KCON USA

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Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer & Ebony Rae Vanderveer [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Automatic has been writing and producing KPOP since 2012 starting with his first collaboration with XIA JUNSU, Uncommitted. The video for Uncommitted debuted at #1 in Korea and China and held the #1 spot on charts worldwide. His second collaboration with XIA, Incredible, debuted at #1 on Japan’s Tower Records Charts and iTunes charts and it debuted at #5 on Billboard’s World Album Charts. Rock The World and Twice’s I’m Gonna Be A Star, co-written with his partner, Ebony Rae Vanderveer, have both gone on to top charts and become fan favorites in Asia and abroad. Ebony is co-owner and vice president of InRage Entertainment. She had the pleasure of working with XIA Junsu on his chart-topping single releases Uncommitted, Incredible, Rock The World, which she also co-wrote with Automatic and XIA. Her most recent K-Pop song, I’m Gonna Be A Star by Twice is a favorite among fans. Ebony has worked with The Dream, Cristina Milian, Floetry, and Aaron Neville. She is a magna cum laude alumna of USC’s Thornton School of Music and she holds a Master of Religion in Theology and Ethics from Azusa Pacific University.

Alice An [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Alice An is a Korean-American artist who is fighting the fight for Asian representation in American media. Her main motivation in her career is to share the power of Asian culture by normalizing seeing Asian faces in media. She began this journey while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where she studied Music Business & Voice. Currently based in LA, she is pursuing her career in performance as a singer and dancer. She most recently sang guide vocals for Lee Hi (이하이), and is working on releasing her first EP at the end of 2018. Alice is thrilled to be joining the team at KCON LA to further represent her culture in a space where it is being vastly appreciated.

Gemini [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Gemini (GMNI) is an independent, self-made rapper, entertainer and entrepreneur, who uses YouTube and other social media platforms to spread his music. Growing up on Hip-hop and R&B, he realized his love for music and the rhythm and rhymes that came with it. He has opened for NU’EST, Giriboy, BlackNut, G2, Reddy, Nada, Grace, Iron, and many more. He has also performed throughout the United States including, Canada, and all over Europe as well. He has gained popularity and made a name for himself by utilizing social media and YouTube (through remix’s) but is now working on his second EP that will be released this year. His efforts as an artist has opened many doors, allowing him to focus on various business opportunities. He hopes to release more tracks and songs not for his own profit but to spread love and to show others through his music to help others.

Mao – The Ahjummas [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Mao is a Chilean illustrator who manages to draw, fangirl and take care of her two daughters every day. It was easy for her to become a kdrama fan in 2012. A few months after, K-Pop took over her playlist. Since last year, she devoted herself to drawing BTS and being a fan artist and to help with a community of older fans of K-Pop/kdrama (+25yo) that is run by five amazing women. Mao can be found on @the_ahjummas in the form of a bunny and as a fan artist in her less popular personal account.

Jamie – The Ahjummas [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Jamie is an admin for The Ahjummas. Despite being ridiculed for liking K-Pop in the early 90’s, Jamie has been an avid fan since the debut of K-Pop icons like g.o.d. and Seotaiji. Having lived the hardships of being a K-fan in the early days, Jamie is now an expert at converting her non hallyu friends into major stans. She is also the founder of Baby Bangtans, a kids K-Pop fan account that makes K-Pop Swag for Kids, K-Pop Slime, and fun K-Pop parodies on Youtube.

Val – The Ahjummas [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Val is a mom of 3 and a wife who works full time. She helps admin for @the_ahjummas across many platforms and has met many amazing people along the way. She loves the BTS rapline and favors Suga aka Min Yoongi. She’s part of the maknae line for the Ahjummas and has been in the Hallyu world for 2 years. You can find her spending most of her time searching for Yoongi/cat tweets or buying merch from Baby Bangtans or Mao.

Susie Kelly [#KCON18LA Special Guest]

Susan Kelly is a Fine Artist and K-Pop Enthusiast. Susan channels her love for K-Pop idols into creating detailed stained glass portraiture. Her 2017 Master’s Thesis, EXOLANSIS, explored the visual relationship between K-Pop idols and the fans that worship them, using a traditional stained glass technique to create a new wave of modern iconography.

[PANEL #1] Q&A with JRE

TIME: Saturday, August 11th from 2:30 – 3:30 PM LOCATION: Panel #1 [515B] MODERATOR: Mark Lee PANELISTS: JRE DESCRIPTION:You know that rad finger heart cap you’ve seen everyone wear? Come meet the creator of the original finger heart cap (@the8MM) along with one of your favorite Reaction YouTubers, JRE!  

[PANEL #1] Meet & Greet: Gemini

TIME: Friday, August 10th from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM LOCATION: Panel #4 [511BC] Panelists: Gemini, Apollo Moderator: Justin Cho