When BTS announced this year that the band would go on a temporary break to focus on solo projects, fans were left starving for a new release from any of the seven members. And J-Hope promptly delivered—surprising ARMYs by being the first amongst his megastar bandmates to serve up a banging debut solo album, Jack in the Box. Featuring 10 chart-topping tracks such as the addictive More and Arson, the new album sees the visionary rapper drawing from his passion for hip-hop, establishing a distinctive new sound and solidifying his solo career.
More recently, J-Hope held an exclusive listening party for a star-studded guest list, with renowned South Korean actors and singers like Sunmi, Jessi and Uhm Jung-Hwa in attendance. And while most of us were only able to tune into his performance virtually, here’s the good news—J-Hope will soon be gracing the main stage of cult favourite alternative music festival Lollapalooza.
Making history as the first South Korean artist to headline a major global festival, J-Hope will be performing amongst huge stars like Green Day, Dua Lipa and Kygo, alongside unexpected familiar faces like DJO—better known as Joe Kerry, Stranger Things’s ultimate heartthrob and resident babysitter.
From underground R&B acts to pop-punk Korean bands with a legion of followers, Vogue Singapore rounds up all the other famous Asian names to know and tune into at Lollapalooza, which runs from 28 to 31 July 2022 in Giant Park, Chicago.
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Zhu
Hailed as the next Daft Punk in the Asian music circle, Steven Zhu—better known as Zhu—has had a prolific career as an electronic music producer-turned-DJ. Zhu is no stranger to music festivals, having performed at Coachella just a few years ago. His humble beginnings can be traced back to his days as an audio engineer at Dim Mak Records. For the uninitiated, the record label was helmed by Steve Aoki, and home to other iconic DJs like Zedd and The Chainsmokers. Today, the Grammy-nominated artist—known for his addictive bass and seductive tunes—makes his return to the big stage, headlining alongside Metallica and Lil Baby on Lollapalooza’s first day.
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Audrey Nuna
If Audrey Nuna’s name rings a bell, it’s probably because you have been jamming out to Comic Sans featuring Jack Harlow on TikTok, one of the many ear-worms from her extensive repertoire of hit songs. Nuna’s discography is well-loved not just by her own fans, but fellow celebrities like BTS’s Jungkook. The singer-rapper presents a hypnotic, sensual sound, instantly putting you in a tranquil headspace as melodic tunes fill your ears. With her new mini album released in collaboration with Deb Never entitled Chump Change—featuring unmissable tracks like Sardines and Multigrain—Nuna is proving to be the next up-and-coming queen of R&B.
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TXT
The sudden announcement of Tomorrow X Together (TXT) joining Lollapalooza’s coveted line-up is a welcome surprise to their wide fanbase. Lollapalooza marks the band’s first ever American music festival debut and serves as a worthy conclusion to their ‘Love Sick’ tour. On stage, the band will continue to celebrate their fourth mini album, Minisode 2: Thursday’s Child, which sees nostalgic pop-punk beats running through hits like Good Boy Gone Bad and Trust Fund Baby. The album’s distinct hard-hitting sound and electric riffs promise a head-banging good time for fans and casual listeners alike.
