Headlining an international festival with 2.5 million viewers after starting out at a company that had  only 20 employees sounds like a heartwarming movie plot — but for ATEEZ, an eight-member group from KQ Entertainment, it’s reality.

While the group has amassed many accolades and praise in the recent past, they started out not knowing if they were even going to make it to releasing their second album. In 2017, the K-Pop scene was starting to gain immense traction in the West due to its online presence, and groups from small companies were just on the cusp of being able to create a footing for themselves. ATEEZ was one of the groups vying for a chance to show their talents to a global audience.

In 2020, the rock band ZION was formed in Tokyo, Japan. The group is composed of Tatsuya Mitsumura (vocal, guitar), Keisuke Kushino (guitar), Sachio Yoshizawa (guitar), Taichi Naruhashi (drums), and Shinnosuke Sato (bass). The band takes its name from Zion National Park in the U.S. Drawing from the Hebrew word for "sanctuary," the park's beauty became a muse for the group. The members were inspired by the scenery, smell, and aura that the rocky mountains bring about.

Music has long served as a powerful platform for amplifying the voices of minorities and marginalized communities. Take hip-hop, for example. The genre originated in the Bronx as an attempt to give an outlet to convey the struggles of the African-American people. Similarly, the queer community has been using the art of music to express itself and gain acceptance in society. In India, the united voice of the queer community resonates across the landscape, transcending linguistic differences. As such, music has evolved beyond mere notes and words, becoming an essential part of the queer community's identity in India, helping them be heard one mellifluous tone at a time. As Pride Month concludes, we celebrate some of the queer artists from India who have made waves with their musical brilliance.

Japanese rock band HY was formed in their hometown of Higashi-Yakena, Okinawa, in 2000, when they were high school students. All of them are from Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The band is currently composed of HIDEYUKI SHINZATO (Vocal & Guitar), SHUN NAKA (Drums), SHINSUKE KYODA (Bass), and IZUMI NAKASONE (Keyboard & Vocal). Their distinctive features include vocals performed by male and female members, a rarity in Japanese bands, and the composition based on their regional culture.

PENTAGON member KINO has pursued several notable solo projects alongside his group activities. This past month, KINO made his official solo debut with the release of his fresh and exciting new EP. From the first concept photo, the vision of KINO’s solo debut EP was clear — it would be something unique, something new, and something quintessentially KINO.

Japanese rock band [Alexandros] was formed in 2001. After they graduated from school, the members started working but continued to play in bands. To develop their music career further, they began living together. Building their career by performing in various live houses and busking on the streets, [Alexandros] eventually debuted in 2010 with “city” under RX-RECORDS, a Japanese indie label established by UK.PROJECT. Though their journey was lengthy, it strengthened their unity and solidified their identity as a band.