[K-Exclusive]: Head in the Clouds’ Return to New York

Head in the Clouds returned for its second year in New York, showcasing 18 diverse artists from various music genres and backgrounds. Saturday’s lineup featured Balming Tiger, Wang OK, Young Posse, Juliet Ivy, Thuy, Illenium B2B Dabin, Wave to Earth, and (G)I-DLE.

Young Posse, the second act of the day, highlighted their potential as rising stars in the K-R&B scene. Opening with “Posse Up,” “OTB,” and “Macaroni and Cheese,” their performance received much praise, with the crowd enthusiastically chanting along. They commemorated their set by tossing scrunchies into the audience. As the group just recently made their debut, they also included cover tracks in their set of songs such as “Rubber Duck” and “Too Much,” before concluding with their latest comeback, “XXL.”

Balming Tiger followed with a strong start, launching into the instrumental-heavy “Kolo Kolo,” which made a significant impact. Songs like “Armadillo” and “Sexy Nukim” kept the crowd energized with their catchy lyrics and addictive choreography.

Wave to Earth, the first band to take the stage, made their HITC debut, hyping the crowd with songs like “Bad,” “Seasons,” and “Daisy.” Their energetic yet mellow set kept fans engaged until an early set finish, due to a timing issue, which led to an impromptu preview of unreleased music with a fun, summery vibe.

Illenium B2B Dabin brought the heat as the temperature dropped, lighting up the stage with fire and hyped EDM tracks. Their set included a signature remix of NewJeans‘ “Ditto,” “Hollow,” an Illenium remix of “Zombie,” and BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That.” The duo’s high-energy performance left the crowd wanting more.

The headliners and final act of the night were none other than (G)I-DLE. Their mere presence had the crowd screaming as the beginning instrumentals for “Super Lady” started up. The backdrop of the stage mirrored the music video’s vibe, while Soyeon’s powerful intro echoed into a powerful entrance. The girl group followed with their latest English release, “I Want That,” along with “Oh My God” and “Lion.” Their debut track “LATATA” evoked nostalgia, and the live debut of “Allergy” matched the crowd’s enthusiasm. Every song received immense love from the audience, who sang along passionately with each verse, and tracks such as “QUEENCARD” commanded the stage with an overpowering presence that was both intimidating and intoxicating.

Their brief performances of K/DA‘s “The Baddest” and “POP/STAR” brought a shift in sound that maintained high energy, and “My Bag” and “TOMBOY” marked the transition to the finale, showcasing their versatility while staying true to their unique style. (G)I-DLE closed with “I Do,” creating a magical scene of phone lights that was truly mesmerizing.

Sunday’s lineup featured Awhich, Lyn Lapid, Warren Hue, Spence Lee, Eyedress, Deb Never, ATARASHII GAKKO!, BIBI, and Joji.

BIBI, the only Korean singer on Sunday, captivated with her sultry voice. She opened with “Step?” before performing “She Got It” and “BAD SAD AND MAD.” “The Weekend” showcased a unique choreography, and “City Love” saw BIBI embracing the crowd with hugs and kisses. The solo singer closed her set with “Vengeance” and “Bam Yang Gang,” which she described as being like her love. Although not the headliner, her performance was definitely a crowd favorite as everyone cheered, danced, and sang along.

The night concluded with an awe-inspiring performance by Joji, who also filled the void left by the absence of the finale, which normally features all the performing artists one last time before the official conclusion of the weekend’s festivities.

Special thank you to 88rising for allowing us to attend, and make sure to check out all photos from the show on our Facebook page now!

Written By Kortney Kendall

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