F(x)’s Amber Liu Points Out The Major Differences She’s Noticed In The K-Pop Industry Since Her Debut

Amber Liu, f(x) member and talented soloist, recently sat down with popular radio show host and longtime K-Pop fan Zach Sang for an interview about her new music, her time as a K-Pop idol, and more.

Amber Liu | @amberliu/Instagram

Amber debuted with SM Entertainment‘s 2nd generation girl group f(x) in 2009. The group was known for their catchy and experimental music, trend-setting style, and multi-talented members.

(From left:) f(x)’s Victoria, Amber, Sulli, Krystal, and Luna in their debut-era | SM Entertainment

The group has been inactive since they released their last single, “All Mine,” in 2016, and the members have all been focusing on their individual activities since then.

Amber has been active as a soloist in China and North America and admitted she hasn’t kept up with K-Pop as much as she used to with her busy schedule. When Zach Sang asked what’s changed in the K-Pop industry since she was active as a K-Pop idol, she did name a few significant differences she’s noticed.

| @amberliu/Instagram

1. Music Shows

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Amber recalled that when f(x) was promoting, music show filming would take place Thursdays through Sundays, with artists waking up around 3 or 4 AM to prepare for filming.

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Over the years, Amber heard that filming for music shows became more frequent, with some artists filming a music show performance nearly every day of the week. Amber noted that it may be why many artists’ promotional cycles have seemed shorter lately, as well as the increased use of social media for posting promotional content.

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2. More International

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K-Pop has been a global phenomenon for years, but with each generation, it seems international interest in the genre and Korean entertainment continues to grow.

Amber shared that the increased global attention has given artists even more incredible opportunities to perform around the world.

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3. More diverse music styles

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With K-Pop artists collaborating with more global artists and producers, as well as increasingly producing their own music, Amber shared that she’s noticed an increased diversity in musical style among the artist performing today.

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4. Opportunities for solo promotions

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A K-Pop group member going solo is not a new concept, but Amber noted that it’s happening more frequently and for more members of the same group.

She shared that it allows idol group members to explore musical styles they enjoy while giving fans the opportunity to support the solo member while the group is between promotions.

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Amber clarified that she was not speaking for all groups and was only sharing her observations or what other idols have shared with her.

Amber heartwarmingly shared that if she could go back in time, she wouldn’t change anything about her days actively promoting with f(x).

Check out Amber’s full interview below!