOTICCA

DIA DE LOS M U E R TO S PH OTOGR APH Y: CH AR LOTTE BIBBY ST YLING: ROSIE WILLIA MS MO DEL : H OLLY @ MO DELS1 M A KE UP : AGA DOBOSZ USIN G MAC H AIR STYLIST: TAKAN OR I YAMAGUCHI USIN G KMS CALIFO R NI A R ETOUCHING : DE LU CA GIO R DAN O ST YLING ASSISTANT : GEO R GIE REGAN

S KIRT : AGI & SA M TO P: TO PSH O P COAT : AGI & SAM R INGS & EAR R IN GS: ZOE & MO R GAN NECK LACE : M AWI

DRESS : X &O FASHION STUDIO SH ORTS: KTZ SH OES: STELLA ARSENIS H AT & SCAR F: KTZ CUFFS: I MO GEN BELFIELD FO R EUGENE LIN NECK LACES : J O LITA JEW ELLERY FO R BOTICCA

DRESS : MARTIN A SPETLOVA BRACELETS : J OLITA JEWELLERY FOR BOTICCA RIN G, EARRINGS , NECKLACE: M AWI HANDBAG : ALEXANDRA DE CURTIS

SHIRT & SKIRT : V IVETTA BODY : RAINBOW WINTERS SHOES : CHARKV IANI BAG : HEIDI MOTTRA M NECKLACE: IMOGEN BELFIELD FOR EUGENE LIN BRACELET : MAW I RIN G: JOLITA JEWELLERY FOR BOTICCA

BODY: LASCIV IO US TRO US ERS : AGI & SA M JACKET : KTZ SH OES : STELLA ARSENIS EARRIN GS : M AWI NECK LACE : J O LITA J EWELLERY FOR BOTICCA HANGBAG: ALEXANDR A DE CURTIS

DRESS ES : BOTH KTZ COAT : AGI & SAM EARRIN GS : KTZ BRACELETS : J O LITA J EWELLERY FOR BOTICCA

ELENA //JASIC

XO: WHAT DO YOU USUALLY PLAY DURING A SHOOT? EJ: I’VE BEEN KNOWN TO PLAY LOTS OF LADY GAGA, BRITNEY SPEARS AND SKRILLEX OR JUST DUBSTEP IN GENERAL.

XO: WHEN DID YOU START YOUR CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND HOW DID YOU GET INTO IT? EJ:  Ever  since  I've  known  of  myself  I've  had  a  camera  in  my  hand.  My  mom  taught  me  basic  rules  of  composition  at  a  young  age.  From  then  on,  my  interest  became  more  serious.  It  was  something  I  did  every  day.  I  always  pushed  myself  further  and  further.  I  spent  count-­ less  hours  doing  research  to  better  my  skills.  It  wasn't  until  I  was  JLIWHG P\ ¿UVW '6/5 LQ WKDW , ZDV UHDOO\ DEOH WR WDNH WKLQJV to  the  next  level.  With  every  new  photo  I  felt  like  I've  out  done  the  previous.

XO: YOU DO OTHER TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY OUTSIDE OF FASHION, IS YOUR APPROACH A BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU SHOOT SAY A WEDDING INSTEAD OF A EDITORIAL? EJ:  My  approach  is  a  little  different,  because  most  couples  aren’t  used  to  being  in  front  of  the  camera.  I  give  them  a  good  bit  of  direction,  but  I  still  shoot  with  a  very  editorial  like  manner.  I  want  them  to  be  as  candid  as  they  can  be.  Most  woman  desire  to  feel  beautiful,  like  the  images  they  see  in  fashions  magazines.  So  my  clients  really  admire  that  I  am  able  to  produce  more  fashion  inspired  images  for  them.

XO: WHAT’S YOUR AVERAGE MONDAY LIKE? EJ:  The  thing  about  freelance  work  is  there  is  no  average  day.  It  really  varies  from  week  to  week  and  depends  on  what  projects  I’m  working  on.  Some  days  in  the  week  I  will  spend  updating  all  of  my  VRFLDO PHGLD SUR¿OHV RWKHU GD\V , ZDWFK WXWRULDOV DQG UHDG DERXW photography  news.  If  I  have  shot  that  week,  I  will  most  likely  be  UHWRXFKLQJ WKH LPDJHV WKH QH[W GD\ , OLNH WR KDYH D VWHDG\ ÀRZ RI work,  and  constantly  be  producing.  Its  what  keeps  me  sane.

XO: WHO DO YOU WORK FOR, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PROJECTS, OR CLIENTS? EJ:  I  work  with  a  variety  of  clients.  Recently  I’ve  been  test  shooting  for  some  major  agencies  in  NYC  and  Philadelphia.  I  also  work  for  a  wedding  company  out  of  Philadelphia.  I’ve  worked  with  local  hair  salons,  doing  their  headshots  and  product  shots  for  their  websites.  It’s  hard  to  pick  a  favorite  client  because  I’m  very  attached  to  each  of  them.  I  love  all  of  my  jobs.

XO: WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T A PHOTOGRAPHER? EJ:  Funny  you  ask,  I  believe  I  would  probably  be  a  Stewardess.  I  love  traveling  more  then  anything  (except  photography)  and  I  DOVR ORYH WR À\ 3OXV \RX FDQœW GHQ\ WKDW WKH RXW¿WV DUH DGRUDEOH

XO: WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE MODELS TO SHOOT? WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM SHOOT? EJ:  When  I  book  a  girl  for  a  shoot,  I  tend  to  lean  more  towards  the  girls  that  have  masculine  features.  I’m  in  love  with  strong  jawlines.  It’s  my  weakness.  My  dream  model  to  shoot  would  probably  be  Lara  Stone.  I  admire  how  she  can  transform  and  I  die  when  I  see  blonde  hair  and  blonde  eyebrows.

XO: WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? EJ:  Currently  I’m  putting  together  my  print  portfolio,  which  can  get  very  intense.  I’m  conceptualizing  future  shoots  and  working  on  marketing  myself  in  better  ways.

XO: ANY ADVICE TO UP & COMING OR BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHERS? EJ:  Keep  an  open  mind.  Never  stop  learning  and  advancing.  Stay  true  to  your  style,  and  network  like  crazy!  Make  sure  your  presence  is  known  and  that  you  are  always  producing  new  work.  Stay  humble  and  always  shoot  to  outshoot  your  last  image.  Also  stop  stressing  about  equipment;͞  the  most  important  thing  to  do  in  the  beginning  stages  is  to  train  your  eye.  So  go  out  and  shoot  absolutely  everything  around  you,  and  do  it  until  you  are  ready  to  pass  out.

CANADIAN NOMAD PH OTOGR APH Y: KALE FRIESEN STYLING: WENDY COO K HAIR : ALA FR IESEN M AKE UP : JEN A JACQ UOT-BO ISVENU MO DELS : KYLA LEE, JULI A SCANLO N & K ELS EY HAR KER

SYLVIA : DR ES S: FYO D O R GOLAN BRACELET : PEBBLE LONDO N HEADPIECE: JANE BOWLER SVALA : DR ES S : K ATAYOO N LO ND O N

BUTTERFLY PH OTOGR APH Y: DARREN BLACK MO DELS : SYLIVA @ S ELECT & SVALA @ NEVS STYLING: OLIVER VAUGHN M AKEUP: MICHELLE WEBB HAIR : A ARON CARLO N AILS : LEA JAMES STYLING ASSISTANT : ED FRITH M AKEUP ASSISTANT : GREG KAR A PH OTOGR APH Y ASSITANT : MAGIC

DRESS : INBAR SPECTO R R ING : I MO GEN BELFIELD

KI MONO TOP : ADA Z ANDITON NECKLACE : ST ERAS MUS

DRESS ES : V ER O NICA MONCH O LO BO NECK LACES : ST ERASMUS BUTTER FLIES : LAR A J ENS EN

DRESS : K R USZYNS K A COUTUR E NECK LACE : PEBBLE LONDO N NECK LACE (WO R N AS BELT ): ST ER ASMUS

KI MONO DRESS: KATAYOON LONDON SHOES : IRREGULAR CHOICE BRACELET : ST ERAS MUS R IN G: ST ERAS MUS

DRESS : VER O NICA MONCH O LO BO NECK LACE: PEBBLE LONDO N BRACELET : PEBBLE LONDO N

DRESS : XO STUDIO NECKLACE: PEB B LE LONDON TURQ UOIS E BAND (WORN AS NECKLACE ): ST ERAS MUS CUFF : M ARIA FRANCESCA PEPE

QUEEN OF HEARTS PH OTOGR APH Y: DARREN BLACK STYLING: OLIVER VAUGHN M AKEUP: J EMMA HARWOO D AND BELLA CRUICKSHANK USING SHU UEMUR A HAIR : J OHN MACPHERSO N @ J O HNN Y HAIR LO NDO N USING R EDKEN

N DR ESS : KATAYO ON LON DO

DRESS : D O R A ACQUAV IVA EARRIN G : QO H ’ S OW N

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME QUEEN OF HEARTS? I’ve  always  admired  powerful,  strong  women,  I  think  it’s  such  a  sexy  quality.  So,  I  wanted  a  name  that  encorporated  that,  which  is  where  the  Queen  part  comes  in.  I’m  also  fas-­ cinated  with  the  idea  of  love,  how  we  obsess  about  it  and  how  vulnerable  it  makes  us.  I  write  my  songs  about  love,  from  the  heart,  et  voila,  that’s  me,  Queen  of  Hearts.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING MUSIC, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY KEY PEOPLE WHO’VE INSPIRED YOU MUSICALLY? I  grew  up  around  music,  absorbing  different  genres,  singing,  writing,  experimenting  with  P\ YRLFH DQG PXVLFDO VW\OH +RZHYHU ,W ZDV DERXW ¿YH \HDUV DJR WKDW , UHDOO\ FDPH LQWR my  own  and  knew  the  direction  I  wanted  to  take  stylistically.  I  think  you  need  a  bit  of  life  experience  before  you  know  who  you  are  as  a  person  and  what  pushes  your  buttons,  so  that  was  a  really  empowering  point  in  my  life.  I  started  to  write  and  work  as  Queen  RI +HDUWV DURXQG WKH HQG RI PHHWLQJ DQG FROODERUDWLQJ ZLWK SURGXFHUV DQG , ¿QDOO\ SXW RXW P\ ¿UVW (3 LQ 2FWREHU VR LW¶V D UHDOO\ H[FLWLQJ WLPH ZDWFKLQJ WKLQJV JURZ and  grow.  I’m  really  inspired  by  electronic  music  of  all  the  ages,  but  particularly  Robyn,  Goldfrapp,  Gwen  Stefani,  Annie  Lennox,  Madonna,  Bjork,  women  that  push  the  bounda-­ ries  and  own  their  art.

WHATS IT LIKE WORKING IN THE STUDIO, ARE YOU STILL EXPERIMENTING WITH VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF YOUR SOUND, OR DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE ON HOW YOU WANT IT TO SOUND?

HOW ARE YOU YOU INFLUENCED

BY FASHION?

I  love  the  studio!  I  have  a  great  team  of  producers  who  really  get  me  and  my  sound  and  help  me  create  the  music  I  want  to  make.  But  I  also  love  pushing  myself  and  working  out  of  my  comfort  zone  with  new  producers,  as  I  think  you  should  never  get  too  comfortable  as  an  artist  or  you  run  the  risk  of  being  boring.  I  know  my  strengths  and  where  my  voice  sits  best  and  I  love  really  synthetic  electronic,  bass  heavy  beats,  so  try  to  bring  that  element  into  all  my  tracks.  I’m  not  a  music  snob,  my  ipod  is  quite  ecletic,  but  I’m  a  pop  girl  through  and  through  and  I  think  that  shows  in  the  music  I  make.

Fashion  is  where  I  get  to  let  loose.  I  love  to  experiment  and  play  dress  up,  but  I’m  still  quite  classic  in  my  style,  I  love  shoudler  pads,  high  necklines  and  collars,  long  dresses  and  ÀRDW\ IDEULFV , ORYH OHDWKHU DQLPDO SULQWV ODFH VKHHU IDEULFV and  accessories  are  a  must  for  me!  I  was  lucky  enough  to  attend  fashion  week  this  year  and  I’m  in  love  with  the  new  Lako  Bukia  collection.  I’m  also  a  huge  fan  of  Moschino,  Alexander  McQueen  and  Vivienne  Westwood,  I  like  fashion  that  pushes  boundaries.  I’m  a  bit  of  a  magpie,  and  I’m  drawn  to  sparkles  and  pieces  that  are  a  bit  different  from  the  norm.

DRES S : KATAYOON LONDON SHOES : CARVELA

DRESS : LAKO B UK I A

DRESS : EMILY SOWDEN NECKPIECE: V EIL OF VISIONS BRA : CALV IN K LEIN HIGH-WAISTED B RIEFS: NOR MA KA MALI SHOES : DAWNTROV ERSIAL FOR QOH

SHIRT: DO R A ACQUAV IVA BOW TIE: TERRY- JAMES LYNCH BRA: CALV IN K LEIN SKIRT: STELLA MCCARTNEY EARRIN GS : M AR I A FRANCESCA PEPE

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QOH

WHATS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE YOU’VE DONE SO FAR? DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING?

ESTHETIC?

Classic  with  a  modern  twist.  I  make  “Noir  Pop�  so  my  style  and  visuals  are  a  bit  left  of  centre,  I  don’t  wear  jeans,  and  I  like  to  be  a  bit  theatrical  on  stage.  I  think  a  popstar  should  be  a  popstar,  if  people  are  making  the  effort  to  come  see  you,  you  need  to  pull  out  all  the  stops  and  give  them  a  show.

No,  I  love  performing,  It’s  why  I  got  into  music,  I  love  the  adrenaline  and  the  feeling  you  get  when  you’re  on  stage.  I  went  over  to  Coachella  last  year  to  guest  vocal  for  Monarchy,  which  is  probably  still  one  of  my  favourite  performances,  blistering  heat,  palm  trees  and  it  was  also  my  birthday,  so  we  partied  pretty  hard  after,  great  memories.  I  love  festivals,  the  DWPRVSKHUH LV VR DPD]LQJ VR ,œP GH¿QLWHO\ KRSLQJ to  do  a  handful  this  year  too.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR NEXT SINGLE WILL BE? I  have  a  double  A  single  coming  out  in  April.  Track  A  is  called  Neon  -­  it’s  a  pulsing,  bass  heavy,  sexy  track,  while  the  other  track  is  called  Tears  In  The  Rain  and  it  shows  a  much  more  softer,  vulnerable  side.  It’s  very  beautiful  and  I  like  how  it  contrasts  the  other  track.  I  can’t  wait  for  it  to  be  out  there,  I’ve  got  some  great  ideas  brewing  for  the  music  video  too!

WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOUR DEBUT ALBUM? I  like  to  have  fun  with  music,  I  want  people  to  get  up  and  dance  and  enjoy  it,  but  I  also  like  taking  things  left  of  centre  and  making  people  really  think  about  the  meaning  of  the  words.  I  write  about  love,  so  I  try  to  get  that  passion  into  every  track  I  write  whether  it  be  uptempo  or  slow.  If  you  buy  my  album,  you  have  to  love  pop,  because  that’s  really  what  I’m  all  about.

WHATS NEXT FOR YOU IN 2012?

My  single  release  in  April  is  the  next  big  thing  at  QOH  HQ,  with  the  intention  of  putting  out  a  couple  more  EP’s  and  an  album  later  in  the  year.  I’m  not  really  a  person  who  plans,  I  like  to  take  each  day  as  it  comes  and  enjoy  every  second,  every  new  experience  and  FKDOOHQJH )RU PH WKH ELJJHVW KLJK ZLOO EH ¿QDOO\ SXWWLQJ RXW WKH album,  it’s  like  my  baby  and  I’m  so  proud,  but  I’m  also  a  HUGE  perfectionist,  so  I  need  to  hurry  up  and  get  it  down,  because  I  know  there  are  people  are  waiting  for  it!!

JACK ET : D O R A ACQ UAVIVA

never LOOK

BACK

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTOPHER WINTER STYLING: TONY VU AND JACKY LE MAKE-UP AND HAIR: ASHLEY FORSHAW MODEL: KATIE BULL

DRESS : V IN CENT LEE HEELS/B ELT : STYLISTS OWN

NECKLACE: ALDO BELT : R EMI & R EID DRESS : TRAFFIC PEOPLE

DRESS : KAI AAK MANN BELT : K IMCHI B LUE

CARDIGAN: BB DAKOTA UNDERW EAR : A M ER ICAN APPAR EL

NECKLACE: ALDO BELT : R EMI & R EID DRESS : TRAFFIC PEOPLE

DRESS : K AI A AK M ANN BELT : K IMCHI B LUE

MEG MYERS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE RHODUS

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XO: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING MUSIC & DO YOU HAVE ANY KEY PEOPLE WHO’VE INSPIRED YOU MUSICALLY?

MM: I’ve been playing and writing songs since about 12. I started playing around on piano and bass, then at 13 started writing on guitar more. I have so many inspirations. Too many to name them all. My older brother got me into John Frusciante, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Radiohead, U2, Dire Straights, Eric Clapton. I also grew up with a lot of Police/ Sting, Heart, CCR, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, James Taylor, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, Joan Osborne, that kind of stuff. People laugh but I was a huge fan of the Goo Goo Dolls in my early teens. Then of course I got really into grunge/heavy rock and lots of angry music. Slipknot, Tool, Seal. I know Seal isn’t angry but I always liked the idea of playing Seal’s Kiss from a Rose and a Slipknot song (can’t remember which one) at the same time. Now I really love everything, but I mainly listen to classical, oldies, or sad stuff. I really love Arcade Fire.

XO:ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED FROM OUR READERS WAS “WHO IS ADELAIDE? IS THIS A REAL PERSON AND WHAT/WHO WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SONG?�

MM:  I’m  not  very  good  at  explaining  my  song  meanings..  there’s  not  always  an  explanation.  Adelaide  is  me  and  I  am  trying  to  get  myself  to  leave  a  bad  relationship.  I’m  talking  to/ about  myself  in  the  verses  and  in  the  pre-­chorus  and  the  chorus  i  am  talking  to  “the  guy�.  And  it  was  inspired  my  broken  heart.

XO: IN YOUR ‘ABOUT’ SECTION IT SAYS YOU BUILT FORTS INSTEAD OF GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL, WERE YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR IMAGINATION/ CREATIVITY AS A CHILD? MM: 'HÂżQLWHO\ , KDG D GLIÂżFXOW FKLOGKRRG DQG L WKLQN FUHDWLQJ was  and  always  has  been  a  way  to  cope  with  or  escape  pain.  I'd  say  i  spent  most  of  my  time  playing  and  daydreaming  outside,  SOD\LQJ ZLWK VSDZQ DFWLRQ ÂżJXUHV GUDZLQJ DQG ZULWLQJ VWRULHV putting  on  plays  with  my  siblings,  watching  cartoons  &  Sci-­Fi.  But  even  though  I  was  a  tomboy,  I  always  dreamt  of  romance.  Which  i  still  do.  Well,  romance  and  death.

+

XO: YOUR SOUND IS KIND OF A NICE RETURN TO THE SINGER SONGWRITER, ALANIS/FIONA APPLE SOUND; DID YOU EXPERIMENT WITH WHAT KIND OF SOUND YOU WANTED TO HAVE AS A ARTIST OR WAS THIS ALWAYS THE KIND OF MUSIC YOU WANTED TO MAKE?

MM: I always just played and wrote what i was feeling and after 13 years of writing, i actually don’t even think my style has changed much. i mean, of course it’s grown, and there are always inspirations, but it’s still me. Before I met Doctor Rosen Rosen though, I was a little all over the place. He’s really helped me with simplifying what i’m trying to say. Thanks Doc.

Ź Ź Ź Ź Ź Ź Ź Ź Ź MM: I was a Jehovah's Witness, so no birthdays or holidays. I always knew santa wasn't real... until now. I think the fat man might be real.

XO: DID YOU REALLY GROW UP NOT CELEBRATING YOUR BIRTHDAY?

XO: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE VIDEO FOR ‘MONSTER’?

MM: Doctor Rosen Rosen and myself just wanted to keep it intimate. I think simplicity, a lot of times, can be more powerful. We wanted to do something along the lines of Sinead O’ Connor's "Nothing Compares", D'Angelo's "Untitled" and Zoo Kid's "Out Getting Ribs".

XO: DO YOU KNOW THE DIRECTION YOU WANT YOUR ALBUM TO GO IN, ARE YOU STILL KIND OF EXPERIMENTING ETC? MM: Hmmm... Not really sure. Next question.

XO: WHATS NEXT FOR YOU IN 2012?

MM: Quitting my waitressing job, getting the fuck out of LA, touring, making music, moss lots of moss, new smells, turning 26... Halloween.

HOLA

CHOLA

PHOTOGRAPHY: DARREN BLACK STYLING: OLIVER VAUGHN MAKE UP: JEMMA HARWOOD USING MAC BELLA CRUICKSHANK USING MAC EMILY BILVERSTONE USING MAC HAIR: JOHN MACPHERSON & BROOKE NIELSEN @ JOHNNY HAIR LONDON USING BUMBLE & BUMBLE PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: MAGIC STYLING ASSISTANT: VINCENZO TO HAIR ASSISTANTS: AUSTIN MACPHERSON & MANUEL MOLLÀ MODELS: GENESIS @ SELECT ALEX ROSE @ SELECT MARIN @ SELECT LOTTIE @ SELECT LEXI @ SELECT CAITLIN @ SELECT IGOR @ SELECT MARK THOMAS TAYLOR JOEL @ EYE MODELS ROLAND @ AMCK BEN HORSFIELD @ ELITE SIEGFRED @ NEVS

CAP: MO DEL ’S OW N SCAR F: H & M NECK LACE : FUN KY BLING BRACELET : MO UTO N COLLET UNDERW EAR : LUIS & JU KE J EANS: LEV IS

SHIRT: MARK THOMAS TAYLOR SHORTS: H& M EARRINGS : NEW LOOK PENDANTS : ASOS CUFF : FUNKY BLING SCAR F (WORN AS LEG TIE ) : H&M

HAT : H APPY SH ACK T-SHIRT: R IV ER ISLAND J EANS: H & M EARRIN G : M AR I A FRANCESCA PEPE PENDANT: FUN KY BLING GLOV ES : STYLISTS OW N K NUCK LE R ING: FUN KY BLING

SUNGLASSES: FUN KY BLIN G JACKET: Y EAR ZERO LONDON R IN G: FUNKY BLING BRACELET : MOUTON COLLET J EAN S: FARAH

TO P: YEAR ZER O LONDO N SUNGLAS S ES & K NUCK LE R ING: FUN KY BLING J EANS & B ELT : MO DEL’ S OW N

DRESS : Y EAR ZERO LONDON J EWELLERY : FUN KY BLIN G

LACE TO P: H & M LEATHER GILET: H &M LEGGINGS: RIV ER ISLAND GLOV ES : V INTAGE CH AIN: V INTAGE EARR IN GS: NEW LOO K

CAP: MODELS OW N SHIRT: M ARK THOMAS TAYLOR JEWELLERY : MODEL & STYLISTS OW N J EAN S: M ARK THOMAS TAYLOR

GLOV ES : V INTAGE K NUCK LE R INGS: FUNKY BLING PANTS : R IV ER ISLAND

CAP: JORDAN NIKE SHIRT: R AGIN G PRIEST JACKET: V INTAGE CHAIN : VINTAGE J EAN S: MODEL’ S OWN CUFF : FUNKY BLING

HEAD SCAR F : H &M EARRIN GS : NEW LOO K DUNGAR EES: H & M NECK LACE : M AR IN CUSTOM IS ED PH O NE : FUNKY B LING K NUCK LE R ING: FUN KY BLING

CAP: FUNKY BLING STUDDED GILET : HAPPY SHACK LEGGIN GS : Y EAR ZERO CHAIN : FUNKY B LING

XO MAGAZINE: WHEN DID YOU START YOUR CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND HOW DID YOU GET INTO IT? KA:   I  started  out  doing  self  portraits,  and  eventually  photographing  friends  when  I  grew  tired  of  that.  I’ve  always  loved  fashion  so  doing  fashion  photography  seemed  like  a  natural  extension,  I  love  the  way  you  can  tell  a  story  through  your  images.

XO: WHO DO YOU WORK FOR, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECTS, OR CLIENTS? KA:  I  shoot  a  lot  of  hair  shoots,  as  well  as  lookbooks  and  editorials.  I  also  shoot  weddings  RFFDVLRQDOO\ P\ IDYRULWH SURMHFWV DUH WKH RQHV ZKHUH LW IHHOV OLNH WKH ¿QLVKHG LPDJH LV D true  collaboration  between  the  client  and  myself.  When  someone  hires  you  and  gives  you  free  reign,  and  you  try  to  represent  their  brand  through  that  in  the  best  way  you  can.

XO: WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T A PHOTOGRAPHER? KA:  I'm  honestly  not  sure  what  I'd  be  doing  if  I  weren't  a  photographer.  It's  hard  to  give  an  accurate  answer  because  it's  such  a  big  part  of  my  life!

XO: WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE MODELS TO SHOOT? WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM SHOOT? KA:  My  favorite  models  are  the  ones  that  have  a  combination  of  a  great  personality,  and  unique  features.  I  feel  like  the  best  photos  come  from  when  you  and  that  model  trust  in  each  other,  they  understand  what  you're  going  for  and  are  willing  to  take  risks  to  get  good  photos.  Some  of  my  favorite  models  are  Lily  Cole,  Jac  Jagaciak,  Karen  Elson,  Jessica  Stam,  and  Coco  Rocha.

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XO: ANY ADVICE TO UP & COMING OR BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHERS? KA:  The  only  advice  I’d  give  has  been  given  lots  before,  but  just  shoot  as  much  as  \RX FDQ 7U\ IRU SURMHFWV WKDW VRXQG GLI¿FXOW RU WKDW VFDUH \RX 3XVK \RXUVHOI DQG study  other  photographers  to  learn  composition  and  lighting.  Analyze  what  makes  their  own  photos  successful,  and  try  to  apply  that  to  your  own  work.  Try  to  get  as  much  exposure  as  you  can,  and  network  to  the  best  of  your  ability!

XO: WHATS YOUR AVERAGE MONDAY LIKE? KA: There's not really a typical day for me, but for the past few months my make up and hair team I work with(Shawnna Downing and Dat Tran) and I get together every Monday and do a beauty shoot.

XO: WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? KA: Right now I'm working on retouching some editorials from the past month, and planning some shoots for next month!

XO:WHAT DO YOU USUALLY PLAY DURING A SHOOT? KA: I usually take playlists off of 8tracks! Anything upbeat with good energy changes the shoot entirely.

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BATTLE HEARTS

PH OTO GR APHY: FR AN CESCA S ECO LO N OVO MO DEL: SO NA @ OXYGEN H AIR STYLIN G: LU CA GALLINA M A K E UP : JULIA B LAIR ST YLIN G : VIENNT Y PH OTO GR APHY ASSISTANT : J OANN A GREGO RY

HELMET : ANGELS SWOR D : ANGELS DRES S: M IS S S ELFR ID GE SH OES: ST YLISTS OWN

DRES S : RARE NECKPIECE: DIVA BRACELET : STYLISTS OWN RIN G: DIVA SHOES : FOREVER 21

DRESS : ZAR A HARNES S : TO PSH O P SH OES : NEW LOO K

JACKET: Z ARA PANTS: STYLISTS OW N SHOES : NEW LOOK EARRINGS : TOPSHOP

BLOUS E: NEW LOO K CH O CK ER : ST YLISTS OW N CROSS CH AIN : DIVA

CHAIN : FOREV ER 21 JACKET: B UNMI KOKO LEGGIN GS : SONOKA SHOES : NEW LOOK

K-POP TAKES OVER THE WORLD

BY AMBER MITTELSTADT Somehow it seems that various countries in Asia have the ability to take a foreign idea and not only improve on it, but make it unquestionably their own.

Take South Korean pop music for example. Usually shortened to just "k-­pop" it is a music genre that has taken the entire world by storm.

For years now it has been popular in many Asian countries and today is a large factor when it comes to changing youth culture all across the region. Re-­ cently though, k-­pop has started spreading like a ZLOG¿UH DQG KDV VHHQ D GUDVWLF LQFUHDVH LQ SRSXODU-­ ity in the Middle East, Europe, North America, and South America. People everywhere are going crazy for their favorite South Korean boy band, girl group, solo singer, or rapper.

Facebook fan pages and Twitter naturally play a big role, but it is in large part due to music videos on YouTube that so many people are discovering and falling in love with k-­pop. In fact on December 15, <RX7XEH RI¿FLDOO\ DGGHG N SRS DV D JHQUH XQ-­ der its Music section thus allowing viewers to see some of the most current and popular k-­pop videos as well as other k-­pop groups.

Even Billboard magazine in the United States has gotten in on the action. On August 25, 2011 it launched the Billboard K-­pop Hot 100 chart which is solely for k-­pop artists.

Dominating the k-­pop scene are three major record companies. YG Entertainment focuses more on R & B and hip hop while S.M. Entertainment focuses more on pop. JYP Entertainment does a mixture of pop and hip hop. All of them work had to create new singers, boy bands, and girl groups to thrill the masses.

Apprenticeship or auditions are are strategy most of-­ ten employed by these three groups. They don’t just look for talent they cultivate it for years. A company will fully oversee the personal and professional lives of a new artist in addition to training in areas like cho-­ reography, vocals, exercise, and language courses all while the trainee still attends regular school. Hundreds of thousands of dollars may be invested in a singer or a group over a period of one to two years or more before they release or even record a single song. Some have trained for upwards of seven to ten years before mak-­ ing their music debut.

Does that strategy pay off when compared to other countries where song artists appear with overwhelming popularity and then disappear seemingly overnight?

One only has to look at the girl group 2NE1. Right now they are easily one of the most popular female k-­ pop groups around. Representing South Korea, 2NE1 not only entered the international competition for Best New Band In The World but walked away with the crown as well in November 2011. As of February 2012 they started working with will.i.am who many will rec-­ ognize as a member of The Black Eyed Peas.

Not shy about their success they even released a song entitled I Am The Best on June 24, 2011 where each member sings about how they are a cut above the rest of the world. Well if you want to make it big in the music industry and the world industry at that then you have got to make some bold statements. The song and video are both available on iTunes and the music video is currently approaching 37 million hits on YouTube.

Not to be forgotten is the group Girls’ Generation (of-­ ten abbreviated to SNSD) who are also making waves all around the world. Their self-­titled Japanese release ZDV WKH ¿UVW DOEXP E\ D .RUHDQ JLUO JURXS WR DFKLHYH Double Platinum status. The album sold 232,000 cop-­ LHV LQ LWV ¿UVW ZHHN LQ -DSDQ DQG PDUNHG WKH ¿UVW WLPH an international girl group had achieved the #1 spot on the Oricon music charts (similar to the Billboard...

FKDUWV LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ZLWK WKHLU ¿UVW IXOO OHQJWK album. It went on to sell over 500,000 copies in just a month after its release.

On January 31, 2012 they appeared on American tel-­ evision by performing a remix of the English version of their song The Boys on The Late Show With Da-­ vid Letterman. On the very next day they followed with a performance on Live! With Kelly where they performed the same song as well has gave an inter-­ view afterward.

Their latest album The Boys is available online on iTunes and Amazon.

Time doesn’t permit one to go on in length about f(x) which returned with a vengeance in 2011 and ranked #6 overall in digital sales for the year. This means they beat out 2NE1 who had 4 songs total on the chart as well as Girls Generation who appeared later on in the year.

Also let’s not forget the K-­pop girl group Wonder Girls who not only toured with The Jonas Brothers in 2009, but also had a TV movie premiere on Teen-­ Nick February 2, 2012.

A round up of some female k-­pop groups and sing-­ ers would not be complete without mentioning BoA who many will deem the Queen of K-­pop. She’s been going strong since the year 2000 and her ability to speak various languages has no doubt contributed to her success. Along with Korean she also speaks Jap-­ anese, English, and has recorded songs in Mandarin Chinese as well. BoA is one of only two woman to have six consecutive #1 albums on the Oricon music charts in Japan. She is also the only foreign artist to ever have two albums that sold over 1 million cop-­ ies in Japan. BoA released an English album in 2009 and is set to make a comeback in Korea this year DOWKRXJK QR GDWHV KDYH RI¿FLDOO\ EHHQ UHOHDVHG \HW Now it is time to focus on the boys.

One boy band getting a lot of attention right now is Super Junior which had a total of 13 members at one point, but that number is now down to nine members.

The group has released or contributed to around 20 different records and Super Junior was also the best selling k-­pop artist for three years in a row.

A few of their most popular music videos on YouTube right now are Sorry, Sorry, Bonamana, DQG 0U 6LPSOH ZLWK WKH ¿UVW WZR HDUQLQJ RYHU PLOOLRQ YLHZV DQG WKH ODVW RQH KDYLQJ RYHU million views. Their latest album Mr. Simple was later re-­released as A-­CHa and is their high-­ est selling album to date. In the United States the album Mr. Simple ranked very highly on the Billboard World Album chart and came in at #3. All total they’ve headlined or participated in 7 tours throughout Asia and the rest of the world.

Super Junior has even inspired the creation of other boy bands. Following the debut of Super Junior JYP Entertainment created 2AM and 2PM which together form the band One Day con-­ sisting of 11 members.

Around the world people have started to take notice of Super Junior from their hit songs to their slick dance moves. In Peru all members were included on the list of Top 30 Sexiest Men and Super Junior has had exclusive interviews in both Slovenian and Iranian magazines.

Next up is a group that is determined to make 2012 their year. SHInee (pronounced “shiny”) formed in 2008 and has already released three full albums along with four mini albums and various singles. In South Korea they are considered a fashion icon and the members have even starred in their own reality shows.

Their second full length album Lucifer helped propel them to national and inter-­ national fame. Within just a few hours of its release the album climbed to the top of both digital and physical sales charts in South Korea. The music video for their single Lucifer is one of their most popular on YouTube and not only showcases their dance moves but their fantastic vocal talent as well.

A Japanese language version of the single Lucifer along with a music video was re-­ OHDVHG LQ )DOO 2Q WKH RI¿FLDO 2ULFRQ ZHEVLWH LQ -DSDQ LW ZDV VWDWHG WKDW LQ WKHLU \HDU ORQJ KLVWRU\ 6+,1HH ZDV WKH YHU\ ¿UVW IRUHLJQ DUWLVW WR KDYH WKUHH GLIIHUHQW songs reach the top three on their weekly sales charts. Not only did SHINee manage this feat, but they did it on with the songs Replay, Juliette, and Lucifer which were WKHLU YHU\ ¿UVW VRQJV HYHU UHOHDVHG LQ -DSDQ On March 19th their newest mini-­album entitled Sherlock is set to be released digi-­ tally to online music sites such as iTunes followed by a physical release on March 21st.

Time does not permit me to ramble on about Big Bang which managed to achieve a ranking of #7 on iTunes in the United States with the release of their latest mini-­ album Alive. That number was on the overall album chart that includes all genres of music. Not bad at all, but then again these boys are no strangers to the iTunes album charts as their fourth mini-­album reached a ranking of #6 in 2011 making them the ¿UVW .RUHDQ DUWLVW WR EUHDN LQWR WKH WRS WHQ LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV Also breaking barriers is the R & B and hip hop singer known as Se7en who works with YG Entertainment. However, in February 2012 his second mini-­album was UHOHDVHG DQG RQ LW ZDV D WUDFN ZULWWHQ DQG SURGXFHG E\ -<3 ZKLFK PDNHV LW WKH ¿UVW ever collaboration between the two South Korean record companies. Back in March 2009 he released the song Girls featuring Lil’ Kim and the music video premiered on BET in June 2009.

Whether you are a fan of bubblegum pop, hip hop, or rap there is something for eve-­ ryone. K-­pop encompasses many different genres, styles, and groups. Far too many to be included here in the article.

No matter your personal taste in music there is a k-­pop group out there for you and both girl groups, boy bands and solo singers are making their names known through-­ out South Korea and the rest of the world.

Some people say that k-­pop is taking over the world while others argue that it al-­ ready has. There are plenty of songs available through iTunes and Amazon so why not take a moment to check them out or look up some videos on YouTube? You will not be disappointed.

ALIEN

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MAGAZINE THE POP ISSUE / MARCH 2012