Content
Like last month, there’s nothing to report here. I’ve been incredibly busy since returning from Tokyo in May, and only now have I had some time to gather my thoughts and catch up on what I’ve been backlogged on. I’ll be doing my best to clear out my queue of to-do items before my trip back to Tokyo to see LE SSERAFIM in November.
Events
I bought the livestream of tripleS’ A LIVE 25 concerts from Jangchung Arena in Korea. While I would have loved to attend either of the Korean or Japanese shows in person, it was too soon after XG, and the possibility of getting time off from work was not great.
I have only seen an 8-member tripleS split squad live, so seeing the entire group together in one place for a show was a completely different experience, even if it was just on a computer screen. What a great show. I have resolved to go to Korea or Japan for the 2026 24-member show, as it’s unlikely that all 24 members will be able to tour outside of Asia.
The expense for that is just too much, and a lot of objekts and stuff would have to be sold to fans to even raise enough money for such a venture.
Continuing with tripleS, I bought tickets to their Alphie World Tour stop in Vancouver in September. So I’ll be a little closer to home, unlike earlier in the year when I went to Houston for the Come True tour. Sadly, the ticketing for the venue was handled through Ticketmaster/Live Nation, so I had to settle for the seats I wanted being assigned at platinum pricing almost immediately. However, I reached the first two rows, so my mission was accomplished, even if it was a little more than what I wanted to spend.
Music
Remixes/Productions
This is where the majority of my time was dedicated in July. Hence, the whole reason for the backlog piling up for site content. I entered another SURF MUSIC remix contest, this time to breathe new life into Tommy february6’s Lonely In Gorgeous. Unlike with the m-flo remix, I had a bit more time to tweak the mix closer to my vision.
I also submitted a song to LDH for use by PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE. This one had a really tight deadline, so I had to work extra hard to ensure my submission met the qualifications and was submitted on time. Lastly, I submitted a song that’s groovy, warm, and uplifting, with a vintage (analog) mood, for a new K-pop girl group.
I wish I could speak more about these, but since they’re all under the judging/consideration phase, I’ll just have to be vague until I find out the fate of my submissions.
Below are my favourites from July 2025
Albums
IVE – BE ALRIGHT
IVE’s third EP is more like a glorified single, featuring two original Japanese songs and Japanese-language versions of select songs from their Korean discography. The focus tracks for me were the first two songs on the EP.
Of the two new Japanese songs, I prefer the title track, BE ALRIGHT. This slice of up-tempo funk gets in your head pretty quickly. Its music video is also more than the average dance in front of set pieces in pretty outfits. It has a bit of a story to follow, which is something I appreciate for idol releases.
JO YURI – EPISODE 25
YENA – BLOOMING WINGS
Two thirds of IZ*ONE’S Jo Yuriz trio released albums in July and both are complete opposites of each other yet are also incredibly enojyable albums. Episode 25 is full of slick pop productions that wrap themselves around Jo Yuri’s voice, while Blooming Wings continues to accentuate YENA’s playful charms through sweet pop songs.
Songs
These are the singles or album cuts that caught my ear in July.
aespa – Dark Arts
BABYMETAL feat. Bloodywood – KON! KON!
BABYMONSTER – HOT SAUCE
Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan – Silence (John Summit Remix)
HUNTR/X – GOLDEN (David Guetta Remix)
HYO – YES
IS:SUE – KO-E
IVE – Be Alright
MEOVV – ME ME ME
Nogizaka46 – Same Numbers
Perfume – Meguru-pu
SOYOU – PDA
