Members of girl band SPICA, from left, Kim Bo A, Park Na Rae, Yang Ji Won, Kim Bo Hyung and Park Si Hyun. Courtesy MMK Network
Members of girl band SPICA, from left, Kim Bo A, Park Na Rae, Yang Ji Won, Kim Bo Hyung and Park Si Hyun. Courtesy MMK Network
Members of girl band SPICA, from left, Kim Bo A, Park Na Rae, Yang Ji Won, Kim Bo Hyung and Park Si Hyun. Courtesy MMK Network
Members of girl band SPICA, from left, Kim Bo A, Park Na Rae, Yang Ji Won, Kim Bo Hyung and Park Si Hyun. Courtesy MMK Network

K-pop girl band SPICA lead the way at KCON 2016 Abu Dhabi


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Few people could have predicted the global explosion of the Korean cultural wave (Hallyu). Take K-pop, which has enjoyed an international market for decades. But the past few years – and the rise of streaming services – has seen an already contagious virus go epidemic. Between 2008 and 2012 the international revenue banked from K-pop increased an ­incredible 14 times over (from Dh60 million to Dh860 million).

Among the most concrete proof of the genre’s role in popular culture can be found in the sudden growth of KCon. The first edition of the Korean music and culture festival was held in California in late 2012, attracting 10,000 visitors. A year later the audience doubled, then jumped to 42,000 again in 2014. By 2015, the concept launched in Japan and at home in Korea, and had grown bigger in Los Angeles, with 58,000 fans in attendance.

On Friday, KCon lands in Abu Dhabi for the first time, with an all-day event at du Arena.

Among the headline attractions are SPICA, a five-piece girl group who mix contemporary ­electro-pop with retro soul ­influences.

It marks the band’s third KCon concert, following gigs in Los ­Angeles and Seoul.

“KCon is a total package with Korea in its centre,” says band member Bohyun Kim. “I think it acts a bridge to Korean culture by providing a multidimensional experience. Our fans, for example, come to KCON to see us perform but they get to experience Korean food, technology and service in the course of the day.”

It will mark the quintet’s first concert in the emirates, and the girls face a certain weight of anticipation ahead of the debut.

To mark the special occasion, the band have prepared a specially arranged version of 2014's retro soul-infused hit You Don't Love Me, said Sihyun Park.

Featuring a catchy English-­language chorus, You Don't Love Me notably broadened the group's international following. The follow-up I Did It was aimed squarely at the US market, sung entirely in English, a language the girls admit they are yet to master.

“It is not easy for sure,” confesses bandleader Boa Kim. “Word-by-word translation is not enough to deliver the original song’s undertone. It requires different approaches and expressions.”

“We don’t want it to be another Korean song translated in English,” says Bohyun Kim. “It may not be perfect, but we try our best to make it natural to our fans ­outside Korea.”

Like most K-pop acts, SPICA were a manufactured group, put together by B2M Entertainment in 2012, releasing EPs Russian Roulette and Lonely the very same year. Their biggest hit, Tonight, came a year later.

Such a genesis could breed rivalries and resentments, but the group insist they are of the “stronger together” school.

“We were just five random people with only one thing in common, a dream to become a musician,” says Jiwon Yang. “Now we all work together as SPICA; I don’t think it was just a coincidence.”

Looking at the other artists on the KCon bill – solo performances from Girls Generation’s Taeyeon and Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, plus a reunion from members of SS501 (now dubbed SS301) after extensive solo work – it seems inevitable that the time will come when the members of SPICA will each go their own way.

“I think all our members have great capabilities as a solo artist,” says Jiwon Yang. “But I don’t think our career as a group and as solo artists are incompatible.”

For now all energies are focused on the present.

“I personally think this is a new start for SPICA,” says Jiwon Yang. “And KCon Abu Dhabi will be a great starting point.”

rgarratt@thenational.ae

ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJustine%20Triet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESandra%20Huller%2C%20Swann%20Arlaud%2C%20Milo%20Machado-Graner%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Uefa Champions League last 16 draw

Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur

Basel v Manchester City

Sevilla v  Manchester United

Porto v Liverpool

Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain

Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma

Chelsea v Barcelona

Bayern Munich v Besiktas

Challenge Cup result:

1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206-cylinder%203-litre%2C%20with%20petrol%20and%20diesel%20variants%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20286hp%20(petrol)%2C%20249hp%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%20(petrol)%2C%20550Nm%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EStarting%20at%20%2469%2C800%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW

Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2

Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC

Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

Notable Yas events in 2017/18

October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)

December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race

March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event

March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge