Hearts2Hearts

As K-pop continues to move away from maximalist, drop-driven electronic dance music (EDM), house music is reasserting itself as an identity-shaping aesthetic and sound. The shift has become more visible in recent months as rookie acts KiiiKiii and Hearts2Hearts, both of which debuted early last year, placed house at the center of their musical direction. Their releases have fueled renewed discussion among industry watchers that house is once again gaining momentum in K-pop, not as a novelty, but as a familiar and adaptable framework. House music emerged from Chicago’s club scene in the 1980s and is defined by a steady four-on-the-floor kick drum, repetitive rhythmic patterns and restrained melodic structures. Rather than relying on dramatic drops, the genre prioritizes groove and continuity, often producing a sleek, urban atmosphere. These qualities have long made house well suited to K-pop, a form that depends on the close integration of music, choreography and visual concept. In recent years, house’s presence within K-pop has become both more visible and flexible. Variations often

Rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts is poised to release a single, label SM Entertainment said Friday. The group will drop “Rude!” on Feb. 20, about four months after its first EP, “Focus.” It debuted in February 2025 with “The Chase” and added the digital single “Style” in June, followed by a mini album in October. The group took home seven rookie awards by the end of the year and was a candidate for best new artist (K-pop) at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards. On Feb. 21-22, the eight members will

SINGAPORE — On a lively weekend afternoon beneath Marina Bay Sands, there is no stage, no spotlight and no audience in the conventional sense. Still, familiar music fills the underground concourse. A group of teenage girls moves in sync to rookie K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts’ “Focus,” counting beats under their breath. A few meters away, another dance team rehearses choreography to TWICE’s “Feel Special,” adjusting their formation as shoppers pass by. No one appears surprised. Scenes like this now unfold routinely across Singapore, not only in landmark spaces but near everyday malls and underground transit corridors. During a recent visit, pop-up stores dedicated to K-pop operated by major Korean labels like SM Entertainment appeared alongside cafes, fashion and lifestyle brand stores, drawing steady foot traffic. What emerges here is not a city hosting a temporary cultural event, but one in which K-pop has settled into daily life. As that presence becomes more visible across shared urban spaces, it has also begun to shape how Singapore positions itself as a destination

MBC’s upcoming overseas concert event, “Show! Music Core in Macau,” has been officially canceled, the broadcaster announced Wednesday. The event was originally scheduled to take place over two days on Feb. 7 and 8 at Galaxy Arena in Macao. MBC had previously announced that the artist lineup would include K-pop groups such as BoyNextDoor, Enhypen, Le Sserafim, Mark, WayV, Zerobaseone, Alpha Drive One, Hearts2Hearts, Izna, KickFlip and StayC. However, several Japanese members of the participating