We Chat With AleXa About Singing In Spanish and What Makes K-pop Unique

Today's episode features a special interview with K-pop idol and artist, AleXa! Recently we chatted with her about her latest digital-single, "Juliet," and the 6(!) different versions of the song, which include a bachata remix sung entirely in Spanish. In other episodes, we’ve touched on the globalization of K-pop and how artists have branched out to other markets to gain traction beyond Korea.  But, AleXa is the latest K-pop idol to turn to the massive fandom in Latin America and recognize them with a special release for Spanish speakers. Tune in to hear AleXa talk about writing a ballad, what it was like winning American Song Contest, and her thoughts what makes K-pop so unique. Plus, stay tuned after the interview for our takeaways and discussion on the significance of K-pop catering to international fans.WATCH ALEXA PERFORM"JULIET" IN SPANISH HERE:https://youtu.be/R-5PnLajFn4EPISODE RUNDOWN (w/TIME STAMPS)Intro to AleXa (2:17)Interview with AleXa (4:32)Singing in Spanish & not sounding like a "gringa" (8:35)Bringing K-pop to American reality TV (19:15)Growing up in Oklahoma & finding your people (21:42)Why K-pop is always "intentional" and polished (31:28)Our Discussion & Takeaways (39:31)How do we define K-pop today? (44:13)Where does AleXa fit into the music landscape? (48:07)We applaud AleXa for addressing her haters (50:55)Some context on K-pop catering to Latin America (58:48)Final Thoughts: The impact of K-pop in Spanish (1:02)LET US KNOW: What do you think of AleXa and other K-pop idols singing in Spanish? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter @IKPTPOD with your thoughts!ABOUT OUR GUEST ALEXA:AleXa (알렉사) is a K-pop singer, dancer and songwriter who grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2019, AleXa made her multilingual K-pop debut with “Bomb,” which hit #7 on Billboard’s “World Digital Song Sales” chart. After a breakthrough comeback with mid-tempo dance track “Tattoo” in 2022, her song “Wonderland” earned a resounding win on NBC’s American Song Contest, a remake of Europe’s hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest. “Wonderland” ranked #38 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, propelling AleXa to the 6th most played Korean artist on U.S. radio and the first female Korean act to present at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.KEEP UP WITH ALEXA:Official Site: https://www.alexazb.comYouTube: AleXa • ZB Label⁣⁣Instagram: @Alexa_zbofficialIt's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila. FOLLOW US:Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpodFEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES?E-mail us at info@kpoppod.com