Boy Group TWS Kicks Off Grammy Museum’s “Hybe: We Believe In Music” K-Pop Exhibit With a Bang

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As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for K-Pop and a soft spot for budding stars, I must say, witnessing the meteoric rise of TWS from their first KCON L.A. performance to gracing the Grammy Museum’s pop-up exhibit was nothing short of exhilarating!

On August 1st, TWS, the six-member boy band from Hybe’s subsidiary label Pledis Entertainment, assembled before a big portrait of themselves that was displayed at the Grammy Museum’s current temporary display.

To mark the grand opening of the museum’s much-awaited “Hybe: We Believe In Music, A Grammy Museum Pop-Up,” the newcomer band took part in the Global Spin Live performance series. In an unexpected twist for the series, the concert was held on the rooftop of the downtown LA museum. Guests enjoyed a variety of refreshments such as Japchae, a well-loved Korean dish made with stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables, fried chicken, and other treats.

The newcomer band, consisting of Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, Kyungmin, had just concluded their first KCON L.A. adventure. For Twice (who made their debut in January), the K-Pop event represented a significant leap forward in terms of their international impact. As Jihoon noted, it served as motivation for the group to continue growing and improving together.

“The young performer shared with The Hollywood Reporter that performing at the festival was simply fantastic. He mentioned that it was their inaugural stage appearance in the U.S., so they gained valuable insights. Throughout the weekend, the group took the stage multiple times, including a unique performance synchronized with The CW’s live broadcast on the final night’s concert at Cyrpto.com Arena.”

In the Grammy Museum, TWS engaged in a private chat with moderator Emily Mei, delighting an exclusive audience who swiftly grabbed tickets before they vanished. The band showcased numerous tracks, among them their initial hit “plot twist,” from their EP titled “Sparkling Blue“. Remaining popular in Korea even six months post-release, this song currently ranks at No. 17 on the Korean streaming and digital song charts (Circle Chart). Their recent single, “If I’m S, Can You Be My N?”, was launched in June and is still ascending the Korean charts, presently occupying the mid-20s on the streaming and digital charts.

The initial triumph of “Sparkling Blue” has been thrilling for the six artists, yet they admitted having a blend of emotions while crafting their latest EP, titled “Summer Beat.” Dohoon shared with THR through an interpreter, “We felt both exhilarated and apprehensive, so it was a combination of feelings. Our main goal was to concentrate on our best work.”

In the latter part of TWS’s inaugural year, they continue to exhibit humility and enthusiasm about the future. As Kyungmin put it, “Everything is fresh and exciting for us. It’s been a fantastic journey so far, and we’re thankful for the chances that have come our way.”

After the boy band’s concert ended, fans were given exclusive access to preview the Grammy Museum’s latest Hybe-focused K-Pop pop-up exhibit titled “Hybe: We Believe In Music.” This exhibit, which highlights various groups from the Korean entertainment conglomerate’s sub-labels, is an extension of the museum’s two-year initiative to display exhibits and programming dedicated to K-Pop.

The grand unveiling of the latest exhibition took place on August 2. This showcase highlights popular K-pop groups such as BTS, Seventeen, Tomorrow x Together (TXT), Enhypen, Le Sserafim, Zico, fromis_9, Boynextdoor, TWS, &Team, Illit and Katseye, spanning approximately 12 years of K-pop history.

BTS holds a significant space within this showcase. Two ensembles from the seven-member boy band are showcased – one from their album “Proof” anthology version, and another from the “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” music video. The display also includes a chronological account of the supergroup’s journey to global fame since their debut in 2013, along with over 70 polaroids of the band taken in 2018.

As a gaming enthusiast diving into the world of K-pop fashion, I’ve stumbled upon an immersive experience featuring outfits straight from some of my favorite music videos. It includes ensembles from Seventeen’s “Maestro,” Tomorrow X Together’s “Sugar Rush Ride,” Enhypen’s “Sweet Venom,” and Le Sserafim’s “Easy.”

At every section within the exhibit, music videos of various groups are constantly playing on screens. To enhance visitor engagement, the Grammy Museum added a karaoke room, where attendees can sing along to hits like “Dynamite” by BTS, “LO$ER=LO♡ER” by TXT, and “Aju Nice” by Seventeen. Furthermore, there’s also a dance room featuring repeated snippets of music videos. In the dance room, items associated with Hybe’s chairman, Bang Si-Hyuk (also known as Hitman Bang), are exhibited. These items primarily consist of books that influenced BTS’ song lyrics and album titles.

“The exhibition ‘Hybe: We Champion Music’ at the Grammy Museum continues until September 15th. To gain entry, you’ll need to buy a general admission museum ticket for $20. For more details, please visit the museum’s website.”

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2024-08-06 15:25