ARTMS: The ‘Virtual Angel’
“Happiness is through the line, I’ll love you even more” — ‘Virtual Angel’ by ARTMS
Heejin’s eyes met mine across the concert venue, her hand pressed against her chest as she read my hastily made sign. A slight nod, a heart gesture, and a mouthed “Me Too”. In those fleeting milliseconds, a five year journey transpired through my consciousness — from a young adult struggling with his reflection in the mirror, to now, feet hurting and a hoarse throat yelling back all the songs he enjoyed through his dingy laptop.
This is what ARTMS does. This is what LOONA did before them. Their music transcends unlike others, weaving themselves into the fabric of our personal narratives.
LOONA the Legacy
“Beyond stars of ice and fire, the 12 constellations, into a memory of unknown origin” — ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ by ARTMS
ARTMS’s story begins with LOONA — perhaps K-pop’s most ambitious project to date. Starting in 2016, under the vision of creative director Jaden Jeong, twelve girls debuted individually over eighteen months, each bringing their own color to a complex narrative universe (the so-called LOONAVERSE). This culminated in 2018 where they made their highly-anticipated debut with the mini-album ‘++’ and their title track ‘Hi High’.
Personally, their masterpiece ‘Butterfly’ embodied everything revolutionary about LOONA: haunting synths married to elegant choreography, carrying an empowering message that transcended language barriers. It wasn’t just a song; it was a manifesto for what K-pop could be. But as often happens in this industry, corporate reality eventually clipped their wings. The twelve members would face choices that would reshape their trajectory.
An Angel’s New Wings: ARTMS
“We don’t need that small bird cage. No, let’s fly higher!” — ‘So What’ by LOONA
When LOONA split under the weight of management disputes, five members — Haseul, Jinsoul, Kim Lip, Heejin, and Choerry — found their way to MODHAUS Entertainment. Here, reunited with Jaden Jeong, they emerged as ARTMS, carrying forward the artistic ambition that first made me fall in love with them.
I can say that the output exceeded my expectations. We started with a highly anticipated Odd Eye Circle (Originally a LOONA sub-unit) comeback, kicking it high with ‘Air Force One’. We even got solo releases from Heejin and Haseul before slowly unraveling the group’s first full endeavor ‘<Dall>’. Filled to the brim with intriguing lore, musical nods and references to LOONA and previous releases, it was more than a satisfactory debut.
Moonshot in Melbourne
“Dazzling night, beautiful night … Everything feels new” — ‘Distress’ by ARTMS
Setting the Mood
Seeing them live, however, is a totally different story. I was a struggling undergrad student during most of LOONA’s active promotions. I could only enjoy their content through a laptop clearly on its final cusps of life. Financially speaking, it was never feasible to buy and collect merch. Thankfully, things are looking up well for me now and I have more than enough to spend on tertiary needs without worrying about my next meal.
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The aura of the venue felt familiar. I intended on going alone but I happily bumped into a university friend and stuck with her friend group the whole show. Waiting in line was filled with cheerful banter, friendly exchanges with other fans who are more than eager to flaunt their passion and style fueled by their love for LOONA or ARTMS: The angel wings, costumes and make-up looks inspired by their songs, it was like meeting a community you never thought you would belong to for the first time.
The Show
The crowd was electric throughout the whole show. It never ceases to amaze me that despite most of the crowd not being Korean or fluent in Korean, we were still able to ( for the most part) sing along and cheer for them. It is truly a testament of the power of art; despite our differences, all of the people in the room just clicked for those few hours of the show.
The girls did not disappoint. Their performances were sharp, their energy eager to reciprocate the venue. We also got some solo and LOONA songs in the mix: Heejin with her electric guitar, Haseul flexing her Opera training, even a good relay of some of their solo debut projects. A memorable moment was when OEC (Odd Eye Circle) were going to perform ‘Air Force One’ and Kim Lip messed up the intro. We had a good laugh and even got one of those ‘compilation’ worthy skits: Choerry playfully teasing her, Jinsoul commenting “Hey, How can you get it wrong when you can see our shadows?” , and Kim Lip just being Kim Lip: a bit surprised, shy and begging on her knees for forgiveness. Hey, at least we got to see her dance and sing some parts of ‘Eclipse’, a certified LOONA classic.
Reflections
“ Do you remember? the way it all began, those small flutters” — ‘Butterfly Effect’ by ARTMS
Between those first LOONA videos on my dying laptop and this night in Melbourne, their music became more than a soundtrack — it became a lifeline.
In 2018, while questioning everything from my religious upbringing to my sexuality, Haseul’s voice singing “The Carol” kept me company through lonely holiday seasons in my dorm room.
Come the pandemic years, my self-hatred swallowed me whole. I gained 50 kilos from a perpetual cycle of loathing and pessimism. I imagined stabbing stares from everyone any time I went outside. I would constantly avoid mirrors, even covering them in my room. Whenever I saw myself, I was so filled with disgust that I would hurt myself out of sheer hatred.
But through it all, their music offered something constant. Each comeback provided not just new songs but new chances to connect — with myself, with other fans, with a world beyond the constraints I’d grown up with. While therapy helped me understand my struggles, LOONA’s music offered the emotional companion to process through it all.
This connection led to unexpected friendships, including my best friend in Glasgow, Scotland. Despite the 13-hour time difference, we bond daily over shared experiences of identity, growth, and yes, our favorite LOONA members. It’s a friendship that probably wouldn’t be as strong without this music bringing us together.
More than Art, a Personal Renaissance
“An illusion in delirium, sheds light to my manipulated memories” — ‘Birth’ by ARTMS
I would like to think that our lives are ever-evolving mosaics, pieced together by countless moments and interactions. LOONA and ARTMS have contributed so many pieces to mine: late-night streaming sessions, fan theory discussions, the collective anxiety during their label disputes, and now, these precious seconds of eye contact at a concert halfway around the world from where my journey began. Though I dreamt of meeting the 12 moons, these five angels were more than enough.
I don’t care if you think I’m cringe for taking a K-pop group too seriously. In an age where cynicism is often mistaken for sophistication, there’s something rebellious about wearing your heart on your sleeve. About finding meaning in what others might dismiss as trivial. About letting art — even if it’s “just K-pop” — color your world with new possibilities.
I came back home, washed my face and took a deep look in the mirror. I stared back at the same human whom I detested the most. By all means, I still have many, many more things to work on myself. God knows when I will fully restore my confidence. However, I am not the same person and I came so far.
“Happiness is through the line, I’ll love you even more” Haseul sang that night. That line has always resonated with me for the longest time. Tonight, I have gained a deeper appreciation for it. As ARTMS graced me with their presence in our shared reality, I have realized that I have reached a genuine state of content and happiness with myself, and for that, I must love myself even more.
These virtual angels left a real and tangible mark in my psyche, and for that, I am eternally grateful. In a world that often dismisses K-pop as mere entertainment, ARTMS and LOONA remind us that sometimes the most profound transformations begin with a simple song, a dance, a moment of connection across a crowded concert hall. They prove that art, in any form, can be the mirror that finally shows us who we truly are — or more adequately, a kaleidoscope of the endless possibilities that we may become.
