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In July, more than 420,000 people competed for tickets to The Weekndās highly anticipated show in SĆ£o Paulo, Brazil, scheduled for Saturday (Sept. 7) and just under a year after his last visit to the country. The overwhelming success of āBlinding Lightsā gave the 34-year-old Canadian the title of most popular artist on the planet by Guinness World Records in March of last year (which he just lost to Billie Eilish). On Billboardās Hot 100, the song reached the top, remained among the most listened to for 90 weeks and boosted the popularity of his albums After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022). It holds the title of being the biggest song in all Hot 100 history.
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Only 16% of those 420,000 people got the chance to see Abel Tesfaye in person. Being successful in the competitive music industry did not exempt the composer, however, from struggling with his mental health. But, according to him, giving up was never in his plans. One of the keywords of his new phase is ārebirth.ā
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The choice of the capital of SĆ£o Paulo for the start of this tour was not a coincidence. The Weeknd visited the city last October, performing two sold-out nights at Allianz Parque with the show After Hours Til Dawn. It was in SĆ£o Paulo that Tesfaye composed the central song of the new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow ā affectionately nicknamed āFrankensteinā by the singer for exploring different sounds, but without losing its essence ā something he does masterfully.
The Canadian details the importance of the Brazilian public for the next steps in his career, which has lasted 14 years and includes great achievements such as being the most listened to artist on Spotify (until Billie surpassed him in August), with 105 million monthly listeners, winning four Grammy Awards (despite not submitting his work for the awards since 2021, as a statement that shook the industry) and having almost $500 million in gross sales with the After Hours Til Dawn Tour, which filled stadiums around the world.
āI can speak for all artists when I say itās hard to put into words the love and energy that the Brazilian people express when youāre on stage,ā says The Weeknd in an exclusive interview with Billboard Brazil. āYou feel the music so deeply. SĆ£o Paulo and Rio reminded me that the frequencies we radiate as musicians are important. They remind me why I wanted to make music: to connect. Iāll spend the rest of my life knowing that.ā
The broadness of The Weekndās discography is another factor that explains such success. He navigates the world very well to the pop, R&B, electropop and other genres, and he is spot-on in his dark lyricism when sings about the pains of love, fame and the challenges he faced (and still faces) to make a living from music. Shortly after announcing the concert in Brazil, the singer spoke on social media about āfacing the abyssā. āIt can mean many things. For me, it is something very specific,ā he says in the interview, in a mysterious mood. āI faced it long enough. Most of the time, I overcame it. But I work on it every day. I hope that [my music] helps others face and overcome the abyss, too.ā
One of the abysses Tesfaye faces is mental health. āWhat makes a grown man want to cry? / What makes him want to take his own life? / His happiness is never real,ā he sings on 2018ās āI Was Never There.ā In his faithāhe was raised in an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian familyāand in music, the Canadian has found comfort to overcome the most difficult moments. āI think about giving up every day. But I also find purpose every day,ā says the singer, unafraid to open up and show his vulnerability. āMy relationship with God is stronger than ever. I find comfort in His presence when I need it most. I talk to Him constantly. Itās been a long journey, but Iām here,ā concludes the artist.
Tesfaye was born in Toronto, Canada, the son of Ethiopian immigrants. Inspired by Michael Jackson, he discovered his love for music at a young age. The artist has revealed that he was penalized for singing at inopportune times, such as during school classes or at the dinner table. Despite being discouraged, he released his first mixtape as The Weeknd, House of Balloons, in 2011, while splitting his time between art and work at a North American clothing retailer. The project entered the Billboard 200, anticipating the success of subsequent releases. āWicked Games,ā the first single, debuted at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. In the following years, he reached No. 1 on the chart with hits such as āCanāt Feel My Face,ā āSave Your Tearsā and āDie For You.ā
When asked about taking care of his mind, the singer is even more honest. Brutally honest, as rarely seen in showbiz. āItās funny you should mention this [mental health]. I just had a panic attack right before this interview. My anxiety is a constant battle, and I feel like it never goes away. Iām learning to control it, but Iāve already realized that itās part of my life. I canāt escape it.ā
Tesfaye spent part of his adolescence living on the streets, but he assures us: the main difficulty he faced in life was questioning his purpose and his connection with art. āThe biggest challenge is not knowing if you were made for this, not knowing if it was meant to be. Most people still donāt know. I feel very lucky. I was able to take these depressive and nihilistic feelings and put them into my work. That ended up being my therapy,ā he says, citing the philosophical school of thought that believes life has no value or purpose, often associated with the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
On YouTube, The Weeknd has accumulated almost 28 billion views on his channel. āCall Out My Name,ā āThe Hillsā and āStarboyā are also part of his extensive list of hits. Expectations for his new era are high ā both from fans and music critics. Dawn FM, released in January 2022, was acclaimed by the British newspaper The Guardian, from which it received the highest score: āAbel Tesfaye confirms his status as one of the greatest of all time with an album of icy splendor influenced by the 1980sā.
Another newspaper that praised the album was The New York Times. āHis fifth album [ā¦] is elegant and vigorous and also, once again, a light reinterpretation of what big-scale music can sound like today, in an era in which most global stars have abandoned that concept.ā
āThere is always pressure to surpass my last project,ā he says about the new era, presented for the first time at the show in SĆ£o Paulo. āGrowth is important. Sometimes it may not be what people want to hear from me at the moment, but, when the body of work is complete, I hope they can appreciate what I have been trying to achieve. I have been working on this discography for a long time. It was all planned,ā he assures, escaping from the monotony. āI always try to achieve something that I havenāt done before musically. Sometimes it may not be clear on the first listen [to the album], but fans seem to figure it out over time,ā he believes. Being at the top, for the Canadian, is subjective. āThe only pressure for me is to be better than the older version of myself, focusing on growth, achieving my own goals, not other peopleās.ā
Tesfaye also spoke about the pains and pleasures of fame, a common theme in his work, whether in music or in the visual arts. When asked about how to keep his feet firmly on the ground, he repeated the sincerity demonstrated throughout the conversation with Billboard Brazil. āI stay away from people as much as possible. I try to have as much privacy in my life as possible. I never give off [that] āfamousā energy. I think trying to be famous is a talent in itself. I havenāt mastered that talentā¦ And I donāt intend to,ā he says, escaping the industry buzz.
Last year, the composer spoke about controlling the way he is seen and heard by the public. In the midst of the transition of concepts in his career, he revisits the idea. āHonestly, I donāt even remember saying that. But everyone would love to be able to control the narrative. Itās impossible. So you try your best and make the most of it. Less is more. Iāve learned a lot in the last two years, and itās definitely the least control Iāve ever had. But Iāve learned a lot, and thatās the most important thing,ā he says.
āToo much control is unhealthy. Collaboration is important, whether itās artistically, with ideas, or even with energy. Iāve been on both sides of the fence, being too controlling and not having enough control. And leaning too far toward either side can be dangerous. Itās a constant balancing act, but the results are the best.ā
Mending the dark parts of himself, The Weekndās Frankenstein must bring the singerās lessons learned at the height of his fameāand pursue his chosen purpose in life, bringing comfort and refuge to those facing their own demons.
This article originally appeared in Billboard Brazil.
ME:Iās āHi-Fiveā soars to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated Sept. 4, marking the 11-member groupās first leader on the tally.
The digital version of the girl groupās second single dropped July 29 and debuted at No. 40 on the Japan Hot 100 dated Aug. 7. The track then slipped slightly on the list as downloads declined, but hit No. 2 in sales this week after the CD version sold 263,332 copies in its first week. The physical release boosted the songās digital performance and it returns to the downloads tally for the first time in three weeks at No. 3, while also coming in at No. 79 for streaming (112% week-over-week) and No. 2 for radio (413%).
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Bowing at No. 2 is Naniwa Danshiās seventh single āKoisuru Hikari,ā the theme song for the movie We Donāt Know Love Yet starring member Ryusei Onishi. The track launches with 432,018 CDs to top sales, while coming in at No. 5 for downloads and No. 16 for radio.
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Mrs. GREEN APPLEās āLilacā rises a notch to No. 3 this week, with radio increasing by 121% from the week before and keeping the decrease in overall points to a minimum.
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āNatsu ga Kitakaraā by ā ME (āNot Equal Meā) follows at No. 4. Although the twelve-member groupās ninth single didnāt enter the lists for metrics other than sales, it debuts at No. 3 for the metric after selling 229,446 copies in its first week. ā MEās best chart rank so far on the Japan Hot 100 is No. 4, so the groupās latest single tied for the highest rank of its career.
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Tsubaki Factoryās āBaby Spiderā debuts at No. 5. The 12th single by the girl group sold 88,796 copies to reach No. 4 for sales and hit No. 38 in downloads, surpassing its previous single, āYuuki Itās my Life!ā
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Elsewhere on the Japan Hot 100, Mariya Takeuchiās āUta wo Okurou,ā the theme song of the ongoing drama Subarashikikana, Sensei!, debuts at No. 20. The latest single by the āPlastic Loveā singer-songwriter tops radio and comes in at No. 14 for sales. Also, veteran band Mr. Childrenās āin the pocketā bows at No. 33. The theme song for the animated movie The Colors Within rules downloads and comes in at No. 48 for radio.
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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 Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japanās English Twitter account.
Virtual YouTuber Hoshimachi Suisei recently announced her first concert tour, set to kick off in November. The hololive VTuber with over 2.4 million subscribers on her YouTube channel teased that an āImportant Announcementā would be shared on her show streamed on Saturday (Aug. 31). The latter half of the program was also shown on the […]
Oasis is on track to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the U.K. Official Albums Chart with their iconic debut album Definitely Maybe, thanks to the hype surrounding their 2025 reunion tour.
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As the album celebrates its 30th anniversary, itās predicted to rise four spots, potentially marking the first time in three decades that it has topped the chart. The 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Definitely Maybe has sparked renewed interest, featuring previously unreleased demos from the bandās original Monnow Valley and Sawmills Studios sessions.
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Since its release in 1994, the album has spent a total of 556 weeks in the U.K. Top 100, and was the fastest-selling debut in British history at the time.
The bandās 2009 hits compilation Time Fliesā¦ (1994-2009) is also expected to climb, with predictions placing it at No. 2, while their second studio album, (Whatās the Story) Morning Glory?, looks likely to hold its position in the Top 5.
Further down the chart, other Oasis albums are enjoying a resurgence. The Masterplan is expected to jump 63 places to No. 35, and their third album, Be Here Now, is predicted to re-enter the Top 40 at No. 37.
The Oasis Live ā25 tour has already caused a wave of excitement, with āunprecedented demandā leading to the addition of three more dates in the U.K. The Gallaghers announced that, despite rumors, the band will not be playing any festivals in 2025. Instead, fans will have to catch them on their official reunion tour, which kicks off in July.
Elsewhere on the chart, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are on track to secure their seventh Top 10 album with their latest release, Wild God, which is currently eyeing a No. 3 debut, potentially marking their highest-charting LP in eight years. English rock band Wunderhorse is also making waves with their second album, Midas, which is set to enter at No. 6, a career-best for the group.
Meanwhile, U2ās ZOO TV Live in Dublin 1993 EP is projected to land at No. 15, giving the legendary band their 22nd Top 40 album.
Newcomer Paris Paloma is poised to make her Albums Chart debut with her first full-length release, Cacophony, expected to secure a spot at No. 40, rounding out a competitive week on the U.K. Official Albums Chart.
Sabrina Carpenter is on track to continue her taste of victory on the U.K. Singles Chart for another week as her latest single, āTaste,ā from the album Short nā Sweet, continues to lead the midweek update.
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If it holds, this will mark her second consecutive week at the top spot. The track is part of her sixth studio album, Short nā Sweet, which debuted at No. 1 and marks her first U.K. No. 1 album.
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Carpenterās dominance on the singles chart extends beyond āTaste.ā Her previous chart-toppers āPlease Please Pleaseā and āEspressoā are also expected to hold steady at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, continuing her reign on the U.K. Singles Chart. These three tracks have seen sustained success, with āPlease Please Pleaseā and āEspressoā spending multiple weeks in the Top 3 since their release.
Meanwhile, Oasis is surging as āLive Foreverā looks set to soar back into the Top 5, potentially reaching a new peak at No. 4.
Following the announcement of their Oasis Live ā25 reunion tour, Oasis is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. āLive Forever,ā which originally peaked at No. 10 in 1994, is now on track to surpass its previous best, riding the wave of Oasis mania. The track is part of their debut album Definitely Maybe, which is also seeing a resurgence, with the 30th-anniversary edition eyeing off a return to the top of the U.K. Albums Chart.
Two more Oasis classics, āWonderwallā and āDonāt Look Back In Anger,ā are also climbing, currently aiming to return to the Top 10 at No. 8 and No. 7.
Other notable midweek movements include Sonny Fodera, Jazzy, and D.O.Dās āSomedays,ā set to reach a new peak at No. 13, and Teddy Swimsā āThe Door,ā which could break into the Top 20 for the first time, moving up to No. 20.
With the final chart set to be revealed on Friday, all eyes are on whether Sabrina Carpenter can fend off the Britpop legends to secure another chart-topping trifecta. ā
Former Oasis drummer Alan White has fueled excitement among fans by hinting that he may be part of the bandās highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour.
On Sept. 1, White, who played with Oasis from 1995 to 2004, shared a photo on social media featuring his drum kit, adorned with Union Jack-themed artwork reminiscent of the bandās iconic era. The post has sparked widespread speculation that White could be joining the Gallagher brothers on stage once again.
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The Oasis Live ā25 tour announced on Aug. 27, marks the first time in 16 years that Liam and Noel Gallagher will perform together. The tour, which includes 17 dates across major U.K. and Ireland cities, has already sold out.
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White originally joined Oasis in April 1995, replacing original drummer Tony McCarroll. During his nine years with the band, White contributed to four studio albums, including the seminal sophomore effort (Whatās the Story) Morning Glory? and Be Here Now, the fastest-selling LP in U.K. recorded music history. His drumming became an integral part of Oasisās sound, and he played a significant role in the recording process, often shaping the rhythm and feel of the bandās tracks.
Meanwhile, McCarroll has indicated that he will not be part of the reunion, telling MailOnline: āThey havenāt reached out yet and to be honest Iām not holding my breath.ā
āWould I consider being involved? I donāt know. At the end of the day Iām not the only ex-member left behind, so Iāll just crack on.ā He added, āI havenāt made up my mind if Iām going to watch them play next year either. I was at their last ever gig in the U.K. at the V Festival. Itās weird and ironic that I was there at the first and last gig.ā
He added later, āWhether itās been a blag for 15-years I havenāt got a clue. Theyāre brothers at the end of the day- maybe their mum Peggy clashed their heads together and said āsort it outā.ā
The reunion announcement has also caused a surge in Oasisās streaming numbers. Following a teaser on Aug. 25, the bandās daily U.S. on-demand audio streams increased from 750,000 to 820,000. By Aug. 26, streams hit 1.31 million, and after the official tour announcement on Aug. 27, streams skyrocketed to 2.80 million.
The Britpop bandās most iconic single, āWonderwall,ā peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996. The band also achieved a top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with (Whatās the Story) Morning Glory?, which reached No. 4 in 1996, while their debut album, Definitely Maybe, and their third album, Be Here Now, both charted on the Billboard 200.
With millions of viewers around the world tuning in and casting votes for contestants in the K-pop survival show Boys Planet, contestants who didnāt make a place in the final band left the program with fans eager to see their next steps. No group perhaps better embraces such potential than EVNNE, the seven-member boy band quickly ascending the K-pop ranks and proving themselves as far more than just a simple spin-off act.
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Noted for an intense collective charisma, the boy bandās debut with hard-hitting singles āTroubleā and āUglyā spoke to a viewpoint as the convention-defying underdogs ready to prove themselves to the world. The group scored number-one hit songs and awards on Koreaās competitive music programs, and this summer embarked on their first U.S. tour to expand their international fanbase and showcase their dynamic performances across multiple cities.
āWe didnāt expect it, but we really wanted it,ā EVNNEās leader Keita says of the groupās ability to break out beyond Korea and tour the States. āWe felt that there were a lot of fans all over the world cheering for us while we were doing such a program like Boys Planetā¦itās really a dream come true.ā
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But itās not just the awards and accolades that define EVNNEās success. In less than a year, the group has shown remarkable evolution in their musical style, transitioning from the rebellious anthems of their debut to a softer, more romantic sound with their third EP, RIDE or DIE from June. The lead single, āBadder Love,ā a soothing rock-pop track recorded in both Korean and English, marks a new chapter for the group.
āThe reason we came out with the concept of bad guys when we made our debut was because we wanted to show the public what we can do best,ā Yunseo says. āBut we released a refreshing album like this because we wanted to show a new side of us.ā
With accomplishments both in awards and aristry, Keita, Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yunseo, Seungeon, Mun Junghyun and Jihoo have managed to carved their place in the industry and show lasting potential even if the groupās time together may be short. Read on for why else EVNNE is a group to watch as Billboardās K-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.
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Congratulations on the success so far and being named Billboardās Rookie of the Month! I wonder how you feel about your achievements over the past few months?
YUNSEO: Weāve been through a lot with our members and together weāve achieved a lot of things, but time is really flying by so fast ā faster than I thought. It feels surreal that weāve been spending so much time together and able experience a lot of things in such a short time, but it also has been very short. Even so, we have realized that there are more fans and more people really supporting us, giving us so much love, so we are just very happy and grateful for everything.
SEUNGEON: I want to add that Iām so happy to be able to come to the U. S. tour following the Asia tour and so excited to meet people from different places. We truly believe that winning on the music shows and being able to go on tours in different countries is all thanks to our fansā love and support for us. So, we are very thankful for that. We are also very happy and excited to be named as the Rookie of the Month on Billboard. We have been really wanting this so thank you so much.
While you didnāt earn a place in the final group for Boys Planet, you are here now winning awards and going on tour. Did you guys expect all these things to happen?
KEITA: We didnāt expect it, but we really wanted it. We felt that there were a lot of fans all over the world cheering for us while we were doing such a program so we always dreamed that we wanted to go to many cities, perform for many fans, share our energy and communicate with them. Itās really a dream come true.
How has touring the U.S. been for you?
JIHOO: So we were really happy that the crowd cheers were so much bigger than we expected. From what I understand, thereās about 500 people per venue for this tour, but from what we felt on stage, it really felt like the cheer was coming from 5,000 or even 50, 000 people ā it was really loud. I feel like weāve been really eager to share our energy with the audience, but in return, I think we got even more energy and motivation from them.
MUN JUNGHYUN: We were able to sing the English version of āBadder Loveā for the first time, and I think the response was good because the fans sang along to the whole song which made us really happy. Also, we were able to show āXOā with its choreography in full for the first time on this U.S. tour and it felt like were cheering so much for that song.
SEUNGEON: You know, the global fans who donāt necessarily speak Korean tend to hum to our songs, instead of like singing along to the actual lyrics, which is still really cute but we always had a little bit of regret that and wish everyone could really sing along together from start to finish. But with the English version [of āBadder Loveā] they were really able to do it and were singing along to the song while we were performing so it was really a great experience. It really motivated us and, one day, we would love to release more songs in different various languages in the future.
Any languages you might want to record in next?
HANBIN: We go to Japan a lot and there are a lot of our fans and people who support us in Japan so I think it would be nice to make a version that can be done in Japanese.
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Going back to āBadder Love,ā it feels like this album is centered around a softer image and less intense than the concepts for your singles like āTroubleā or Ugly.ā What does EVNNE want to prove this time around?
JIHOO: Our main focus was to really show a different side of ourselves compared to our first two albums. For our first and second mini albums, we really wanted to show that ācheeky rascalā side, which is more powerful and very straightforward. But with the third album, we wanted to show more of a romantic, a softer side of us.
YUNSEO: Actually, the reason we came out with the concept of bad guys when we made our debut was because we wanted to show the public what we can do best while talking to the company. Thatās how we made our debut. We released a refreshing album like this because we wanted to show a new side of us. Weāve always been able to do this, but weāve shown you a little bit of a bad boy and a strong image, but this time, weāre going to show you a bit of a different image.
LEE JEONGHYOEN: We have some all-white outfits in the music video that are very fitting for summer. Thereās also no really bright hair colors. Actually, this is my first time dying my hair in brown so we really focused on showing the right styling for the concept through this album. A lot of the backgrounds in the music video are set in the ocean so in my opinion that really emphasizes on that refreshing cool side with the song and the music video.
I saw you guys compete in the Idol Star Athletic Championship and reunite even with some of the Boys Planet contestants. How was that after all you went through?
HANBIN: We participated in two of the events during the program and we really prepared ourselves to do our best in it while preparing for this tour. We had to find little moments here and there to really prepare for ISAC, but I think it was a great opportunity for us to promote who we are and what we can do to even more people. So, it was a really great experience in overall and like you mentioned, we were able to talk and chat with many other artists as well including ZEROBASEONE. Itās actually been awhile since we got to chat and reunite with them so it was really fun to be reconnecting.
YUNSEO: Our schedules donāt really leave us a lot of time to meet in person or privately, but I was so happy to meet my friends that were at Idol Star Athletics Championships, talk, and play sports and games together.
KEITA: I met Matthew and I told him, āHey Matt, Iām studying English!ā and he said, āHey, your pronunciation is not as bad as I thought!ā but in Korean. So, I got a compliment from him.
SEUNGEON: I think fans who watched the show were really waiting to see us all again and a Boys Planet reunion one day. This was actually our first opportunity for all the Boys Planet groups and artists to come together, really reunite, talk to each other and just have a good time in general. I felt like it was a school event in some ways because there are a lot of idol seniors, juniors and colleagues but we all have the same dream and passion for music and artistry so it really felt like we were at a school event all together. So, overall it was a very, very fun event.
HANBIN: I actually ran into some friends who I trained with so while it felt really very new, and it also really reminded me like we were back in school all together and we were at a school event together rather a TV show program.
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Do you have a message youād like to share with international fans who are waiting to see you?
YUNSEO: First of all, we were selected as the Rookie of the Month so Iād like to say thank you so much. Itās a great honor and beginning with this, weād like to show you all more and promote our name to an even more bigger audience around the world so we can really share our artistry and who we are to everyone around the world. And in the future, we really hope we can someday have our song chart on the Billboard charts. We will work hard for that so it would be great if the American fans and international fans know about us and send us your continued love, support and attention.
SEUNGEON: Weāve been really eager to share incredible performances through this tour and please please look forward to all our activities and performances in the future as well. Itās a great honor, again, to be selected as the Rookie of the Month with Billboard.
In Koreaās pop culture scene, Lee Youngji is a name now synonymous with vibrant and unfiltered entertainment, best seen through her viral Nothing Much Prepared YouTube series, where she shares drinks with members of K-pop supergroups like BTS, BLACKPINK and SEVENTEEN. However, 2024 marks a significant year for the 21-year-old as she looks to return to her roots in music and spotlight her talent as a performer and musician. Even if many fans might recognize her first as the comedic force behind some of K-popās most unforgettable interviews, Youngjiās journey in entertainment began with music ā and sheās determined to remind everyone of that on her ongoing world tour that hits the U.S. at the end of August.
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The release of her debut album, Juneās 16 Fantasy, marked a bold statement of her artistic identity and the promise shown for her musical future. The lead single, āSmall Girlā featuring EXOās D.O., not only topped the charts in South Korea but also broke into the Top 40 of the Billboard Global 200. Meanwhile, b-side cuts like Leeās āADHD Girl,ā plus her hit collaborations with top acts like Dynamicduo and BSS, all display her versatility and abilities to step up and level up for each new song release.
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āThis year is really important for me musically,ā Youngji reflects during an evening FaceTime call from Seoul ahead of the U.S. leg of her tour. āIāve had a lot of collaborations and I have a variety show on my YouTube channel, so many people know me through lots of jobsā¦but I want to spotlight my musician mode this year.ā
As she embarks on the U.S. leg of her All or Nothing World Tour, Lee Youngji is eager to connect with fans in a more intimate setting, bringing not just her music to the stage but the unique personal energy thatās made her such a breakout star among the next generation of Korean-pop entertainers.
āI tend to try to really communicate with the audience, ask them questions, just try to talk to them and I think that U. S. fans are going to like that a lot,ā she says, hinting at the interactive and personal nature of her stage setup. The All or Nothing Tour is more of an invitation for fans to experience Lee Youngji in her purest form as a musician and entertainer. And while she might not be able to indulge in her famous on-camera drinking with her audience ā even though she tells Billboard that she really wants to ā sheās ready to bring that same spontaneous and genuine connection to every show.
Read on for more with Lee Youngji sharing about her Stateside tour, her big year in music, memories with some top K-pop stars and whatās coming next.
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Congratulations on all the recent successes, Youngji. Thereās a lot to discuss, but itās been a really important year for you as a musician. Is this why youāre going on your first U.S. tour?
Like you said, this year is really important for me musically. Iāve had a lot of collaborations, and I have a variety show on my YouTube channel, so many people know me through lots of jobs. First, they knew me as a YouTuber; then they might have known me as a celebrity friend; they knew me as all different types of things, but I want to spotlight my musician mode this year. And gratefully, āSmall Girlā had a great response and boom, even in the U.S., so I thought that this was a great opportunity for me to be more confident on what Iām doing right now as a musician.
You do so much, and people know you for many different reasons, but where does music align with your overall world?
In my childhood era, I would always believe, āI think Iām gonna be a famous person, but I donāt think that I could be a musician.ā But the first time people got to know me was in the survival show High School Rapper 3 [in 2019]. At that time, rap was the only thing I was competent in any type of musical talent, but I didnāt necessarily want to be only a rapper.
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Did you find your confidence to pursue music through rapping?
Yes, but I donāt think that itās my only talent. Rapping definitely requires talent, but I donāt think thatās all I have. So, when I won the rap survival show, I was always thinking, āOh, so is ārapperā my job now?ā I didnāt want to start my career as a rapper. I said, āOh, I got [to show] more than rapping.ā But it was my best talent, so I was always curiousā¦
Is that why we only got your first album five years after High School Rapper? You share a lot of different sides and styles on the record. Whatās your favorite song?
Yep, yep. And not because that song got so much fame, but I eventually really loved āSmall Girl.ā Itās an honest, honest, honest song; a real story about myself. I love those kinds of songs. There are some tall, tall girlsā¦ah, how should I say this? Everyone has a part of themselves that they lack confidence in, but this song can honestly melt that complex. I thought that āSmall Girlā was a song I could make for everyone to be more confident. So, I really cherish āSmall Girlā as a song that I made for everyone who might have lower or might not have self-confidence.
One of my favorites is āADHD Girlā because I actually have ADHD. What inspired this song?
Ever since childhood, Iāve been hearing a lot of people, like my teachers and my parents, saying that I have ADHD ā and that was before many people became really aware of it. But I have a lot of friends around me who do have ADHD and take medication for it. Itās a song I wrote based on my experiences as well as my friendsā experiences, some of them who are really struggling with ADHD.
What is your songwriting or creative process?
Well, there is a lot of great technology and stuff for music these days, you know? But I love iPhone and iPhone memos. Iām always recording on my iPhone: a little gibberish, little unknown sounds, guides for songs. I always write keywords with my iPhone. Actually, that was the exact process for the song āNot Sorry.ā When I went through the competition show, Show Me the Money, I suffered a lot from this hate train. So, I wrote on my iPhone that said, āNot sorry, not sorry at all,ā and I asked my producers ā Jay Park, Zion.T and Slom ā I asked them, āWhat about this subject for the title of this songā and they were like, āOh, thatās dope and thatās something you can do right now.ā My music-making process is always, always like that. I write a title on my phone and I do a gibberish recording.
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And āNot Sorryā was a hit!
[Laughs] Yeah!
Iāve always appreciated your attitude. Iām sure itās not easy for you, or anyone, but you have a refreshing attitude about criticism and āhate comments.ā We even saw your ālikingā tweets that have criticized you. How do you keep this strong mindset?
When I get hate, I try to understand them. āWhy do you hate me?ā āOh, because of that point?ā āOkay, I understand that ā but I do not agree at all.ā I can understand you, but I donāt have to agree with you. I always think about how nobody knows me better than me. So, you know when I ālikeā [hate comments] ā I really donāt know how the internet system works ā but I donāt care unless I do something thatās really a bad thing or crosses the line legally. I also reply [to] them when they send me DMs that say, āI hate you, go kill yourselfā or something. I always reply to them and always like their messages because they never think that if they send me a message, I can see them; they donāt know that I can see them. So I want to let them know that I see everything.
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So, what are you preparing for the U.S. leg of your All or Nothing Tour?
I always hoped that if I had a chance, I want to meet everyone in the world and music is my chance. So, yes, I wanted to use this as my opportunity. Iāve already toured Asia, but you know what? The mood is kind of different compared to America. My performance [style] is usually to get people crazy. On this tour, I especially want to have more direct communication with the audience and to introduce who I am, that I make this kind of music, and that I introduce myself as an artist to the U.S. audiences. Compared to Asia, thereās more participation in the U.S., whereas direct communication is lower in other countries. I made a lot of changes to my songs. Iām planning to bring the audience up to the stage actually, and maybe dance or perform together; Iām trying to plan those kind of things.
Like you said, youāre not just known for music but for your personality too. Are you preparing funw ways to share that side of yourself too?
I think that my personality shows up while Iām talking with another person. So, I tend to try to really communicate with the audience, ask them questions, just try to talk to them. And I think that U. S. fans are going to like that a lot. I really want to drink with them. I mean, I really want to get drunk with them, but I canāt. [Laughs]
Maybe we can take a secret shot together since the tourās last show is in New Yorkā¦
HA ha. I hope so! [Laughs]
But I do want to highlight how, in your five years since High School Rapper, youāve done a ton of collaborations across many genres: K-pop idols, rappers, indie musicians, R&B, older generation artists, chart-topping artists. How do you connect with so many different sounds and styles?
Iām so thankful that they always reach [out] to me and ask me to feature with them or collaborate. Iāve been really active with video and media contents in Korea for four, five years now and, thankfully, thatās shown my personality and skills in Korea and to audiences. So, I think a lot of artists feel like Iām someone whoās familiar and for them to reach out and connect with me to do other projects. But anytime when I get asked for a feature, I always think, āHow can I beat them in this song? How can I do better in this song?ā [Laughs] But features and collaborating really force me to go to the next level of myself.
I think thatās what Nicki Minaj said. She needs a āsparring partnerā to level herself up.
Sheās my goal.
Are there any last messages for fans or what to expect on the U.S. tour? And with Nothing Much Preparedās return, can you share some spoilers?
Well, yes, I can give you a lot of spoilers, but the first episode is with Lisa and sheās so smart, pretty, young, rich, and a hilarious person. I love her. As of mid-August, I already recorded, like, six or seven episodes so weāre going to see a lot of idols and a lot of actors.
But what else should I say? I think U.S. fans are not prepared for whatās coming to them! I want to promise to the U.S. fans that I will be working hard to be able to see them more often. I actually have a lot of songs ready to be released, and I want to watch U.S. fans react. Iāve got a long way to go. This tour is not even the first step. I have big ambitions.
Kocchi no Kento, the creator of āHai Yorokonde,ā which is going viral on the video platforms, recently sat down for an interview with Billboard Japan. Kocchi no Kento is a multimedia creator who began making music in 2022. Heās also the younger brother of popular Japanese actor Masaki Suda. In this interview, he talked about his roots and whatās behind the creation of his addictive music.
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To start off, could you tell us what led you to start making music?
When I was a freshman in university, I joined an a cappella club. We sang covers of existing songs, and I started writing my own songs in 2022 as an extension of that.
What was the first experience you had with music that opened your eyes to how fun and fascinating it can be?
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There were two things that got me into music. The first was that my dad loved music. Heād often play guitar and sing at home. In the car, too, there was always music playing, and it was often new to me. The other thing is that I played soccer when I was in elementary school. Our offense was amazing, but that meant that us on defense had nothing to do. Apparently, I would just run around dancing. My parents said ādance might be a better fit for him than soccer,ā so I started taking dance lessons. Thatās what led me to feeling music with my whole body and expressing it through movement.
As an artist and singer, where do you think your own individuality lies, and what do you see as your strengths?
One of my distinctive features is my natural singing voice, but also, in the a cappella group, I spent four straight years doing covers of Disney songs, so I developed the ability to sing with emotion but without becoming pitchy. I think those two are my main strengths.
Where did the name āKocchi no Kentoā come from?
After I graduated university, I worked as a businessman for a year. Putting on that suit and tie, I felt like I was biting off more than I could chew. I wasnāt really myself, so when I was in my suit, I was āthat Kentoā (in Japanese, āacchi no kentoā). When I was singing, on the other hand, I was more my true, natural self. I was āthis Kentoā (in Japanese, ākocchi no kentoā).
Your first single, āTiny,ā is a heartwarming song. Itās the kind of song you wish you could hear when things are tough. I feel that same mindset in all of your songs. I get the sense that thatās what you want to convey and express through your music.
Right. Every time I put out a new song as Kocchi no Kento, I think about the fact that there are people out there who might draw strength from it.
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Have you had any feedback from listeners that really stand out in your mind?
When I released my second single, āShinuna!ā (Japanese for ādonāt dieā) I was getting dozens of comments a day. Some were saying that they decided to hang in there, while others were explaining why they wanted to die. This flood of comments settled my own turbulent mind, and I was just happy to be able to help people in what little way I could.
āShinuna!ā generated a lot of buzz on video platforms. Is there anything you try to keep in mind or do with respect to how you release your music?
After āShinuna!ā Iād make dances for TikTok to get my music exposed to lots of people. But even more than that, I think itās important that I make music that I could listen to and enjoy, myself, without ever getting tired of it. Lots of people danced to āHai Yorokonde,ā but what I think is great about that song is that, even now, I like it so much that I can listen to it anytime. If I get tired of a song when Iām making choreography for it with someone, or singing it a cappella, or singing an English version of it, then I canāt put my heart and soul into it. The listeners can hear that. Theyād be like āHeās just going through the motionsā or āHeās just clinging on to that song.ā I think the most important thing is that I really love the music I create, with all my heart.
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On the August 14 dated Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 chart, āHai Yorokondeā reached a new peak of No.5. When did you first start feeling that this song was getting some traction?
There were a lot of people listening to it on the day it came out. I hadnāt released a song in about six months, so I guess there were a lot of people looking forward to a new song. Then, when I released the dance video on TikTok, even though I hadnāt done a collaboration with anyone, it got a lot of views, so I started realizing āwait a minute, we might have something here.ā I got Kazuya Kanehisa to do the music video. He turned it in about a month earlier than expected, and in his email, he wrote āI just couldnāt put my pen downā and āThe song is wonderful, so it was smooth and effortless to translate what I was feeling into visuals.ā When I looked at what heād created, I knew it would directly connect with people.
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What kind of song had you set out to create at the start?
Initially, the theme I had in mind was a little different. I suffer from depression but I decided against killing myself. I decided to live. Someone told me āDonāt die,ā so I was like āOkay, I wonāt,ā and I lived. And everyone got used to me being alive, and one day I realized theyād started demanding things of me. Like āYouāre alive, and youāve got time, so how about getting a part-time job?ā And I was like, āNo, no, no, my goal was to live, and by choosing to live, Iāve already accomplished my goal.ā The song was like āYou said donāt die, so I didnāt die, but donāt go trying to make more demands.ā My goal was, ultimately, to arrive at the conclusion that āChoosing to live is an option in itself. All you need to do is live.ā But it gradually became more of an SOS songāmore a song about calling out for help.
Like you were doing all you could just by staying alive.
Right, thatās how it turned out.
You released an English version at the end of July. What led to that?
The āgiri giri danceā (in English, āat my witās end danceā) of the chorus was originally āget it get it done.ā But the music video art style was very Japanese, so having a chorus in English didnāt seem right, which is why I changed the way the lyrics were transcribed to āgiri giri dance.ā Phonetically, they sound the same, but I thought it would be interesting if there were separate Japanese and English versions, and Iād wanted to write an English version from back when I was still in the production stage. Luckily, I got a lot of comments from overseas listeners, so I consulted with my record label, and we decided to release an English version.
Iām sure your number of overseas listeners must be skyrocketing now. Did you think there would be this kind of response from overseas audiences?
No, I wasnāt expecting it. Sure, I hoped that Iād reach people overseas, but I thought that my music would have to take off here in Japan, first, and then after that it would spread overseas. Instead, it happened at almost the same time. I was just really, really lucky. It just goes to show how much weāre living in the age of social media.
Number_iās āINZMā blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated Aug. 28.
The lead single off the three-man groupās first full album called No.ā
, due Sept. 23, was downloaded 54,560 times during the chart week to hit No. 1 for the metric, while also dominating radio airplay and video views. āINZMā is Number_iās second No. 1 on the tally following āGOAT,ā and the former No. 1 single climbed 78-58 after seeing increases in streaming and video. The groupās previous single āBONā also moved 53-40, with increases in downloads on top of streams and video views.
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Bowing at No. 2 is Nogizaka46ās āCheat Day.ā Released on Aug. 21, the groupās 36th single sold 651,536 copies in its first week to hit No. 1 for sales, while coming in at No. 11 for downloads and No. 17 for radio.
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TREASUREās āKING KONGā is at No. 3, launching with 178,091 CDs (No. 2) and coming in at No. 3 for radio and No. 48 for streaming.
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After holding at No. 2 for five weeks, Mrs. GREEN APPLEās āLilacā slips two notches to No. 4 this week. The track is slowing down slightly overall, with downloads at 77% week-over-week, streaming 98%, radio 81%, video 96%, and karaoke 95%. The pop-rock bandās āfamilieā also falls 3-5, but increased in streaming (118%) and video (137%), and these two songs are dominating the top two spots on the streaming list this week.
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Kenshi Yonezuās āGarakuta ā JUNKā debuts at No. 10. The hitmakerās latest single is the theme song for the movie LAST MILE and is included in his new album LOST CORNER, which topped this weekās Japan Hot Albums chart. With 11,286 downloads in its first week, the track hits No. 2 for the metric and also comes in at No. 6 for radio, No. 18 for video, and No. 26 for streaming.Ā
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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 Aug. 19 to 25, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japanās English Twitter account.
