The Masquerade, a venue that typically hosts alternative and punk artists, was met with a night of K-pop passion with OnlyOneOf’s show on April 6. The six members are known for their sultry and powerful performances that appeal to all types of fans, but the group especially resonates with the K-pop fans who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

OnlyOneOf has broken barriers within the fairly conservative South Korean industry by creating music and videos that display homosexual relationships and have openly shown support for the community. This could definitely be seen with the large amounts of pride flags that fans brought into the venue to wave around and throw at the members for them to carry. 

This is the group’s first U.S. tour, and fans have been waiting since their debut in 2019. From the jump, this group showed how different they are from typical K-pop boy groups with their debut song “savanna” using curse words and having a sensual message. 

The group, made up of members KB, Rie, Yoojung, Junji, Mill and Nine, made the small venue their home, utilizing all the space for their dynamic choreography. They started off by performing “seOul drift,” which was further amped up with a background showing bits of the music video and a cyberpunk cityscape. 

They then jumped into their debut song, which brought a lot of energy to the crowd, as they got to see the song that established the brand and message of the group almost four years later. The growth OnlyOneOf has undergone is admirable, and that could be seen in their confidence and stage presence. 

The outfits worn were typical attire from the group — mesh and leather suits with various cut outs to showcase abs. The duality of their presence was another feature that makes the group so unique as they look intimidating and powerful in their stage outfits and while dancing; during breaks, they were giggling and playful with the crowd. 

A few highlights from the show were, of course, the iconic “libidO” stage, which went viral and created global buzz for the group. As it was the group’s first time in Atlanta, they were fascinated with the “A town” phrase and symbol, sprinkling it in throughout the show. KB in particular was interested in using common slang by saying “slay” and incorrectly using “period” much to the amusement of the audience. 

It was also Junji’s birthday and the other members surprised him with a cake. The audience all sang to him, creating a memorable and intimate moment. Junji himself said that it was his best birthday ever. 

The night ended with a few fan favorites like “a sOng Of ice&fire” and during the encore “OnlyOneOf yOu,” where everyone raised their phones’ lights to create a galaxy for the group. It was then when audience members tossed gifts onto the stage for the group, like plushies and flowers. A last sweet moment was the youngest member waving a trans flag before running off the stage to join the rest of his group. 

Overall it was a night filled with passion, ab-flashing and great vibes. It would be impossible to leave the concert without a feeling of exhaustion and joy after seeing such a unique group.

On Apr. 1, Atlanta was thrown back into the early 2000s with the arrival of the pop punk band Meet Me @ the Altar at The Masquerade. Made up of drummer Ada Juarez, guitarist Téa Campbell and vocalist Edith Victoria, the all-girl trio group formed in 2015, and their music is heavily influenced by nostalgic emo/pop-punk sounds. 

In 2020, they were signed by the record label Fueled by Ramen which represents artists like Twenty One Pilots and Fall Out Boy among many others. 

As fans filed in, familiar favorites like Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” and “7 Things” by Miley Cyrus blasted through the intimate venue, setting the mood for the rest of the night. There were two openers before the headliner and first up was Daisy Grenade. Like their name implies, the set was an explosion.

The bubblegum grunge duo, with lead vocalists Dani Nigro and Keaton Whittaker captivated the crowd simply with their presence and powerful vocals. Lights darkened and drums and electric guitar echoed through the venue as Daisy Grenade started with no warning, screaming, “What is up Atlanta! We are Daisy Grenade and this is ‘Cyanide!’” 

The song’s repeated phrase, “you know I like to riot,” resonated with the crowd, audience members jumping and crowd-surfing, showing just how much they like to riot. The next song was “Cult Classic,” which showcased the great chemistry between the duo and the audience; the singers started a call-and-response, telling the crowd to repeat the phrase “bite my tongue and fill my mouth with blood, I like the taste of everything you hate.”

After the screaming and grungy vocals that the duo specializes in, Daisy Grenade switched to a ballad, and the lights switched to a soft purple as a disco ball spread stars across the venue. The softer vibe matched the singing perfectly, and the duo was able to control tone and pitch to match harmonies both in ballads and screams. Daisy Grenade’s music and energy are a wonderful combination of glitter and broken glass, as the girls are unequivocally themselves and proud of the light and darkness within them. 

After Daisy Grenade’s set, intermission began to set up for the next opener, Young Culture. The group comprises Alex Magnan, Troy Burchett and Gabe Pietrafesa; their banner hung above the stage, and the kindergarten-esque graphics gave a hint of the fresh and bouncy set that was to come. The three-member rock band has a skater-boy-next-door look and a sound reminiscent of The 1975’s “Chocolate” era combined with The Maine.

The audience seemed to be familiar with the band, as straight from the jump, various people were singing along and jumping to the beat of the music. The lead vocalist, Magnan, mentioned that the group had previously played in the same venue to only five people and now are playing at a sold out show, saying, “this just goes to show what can happen.”

The young and fresh vibe of their set kept the audience’s cries amped and energy up, which goes to show that their name is fitting for the experience they bring to the audience. Once again, crowd-surfing was in the mix as various audience members were moved along safely. According to the band, Young Culture’s recent album, “You Had to Be There,” is meant to be full of songs that should be sung “in places like this with people we love and who want to get to know us.” Their set ended rather rambunctiously with the lead vocalist jumping back first into the crowd and being carried back to the stage, all while still singing. 

The final intermission began as the crowd anxiously waited for the headliner. Screams erupted as the banner from Young Culture was pulled down to reveal the Meet Me @ the Altar logo. There was a short wait with iconic songs like “Vroom Vroom” by Charli XCX blasted over the speakers, getting the crowd hyped. One by one, the members emerged with screams growing with each entrance. Juarez entered first and began setting up their drum set; Campbell came next, practiced a few chords and set up their multiple guitars before heading backstage again. 

The orange and purple lights illuminated the stage, and a heavy bass sound filled the venue, vibrating while an overhead announcement gave a warning for what to expect and asking the audience if they were ready. The trio emerged straight away, singing “Say It (To My Face).”

The crowd was alive, filled with the contagious energy of the group, as the band’s sound resonates heavily with the Atlanta alternative scene. You could see how much the city loves the group, especially since this is their lead singer’s hometown. They were greeted warmly in the proper fashion with screams, and of course, more crowd-surfing. 

As an April Fools’ joke, after two songs the trio got up and thanked the audience for coming, leaving as the lights shut off. After around 15 seconds, they came back laughing, and the lead singer said, “JK guys, don’t worry, there’s plenty more.” The lead vocalist, Victoria, is immediately recognizable for her braids and hairstyles; for this tour, her hair was bright green and glowed in the dark with a green microphone to match. 

During a break, Victoria took the opportunity to talk to the audience. “When people ask me what I do … I’m not only in a band but an all-girl band, not only because I love women but we’re also the best, and my opinion is right,” Victoria said. She then introduced the next song called “Hit Like a Girl” and told the crowd to open up the pit “for just girlies and theydies.” It was a wild affair with the audience splitting open, creating a circle with people running around and bumping into each other in the center. Opening the mosh pit is a common practice in concerts, especially for alternative and rap shows, and it allows concertgoers to expel pent up energy that matches the music. Once the pit closed back up, Victoria said that with every show, the group likes to compare girl pits versus regular pits. “It’s funny ‘cause girl pits are so polite,” she said. 

The next song was “T.M.I,” which has sad lyrics but great energy, translating into sad rage. Victoria said that when they played that song in Chicago, everyone already knew the song even though it was just released. “Y’all hate yourself a lot,” Victoria joked, and the crowd cheered and yelled, “sad gang.”

The trio had a moment to showcase their talents and their favorite songs, starting with Victoria. The singer said her favorite vocalist is Alanis Morissette and transitioned into a short cover of “You Oughta Know” in her own style. The sequence continued with the drummer, Juarez, up next, and she said her favorite song is Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated.” Finally, guitarist Campbell said that her favorite song is “Take Me Away” from the movie “Freaky Friday.” This song was a fan favorite as Lindsey Lohan’s character serves as a fashion icon for many people who are into the grunge and alternative scene. 

Throughout the show, Victoria would periodically ask if the crowd was okay. Through a quick story time, the audience learned that when she was 14, she went to her first show at the Tabernacle. Suddenly, she found herself in the pit and thought she almost died, so she likes to check in on the audience a lot. That being said, the next song, “May the Odds Be in Your Favor,” riled the crowd up, with multiple pits being made and five people crowd-surfing at the same time. The lyric, “Don’t cross the line,” from the song matched the environment as everyone was safely going against the status quo and raging with the music. 

The band wanted to give the crowd and themselves a bit of a breather after going so hard, so they went for just vocals, acoustic guitar and simple hand drumming. This, once again, showcases the diversity of the band’s talents and how flexible and comfortable they are in different styles and levels of production. Overall, it was a memorable night filled with storytimes, jokes, good vibes and, of course, great music. With pop punk gaining relevance again, it is great to see a new generation of musicians creating nostalgic sounds with their own unique twists; there is a great future ahead for Meet Me @ the Altar.

On March 11, Epik High returned to Atlanta after their visit around the same time last year when they performed at The Tabernacle, but this time they were welcomed with a bigger venue at the Coca-Cola Roxy. Composed of three members, Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz, the trio made a comeback with a new EP and tour titled “An Evening With Epik High,” and it truly was a unique, intimate and explosive night. 

Epik High’s members are veterans of the South Korean music industry, often regarded as the “fathers of K-pop” due to their groundbreaking style and their influence on countless K-pop artists like BTS and SEVENTEEN. 

The hip-hop trio Epik High debuted in 2001, a time when hip-hop was not widely known or accepted in South Korea. They released their first studio album “Map of the Human Soul” in 2003, followed by “High Society” the following year to minor success. The trio are known for their complex (and often bilingual lyrics) and sample-heavy production, but they did not receive recognition and were even censored in the earlier days of their careers. 

The group started to receive more mainstream attention in 2005 with their third album “Swan Songs” which was intended to be their last. It featured the hit single “Fly,” a song about feeling drained from the pressures of life and choosing to follow one’s dreams. 

After this success, in 2007, Epik High released one of their most experimental albums, “Remapping the Human Soul.” It was a genre-less project that focused on the music but was allegedly censored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism due to the themes of crime, societal ills, religion and education. 

While the album was not well received by officials, it gained commercial success and established Epik High as one of the top hip-hop groups in South Korea. Since then, the group has helped to introduce different sounds into mainstream K-pop and K-hip-hop, most notably genre-blending with rock and classical music. They are also often credited with influencing the incorporation of rap verses within K-pop songs, as nowadays both boy and girl groups often have a designated rapper. 

​​The moment the lights went down at the Atlanta show, the only thing that was audible was the screams of excitement — before the launch into an episode of The Tablo Podcast that projected across the stage. The podcast is hosted by Tablo from the group and is filled with stories, life lessons and deep conversations with special guests. 

The episode was set up in a classic style with Tablo and his guest, this time being his label’s CEO and friend Eddie Nam, sitting on a couch and chatting. Their topic of conversation was about Atlanta, their thoughts on the city and expectations for the show. With snippets of famous vines and hilarious editing during the segment, the audience learned that Tablo loves Atlanta, its take on Korean barbeque and the people who can switch from kind to wild in a matter of seconds. 

The crowd roared at the mention of the nature of Atlanta, proving just how much energy and love the city had for the trio. The venue was packed with fans of all ages and demographics, showcasing the reach that the group’s lyrics and sound have. 

“You know there are times where I usually didn’t give it my all, but tonight, I’m gonna give my 5,000%,”  Tablo said to Nam. 

With that, the venue lit up again, and fans had a brief chance to regroup and fill with excitement, knowing that the show was getting closer to starting. After a short while, the lights dimmed again, and an announcer-like voice told the crowd to get ready for a night filled with a plethora of emotions and energy and prepare for an evening with Epik High.

Right off the bat, the trio brought the energy they promised, starting the set with “Strawberry” from their latest EP. In classic Epik High fashion, the trio was high-spirited, funny and great with the crowd. They introduced themselves with a dramatic backtrack as one of the members made exaggerated titles like “professional producer” and “best shuffle dancer.”

They continued the concert by bringing back some of their well-loved older songs like “Fly” and “Map the Soul.” The crowd loved it, loudly singing along and raising their hands up and down to the beat. It was then that the trio got a taste of some Atlanta traditions with K-pop shows, which include the city’s iconic barking. Rather than just scream from excitement, Atlanta K-pop concertgoers often go “woo woo woo” to cheer for artists. 

It is not completely known where the origin of this tradition came from but it is extremely common, but it can catch artists off guard and this was especially the case for Tablo. 

“Did you guys plan this like in a group chat before the show?,” he asked the crowd. The audience laughed and screamed “no” to which Tablo said that Atlanta was “different” and that if any other city tried to copy the tradition, he would end the concert altogether. 

The crowd kept up that energy, even after the sadder songs, to which Tablo jokingly scolded for barking after and said to only bark after hype songs, or he’d laugh and lose focus. 

The pace and transition between songs was interesting, as the members would speak to the audience during breaks but would always end with something that referenced the next song. This was an artistic choice that kept the audience on their toes and made the show feel like a poetic experience. For example, Tablo mentioned rain and the lights dimmed, rain sounds echoed through the venue and the projector showed a rainy cityscape as the music for the song “Umbrella” began. 

The comedic and artistic timing was also perfectly balanced as during one speaking break in the middle of a song, Tablo joked that Mithra Jin had something important to say that he needed to get off his chest, and just as he raised the microphone to his lips, the music immediately started again with Mithra Jin rapping the next verse. 

Despite all the jokes and hype, the concert also had some wholesome moments; when they performed  “Rain Song,” the projector showed the romanized lyrics so audience members could sing along. This particular song is very popular in South Korea with everyone knowing the words and the trio said they were not sure what to expect if they performed it in the U.S. Luckily, the audience was full of people who spoke Korean and others who tried their best for the artists, which visibly touched the trio as they looked on fondly. 

The night ended with some of their very energetic crowd pleasers like “BORN HATER” and “One” with everyone jumping along with the artists and screaming the lyrics. It is amazing to think how Epik High have had around 20 years in the industry and still have love for what they do. It was impossible not to feel their energy and how it bounced off the crowd. The last official song of the night was “Don’t Hate Me,” a genre-bending piece that combines hip-hop and punk rock. It was a fitting end to the night as it reestablished the group’s uniqueness and resilience as they take on a new chapter with more music in the works.

As someone who has lived in Atlanta for approximately three years with no car, public transportation is something I heavily rely on. In my experience as a Tech student, MARTA has been fairly reliable and accessible, but the same cannot be said for all Atlanta residents. Like the vast majority of Atlantans, I do not live within walking distance of a MARTA train station. This is one of the most pressing challenges facing public transportation and it is referenced to by transit experts as the “First and Last Mile Problem.” 

As a major usability issue, this has been addressed by the MARTA Reach program, free shuttles and universities providing their own transportation to specific stations close to campus. 

Tech has been particularly involved in making public transportation more accessible to students, not only through the free shuttles but also in working towards making positive changes to the system like through MARTA Reach. MARTA Reach was a 6-month pilot program that served as an on-demand rideshare from Mar. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2022. This program was meant to test how on-demand shuttles could be utilized to make transportation to MARTA services easier and faster. Since the pilot has concluded, the program is being evaluated and seeing if it will be established as a permanent MARTA service. 

Tech is also making MARTA accessible through their free shuttles with the Gold Line taking riders to the Midtown Station, one of two stations within reasonable walking distance from campus. The TransLoc app allows riders to track all the different buses in real-time and also see how much capacity is left. Another feature is that the app will let you know when the next bus is coming, which saves on time waiting. 

While MARTA is working on being more accessible and efficient, there are some major drawbacks to the current system; the main one being safety. Being that the MARTA is available for everyone to use with a small fee of $2.50 per ride, this also means that people from all walks of life use the system. 

Female presenting individuals and women have often had issues with harassment and stalking on trains, resulting in the need for the slogan “if you see something, say something” to be announced on the multiple times throughout the stations and trips. 

As a fairly androgynous-looking individual, I personally have never experienced any threat on the train, but there are hundreds of MARTA riders with stories and experiences. 

The lack of staff and security both within the stations and inside the trains makes riding feel like a dangerous game of roulette. 

As most MARTA riders will note, taking the train is an experience, to say the least. In my many years of riding, I’ve seen fights, live performances, cosplayers, breakups and a bunch of other interesting things.

In my opinion, taking the MARTA is a necessary part of the Atlanta experience, and that game of roulette is just a risk you have to take. 

My personal tips for a safe passage are to mind your business, stay alert, move if you sense trouble and relish in the fact that a trip across the city costs less than a McDonald’s Big Mac.

“Oh how I’ve missed you Atlanta,” Kimbra roared as she strutted across the stage. On Feb. 10., the intimate yet iconic venue of Terminal West was met with the feral energy of Kimbra. The New Zealand native made her way back to Atlanta this past Friday to share her latest music from her new album, “A Reckoning.” 

Her current sound is loud, strong, sensual and as unapologetic as her presence. Before Kimbra’s set, the opener Tei Shi made her way to the beautifully decorated stage. The vibe was similar to an enchanted forest with vines and leaves covering the set, with a lovely touch of delicate bows wrapped around the microphone stand. Blue and pink lights illuminated the area, creating a calm energy that would quickly change with the switch between artists. 

Tei Shi is a Canadian Colombian singer with music inspired by indie pop, shoegaze and R&B sounds. As a petite person with an almost fairy-like appearance (further enhanced with the set behind her), the rich vocals and powerful belts that came from Tei Shi were surprising and impressive. 

Her music often circulates around themes of love, loss and growth, and she incorporates her background by switching between English and Spanish as she sings. Tei Shi opened with “Alone in the Universe,” a melancholy song on loneliness and the struggles of trying to figure out one’s place. “This song helped me through a really hard time and brought me out of a rut. Being an artist — and a human in general — is lonely but often in that loneliness we find our strength and a way to pull something beautiful out of something hopeless,” Tei Shi said in an interview about the song with Genius Media.

She closed with fan favorite “Bassically,” a sensual and bouncy song from her first EP “Verde.” This song perfectly captures the artist’s range and the uniqueness of her vocals, which sound almost identical to the recording, a feat that can be rare in the days of autotune and lip syncing. 

With the conclusion of Tei Shi’s whimsical indie set, the stage changed to prepare for the headliner Kimbra. The change was quite distinct; even as Tei Shi’s set was more pastel and soft, Kimbra was able to transform the environment with only a switch in lights and her presence. Basked in intense orange lights, Kimbra’s entrance garnered massive roars from the crowd, all chanting her name. 

One could say Kimbra’s vocals are almost Björk-like, albeit mixed with more rage. Combined with a soundboard that she uses live on stage, the timbre of her vocals are truly unique. She started the show by expressing how much she missed Atlanta, praising the city for its soul. The crowd’s cheers grew even louder, trying to make Kimbra’s current visit even more memorable than the last. 

There is a lot of thought put into the messages and lyrics of Kimbra’s songs, and the artist took the time to give insight into the making of the album and anecdotes about why she made the songs she was about to perform. 

“I’ve been thinking a lot about attention, the power of attention. And it’s rare these days, because we’re, you know, we’re all everywhere and we are all distracted. But when we can do together like this, which we haven’t been able to do for so long, you know … we get to create a space tonight, a culture of our own here in this room. And I want to facilitate a space where you have permission to go into those feelings, those hard feelings,” Kimbra said to the audience. 

She told the crowd that those hard feelings she referenced have been hard for her to confront, which she called a reckoning, thus creating the name of the album. Kimbra noted that there’s so much violence in the world, but she wanted to focus on present life and not getting stuck in the past. 

“I was thinking a lot about catharsis and also about loops, how scary it is to feel on a loop. You know, where you can’t break your cycle. You’re trying so hard to evolve. Oh Lord, and it gets some noisy ups in there. So instead of living with all the noise, I just make noisy songs,” Kimbra said.

She mainly performed music from her latest album like “replay!,” which focused on catharsis and “foolish thinking,” which she said is a song dedicated to her future daughter. Kimbra also decided to revive an older song and performed “Settle Down” from her 2011 album titled “Vows.” This song was received extremely well by the audience as it is one of the artist’s most popular songs. It focuses on the cycle of childhood and adulthood and the pains of reality. 

The show was an experience to say the least. If you are a fan of loud, in-your-face music that makes you question your existence and even find hope in your future, you should definitely give Kimbra a listen.

“Oh how I’ve missed you Atlanta,” Kimbra roared as she strutted across the stage. On Feb. 10., the intimate yet iconic venue of Terminal West was met with the feral energy of Kimbra. The New Zealand native made her way back to Atlanta this past Friday to share her latest music from her new album, “A Reckoning.” 

Her current sound is loud, strong, sensual and as unapologetic as her presence. Before Kimbra’s set, the opener Tei Shi made her way to the beautifully decorated stage. The vibe was similar to an enchanted forest with vines and leaves covering the set, with a lovely touch of delicate bows wrapped around the microphone stand. Blue and pink lights illuminated the area, creating a calm energy that would quickly change with the switch between artists. 

Tei Shi is a Canadian Colombian singer with music inspired by indie pop, shoegaze and R&B sounds. As a petite person with an almost fairy-like appearance (further enhanced with the set behind her), the rich vocals and powerful belts that came from Tei Shi were surprising and impressive. 

Her music often circulates around themes of love, loss and growth, and she incorporates her background by switching between English and Spanish as she sings. Tei Shi opened with “Alone in the Universe,” a melancholy song on loneliness and the struggles of trying to figure out one’s place. “This song helped me through a really hard time and brought me out of a rut. Being an artist — and a human in general — is lonely but often in that loneliness we find our strength and a way to pull something beautiful out of something hopeless,” Tei Shi said in an interview about the song with Genius Media.

She closed with fan favorite “Bassically,” a sensual and bouncy song from her first EP “Verde.” This song perfectly captures the artist’s range and the uniqueness of her vocals, which sound almost identical to the recording, a feat that can be rare in the days of autotune and lip syncing. 

With the conclusion of Tei Shi’s whimsical indie set, the stage changed to prepare for the headliner Kimbra. The change was quite distinct; even as Tei Shi’s set was more pastel and soft, Kimbra was able to transform the environment with only a switch in lights and her presence. Basked in intense orange lights, Kimbra’s entrance garnered massive roars from the crowd, all chanting her name. 

One could say Kimbra’s vocals are almost Björk-like, albeit mixed with more rage. Combined with a soundboard that she uses live on stage, the timbre of her vocals are truly unique. She started the show by expressing how much she missed Atlanta, praising the city for its soul. The crowd’s cheers grew even louder, trying to make Kimbra’s current visit even more memorable than the last. 

There is a lot of thought put into the messages and lyrics of Kimbra’s songs, and the artist took the time to give insight into the making of the album and anecdotes about why she made the songs she was about to perform. 

“I’ve been thinking a lot about attention, the power of attention. And it’s rare these days, because we’re, you know, we’re all everywhere and we are all distracted. But when we can do together like this, which we haven’t been able to do for so long, you know … we get to create a space tonight, a culture of our own here in this room. And I want to facilitate a space where you have permission to go into those feelings, those hard feelings,” Kimbra said to the audience. 

She told the crowd that those hard feelings she referenced have been hard for her to confront, which she called a reckoning, thus creating the name of the album. Kimbra noted that there’s so much violence in the world, but she wanted to focus on present life and not getting stuck in the past. 

“I was thinking a lot about catharsis and also about loops, how scary it is to feel on a loop. You know, where you can’t break your cycle. You’re trying so hard to evolve. Oh Lord, and it gets some noisy ups in there. So instead of living with all the noise, I just make noisy songs,” Kimbra said.

She mainly performed music from her latest album like “replay!,” which focused on catharsis and “foolish thinking,” which she said is a song dedicated to her future daughter. Kimbra also decided to revive an older song and performed “Settle Down” from her 2011 album titled “Vows.” This song was received extremely well by the audience as it is one of the artist’s most popular songs. It focuses on the cycle of childhood and adulthood and the pains of reality. 

The show was an experience to say the least. If you are a fan of loud, in-your-face music that makes you question your existence and even find hope in your future, you should definitely give Kimbra a listen.

NewJeans is a fourth generation girl group under HYBE’s sublabel ADOR. HYBE, a South Korean multinational entertainment company, is the same label that manages big-name groups like BTS, SEVENTEEN and LE SSERAFIM. After the major breakout of the company’s first girl group, LE SSERAFIM, debuted under the label in mid-2022, NewJeans’ launch came as a surprise but was a major success. 

On July 1, ADOR released teasers for a new girl group and announced that they would drop their first content on July 22. Rather than release another teaser or an introduction video as many curious viewers expected, ADOR revealed NewJeans and unveiled their debut music video for “Attention.” 

The group name references the timelessness of denim jeans, which can maintain relevance in fashion and trends as time passes, and their mission to reach that same icon status. It also incorporated the meaning of “New Genes,” showcasing their breaking into the world of K-pop with a fresh and new concept. 

Despite a lack of promotion, NewJean’s debut song and EP gained explosive popularity. Nearly half a million pre-orders were recorded only a few days after pre-order was announced on July 25. The merchandise was particularly unique, with the CDs in circular bags and decorated with graffiti-style art. They sold out by the next day.

Since their debut, NewJeans has dominated both the charts and the hearts of K-pop and non-K-pop fans alike across global markets. They won Best New Artist at the 2022 Melon Music Awards, and have seen major success with the release of the recent song “Ditto,” from their new single album, “OMG.”

The song became NewJeans’ first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 85. 

NewJeans has even become the fastest girl group of all time to receive a Daesang (grand prize) at the annual Asia Artist Awards last month. Many fans on social media have speculated on the unprecedented success of the group, as NewJeans has continuously performed at or above the level of well-established and successful girl groups already in the industry. 

“I don’t even think NewJeans is competition in the industry; everyone just likes them. Even older artists are doing covers of their dances on social media. I think they’re well-admired, especially because of their young age,” said Beliz Utebay, fourth-year CHBE.

As of recently, the group has been trending on TikTok. There has been a recent fascination with the group across social media, with multiple dance challenges to songs like “Ditto,” and “OMG.” Additions of NewJeans music to the background of videos and the group’s fresh barrier-breaking concept and “pretty” music might be the reason why. 

From the music, concept, styling and promotions, absolutely everything about the group is carefully curated without looking unnatural. NewJeans is essentially the “no makeup, makeup look” of K-pop, which may be why they have been resonating with domestic and international audiences so well. 

Oftentimes, K-pop promotions and concepts can look very similar, which is not a bad thing since the formula has brought great amounts of attention and success to various groups and has globalized the industry. However, NewJeans is different. The promotions are different in that the teasers do not give audiences an idea of what the song is, rather it looks like various clips of just friends coming together to make a song. It is left to the viewer to guess what the final song will be. Another factor is the concept. NewJeans’ forte is combining nostalgia with a modern twist, often taking inspiration from their K-pop predecessors. 

This way new audiences can enjoy the music and fans of older K-pop generations can feel seen as well. This nostalgic formula has been utilized often in current media as seen with the huge triumphs that shows like “Stranger Things” have made. The integration of the old and new becomes mainstream. NewJeans brought back the sentiments that were popular with the second generation K-pop groups, which is understandable as they are the product of Min Hee-jin’s creative direction. Min Hee-jin is the CEO and art director of ADOR, and has years of experience in the industry and was heavily involved in the creation of some of SM Entertainment’s most iconic second and third generation groups: SNSD, Shinee, f(x), EXO and Red Velvet. 

This appeal to second generation fans is especially important due to the significance of that generation in South Korea. Second generation idols were arguably the most loved by the general public  as many people opened up to the idea of idols and K-pop as a growing industry at this time, making way for the celebrity status that K-pop groups have today. 

Second generation K-pop music, for young girls specifically, was critical as it included the “Girl Group Boom.” From 2007 to 2009, girl groups were rapidly debuting, often having a bright sound, effortless natural beauty and fun choreography. Compared to current K-pop, the choreography for second generation girl groups was much simpler and the performances focused more on charming the audience, such as beloved girl group SNSD who received numerous accolades and the nickname “The Nation’s Girl Group.” 

NewJeans perfectly mixes second generation energy with the fourth generation standards as all the members are incredibly talented singers and dancers, but the girls genuinely look like they have fun on stage and they seem to have less pressure to be perfect. 

This potentially could be because they are still rookies in the industry, but it could also be ADOR is marketing the group as “coming-of-age best friends making feel-good music.” Their brand is youthful, fresh and relatable, and being picture-perfect would hinder that image. NewJeans is breaking barriers by being different in a way that allows the group to take the best out of K-pop’s past and rebrand with a modern flare. 

Tech is in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, and with that, there are plenty of experiences and destinations within walking distance. Choosing housing that best fits Tech students’ needs and wants is very important, so location matters. While students are at Tech to learn and grow, the time spent outside of the campus is equally important. 

Here is a guide to housing near Tech that highlights entertainment and some significant spots that every Tech student should know, especially if they are planning on moving into the city. 

Midtown

The Standard

The Standard is located in Midtown and is within walking distance of university affiliated areas like Tech Square and the CODA Building, which has some great places to chow down, from Asian fusion to a classic slice of pizza. As for entertainment, The Standard is within five minutes of some iconic Atlanta attractions, like the Fox Theatre, which showcases various musicals and musical artists. 

The Mark

Located within a five minute walk from the Midtown MARTA Station, The Mark is an apartment complex with access to a lot of great food and experiences. Just one MARTA stop away is Arts Center, which has attractions such as the High Museum of Art and The Woodruff Arts Center. 

The Mark is nearby Peachtree Street, which has numerous restaurants like Anh’s Kitchen and Blue India, as well as some great places to get a sweet treat like Sweet Hut, an Asian bakery and boba shop with something for everyone to enjoy. Consider visiting the dog park at Piedmont Park, getting a bite of breakfast at The Flying Biscuit, and then heading to Peachtree Street for more fun!

West Campus

West Campus Student Housing

These student housing apartments (Zbar, Maulding, Nelson Shell, Woodruff, Center Street, Eighth Street, Crecine) are located within walking distance from Atlantic Station, an outdoor commercial area that hosts a movie theater, bowling rink, stores and restaurants. There are often community events like live music, yoga sessions and markets promoting local vendors. Students can also take the free Atlantic Station Shuttle to visit music venues like The Loft and Center Stage. There is also another shopping mall called The Interlock within walking distance from the Flats, which include a mini golf experience called Puttshack, a mini bowling alley and drinks venue called The Painted Duck and plenty of restaurants and shopping. 

Home Park

Located near west campus, Home Park is a residential neighborhood with a lot of charm and within walking distance of local favorite spots like Rocky Mountain Pizza and Anticos. Rocky Mountain Pizza is a great place to grab a slice of pizza and stick around for their trivia nights and live music events. For something sweet, be sure to stop by Sublime Donuts, a donut shop open 24/7 with a large variety of delicious treats. 

North Avenue

The North Avenue Apartments have the benefit of being close to some of the most iconic parts of Atlanta, like the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park. With the North Avenue MARTA Station being a short distance away, students who reside here have a quick and easy way to get to the hot spot of experiences. It is also relatively close to one of the largest event spaces in Georgia, the State Farm Arena, which hosts a variety of shows. 

Our Take: 3/5 Stars

Netflix’s hit show “Wednesday” has captivated the attention of the nation, and less than a month after its initial release, broke multiple streaming records and achieved the title of the second most popular English-language series on Netflix. 

The dark, comedic and kooky show is based on Charles Addams’s cartoon character Wednesday, the oldest child of the Addams Family. 

The Addams Family is a beloved fictional family that is a satirical inversion of the American nuclear family; they are macabre enthusiasts, eccentric, wealthy and unbothered that people find them frightening.

The family originally appeared as a cartoon in The New Yorker, and eventually became adapted into multiple television series, films and a musical. 

The 1991 film, “The Addams Family,” solidified the icon status of the family, which led to movie sequels and the recent spinoff, “Wednesday.” Christina Ricci defined the role of the oldest Addams child in the 90s and created a character synonymous with a monotone voice, dark humor and long dark pigtails. 

“Wednesday” establishes a timeline with an older teenage Wednesday (Jenna Ortega,  “The Fallout”) with the same quirks from her preteen days, but with the addition of bangs and even more angst. Ortega holds her own with her interpretation of the role, creating a character with depth while maintaining her coldness and demeanor. 

The story starts with Wednesday enacting revenge on bullies who were picking on her younger brother Pugsley, but her version of revenge included setting piranhas loose in the pool during their practice. This act nearly killed the bullies, resulting in Wednesday’s expulsion, and she is sent to Nevermore Academy —  the alma mater of her mother Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones).

This school is meant for outcasts, and it is there Wednesday meets her unlikely friend and roommate Enid. She is the exact opposite of Wednesday. Where Enid is all positivity and colors, Wednesday is darkness and morbidity. 

Enid gives her an early 2000s-inspired style tour of Nevermore’s cliques — all the students are mythical creatures with varying levels of social status. As Wednesday adjusts to her new environment, she finds herself investigating some of the mysteries and lore surrounding the school and the nearby town of Jericho. These mysteries include murder, monsters, attempted homicide and much more. 

While the older version of the Addams family media often included setting the family against normality, showing the difference between them and the rest of society, “Wednesday” allows the main character to primarily engage with fellow outcasts. Wednesday is still incredibly different from the other students and locals from Jericho, so that juxtaposition is not entirely lost, and is a refreshing take on the Addams storyline. 

One of the reasons the show gained virality was because of the overall aesthetic, as it is directed by Tim Burton, who is well known for his “Burtonesque” style. This is defined by Gothic overtones and is also heavily inspired by German Expressionism. 

An unexpected highlight from the show that also blew up across social media platforms was Wednesday’s dance in episode four. Ortega choreographed the dance herself, and she said it was inspired by videos of British rock bands, archival footage of goth kids dancing in clubs in the ‘80s and dance moves from the first Wednesday, Lisa Loring.

Although the scene took up less than three minutes of screen time, the spellbinding choreography moved to TikTok and soon became a viral trend. Hundreds of creators were copying the dance to a sped-up version of Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary.” 

There are plenty of other great scenes in the series, and with its wit, acting and engaging story-line, it is understandable why season two is already highly anticipated. 

Fans of the previous Addams Family films and TV shows can rest assured that “Wednesday” showcases a unique take on the family and the Addams oldest child, but does not stray far enough to lose the qualities that made these characters so iconic. 

Overall, it is a spooky and witty gothic murder mystery with a splash of irreverent dark humor and serves as a wonderful addition to the Addams Family storyline.

The beautiful and historic Fox Theatre was the place to be this past Saturday, as the global K-pop girl group sensation ITZY came to Atlanta on their first world tour titled “CHECKMATE.” The sold-out show was a jam-packed two-and-a-half-hour event filled with joy, fan chants, community and most importantly, incredible performances. The five members of the group performed 20 songs and prepared five encore performances with energy and inspiring levels of stamina. 

Though it was a seated event, long lines zig-zagged around the venue as fans anxiously waited to see their beloved idols. Unfortunately, it did rain during the wait, but that did not damper the excitement or friendliness, as many fans would share umbrellas and laugh at the situation. 

After all, this would be ITZY’s first time in the United States since their 2019 showcase tour when they had just debuted. It was also the group’s first time in Atlanta, and fans, also called MIDZY, wanted to have a memorable and welcoming first concert with the girls. 

Once inside as the concert started, it did not take too long for ITZY members to captivate the audience. As the barrier between the group and the crowd lifted, it revealed a chess game set design and the girls adorned in dazzling gem-encrusted white outfits meant to match their royalty concept. This concept was further pushed with the leader, Yeji, pushing over a human-sized chess piece, signifying the start of the show as she had just achieved the position of checkmate, thus ending the game. 

The show began with some beloved B-side tracks that fans highly anticipated hearing live such as “Sorry Not Sorry” and “SHOOT!” ITZY’s live locals were unparalleled and it was incredible to hear them sound nearly identical to their recordings, especially since they were also dancing at the same time. After a few group songs, the night moved onto solo stages, which entailed each member covering a song of their choice. Ryujin was the first member to take on the stage alone, and she covered Doja Cat’s track,

“Boss Bitch,” with some lyrical changes to make the song more personal to her. Dressed up in a large faux fur coat, Ryujin exuded boss energy as she captured the attention of everyone in the audience with her excellent rapping and dancing.

The other members came back to talk to the crowd and take a short breather before moving on to the next stage. The girls looked like they were barely breaking a sweat, and only had a few “talk” times, showing that they have incredible stamina to be able to perform with so few breaks. They then performed some fan favorites like “ICY” and “#Twenty” which brought a refreshing sunny vibe to the rainy autumn day. Yuna and Lia were up next for solo performances and they stunned the audience with their covers of Conan Gray’s “Maniac” and Taylor Swift’s “Red.”

Yuna emerged riding a bicycle while singing, before abruptly kicking it over to match the frustration of Gray’s lyrics. With somewhat angry lyrics about being hurt by a former lover accompanied by a joyful beat, Yuna perfectly captured the energy of the song. She would switch from a Cheshire-like smile to an angry expression to her genuine grin all in a matter of seconds. 

Lia was up next for her solo performance and she slowed things down with a beautiful rendition that would make a loyal Swiftie proud. At first, she stood still in the center of the stage, with a single spotlight lighting up the venue. As the song progressed, she moved across the stage as blue and red strobe lights switched on and off depending on the lyrics. MIDZYs raised their arms and light rings to sway along with her melodic voice. 

The quintet came back out for the third set of the night with outfit changes to perform “WANNABE.” They were dressed brightly and colorfully to match the concept of the next set of songs which included their self-love debut song, “DALLA DALLA” and their recent song “SNEAKERS.” Both songs are very bouncy, fun and unapologetically ITZY. 

The final two solo performances were right after, starting with Chaeryeong’s take on Ariana Grande’s “bloodline.” It was a powerful and energetic performance that showcased every aspect of her talent and solidified her position as one of the best dancers in fourth-generation K-pop. This solo highlighted the confident Chaeryeong that MIDZYs love to see. 

The final solo belong to the group leader Yeji. She wowed the crowd with Dua Lipa’s “Hotter Than Hell.” While she did not perform a lot of choreography like many were expecting, she captured the attention of the thousands in the venue with her charisma. She roamed around the stage and interacted with fans, all while belting out impressive high notes with ease.

The show ended with some of their most popular songs like “Not Shy” and “LOCO,” and the group was definitely not shy as they wowed the crowd with their performance, especially with their iconic dance breaks.

It seemed like every MIDZY was on their feet and singing along, causing the whole venue to shake and fill with joyful melody. Following these songs were the encore performances, which were very cute and allowed the group to show their appreciation for their fans through their lyrics and fan interactions. 

“CHECKMATE” was an unforgettable show and it was a joy to see these talented girls doing what they enjoy and gaining so much success and love globally. ITZY is special and they have only just gotten started. If this first tour is any indication of what they are capable of, it is clear that there is a bright future ahead for the group.