tássia assis is a freelance writer, culture journalist, and content creator based in lisbon, portugal.

S E L E C T E D    A R T I C L E S

Meet ENHYPEN, the K-pop boyband destined to dominate the mainstream

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said: “My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati.” Originating from Latin, amor fati can be translated to “love of one’s fate”, that is, to embrace life’s inherent ups and downs, believing that everything happens as it was meant to happen.

When looking at the trajectory of K-pop boyband ENHYPEN, it makes sense that they would see fate as an anchor, rather than a handcuff. Two and a half years into their soaring journey – which includes th

What's Next For K-Pop? A Roundtable Unpacks The Genre's Past, Present And Future | GRAMMY.com

K-pop recently entered its third decade since pioneers Seo Taiji and Boys upheaved South Korea with 1992’s nonconforming "Nan Arayo" — considered by many the inception of the industry. Propelled by the Hallyu (or Korean Wave, the phenomenon driving international growth and popularity to the country’s cultural exports), K-pop has evolved from a niche genre to a global scene whose influence is felt in music, fashion, business, tech, and many other fields.
Characterized by a strong visual focus, mu...

Meet LE SSERAFIM, The K-Pop Group Nile Rodgers Chose For His First Foray Into The Genre | GRAMMY.com

**"I’ve got an obsessive mind," admits producer Danny L Harle. "I often can't sleep at night because I've got melodies circling in my head. I get haunted by melodies, and I think that's why some people trust me, because they know that I will not let it go unless I think it's absolutely perfect."
That dedication to crafting powerful pop melodies has resulted in a treasure trove of earworms on Dua Lipa’s new album Radical Optimism. Harle was recruited by Lipa as one of the album’s co-producers, al...

TWICE Reflect On Milestone Moments & Latest 'With YOU-th' EP | GRAMMY.com

In the music video for "I Got You," K-pop girl group TWICE are stranded at a tempestuous sea. Their ship waders and wobbles, thunder roars outside, but the nine members are safe and sound in the cabin — lying on cozy pillows and having a good time, they know all storms are temporary.

"I Got You" precedes TWICE’s thirteenth EP, With YOU-th, out Feb. 23, and the video mirrors their journey together so far.

ENHYPEN And JVKE "Say Yes" To Cross-Cultural Collabs & Exploring New Genres | GRAMMY.com

Over Zoom, JVKE met ENHYPEN once more to talk about working together, being creative in the age of TikTok, and the future of music. ENHYPEN will also be featured in HYBE: We Believe In Music, A GRAMMY Museum Exhibit, which opens in Los Angeles on Aug. 2.The result is ENHYPEN’s latest single, "XO (Only If You Say Yes)," off their sophomore studio album, Romance : Untold. Crafted by JVKE, who also features in its English version, the summery track represents a new musical and conceptual direction...

Taemin on ‘Guilty’: “I think it's more attractive to make the negative look beautiful”

“On that vague border between good and bad / You played the fool for me,” Taemin whispers on his newest single, ‘Guilty’. In the music video, faceless hands grab his neck, rearrange his body, control him in a suffocating atmosphere. But don’t be mistaken – he’s the one playing here. It’s his own hand who snakes underneath his shirt, shutting him up as he proclaims, “You got me G-U-I-L-T-Y.”
• READ MORE: Jungkook – ‘Golden’ review: a new pop king prepares to take his throne

To fully understand T

IVE: “We're going to shine at the top, we belong at the top”

“Gretchen, stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen! It’s not going to happen!” yelled Regina George – the undying meme and quintessential queen bee – in the 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls. Gretchen, who was Regina’s less-popular sidekick, was adamant in creating a new slang to use at their high school, unaware that she was trespassing royal rules. Who dares to create new buzzwords without a crown atop their head?
• READ MORE: The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2023

At the time the movie came o

From Tokyo To Coachella: YOASOBI's Journey To Validate J-Pop And Vocaloid As Art Forms | GRAMMY.com

From Tokyo To Coachella: YOASOBI's Journey To Validate J-Pop And Vocaloid As Art Forms YOASOBI, blending J-pop and Vocaloid with narrative-driven songs, is capturing a global audience through their performances at major festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza, marking a significant moment for Japanese music on the international stage. For decades, Japanese music has been one of the hardest to access as a foreigner. Even with the popularization of cultural exports like anime and the emergence o

TWICE's Nayeon: “What you see is exactly who I am”

Nayeon is the centre of the universe, and we’re all just revolving around her. With her sophomore mini-album, ‘Na’, Nayeon makes sure we don’t pay attention to anyone else: after all, the word “na” means “I” in Korean. But more than getting a bit of attention, the TWICE member is determined to make everyone “fall deeper” in love with her, as she sings on the project’s addictive title track ‘ABCD’, which powers through with even more zest than her viral TikTok hit, ‘Pop!’.
That single, and its ac...

Chung Ha Returns: On 'EENIE MEENIE,' The K-Pop Soloist Is Ready To Step Back Into The Spotlight | GRAMMY.com

It takes courage to become a soloist in K-pop — a scene largely dominated by girl groups and boy groups of the most varied sizes — but more than that, it takes verve. Singer, dancer, and songwriter Chung Ha, 28 years old, knows it better than anyone. Born in Seoul, South Korea but raised in Dallas, Texas, she first rose to stardom in 2016, after returning to her home country and participating in Mnet’s trainee competition show "Produce 101." There, Chung Ha caught the eyes of judges and viewers

The Mythology of DPR IAN: Korean-Australian Idol to Pop World Creator

“I set my wings on fire,” wails the voice of a man overflowing with sorrow. Another voice, eerie and muffled, narrates what took him to this extreme — fallen stars, a world dividing. They both resound over a dismal orchestra, an atmosphere so dark you can almost touch it, until everything suddenly vanishes into a thunderstorm. Such is “Seraph,” the opening track to the first studio album from DPR IAN, Moodswings In To Order, out now.

The track picks up right where “No Silhouette,” the burning c

One Direction's Solo Endeavors: Breaking Down Every Single, Album & Artistic Venture | GRAMMY.com

Looking at everything One Direction achieved in their time together, it's hard to believe that they were only active for six years. What's even harder to fathom is that they've now been on hiatus just as long — but luckily for fans, that time has proven fruitful for Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. Each member has released at least one studio album as a solo artist, and they have all dipped into several other ventures within fashion, producing, and mentorin

Justin Timberlake's Biggest Songs, From His Best *NSYNC Moments To The Solo Smashes | GRAMMY.com

In July 2019, Noah Kahan made a promise to his fans via Twitter: "I prolly won't sell out Madison square garden, or even all the shows on my tour but I'll keep writing songs for you all for as long as you'll have me." Four years later, he's made good on his word about continuing to write songs. But he's also proved himself wrong; not only has the Vermont-born star sold out his entire 2023 tour, but 2024 will see him play a sold-out Madison Square Garden — twice. While Kahan himself asserts that

How K-Pop's (G)I-DLE Are Learning To Love Themselves: "There's No Rules In This World" | GRAMMY.com

Living Legends is a series that spotlights icons in music still going strong today. This week, GRAMMY.com spoke with Billy Idol about his latest EP, Cage, and continuing to rock through decades of changing tastes. Billy Idol is a true rock 'n' roll survivor who has persevered through cultural shifts and personal struggles. While some may think of Idol solely for "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding," the singer's musical influences span genres and many of his tunes are less turbo-charged than his '80

Get To Know The Best New Artist Nominees At The 2024 GRAMMYs | GRAMMY.com

Romy has a simple yet impactful offering for combatting the inner-critic: "You’ve been strong for so long / You learned to carry this on your own / Let me be someone / You can lean on," she sings on "Strong."


Atop Fred again.. and Stuart Price's hypnotic, pulsing bassline, Romy's airy vocals reach deep into your heart when you least expect it — on the dancefloor, where this track is perfectly suited, or in the shower hyping yourself up through exhaustion. "Something happens when she sings. Se

Record-Breaking Rookie Girl Group NewJeans Are "Enjoying The Ride" On New Release | GRAMMY.com

Like their name, K-pop girl group NewJeans are an atemporal classic. Despite debuting just one year ago — no teasers, no big announcements, only a delightful summer hit by the name of "Attention" — their carefully-crafted ID is both utterly cool and longingly comfortable. It’s as if they could fit anywhere, from early-aughts MTV to the most underground basement parties, but still deliver a twist. And while some might argue that being so fluid isn’t a compliment — no one is doing it like they do.

WayV: “They take their time to see us, so we should give that same energy back”

Halfway through the first stop of their European Fanmeeting Tour ‘Phantom’, Chinese group WayV panicked. With eyes as wide as tennis balls, they looked at each other, then up to the gilded ceiling of London’s Eventim Apollo, and down to the roaring audience below – not a single clue if they should fight, flight or freeze. What horrors stood in front of them?

Turns out the frightening moment was just a misunderstanding. In a common display of joy in European concerts, fans were stomping their fe

Ten's New Era: The K-Pop Singer Promises To "Keep Changing" On Celebratory New Release | GRAMMY.com

K-pop singer TEN wants to be seen for who he is right now. "But that might be hard, because no one can really understand each other, right?" he tells GRAMMY.com via Zoom, an inquisitive smile forming on his lips. As one of the industry’s most entrancing artists, he is mindful of the gap between self and others, artists and fans, private and public. "You might not really understand yourself," he adds. But still, he hopes that, at least for 3 minutes and 42 seconds, people can see what he calls hi

Getting Ready With XG For Their First US Performance

Underneath a Lisa Frank sky, girl group XG wonders, “Baby, if I give it my all, will it pay off?/ Working overtime, no days off/ All these shooting stars in the dark, make a wish.” The scene, from the music video of their January single “Shooting Star,” gives insight into the joys and sorrows of a septet who are now seeing their wildest dreams come true.

Since their debut in March 2022, XG — short for Xtraordinary Girls — have been setting their own standard for what they call a “global” group.

K-pop Group The Boyz Share Everything — Including Underwear (Kinda)

It takes around three hours for each of the 11 members of The Boyz to get fully styled before stepping on stage. Whether it's for a two-hour tour stop or a twenty-minute performance overseas like the one they just finished at KBS's festival Music Bank in Paris, the process is always the same. First, they get dressed in carefully picked and often custom-made outfits. Then, they put on makeup that highlights their best traits and enhances any mood they want to convey, like flower stickers on their

DAWN: "HyunA Taught Me To Shine By Myself"

2018 was a whirlwind for rapper and singer-songwriter DAWN. In one of that year’s biggest K-pop headlines, he had his relationship with labelmate and soloist HyunA outed, only for both of them to be booted from their label, Cube Entertainment, a month later, under an official statement that said “it is not possible to recover the faith with the two artists.”

Flash-forward five years, and DAWN, real name Kim Hyo-jong, is in the eye of the hurricane once again. Following the 2022 news of his brea

Why K-pop musician So!YoON! explored different types of love on new album 'Episode1 : Love'

Love is ubiquitous, so broad and borderless that no single definition could encompass it all. And maybe for that reason, love is the perfect start. The primal experience. The ocean from where anyone can drink, dive, and emerge anew. It is Episode1 : Love, as Korean singer and songwriter So!YoON! named her sophomore LP, which was released March 14.

Read more: Review: ​​Stray Kids’ first US stadium shows are an electrifying peek at what’s to come

However, to Hwang Soyoon, the 25-year-old behind
Load More

testimonials

"Tássia is one of my most consistent writers — someone I can count on for both clean copy and excellent ideas. She's extremely knowledgeable about K-pop, but also has the dexterity to write about a variety of subject matter. Additionally, Tássia is a pleasure to work with!"

Jessica Lipsky, Senior Editor at GRAMMY.com

"Tássia is great to work with — knowledgeable and punctual, her work has all the enthusiasm of a true fan but with the insight of someone who wishes to challenge her subjects. An expert in her field, she’s never afraid to push herself into new frontiers."

Robin Murray, Editor at Clash Magazine

"Tássia is a thoughtful, respectful, and perceptive writer, as well as a very pleasant person to work with. I had the pleasure of collaborating with her several times and witnessing her conduct interviews with professionalism and skill. 

Her articles, reviews, and stories are well-crafted, offering meaningful insights into her subjects, making them a joy to read. During interviews, Tássia captures the nuances, unique atmosphere, and personality of the people she talks to, presenting a comprehensive story of the artist. Working with Tássia has been a delightful experience, both personally and professionally."

Jin Choung, Global Agent and PR for several music labels