‘KPop Demon Hunters' songwriter Vince to release new single with G-Dragon this month
Vince, a singer-songwriter and producer under The Black Label, is set to unveil a new single titled 'Cha Cha Cha' on Aug. 18, the label announced Saturday. The digital release marks his return as a singer, nearly one year and nine months since his debut EP 'The Drive' released in November 2023.
Blending hip-hop and R&B with an upbeat Latin cha-cha rhythm, 'Cha Cha Cha' features a guest appearance by none other than iconic K-pop idol and member of Big Bang, G-Dragon. The track is expected to channel a breezy, summer-night vibe, showing a fresh side of Vince that contrasts from previous moody and bass-heavy works like 'UUU,' 'Emergency' and 'Everyday.'
Before stepping into the spotlight as a singer, Vince — formerly known as Joe Rhee — was already a respected name behind the scenes in K-pop. His production and songwriting credits include K-pop hits such as G-Dragon's 'Superstar,' Sunmi's 'Gashina,' Taeyang's 'Wake Me Up,' iKON's 'Killing Me' and Winner's 'Ah Yeah.' In recent years, he has continued shaping K-pop's sonic landscape by producing for Jeon Somi, Meovv and the AllDay Project.
His reach also recently extended to global audiences through Netflix animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' for which he co-wrote and composed 'Soda Pop' for fictional boy band Saja Boys — a breakout fan favorite — and composed the track 'Your Idol.'
Meanwhile, Vince made his official debut as an artist under The Black Label in October 2019.
jaaykim@heraldcorp.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
3 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Beyond Music Acquires Copyright Catalog of Bekuh Boom, Hitmaker Behind BLACKPINK
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Beyond Music, a leading Asia-based music IP investment and data management firm, has acquired the publishing catalog of globally renowned songwriter Bekuh Boom, best known for her work with BLACKPINK. The acquisition includes 33 songs, among them BLACKPINK's most iconic hits: "Kill This Love," "DDU-DU DDU-DU," "Ice Cream," "BOOMBAYAH," and "Pretty Savage." Each of these tracks has surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify, establishing them as key pillars of BLACKPINK's global discography. This deal follows Beyond Music's recent acquisition of a copyright stake in BTS's international hit "Butter," further cementing the company's presence in the global K-pop IP market. "By acquiring rights to signature tracks from both BTS and BLACKPINK—two of the most iconic acts in K- pop—we've reached a major milestone in executing our global strategy," said Jinwoo Jo, CEO of Beyond Music. "It's also an honor to invest in the work of Bekuh Boom, a world-class songwriter whose catalog continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. We look forward to supporting her future creative endeavors and building a long-term partnership." Bekuh Boom – now releasing music under her artist moniker BOOMBBY – is an American songwriter and producer who began her professional career at just 18. She made her K-pop debut in 2014 with TAEYANG's "Eyes, Nose, Lips" and quickly became one of the genre's most in-demand voices, penning over ten No. 1 hits across global charts. With credits for artists like BLACKPINK, WINNER, and Jeon Somi, Bekuh has played a key role in defining the sound of modern K-pop and cementing its place on the world stage. BLACKPINK remains a dominant force in global pop music, boasting over 98 million YouTube subscribers and holding a Guinness World Record. After a hiatus of two years and ten months, the group made a highly anticipated return this July with the release of their new single "Jump", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Kicking off the concert in Korea, BLACKPINK is currently embarking on a world tour which will span 31 shows across the countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan through next January. The Bekuh Boom acquisition is part of Beyond Music's broader strategy to selectively invest in high-performing music assets that offer long-term value. Since its founding in 2021, Beyond Music has completed over 100 large- scale music IP acquisitions, managing more than 35,000 master and publishing rights spanning hits from the 1990s to today. Beyond Music's value creation model focuses on: Through these initiatives, Beyond Music continues to redefine music IP investment, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving global music rights industry. About Bekuh Boom: Bekuh BOOM is a singer, songwriter, and producer whose genre-spanning work has helped shape the sound of global pop. Known for her impact in K-pop and beyond, she has written for some of the world's most prominent artists and contributed to multiple international chart-toppers. Her work has earned widespread critical and commercial recognition, including a Best Original Song award from the Game Audio Network Guild. Now, under her pop artist moniker BOOMBBY, Bekuh is stepping into her own spotlight. With recent singles like "Icy Bishh," "DUHMB," and "Test Drive," she's launched a bold new era – fusing emotionally honest storytelling with high-impact, genre-blurring production. BOOMBBY is more than a new name – it's the most personal and creatively expansive project of her career.
Korea Herald
8 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Purple Kiss abruptly announces split: Is an overcrowded K-pop scene to blame?
Move comes despite new release, shows smaller labels' difficulties as K-pop market reaches breaking point K-pop girl group Purple Kiss has abruptly announced that it will disband, less than five years after its debut. The group's agency, RBW, announced Monday that the six-member group would officially end its activities in November. 'Because the group held deep meaning for both the company and the members, we spent a long time having serious discussions about what the future should look like,' RBW said in a statement. 'In the end, we reached a conclusion that respects each other's wishes and supports the members' individual dreams.' The announcement came as a surprise, especially as Purple Kiss had just released a physical single, 'I Miss My …' last month and held media interviews to promote it. The group is also expected to release an English version of the single later this month, followed by promotional activities in Japan and concerts in the US and Korea. 'While group activities are ending, we plan to carry out the scheduled promotions as planned to repay fans for the love and support they've shown so far,' RBW added. Hints of uncertainty could, in hindsight, be seen in the group's previous media interviews. 'I Miss My …' was Purple Kiss' first release since EP 'Headway' in October 2024. It marked a shift from the group's signature "witch," concept to a brighter, fairy-like aesthetic. During the press interview, member Dosie shared her initial concerns about the change. 'When I first got the song, the lyrics were all in English, so it was hard to understand and connect with emotionally. I wasn't sure if I could express the song well or blend into this concept naturally,' Dosie said. Another member, Swan, recalled performing at a 'spoiler busking' event on July 12. 'It had been so long since we performed in front of Korean fans, especially at such a public venue. I was so nervous I had to keep telling myself 'Doremi' to build confidence,' Swan said. 'Doremi' is the main song from Purple Kiss's second EP. The group's disbandment has reignited discussions about the difficulties artists with smaller labels face in an increasingly oversaturated market, especially if they are girl groups. In the hyper-competitive K-pop industry, where dozens — if not hundreds — of new groups debut each year, maintaining visibility and a fandom is a major challenge without the backing of one of the 'big four' agencies — Hybe, SM, JYP and YG. Music critic Lim Hee-yoon also said Korean listeners were less open to new groups. 'The domestic market has become incredibly competitive. There are too many groups debuting and, compared to the past, the general public's consumption of idol music in Korea has decreased significantly,' Lim said. 'These days, unless an idol group is already famous, most listeners just stick to what they already know — the songs they usually listen to, their favorite artists or algorithm-recommended tracks. It's harder for idol groups to generate buzz the way they used to.' Within the Purple Kiss fandom, known as Plory, criticism has long simmered over RBW's lack of a consistent promotion strategy. Despite releasing new albums, fans pointed to a lack of follow-up content and prolonged hiatuses that made it difficult for the group to keep the public engaged. The case reflects how even mid-tier agencies like RBW — known for its success with girl group Mamamoo — can struggle to keep pace with the industry. An executive at another smaller label also pointed to the advantage large agencies give their artists before they debut. ''Big four' companies already have solid fan bases and use that as a launchpad to expand across Asia and globally. That takes time and a lot of money,' the executive said. 'But for idols from smaller companies, they have to build everything from scratch — fan base, visibility, momentum. Not only is success difficult, but even sustaining activity becomes a serious challenge.'
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Korea Herald
The best 'KPop Demon Hunters'-style merch that's not from Netflix
When 'KPop Demon Hunters' dropped on Netflix in June, the title alone made many viewers cringe. But the animated film turned out to be a welcome, pleasant surprise. The animation was slick, the characters were fresh and adorable and the cultural references hit all the right notes. Fans around the world took notice. Naturally, merchandise soon followed. Netflix rolled out the usual lineup, including hoodies, graphic tees and bucket hats. As of Monday, there are 126 different items under its 'KPop Demon Hunters' category. Some fans love the official merch. Others felt the designs played it a little too safe. A few have even pointed out it looked rushed, speculating that the streaming giant had not expected the show's success and did not have time to prepare in advance. Then merch from the National Museum of Korea started grabbing attention. Many of the museum's products draw on the same traditional art forms that inspired the animated film, especially standout characters like the tiger Derpy and magpie Susie, or the stage backdrop based on "Irworobongdo," a traditional folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five mountain peaks. Below are some of the best pieces to consider. Pin that went viral One of the most talked-about pieces is a metal badge featuring a white tiger with a magpie perched on its head, inspired by 'jakhodo,' a traditional folk art style known for depictions of tigers and magpies. The design resonates with fans of Derpy and Susie. Demand has been so high that the badge is now on backorder, with a limit of three per customer and an estimated shipping date pushed to November. Derpy-esque AirPods case Another standout is an AirPods case decorated with a face reminiscent of Derpy, illustrated in minhwa, a Korean folk painting style. Combining functionality with charm, the case has become a bestseller. It's compact, cute, practical and easy to spot in any bag thanks to the attached red tassel, which is a rendition of the small decorative tassels found in traditional artwork of tigers. Summer-specific items In "KPop Demon Hunters," girl group Huntrix performs on a stage designed to resemble "Irworobongdo," presenting a digital version of the traditional Korean folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five mountain peaks, based on a 19th-century painting. This sophisticated artwork has been reimagined as folding fans and sun umbrellas ― perfect essentials for this scorching summer. If you were thinking of getting them this summer anyway, why not get one with a cool design? Got a gat brooch? Adding a touch of tradition to any outfit, or even a bag, this glittering brooch is shaped like a gat, the iconic horsehair hat once worn by noblemen in the Joseon era (1392-1910). It also pays homage to the Netflix movie's fictional boy band, Saja Boys, who wear stylized versions of the hat onstage. The museum's take stays true to the original, down to the gatkeun, the decorative hat string that once signified social status through its materials and craftsmanship. While faithful to tradition, the brooch also adds a playful, sparkly twist. Cup with clever twist Rounding out the lineup is a ceramic cup and coaster set inspired by the gat. When flipped upside down on its coaster, the cup resembles a miniature version of the hat. It's a witty, giftable piece that blends form and function ― both stylish and practical.
