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Epik High is preparing a pumped-up comeback as the K-hip hop trio prepares to release their first-ever mixtape, embark on a new tour, and deliver more projects after celebrating their 20th anniversary last year.
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Viewing the group’s 21st year since releasing their debut album Map of the Human Soul as a fresh start akin to their rookie days, Tablo tells Billboard how “our fans call this Epik High’s ‘+1st Year,’” pointing to a revitalized spirit driving their latest efforts. “It really does feel like a fresh start after the milestone year we had last year.”
In an exclusive Q&A with Billboard following Epik High’s announcement of their PUMP mixtape and accompanying North American tour today, Tablo teases the mixtape’s tracks, an elevated concert experience plus more new music from himself, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz.
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Peep all 23 of Epik High’s The Pump Tour dates in the official poster below and then dive into the full interview for more insights on PUMP and more.
Epik High
OURS Co.
Congratulations on the latest mixtape and tour news. After your 20th anniversary, you shared how “it feels like our first year again.” Tell me about the energy in Epik High today.
Tablo: Our fans call this Epik High’s “+1st Year.” And it really does feel like a fresh start, after the milestone year we had last year with the stadium show in Seoul and the resulting movie in theaters in quarter one of this year. Artists can feel lost after a milestone because it usually marks the end of an era, but we have somehow managed to make it a new beginning. Our fandom is energized more than ever. What better way to start this “first year” than by dropping our very first mixtape, jam-packed with energy reminiscent of our rookie days? It’s time to get our fans pumped all over again.
You teased the mixtape tracklist in your announcement. Are there any tracks you’re particularly excited for fans to hear?
You have to listen from track one to track nine straight because Epik High’s transitions are the best and this album has the greatest transitions. Also, there are a few songs that are going to generate tons of memes…we have a lot of visual content coming, so I suggest subscribing to our YouTube channel.
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Epik High has such a wide range of collaborators. What can you tell us about those on the record or behind the scenes?
The album is pretty much entirely self-produced, with only one featuring artist. Our core fans will get a lot more Epik High with this one.
How will an Epik High mixtape differ from past album or EP projects?
The format frees us from having to make radio hits, allowing us to refocus on the irreverent and raw side of Epik High that our core fans love. It also allowed us to make songs that are optimized for live performance. This year’s tour setlist is gonna be amazing.
The Epik High All Time High Tour hit Europe and North America last year. What can we look forward to in The Pump Tour?
It’ll feel very new, even if you’ve come to every previous show. We are leveling up everything: the production, the merch, you name it. We’ve even revamped the VIP experience so our most dedicated fans can get rare merch and share more personal close-up moments with us. Seriously, don’t miss it.
I’m sure we’ll see Epik High’s brilliant lightstick — the “Park Kyu Bong” — on the road. Can you share more about its conceptualization? Any worries it might be banned at certain venues?
It’s the lightstick that transcends fandoms, it’s the lightstick you hold if you’re a fan of yourself. On social media, I have seen our lightstick pop up at other artists’ shows and big festivals all over the world. So if a venue blocks it, we will block the venue — because that venue probably sucks.
미니박규봉 인기 미쳤네요… 빛의 속도로 품절. 리오더 준비중! 👀mini park kyu bong sold out way too fast. preparing restock! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ARbDpmUkaA— tablo (@blobyblo) March 19, 2024
Tablo, you buy new K-pop acts’ records because you “remember what it was like being a rookie and no one buying my album.” Any recommendations?
At the moment, I’ve been so busy with our [music] that I’ve been slacking on my K-pop shopping. I will be visiting a lot of K-pop stores on this tour.
While the tour will keep you busy up til nearly October, is there anything else for fans to look forward to with Epik High in 2024?
At the end of the tour, we will have another huge show in Seoul. Also…my members are gonna kill me for saying this…but this new album PUMP is not the whole album. Lastly, I have a long awaited song with someone, finished and waiting in my hard drive. That is all I can say. [Laughs]
Hanshin Contents Link Corporation, the master licensee of the Billboard brand in Japan, has signed a new partnership agreement with Luminate Data, the U.S.-based company which aggregates music data (streaming, digital and physical sales) from hundreds of sources and provides data reflecting trends in 49 different international markets. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and […]
TREASURE is stomping back with “KING KONG,” the K-pop boy band’s first new single of the year that mixes their immense energy with a cinematic flair — much like the iconic beast himself. Opening with bold, thumping guitars before the group’s signature “TREASURE” whisper from Choi Hyun Suk, the song quickly points to a thrilling […]
With more than 24 million users globally, the digital note-taking app Goodnotes is expanding into an even wider reach with a new collection themed around BTS. Billboard can exclusively reveal the news and give a first look at the collection.
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In collaboration with BTS’ management company HYBE and Goodnotes’ digital-stationery partner Webudding, the line will debut four digital planners, three notebooks and one sticker pack boasting BTS’ signature logo and fonts, and heavily incorporating their beloved animated TINYTan characters wearing looks inspired by the K-pop group’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Dynamite” to mark the first-ever global branded collection for Goodnotes. A press release notes that additional collections are expected to be released throughout the year, giving fans time to predict what other iconic BTS singles or looks might be featured next.
This new collab developed through Goodnotes’ strategic partnership with Webudding that took hold in February 2023, included a $1.9 million investment last September, and has since integrated more than 18,000 different digital stationery items into the Goodnotes Marketplace in the companies’ ongoing effort to develop a global digital-paper ecosystem. Since launching in 2011, the AI-powered Goodnotes has been a technology trailblazer, becoming South Korea’s largest digital stationery platform offering journaling, planning and scheduling in its app as well as different calendar templates, digital planners, stickers and notebook covers to blend the worlds of traditional and digital paper.
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“We’re beyond thrilled to bring BTS-themed stationery to the millions of BTS fans among our Goodnotes community,” says Steven Chan, founder and CEO of Goodnotes, in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to HYBE and Webudding for their partnership in creating this extraordinary and exclusive line of BTS digital stationery for the Goodnotes Marketplace. We can’t wait to bring even more beloved cultural icons to the Goodnotes Marketplace, further empowering our users to express their passion and creativity.”
Donghwan Shin, the CEO and founder of Webudding, hints that more artist collaborations could soon follow this initial partnership with BTS and HYBE, who also house popular artists like SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans and ZICO in its multi-label system.
“We’re excited to collaborate with HYBE, especially given their artists’ enormous cultural impact, both in Korea and internationally,” Shin adds. “Celebrating their universal appeal and ability to unite people across the globe, we’re grateful to be able to create this content for Goodnotes’ more than 24 million users worldwide, bringing so many people the ability to customize their notebooks with their favorite artists. Users can expect many more collaborations like this in the future.”
The BTS-themed digital stationery collection will be available in the Goodnotes Marketplace by the end of May 2024. Goodnotes’ Chan adds that the company “can’t wait to bring even more beloved cultural icons to the Goodnotes Marketplace, further empowering our users to express their passion and creativity.”
Peep some of our favorite items below and find more here.
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05/22/2024
From groups like aespa, ENHYPEN and ZEROBASEONE to solo stars like MARK, Sorn, Hongseok, Ryu Sujeong and Yein, which new song gets your vote?
05/22/2024
Creepy Nuts’ “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” holds at No. 1 for the 16th week on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, on the chart dated May 22.
The MASHLE season 2 opener shows signs of slowing down in all metrics except radio airplay this week, though only slightly. The viral rap banger continues to dominate multiple metrics this week — streaming, video views, and karaoke — while coming in at No. 3 for downloads and No. 37 for radio.
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Ae! group’s “《A》BEGINNING” bows at No. 2. It’s the lead track off the debut single by the five-member STARTO ENTERTAINMENT boy band, released May 15. The CD launched with 782,835 copies and hits No. 1 for sales and comes in at No. 3 for radio and No. 46 for video.
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Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Lilac” rises a notch to No. 3 this week. Streaming, video, and karaoke for the Oblivion Battery opener are up 102%, 105%, and 118%, respectively. Other songs by the popular three-man band continue to rise up the chart this week: “Que Sera Sera” moves 14-13, “Ao to Natsu” 24-23, and “Magic” 38-37. Points for “Boku no koto” increased 1.4 times and the track climbs 78-47.
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Juice=Juice’s “Tokyo Blur” debuts at No. 7, selling 73,185 CDs in its first week to hit No. 2 for sales. The girl group’s 18th single also comes in at No. 13 for downloads and No. 17 for radio.
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Debuting at No. 9 after being digitally released May 13 is MY FIRST STORY x HYDE’s “Mugen.” The opening theme song for the Hashira Training arc of the popular TV anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba rules downloads and hits No. 33 for streaming and No. 61 for radio.
Outside the top 10, Noa’s “Hatsukoi Killer” jumps 42-17. Points for the track increased in all the metrics of the chart’s measurement, but streaming in particular gained 1.7 times from the week before. The total is at 169% week-over-week.
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The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.
See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from May 13 to 19, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English Twitter account.
Another edition of Eurovision Song Contest – the pan-European Olympics of pop songwriting – has come and gone, but the competition’s impact lingers, with six songs appearing on the May 25-dated Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. Nemo’s “The Code” won for Switzerland and leads all charting songs, debuting at No. 21, while also cracking the Billboard Global 200 at No. 52.
“The Code” arrives with 21.6 million streams worldwide, 20.8 million of which, or 96%, were from outside the U.S., May 10-16, according to Luminate. It crowns Billboard’s Switzerland Songs, while placing in the top 10 on rankings reflecting activity in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg and Sweden.
Eurovision runner-up Baby Lasanga’s “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”, representing Croatia, and fourth-place finisher Slimane’s “Mon Amour” (France) also debut on both global charts. The former is new at No. 64 on Global Excl. U.S. and No. 139 on the Global 200, and the latter starts at Nos. 61 and 144, respectively.
Plus, third-place finalist “Teresa & Maria” by Alyona Alyona and Jerry (Ukraine) hits Global Excl. U.S. at No. 130 and seventh-place finisher “La Noia” by Angelina Mango (Italy) arrives one spot higher at No. 129.
One other Eurovision song appears on both global charts, but you won’t find it on the competition’s leaderboard. Joost’s “Europapa,” representing the Netherlands, was disqualified from competing after the singer threatened Eurovision’s production crew. The ban may have helped spur global consumption, as its No. 24 re-entry on Global Excl. U.S. comes just below the winning track’s debut, and it leads the Eurovision pack on the Global 200, one spot above “The Code,” at No. 51.
The global success of Joost’s entry, particularly on the Global 200, were U.S. sales and streams are part of the chart’s equation, is unique. On average, this year’s six Eurovision tracks drew 3.65% of their worldwide streams from the U.S. in the frame following the competition’s close, in line with last year’s 3.58%. But “Europapa” is an outlier, more than doubling that average. Of 23 million streams worldwide in the tracking week, 7.44% come from the U.S., marking the highest domestic share of any Eurovision song to have hit the global charts since 2021. The song’s spiked American activity is notable since its lyrics are in Dutch (while “The Code” is performed in English).
The total tally of six Global Excl. U.S.-charting songs improves upon the four from Eurovision’s 2023 haul and matches 2022’s six. Still, 2021’s competition remains unmatched with seven, including Måneskin, which won for Italy with “Zitti E Buoni.” That song got as high as No. 10 but proved an appetizer for the group’s “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and “Beggin,” which climbed to Nos. 8 and 2, respectively, later that year.
Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen, and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” both strike the top 10 on each of Billboard’s global charts (dated May 25) – the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – joining forces as the first pair of country songs to simultaneously appear in the top 10 of both surveys.
“I Had Some Help” debuts atop the Global 200 with 119 million streams worldwide in the week ending May 16, according to Luminate. In doing so, it becomes Post Malone’s second No. 1 debut on the ranking in just four weeks. Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight,” on which he’s featured, ruled for two weeks earlier this month. For Wallen, it’s his first leader, surpassing the No. 5 peak of last year’s “Last Night.”
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“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is Shaboozey’s third global chart entry, following his two features on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. Both “Spaghettii” and “Sweet * Honey * Buckin’” logged one week on the April 13-dated list, just two frames before the arrival of “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
Post Malone and Wallen’s team-up is just the third country song to crown the Global 200 in its four-year history (as defined by titles that have hit Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart), following Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” in March and Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021, with each having led for one week.
Shaboozey follows at No. 5 on the latest Global 200, bookending the first pair of country songs to simultaneously appear in the top five.
The breakthrough of both tracks is even more significant on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, where country music has historically struggled, dating to the list’s September 2020 inception. While the Global 200 ranks songs based on sales and streams from over 200 international territories, Global Excl. U.S. removes domestic consumption, revealing the biggest songs in the world outside of the United States.
On Global Excl. U.S., “I Had Some Help” starts at No. 3 and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” rises 13-10, marking just the third and fourth country songs to hit the tally’s top 10, following entries by Beyoncé and Swift.
While Post Malone and Shaboozey’s top five success on the Global 200 are in line with the highs of 2023 hits from Jason Aldean, Zach Bryan, Oliver Anthony Music and Morgan Wallen, their concurrent top 10 placements on Global Excl. U.S. far exceed that group, which, of their tracks, reached a No. 82 high on the tally via Wallen’s “Last Night.” None of the others even hit the top 100.
Plus, Post Malone and Shaboozey’s new hits appear on 13 of Billboard’s Hits of the World charts. “I Had Some Help” replaces “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” atop Norway Songs and leads Ireland Songs, while the latter holds at No. 1 on Sweden Songs. Throughout its run last year, which included 16 weeks atop the U.S.-based Billboard Hot 100 and a No. 1 finish on the chart’s year-end edition, Wallen’s “Last Night” appeared on just three such international rankings.
Surely “I Had Some Help” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” are both helped by major elements outside of country music. The former is by Post Malone, one of Billboard’s top 10 artists of the 2010s with strong history in pop and hip-hop circles, much like the crossover success of global country hits from Beyoncé and Swift. And while Shaboozey is a new act without ties to other genres, the song interpolates J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy,” a No. 2 Hot 100 hit that also topped Hot Rap Songs for five weeks. His recent collaborations with Beyoncé can’t hurt, either.
Post Malone and Shaboozey’s chart hits are examples of the broadening borders of the genre, as a wave of new artists gain traction on streaming services and social media internationally. Extending the hot streak, Dasha’s country-pop hit “Austin” went viral on TikTok earlier this year and has since climbed to No. 23 on Global Excl. U.S., almost 60 positions above Wallen’s previous high.
It doesn’t take long to understand that Rose Villain is an artist who is truly interested in what she talks about. Above all, she wants to know who is in front of her – be it her make-up artist, a member of her team, her press office or the bartender. She is a passionate artist who takes care of her music down to the smallest detail and is also a girl with empathy and a good dose of irony. That doesn’t hurt, especially when dealing with topics that can turn out to be traps of banality.
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The 35-year-old Rosa Luini from Milan is enjoying a big turning point in her career thanks to her participation in the 2024 Sanremo Festival, her presence in the Netflix talent show Nuova Scena as a judge and the release of her new album, Radio Sakura, which includes the single “Come un Tuono” feat. Guè, currently at No. 1 on Italy’s singles chart.
Rose Villain has never stopped expressing her opinion on the topics of environmental sustainability and gender inequality. Having lived and studied in the United States — where she likes to return whenever she can — has also contributed to her vision of the world.
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The new issue of Billboard Italy is dedicated to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 17 goals of the program are all fundamental, but do you think there is one that you are most attached to?
I am very sensitive to the topic of environmental sustainability. This is why years ago I decided to become vegan. I started from a need related to health, also due to my family history. I had read Michael Greger’s book How Not to Die, which explains in a simple and clear way the impact of meat farming on our environment. Then I started watching documentaries that showed in an even more shocking way the cruelty to which we subject animals. I feel like my life has really improved since becoming vegan, because I feel like I’m doing something for others every day. I notice that when we have dinner with friends, we now talk a lot about the environment, because everyone is worried. But at the beginning I was much more aggressive when I spoke out about these issues.
And now?
I understood that you achieve much more when you explain things calmly and delicately. When it comes to gender equality, for example, if we women attack, then men will retreat. Sometimes in the past I got so angry that I even cried. Now I realize that I have a duty to speak my mind. I try first to inform myself well and then pass the message on.
Do people ask you the classic question “why vegan — wasn’t being vegetarian enough?”
It’s totally different, because even the milk or egg industries pollute as much as the meat industry. The only thing that changes is the killing practice. But it is also absurd cruelty to remove the calf from the cows to have their milk, after they have been made pregnant specifically for that. However, I consider myself an imperfect vegan. I try to do my best, but if I’m on tour and if there’s no alternative, I also eat a croissant with butter. However, vegan food will be the diet of the future. That’s for sure.
Would you like to do more for the environmental sustainability of music and concerts?
Billie Eilish is making vinyl from recycled plastic. I would like to follow her example, also because she is a great inspiration: she is very young and vegan. For tours, I try to participate in green festivals, but the problem is travel. For my part, I try to prefer the train to the plane, whenever possible.
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Coldplay also try to reduce their carbon footprint while touring. You will be opening their shows in Rome in July.
Songs like “Fix You” and “Yellow” were part of my youth, like that of many other people. Who hasn’t listened to them after a breakup? Having been chosen by them to open their concerts still seems incredible to me. I also like the fact that for this tour they always chose women as opening acts.
They like to meet the opening acts when they can. What would you ask Chris Martin?
I would ask him for a featuring right away! I’m joking… I would like to ask him what the key is to remain an artist for so long, how he has retained his audience. In other words, the secret of their artistic immortality.
Going back to the initial question, is the issue of environmental sustainability the one that is closest to your heart among the goals of the 2030 Agenda?
You know what the fundamental goal is that I believe summarizes all the others? Attention for others. If we were all less self-centered, it would be a better world. Few things are needed: kindness, attention, and education. At school they should also teach how to treat women, nutrition and above all respect for others.
You have been fighting for years on the topic of gender inequality. Do you see improvements in the music industry?
Yes. We must thank the American rappers, who have cleared a free narrative, even about sex, expressing themselves as they want. This trend is also arriving in Italy. Let’s take for example Elodie, who during the tour danced as if she were on a cube in the disco. She was criticized but probably didn’t care. Annalisa, same thing. I think there is nothing more beautiful than a woman who feels free to behave as she wants. In my opinion we women are now much more united.
Have you witnessed any abuse?
Sure. A form of pressure that I can’t stand is having to dress sexy. It literally drives me crazy. I also saw it in America. I remember the CEOs who hit on me when I was only 20 years old. We need to learn to say a firm no. But many things have improved since #MeToo, fortunately.
As a child, did you dream of becoming more of a pop star or rapper?
Absolutely a pop star! My myth was (and is) Madonna, who is definitely multifaceted. And The Weeknd is the greatest pop star of our time, in my opinion.
Is there a genre you would focus on?
I love rock. But I think I range a lot in my albums, especially in Radio Sakura, where there are bachata, punk, country and electronica. I don’t want to choose a single genre for a concept album. I want to do everything I like.
Nude pictures of you created with artificial intelligence have circulated on the internet. Does progress sometimes scare you?
A.I. is certainly important. It could help solve many problems or discover new cures for diseases that are now incurable. But it must be regulated in a very strict and precise manner. I also fear that they might use my voice to create videos where they make me say horrible things.
If you had children one day, what would you fear for them?
That they live in a country at war and totally inhospitable, with an out-of-control climate. I would like to have children, precisely to tell them: “You must fight to save the planet.” But Gen Z is very aware, I really trust them.
On June 12, 1998, Jeff Chang captivated audiences with his inaugural major concert on the Chinese mainland at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, appropriately titled “Dream Comes True.” Little could he have foreseen that 26 years later, in 2024, he would triumphantly bring the “Continuum” ultimate edition to a crowd of 80,000 at the Shanghai Stadium.
The recent April showcase in Shanghai marked the debut of the “Continuum” ultimate edition. Despite the acclaim garnered by the six-year “Continuum” tour, transitioning from versions 1.0 to 2.0 and now the ultimate edition, Jeff Chang confesses to occasionally experiencing a vague, inexplicable “sense of powerlessness.” “Last year’s tour was a resounding success, yet some critics implied that our performance might not suit our generation of singers.”
Some view classic concepts as relics of the past, valuable only for evoking nostalgia. This perspective was one of the driving forces behind Jeff Chang’s decision to embark on the “Continuum” concerts: “I aim to guide audiences towards a more mature appreciation of music, challenging established perceptions along the way.”
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Physically, the Shanghai Stadium is a mere 100 meters from the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. Yet, for Jeff Chang, this distance represents a 26-year odyssey. Reflecting on this journey at the “Continuum,” Jeff Chang remarked, “I’ve traversed this 100-meter distance over 26 years!” This metaphor succinctly encapsulates his unwavering dedication to music, with music serving as the cornerstone of his endeavors over his 35-year career.
Embarking on the Future Together with the Audience
Kicking off the “Continuum” ultimate edition concert is Jeff Chang’s 2000 smash hit “Faith.” His unwavering passion for music embodies a spirit of “warm and courageous” faith. Perhaps it is this steadfast belief in music that brings Jeff Chang and his fans together at the “Continuum” concerts, where they experience the soul-stirring power in Jeff Chang’s voice that resonates with the vitality of life itself.
“As a singer with a certain degree of seniority, my audience is already deeply familiar with my songs; we have grown and supported each other mutually,” Jeff Chang reflects. “I aspire for my musical journey and growth to keep pace with the progress of my fans, rather than remaining stagnant. The ‘Continuum’ concerts were conceived with the intention of demonstrating to fans that my music will not dwell solely in memories and nostalgia, but will embark a new future alongside everyone.”
“Each segment of the ‘Continuum’ concert has a message we wish to convey to the audience. We have carefully selected songs that hold significant meaning in my music career, even if they are not the most popular hits. In each of my albums, I aim to impart insights, concepts, and musical knowledge. Through the concert’s overall arrangement, I hope to convey the concept of ’embarking on the future together with the audience.’”
Ending One Chapter, Beginning Another
The term “ultimate” in Jeff Chang’s “Continuum” concert signifies that this six-year “Continuum” tour is finally approaching a perfect conclusion. “The ‘Continuum’ has been a prolonged journey, and it’s time for a stage-wise ending. There are other musical endeavors that are equally essential for me.”
The conclusion of one stage signifies the commencement of a new chapter. The “Continuum” ultimate edition serves as a gentle reminder from Jeff Chang, urging us to seize every opportunity to gather offline and experience the music before the final show arrives.
As the first Chinese singer to perform in Dubai, the Dubai stop of the “Continuum” ultimate edition in June holds significant importance for Jeff Chang. “We’re committed to making it happen in Dubai. Sometimes, overseas organizers prefer a simplified concert where the singer merely performs, and everything else is automated. But that’s not enough for me; I want to fully recreate the ‘Continuum’ experience in overseas shows.”
If he could dream big, where would Jeff Chang choose to host the final “Continuum” concert? Surprisingly, his answer is Easter Island, situated in the South Pacific: “It’s like the ‘navel of the world,’ equidistant from all continents. Holding a concert on Easter Island would truly be the ‘ultimate’ experience, like singing at the edge of the world for everyone to hear.”
Embrace the Future
After completing all the performances of the “Continuum” ultimate edition, Jeff Chang will focus on the creation of a new album. It has been three years since the release of his last album See the Light, and Jeff Chang, along with his devoted fans, eagerly anticipates the arrival of this new work. “Currently, the songs for the new album are nearly finalized, with around 80% of the track list already set.”
For him, the greatest challenge of this new album lies in the significantly increased proportion of “non-love songs.” “In the new album, I may relatively reduce the love songs and express more of my perspectives and sentiments regarding the world. I feel that my past classic love songs have already encompassed most of the emotional states. Therefore, I believe it is time to start singing about matters beyond love, using the album to convey broader ideas.”
Jeff Chang describes the new album as an adventurous state of “taking a step forward” out of his comfort zone. Compared to his previous love songs, the new album will be more critical, and a more quintessential expression of his Aries personality. “In the past, my love songs stood at the observational standpoint, simply singing the feelings of the protagonist. But this time, I will stand on a clearer ‘Jeff Chang’ perspective, to openly express my own attitude, and be more subjective.”
The backstage machinery of the “Continuum” concert is intricate, with over 20 lifts waiting for the performer to step onstage. Rising and falling on the lifts, it’s like facing the peaks and valleys of life – this is the norm for a singer. From the beginning to the present and into the future, Jeff Chang and the audience have always been there; the performance never stops.
Billboard China
–Written by Jifan Wang for Billboard China