A lot of things can go wrong when putting a magazine together. But every once in a while, an edition comes along so easily and serendipitously that it leaves you wondering at the magic of it all. The magazine that you now hold in your hands is one such example. Having decided months before that we were going to dedicate our June issue to music, we got a call informing us that a window of opportunity had suddenly opened up. A band that we had plans to put on our cover a couple of months ahead was suddenly available. That band, as you now know, was ITZY—and there was no question that we were going to “carpe diem” it.

A flurry of emails was sent, flights were booked and fashion looks secured in a record amount of time that left us all breathless. But the results were worth it. In a studio in the Gangnam district, the girls were easy-going, courteous, and with girl-next-door demeanours that belie their mega pop-star status. But once they stepped in front of the camera, it was easy to see how they managed to win millions of MIDZYs’ hearts around the world. Shooting with us while in the middle of their ‘Born to Be’ world tour, it’s evident that they’re focused on making the most of their journey. Read our exclusive interview with them, and see how they’ve grown in the five years that they’ve been rocking the stage.

There is no denying the power and influence that K-pop has asserted globally. Read our “Keeping Up with K-pop” feature to learn how fashion has been furiously tapping into the K-zeitgeist—and with whom. However, for music that really speaks to the Singapore identity, here’s a taste of the immense talent to be found on our shores. From Abangsapau’s poignant rap and Suthasini’s dulcet vocals that transcend language, to Krunkle’s punchy guitar riffs and Taledrops’ poetic lyrics, to BRB’s catchy chillax tunes and akasounds’ groovy beats, we gathered the artistes that deserve a spot on your playlist and even got their recommendations on other local acts to check out.

Photographed by HEEJUNE KIM
Creative Direction by NAVIN PILLAY
Make-up Artist SUYEON JUNG
Hairstylist ILJUNG LEE
Producer ESTHER KIM
Production Assistant BOBAE LEE
On-set Stylist SUNGMIN CHOI