Latest news with #HeadInTheClouds
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Sunkis And Yung Kai Found Brotherhood At ‘Head In The Clouds' Festival
yung kai and Sunkis 88rising It's a hot Saturday afternoon at the 10th annual Head in the Clouds Festival. Singers Sunkis and yung kai greet each other with a hug as they arrive at the press room for some interviews ahead of their scheduled individual performance the next day—the two laugh and joke among themselves as they walk towards the tables. It's hard to believe it was only a year ago when the two began interacting with each other on social media. They both had admired each other's work throughout their careers, with the 22-year-old kai following Sunkis since his school days in China. 'I've always known [Sunkis] because he's big in China,' says Kai, who spent his youth at an international school in Shanghai. 'I always knew his music.' As for Sunkis, the 27-year-old Chinese American singer recalls that several friends and team members sent him clips and videos of Kai after his hit song, 'blue,' went viral. Curious, Sunkis scrolled through kai's TikTok and found an instant connection with him. 'I dug into his music a little more in his profile and thought, 'Oh wait, he's so cute and his music is so good,'' says Sunkis. 'I've got to link with him. I haven't known many other Chinese [descent] It wasn't until they were both announced as performers for Head in the Clouds that they decided to collaborate on a song, produced by 88rising. Sunkis had reached out to Kai over Instagram to congratulate him on his success and the fact that they're both having their HITC debut. One thing led to another, and they began working on the music and lyrics. kai had always wanted to record a song in Mandarin and felt this was the best opportunity, with the right partner, to do so. '[88rising] wanted us to do a song for Head in the Clouds, so I started thinking of ideas,' says kai. 'I was like, 'wait, I'm Chinese. [Sunkis] is Chinese. I want to make a Chinese song, and it worked out perfectly. It all just aligned.' That's when 'where the sunlight glows' was created. Sunkis, best known for his R&B and pop background, had the beats sent to kai, who then began adding his own indie bedroom pop into the mix. Sunkis has always wanted to tap into that acoustic genre. 'I feel like collabs are such a great time to discover a new sound, especially with someone as talented as kai,' says Sunkis. 'I know my things tend to lean more R&B and stuff, but I love me some stripped-down acoustic music as well. After hearing 'Blue' and knowing his style, this was a perfect chance for me to showcase another side of me that people may not see often.' When listening to the song, there could be many interpretations about finding one's place where the sunlight shines for them the most. Sunkis says the song has a deeper meaning for him: it's the feeling of belonging. It's hard to find friends in the same industry who have the same background as him, like kai. 'It's essentially what we want listeners to hear, feel, and internalize that there's something always greater for you,' Sunkis describes. 'Keep your head up because there's sunlight on the other side that some people may not see. I guess having a friend who could give you perspective and remind you, when you're overthinking or getting sad or depressed by yourself, that you are something [and somebody]. There's a lot of light on the other end.' kai agrees that the place where the sunlight glows is a place filled with happiness. He says, 'Personally, it's a mental space for me. It's not a physical place. It's just a feeling of home with someone, you know. Take me there.' Sunkis says having the song be in both Mandarin and English was a 'no-brainer.' The singer has always been proud and open about his identity as a Chinese American in the music industry. He grew up in San Francisco, surrounded by a large Chinese population. Still, it was only after living in Asia and connecting with the culture that he truly formed a relationship with Mandarin music. 'I grew up here in the U.S. and sometimes felt, like many Chinese or American-born Chinese, alienated at some point,' he says. 'So, I think being connected culturally, it means the world to me, and having a song tie it all together is like me being at peace, knowing that I could be reconnected with my people and the people from my parents' hometowns. Our language through music connects us back to our roots – and that's the most beautiful part to me.' kai, who admits his Mandarin isn't the best, still felt immense pride being of Chinese descent. He's previously used Chinese dramas as inspiration for several of his songs. He felt closer to his identity, incorporating the language into his songs. 'I'm Chinese,' kai laughs. 'I think my parents will be happy too.' As artists, the two do relate to working in the industry, but say they've talked more about life than anything else, like real brothers. Sunkis says, 'Honestly, I feel so happy that I could share things that I have insights that maybe he can't see, and receive insight from him that I may not see. It's always a learning process because, ultimately, I do trust him a lot. We have each other's backs.' With Head in the Clouds being a festival centering around Asian artists, kai and Sunkis are excited and honored to be part of it. kai had known about the festival for many years, even before becoming a singer. He was living in Shanghai at the time and could never attend, but his first HITC will be him performing. 'It's a dream to be here – watch the performances and even be able to perform,' says kai. 'It's crazy. This means so much to me. All the people I've met and all the experiences I've had are just insane. I appreciate everything. I'm also so glad to have met my brother. I found my blood brother.' They pat each other's backs lovingly, and laugh as they prepare for their solo performances and their set together. Sunkis has always wanted to perform at the festival, because its focus has been on Asian and Asian diaspora artists from all over the world coming together to share their stories and culture through music and art. He gives 88rising a shout-out for their diverse line-up of talented Asians from all over the world. 'It really means a lot,' says Sunkis. 'This is my first ever Head in the Clouds. I knew it would happen someday. Little did I know, it happened this year, and I couldn't be more ready to go on stage, especially having a good friend like kai on the lineup this year. It's such an honor to share the stage with someone you know so well and who is such a good friend.'
Pink Villa
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Park Bom's agency reveals why she missed 2NE1's LA reunion performance despite being in city, shuts exit rumors
Legendary K-pop group 2NE1 made headlines with their reunion performance at the Head In The Clouds music festival in Los Angeles on June 1. While the appearance of CL, Sandara Park, and Minzy thrilled longtime fans, the absence of member Park Bom became a topic of widespread curiosity and concern. Given that Park Bom had posted photos on Instagram just days before the event, which suggested she was in Los Angeles, fans were left puzzled. Many began questioning why she was not included in such a major appearance, especially as it marked the group's most public reunion in years. It even prompted some fans to speculate that Park Bom has officially left the group. D-Nation reveals why Park Bom missed the performance After days of speculation, Park Bom 's agency D-Nation officially addressed the situation. According to a report published on June 6 by Star News, the singer was indeed in Los Angeles at one point. However, she had already returned to South Korea by mid-May, well before the group took the stage. The agency clarified that her absence was not due to any personal or internal issues, but simply a scheduling conflict. D-Nation emphasized that all 2NE1 's members had been informed in advance. After open discussions, they mutually agreed to go ahead with the performance as a trio. The agency's statement helped put to rest unfounded rumors about a possible fallout within the group or any deliberate exclusion. Social media activity adds to the confusion Part of the confusion stemmed from the timing of Park Bom's Instagram post, which appeared shortly before 2NE1's LA performance. The photo was captioned: 'On my way to the 2NE1 gathering.' It led many fans to assume she was referring to a reunion in Los Angeles. However, subsequent reports revealed that the "gathering" in question actually took place in Korea prior to the U.S. event. All four members had reunited privately to reconnect and maintain their bond, even though only three went on to perform publicly at the festival. Group bond remains intact Despite the online buzz surrounding Park Bom's absence, the group's members have taken steps to show that their connection remains unshaken. Sandara Park tagging Park Bom in her festival photos on Instagram was seen by fans as a strong gesture of unity and affection. This simple yet meaningful act reassured many that the group bond remains positive. The support between the members was also visible in past interactions. And this latest event suggests that 2NE1 continues to operate with mutual respect, regardless of individual schedules or availability. Could a full 2NE1 reunion still happen? As of now, there's no confirmed plan for a full 2NE1 comeback, but the recent reunion has certainly rekindled excitement among fans. Many are hopeful that this performance is just the beginning, and that future stages will feature all four original members together again.
Hypebeast
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Rich Brian 發布與 Ski Mask The Slump God 全新合作曲目
本文看點 在Rich Brian即將於下週重返北美舞台、登上洛杉磯 Head In The Clouds 音樂節擔任壓軸演出之前，他率先釋出了新專輯《WHERE IS MY HEAD?》的第三首單曲〈Jumpy〉。 這首備受期待的〈Jumpy〉邀請好友Ski Mask The Slump God合作，兩人首度於錄音室中攜手完成作品。由來自 88rising 的 Rich Brian 開場，演唱副歌與第一段 verse，隨後交棒給來自佛州的 Ski Mask 接續第二段。 《WHERE IS MY HEAD?》原定於今日發行，現已延期至 8 月 15 日推出。此前已曝光的單曲還包括〈Butterfly〉與〈Little Ray of Light〉兩首個人作品。 >導演那麽多，為何潮流圈偏愛 Spike Lee？ >E1and 的「危險之愛」—— 以新歌〈Russian Roulette〉拼湊出完整的她 >Kendrick Lamar 再破紀錄！〈Not Like Us〉成為 Billboard Hot 100 霸榜最久的饒舌歌曲
