8 K-pop artists to watch out for in 2014

2013 was a confused old year for K-pop. It was definitely a weak year for quality single releases and cracks in the establishment began to appear with members of two of the industry most established girl groups, KARA and Wonder Girls announcing their intentions to part ways with their agencies. But as K-pop tries to pull through this moment of uncertainty, we’re taking a look at some of the artists whose work we will be most anticipating in 2014.

Ladies’ Code

If I’m honest the only new girl group that I paid any kind of attention to last year was Ladies’ Code. With 3 strong singles, well-produced music videos and bundles of talent Ladies Code really managed to set themselves apart from the crowd in 2013 and we can only see bigger things for them this year. The group also represent the shift in K-pop away from more traditional training methods with 2 of the members having taken part in reality shows and one uploading K-pop dance covers to YouTube. Former ‘The Voice Korea’ contestant Sojung has one of the best voices in K-pop and my only hope for her in 2014 is that her struggles with an eating disorder don’t affect her health or ability to perform and that her company can become more honest and upfront about it.

Akdong Musician

Generally I avoid talent shows like the plague. They’re usually dull, predictable and slightly emotionally manipulative. However, after I came across one performance by brother/sister duo Akdong Musician from the 2012/13 series of SBS K-pop Star, I was hooked and waited impatiently for their new performances to be uploaded each week. Since winning the show the group have been a little quiet but it looks like 2014 that they make their proper entrance onto the scene. After having decided to sign with YG Entertainment, it will be interesting to see how the debut of the young but extremely talented duo goes!

BTS

Without a shadow of a doubt, BTS made the most impactful idol group debut of 2013. The group’s group have barely touched the ground since their June debut releasing 3 music videos, 2 EPs and constant dance practice and concept trailer videos. Their hard word has definitely paid off however with nominations for Best New Male Artist and Best Artist at MAMA and a win for Best New Artist at Melon Music Awards. Despite some backlash from the underground hip hop community, BTS have been consistently impressing us with their ability to find the balance between hip hop and K-pop. We’re expecting big things from them in 2014.

Lim Kim/Togeworl

2013 was a fantastic year for Lim Kim (AKA Kim Yerim) who made her debut as a solo artist after Do Dae-yoon the other half of the duo Togeworl, with whom she initially found success after appearing on Superstar K3, announced that he was returning to the US in order to graduate high school. She well and truly proved that she could go it alone releasing 2 EP, half a dozen singles and one of the best K-pop albums of 2013 all in the space of 9 months. It’s appears that Togeworl’s label, Yoon Jong-shin’s Mystic89, is a great fit for the singer musically and creatively. With hints that Do Dae-yeon will be making his return this year, we’re sure that whether it’s solo or group releases there will be more great music coming in 2014!

Girl’s Day

With their switch from aegyo-tastic pop princesses to something a little more sultry, Girl’s Day well and truly made 2013 their year with 3 top ten hits. While their lyrics and videos might have left a lot to be desired for many of us, it’s hard to deny that both Expectation and Female President are extremely catchy pop tracks. The success of the group finally put them in the K-pop big leagues and even attracted investors to their tiny company Dream Tea Entertainment who were bought out by acting agency Wellmade StarM Entertainment. Like them or loathe them, their latest teaser video shows that the girls have no intention of slowing down in 2014.

Hyorin/Sistar

2013 was not nearly as good a year for Sistar as 2012 but regardless they still managed to pull out some strong performances. Hyorin is extremely talented and could have had a great solo debut but it was let down quite a bit by poor song choice. This is one of the problems I’ve always had with Sistar – the bad singles they’re often given (looking at you, Brave Brothers!) but it looks like that could all change in 2014! With Starship Entertainment being bought out by the all-mighty LOEN Entertainment, we’re hoping that Hyorin and Sistar will get the chance to work with some composers who can really write songs which suit them. I’m particularly hoping that 2014 will bring a great Hyorin release written by the team behind much of Brown Eyed Girls’ greatest hits.

WINNER

The YG hype machine went into overload this year when they teamed up with MNET to produce the ‘reality show’ WIN. The premise of the show was the audience helped decide which of two teams would be making a debut as the company’s latest idol group. Personally I think it would be a little naïve not to consider that Yang Hyun Suk may well have had the outcome of the competition in mind from the beginning (especially given MNET’s track history). Idol agencies very rarely leave trainee debut up to chance. Regardless, it has definitely given WINNER a head start on the competition and it will be interesting to see where YG sees as the place in the market for his new idols in 2014.

JYP’s 2 boy groups, 1 girl group and SM’s rumoured possible girl and/or boy group

Speaking of the competition, YG isn’t the only company with big plans for new groups this year. JYP have already announced plans to debut several groups with the first – GOT7, a seven member martial arts-themed hip hop boy group – due to make their first release in January. SM on the other hand have been playing it a little more coyly. However their recent SM Rookies project showed just how many debit-aged trainees they have waiting in the wings and rumours are about that 2014 may see the debut of a new girl group and potentially a new boy group from the company. As we’ve said before 2014 may well be a make or break year for the future of K-pop and that burden will lay mostly on the shoulders of the Big 3 and all their new acts. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing in 2014? Let us know!

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