Following the success of 2013’s inaugural “K-POP NIGHT OUT at SXSW,” Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) will again support the showcase to expand the base of K-pop at one of the world’s biggest and most influential music industry event: SXSW 2014.
Taking place on March 11 at legendary live club Elysium in Austin, Texas, “K-POP NIGHT OUT at SXSW,” will feature a slew of top talent: K-pop stars HyunA and Jay Park; rock sensations Crying Nut, Nell, Kiha and the Faces; electronic trio Idiotape; plus, experimental-rock group Jambinai.
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The seven acts will represent a diverse range of genres, showcasing their talents as well as exposing the universal appeal of Korean music to hundreds of influential attendees and global K-pop fans.
Last year, K-pop phenoms f(x) became the first K-pop group to perform at SXSW among an impressive lineup of Korean rock bands, including the Geeks, Yi Sung Yol, Guckkasten, No Brain, Jeong Cha Shik and Galaxy Express. The debut of this epic event brought in more than 550 attendees, putting high expectations for this year’s turnout.
Most Westerners might know HyunA for co-starring role in PSY’s international hit “Gangnam Style,” along with her solo version that is the third most-watched K-pop music on YouTube. But her solo star power reaches even further. HyunA’s dubstep-inspired dance track “Bubble Pop!,” released in 2011, was an instant hit and has amassed 65 million views. The success of “Bubble Pop!” helped broaden her fanbase across all demographics internationally and that year placed her on Billboard’s coveted 21 Under 21 list as one of the hottest minor artists among international superstars like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus.
Following her appearance in PSY’s monster hit, she released her third solo single “Ice Cream” (above) in 2012. The titillating number was a top 10 hit on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 and racked in nearly 55 million views to date — 20 million of those in 10 days, which was a faster pace than the initial run of “Gangnam Style.”
In 2013, HyunA told Billboard that “positive ideas are being discussed” for a possible U.S. debut and that she is “putting in a lot of hours studying English.”
Jay Park’s first LP “New Breed,” released in February 2012, was a major success, hitting No. 1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul Album Charts in U.S., Canada, and Australia plus debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard’s World Album Charts and No. 16 on the Heatseekers Albums Chart.
His latest EP “I Like 2 Party,” released in July, 2013, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Album Chart.
Nell’s 2012 single “The Day Before” was a top 10 hit on the K-Pop Hot 100, which led into the release of “Ocean of Light,” which placed No. 7 on Billboard’s Best K-Pop Songs of 2013.