5 Signs Brazilian Funk Is Verging on Global Breakthrough
As music markets “glocalise”, the stars could align for Brazilian funk. As of 2023, at least five things show that they might be.
Ana Clara Ribeiro
Ana Clara Ribeiro is a Brazilian attorney, writer, and independent songwriter. She enjoys writing about K-pop, Brazilian music, and pop music in general for PopMatters, with a focus on songwriting. She's also published in Remezcla, Rolling Stone Korea, The Line of Best Fit, Sounds and Colours, Consequence of Sound, Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos, Dummy Magazine, and more. For things related to her writing work, you can send her a private message on Instagram: @anaribeiro_br
‘Mamamoo: My Con the Movie’ Gives Fans the Over-the-Top They Want
While following the customary format of K-pop documentaries, My Con the Movie shows the candid, magnetic sides of each member of K-pop sensation Mamamoo.
The Best K-Pop Albums of 2022 So Far
We’re halfway into the year, and there are already many twists and spins in K-pop. Here are the best K-pop albums of 2022 so far.
The Progressive Nostalgia of Bala Desejo’s ‘SIM SIM SIM’
To fans of Brazil’s 1960s tropicália and 1970s psicodelia, Bala Desejo will sound like a natural extension. SIM SIM SIM is warm and gorgeous.
OH MY GIRL’s ‘Real Love’ Holds Appeal for Britney Spears Fans
If there is such a thing as “alternative K-pop”, OH MY GIRL are strong contenders for the title of this genre’s queens.
Is Rosalía’s ‘MOTOMAMI’ an Altermodern Art Piece?
Just as altermodern culture materializes “trajectories rather than destinations”, Rosalía’s MOTOMAMI concerns the freedom to create and explore pathways.
20 Best Red Velvet K-Pop B-Sides
Red Velvet’s B-sides are key to understanding why they sound so different from other K-pop groups. Enjoy Red Velvet’s 20 best B-sides.
BILLLIE Add Their Transmedia Storytelling to K-pop’s Creative Mix
BILLLIE are a part of a generation of K-pop idols for whom transmedia storytelling, like their short film What Is Your B?, is as vital as music and dance.
K-Pop’s ONEUS Make Gugak Pop
K-pop group ONEUS talk with PopMatters about taking traditional Korean music, Gugak, and mixing it with hip-hop and electronic music to wow fans on their US tour.
Luísa e os Alquimistas’ ‘Gang da Leoa (Vol. 1)’ Is a Brega Psychedelia Party
Inspired by hippie culture, psychedelic art, brega music, and Latin cultures, Luísa e os Alquimistas’ act is a complicated and brilliant promise of Brazilian pop.
Taylor Swift Re-Immortalizes Classic ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’
Red (Taylor’s Version) is both an Intellectual Property strategy tool, and a prolepsis of the status that the 2012 album will uphold in the future.
TWICE Upgrade Their Brand on ‘Formula of Love: O+T=<3
TWICE’s Formula of Love: O+T=<3 speeds up their transition from innocent bubblegum songs to music showcasing them as determined women rather than shy girls.