Each and every fan, if asked ‘is it possible to overdose on K-pop?’, is most likely to deliver a strong ‘no’. The Korean craze among millions of global fans has made K-pop and Korean culture a significant trend across the globe.
Dubai hosted the ‘K-pop Overdose‘ concert on January 14, luring hundreds of spectators. Xiumin, Chen and Chanyeol from the hugely-popular boy band EXO performed on their solo hits. DJ Raiden, a prominent Korean DJ, instrumentalist and music producer, also joined.
The name of the concert is a callback to one of the K-pop group’s most popular tracks, ‘Overdose’. Released in 2014, the song is a snapshot of the year, featuring bright lights, electronic music, gravity-defying hairstyles and phenomenal performances.
Fast-forward 10 years, and the members have come a long way. Xiumin, Chen and Chanyeol have re-entered the industry after completing their mandatory military service. Khaleej Times has gathered the stars’ thoughts about the upcoming year. Read on.
K-pop idols and DJ Raiden talk interests and upcoming projects
Chen said “it’s fascinating to see how much love the fans have for me here,” adding he has been trying a lot of different genres for his projects. “I haven’t been given roses in a long time,” he noted, highlighting how his fans greeted him with roses at the airport.
Meanwhile, Xiumin said “it has been 12 years since I made my debut, but I still feel like I haven’t shown fans my full potential yet.” This year, the star plans to try many new things, both in musical genres and also in live activities.
Chanyeol has several solos that performed remarkably great. “In my upcoming solo album, I want to explore new types of music,” he said. “This year I’m focused on being genuine and honest, and I hope that comes through in my work.”
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The Khaleej Times also talked to DJ Raiden, asking him about his interests. He said he used to play the guitar as a member in a band and now gets to handle equipment, noting “the feeling is very different”. “I have been getting close to Chanyeol,” the DJ further mentioned.