After its groundbreaking debut last year, the Hyperound K-Fest is back for a second time with an equally exciting lineup. The concert will take place on November 11 at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, bringing many of the UAE’s favorite Korean artists and groups to the region for the first time ever.
Below, get to know the lineup ahead of their highly-awaited performances.
Enhypen
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
The seven-member boy group consisting of Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki is the headlining act of the K-Fest. Having made its debut in 2020 after winning the survival competition show I-Land, Enhypen has become widely popular for its dark and moody concepts, chart-topping tracks, and various other ventures which include brand ambassadorship of Prada.
Sunmi
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
A solo powerhouse, Sunmi is a former member of the group Wonder Girls, and is known for her unique genre of music dubbed “Sunmi-pop”. The 31-year-old has lent her voice to a repertoire of globally hit singles and albums, including “Gashina”, “Siren”, and Warning, which was named the third best K-pop album of 2018 by Billboard. Her accomplishments include winning the prestigious Mnet Asian Music Awards for Best Female Artist (2018).
Epik High
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
Beloved by fans of old-school and alternative Korean hip-hop, Epik High is a three-member group including Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, which made its debut in 2001. With a large number of award wins under their belt, alongside a series of hit collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry such as BTS’s RM and Suga, Crush, IU, and Hwasa, the trio is known for its stirring lyrics, and snappy beats.
DPR Ian
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
Christian Yu, also known as DPR Ian, started his musical journey with the K-Pop group C-Clown, and after its disbandment, went on to launch his very own label Dream Perfect Regime with fellow artists Live, Cream, and REM. The 32-year-old Australian’s discography features work that tells the raw and unfiltered story of his own life experience as Ian, and his alter ego, Mito born out of his bipolar disorder diagnosis. Known for his hit tracks like “No Blueberries”, “So Beautiful”, and “Ballroom Extravaganza”, Ian earned the spot of the 10th most streamed K-Pop Male Solo Artist Globally on Spotify in 2022.
XG
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
Despite being fairly new to the music scene, XG consisting of seven members Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Juria, Cocona, Maya, and Harvey, has taken the industry by storm. Known for its fresh new sound, the Japanese girl group is behind some of the most viral tracks on the internet, including its rap cypher video Galz Xypher. In 2022, the group went on to win the Rising Star Award at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
Cherry Bullet
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
Seven-member girl group Cherry Bullet debuted in 2019, and has since won over its very own legion of fans with its uptempo dance-pop genre which blends disco, rap, and funk. Following its 2020 hit song “Hands Up”, members Haeyoon, Yuju, Bora, Jiwon, Remi, Chaerin and May released their third EP Cherry Dash, and its lead single “P.O.W! (Play On the World)” earlier this year, which is being loved for its playful concept.
Peakboy
Photo: Courtesy of Hyperound
Taking the Hyperound K-Fest stage once again this year, rapper Peakboy is best known for his viral song “Gyopo Hairstyle”, the music video for which features Han Hyun-min, Choi Woo-Shik, Park Seo-Joon, Park Hyung-Sik, and V of BTS. The 34-year-old has made a name for himself in the K-rap industry with impactful lyrics derived from his own life, and an incredible talent for rapping, and record-production.
Pre-sale registration for Hyperound K-Fest Abu Dhabi 2023 is currently on at Etihadarena.ae and Platinumlist.net
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