KCON LA 2023

11 Sep 2023

ZEROBASEONE Talk About Being Formed on ‘Boys Planet,’ Their Successful Debut, First KCON & More | Billboard

New K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE talk about being formed on Mnet’s reality show Boys Planet, their debut success so far, first time being at KCON and more at KCON LA 2023.

Tetris Kelly
Hanging out at KCON with ZEROBASEONE — first of all, guys, I’m very jealous. I don’t have a jacket. These are so cool. They look really nice. Yeah. Now the fans have been asking for you guys since yesterday. Everybody’s so excited to see you guys. So how’s it feel to get all the love at KCON this year?

Seok Matthew
Honestly, it’s our first time at KCON LA and it’s just a really unique experience. And I think going overseas and just traveling all the way here and hearing all this support and these fan chants, it just means so much. And so we just, we love you guys from the bottom of our hearts. You guys are the best. You guys keep us motivated. We love you.

Tetris Kelly
And I mean, you guys are new. You just debuted recently and already have over a million pre-orders for your album. That’s crazy. So how’s it feel to be kind of like a newbie here in the game?

Kim Tae Rae
As you said, like, we just have you and we just saw another team from YouTube, we’re seeing them backstage — it’s so new to us. And it’s an interesting thing to experience.

Tetris Kelly
Thank you so much. And then also, what was really cool about you guys is that you won a reality show. So tell me how that makes it different for you than a lot of the other groups in K-pop.

Watch the full interview above!

10 Sep 2023

WayV Talks Being a Global Group, Upcoming Music & More | Billboard

Chinese NCT sub-unit WayV‘s members talk about how they see themselves as a global group, the upcoming music their fans can expect from them and more at KCON LA 2023.

Tetris Kelly:
Hanging out with WayV guys at KCON now. The good thing about KCON is it also has so many other ethnicities and stuff here, so how’s it to be Chinese in the K-pop world?

Ten:
Oh, I think we will call us, like, global group because we do sing in Chinese, in Korean, English and like possible, like all the language, too, if we get a chance too. Yes. But it’s very nice because we get to, like, learn different culture, and then get to sing different languages all around the world. Yeah.

Tetris Kelly:
And I don’t want to, you know, blow your head up or anything, but I’ve talked to a lot of fans today and a lot of people out there are excited to see you guys. So how does it feel to be performing in front of fans that are so ready to see you?

Hendery:
I feel like because it’s our first KCON ever, so the fans look forward a lot to us, and also, we prepared a lot of crazy stages today. So I hope our WayZenNies nice love it, and also, like, for other people who don’t know us yet. I hope you guys enjoy our show too.

Tetris Kelly:
And then, what can we expect from new music from you guys?

Ten:
So we are preparing our new, like, full-length album very soon this year. So I hope you guys can listen to our new song because like this, like album, like the concept, and like the sounds are different from the last one, so I feel like guys gonna, like, love it.

Tetris Kelly:
Well, we can’t wait to hear thank you guys so much for speaking with us!

WayV:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Watch Billboard’s interview with WayV above.

10 Sep 2023

XIKERS Talk Topping Billboard Emerging Artists Chart, Being a Fan of ATEEZ & More | Billboard

New K-pop boy band XIKERS talk about how they felt being on top of the Billboard Emerging Artists chart, how much they love their fellow labelmates ATEEZ and more at KCON LA 2023.

Tetris Kelly
As you guys can see, I’m a Blink. You guys did a dance cover of “Kill This Love,” right? Yeah, that was incredible to see you guys do it.

Hunter
Thank you! We actually took quite a long time to prepare for it because it was a cover that’s like — it was an honor to cover Blackpink’s “Kill This Love.” And we also had our own dance break at the end. So I hope you guys enjoyed our cover with it. We worked really hard for it.

Tetris Kelly
And then we’re Billboard. So you guys were No. 1 on our Emerging Artists chart, which is really cool. So tell me how it feels to be on a Billboard chart.

Hunter
Yeah, it’s actually an honor to be on such a huge chart like Billboard. I mean, we’re still rookies and we’re just really thankful for every opportunity. And we’ll just keep striving and try our best.

Tetris Kelly
And you’re here killing it at KCON. So tell me what’s great about being here at this event?

Minjae
Sure, so like we’re really nervous to come back as XIKERS in LA for KCON. But for now, I think we’re going to burn a whole stage. So please look for it. It’s our stage. And also we prepared a special stage for roadies and kick corners. So please enjoy. Thank you.

Watch the full interview above!

09 Sep 2023

NCT’s Taeyong Talks About Being a Soloist, New Music & More | Billboard

Taeyong from NCT talks about being a soloist, new upcoming music, his Elle cover, music and fashion, and more at KCON LA 2023.

Tetris Kelly:
First of all, your hair is amazing. Now, I want to know what inspired you to do the blue and the purple and the pinkish. I feel like there’s a lot of flavor going on right there.

Taeyong:
Yeah. Actually, this idea is my stylist’s. … She is really brilliant for this kind of job.

Tetris Kelly:
Well, yeah, you look amazing! And also you dropped your debut solo album. … How’s it feel to now be standing up for yourself, representing only you? How’s it been?

Taeyong:
It’s a little bit … I have some pressures. But I really really, I really, really excited and I can’t wait anymore. I want to go to stage, and I want to perform right now.

Tetris Kelly:
Well, they’re excited to see you perform! And you were giving your stylist some credit, but also you’re on the cover of Elle. So you have a lot of fashion yourself. So how’s it feel to do fashion and music kind of at the same time? How do they complement each other?

Taeyong:
Oh, I thought I thought that is like similar. I thought is music and fashion is really similar. And I really like it both. And I don’t know why, but I just like how to fashion and hairstyle or accessory is like that.

Tetris Kelly:
And then you’ve been hanging out in L.A. at KCON. So how’s the L.A. experiences been? What have you been doing in your free time?

Taeyong:
Oh, actually my favorite tattooist he’s living in L.A. And when I was when I was visiting in LA, I just tattoos in … you know what I mean?

Watch the video above to see if he got any new tattoos!

09 Sep 2023

CRAVITY Talks About 6th Mini Album ‘Sun Seeker,’ Favorite Summer Songs & More | Billboard

CRAVITY tells Billboard all about the group’s 6th mini album, Sun Seeker, their favorite memories from tour, songs of the summer and more at KCON LA 2023.

Tetris Kelly:
Hanging out with my friends CRAVITY. How are you guys doing?

CRAVITY:
We’re doing good.

Tetris Kelly:
Well, your sixth mini album is about to come out. Yes. You know, I know this information! Yeah. So how’s it gonna be different than your previous projects?

Allen:
We have some new appearances, some new hair stylings … just clothing and different sounds. Oh, and this time we’re doing something that we haven’t done before, which is releasing two lead singles.

Tetris Kelly:
Oh, wow!

Allen:
“Cheese” and “Ready or Not.”

Tetris Kelly:
OK. I hope they’re ready for it. And you guys just finished touring Puerto Rico, the States. So what’s been the most exciting part of all of that?

Taeyoung:
I think in L.A., L.A. hotel. The health club is very good. So that gym is very good. So that’s a really memorable thing.

Tetris Kelly:
And then what’s your guys’s favorite song this summer?

Woobin:
It’s definitely CRAVITY’s “Stay,” “Ready or Not.”

Wonjin:
Hey for me, Jung Kook’s “Seven.” Yes, I love that song.

Tetris Kelly:
All right, cool. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Watch the interview above.

09 Sep 2023

Monsta X’s Shownu & Hyungwon Talk About Their Sub-Unit, Biggest Inspirations & More | Billboard

Shownu and Hyungwon from Monsta X talk to Billboard about what the differences between performing as their sub-unit and performing as Monsta X, their biggest inspirations, plans in L.A. and more at KCON LA 2023.

Shownu:
Oh, BTS ARMY?

Tetris Kelly:
Yes, don’t call me out. He’s like, “You’re a fanboy! You’re ARMY.”

Hanging out with my guys from Monsta X. So this is your first time debuting as a sub-unit live. Have you heard from the other members? How do you feel tonight?

Shownu:
It feels very little excited, and because they’re scream and they give so many energy, so I’m gonna do my best to the stage.

Tetris Kelly:
Nice! And what has been different about being a sub-unit than when you’re with the group?

Shownu:
The most thing is we’re really choosing concept. So before, we have all the members [before] we’re doing anything, but we’re only two members — we’re more thinking about our concept.

Tetris Kelly:
And the fans are super excited to see you guys out there. So how’s it feel to take them on this journey? They’ve been with you guys for so long, so what is your connection like with your fans?

Hyungwon:
We always think connecting — connect with our fans, so we always develop what is best. What is most important thing is love with our fans, so we always develop and that is our lizard in fan with our member.

Tetris Kelly:
And then of course you’re at KCON in L.A. What are you doing outside of KCON? Are you guys hanging out? Did you get to see the city?

Shownu:
We just arrived last night, so we didn’t enjoy yet, but after the concert! We maybe some drink.

Watch the full video above!

07 Sep 2023

XG Talk About New Music, Trip to Disneyland, Universal Studios & More | Billboard

XG talks to Billboard about their upcoming new music, recent trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios, and more at KCON LA 2023.

Tetris Kelly:
Well, first of all, I feel like I already know you because you’ve been hanging out with my producer Evan, and he loves you guys so much. So I’m happy to meet you guys at KCON. Tell me about these outfits because you guys look great. What was the inspiration? A little bit of race car going …

Maya:
Oh, yeah … this is like a race car concept. But we wanted to put energy into our performance as well. So we put, like, red colors and also sparkles, bling bling. You know, we need the bling bling for the big stages today!

Tetris Kelly:
Well, you guys are blinging and I know you’ve been busy, obviously. You’ve been at our studio, you’re at KCON LA now. What else have you guys gotten to do while you’re in L.A.? I’ve heard something, I’m just saying.

Maya:
Well, we are preparing a lot of new songs. Our first mini album is coming soon, Sept. 27. Actually, so we’re preparing for that. Oh, yes. Get ready. New DNA is coming. So yes, we’re preparing for that and also different stages upcoming this year.

Tetris Kelly:
As you prepare for your new release, did you also get to maybe check out Disneyland or something?

Cocona:
Oh, I went to Universal Universal Studios Hollywood with Harvey and Maya.

Tetris Kelly:
Oh, y’all split it up. So what was your favorite thing at Universal?

Cocona:
Oh, studio tour. Oh yeah. I love it.

Tetris Kelly:
What did you guys do at Disneyland? And I need your favorite ride/

Jurin:
Oh, favorite ride? Incredicoaster. That was so fun.

Tetris Kelly:
Incredicoaster! So fun! And then last, before I let you guys out of here: What’s your favorite song this summer?

Jurin:
Oh favorite summer song is “New Dance” by XG. We can’t spoil it or anything, but it will come out on Aug. 23. So I hope you guys enjoy it.

Tetris Kelly:
Well, look forward to new music from XG. Thank you so much for hanging out with us.