15 Korean artists to listen to

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

For those who would like to expand their musical horizons.

The selection deliberately did not include idol groups - this is a separate, peculiar world. Only solo artists and indie bands, acquaintance with which you will not disappoint.

Sunmi

Lee Sungmi is a former member of Wonder Girls, who began her solo career with the highly successful single 24 Hours. This was followed by the EP Full Moon - and Sunmi finally established herself as a talented vocalist who sounds great in compositions of different styles.

Sunmi takes part in writing the lyrics and music for her songs, the choreography of her performances is always on top, and she also plays the bass guitar.

Gashina is the singer's fresh release after a three-year hiatus, and it's definitely a hit. You will definitely want to turn on an energetic composition in the synth-pop genre with elements of dancehall more than once, and the chaotically bright and stylish video is just a feast for the eyes.

Drug Restaurant

Rock music is not particularly popular in Korea, but this does not prevent talented and enthusiastic people from doing what they love. The guys from Drug Restaurant (until 2016 the group was called Jung Joon Young Band - in honor of founder and frontman Jung Jun-young) make great music, even if they are not invited to perform on popular shows, and their videos are not shown on TV.

The group has gathered fans of Western alternative, post-punk and garage rock, and you will certainly notice familiar notes in the work of Drug Restaurant. But who said that this is necessarily bad? Incendiary guitar parts, deep timbre of the vocalist, spirit of freedom and moderate rebellion - just listen.

Zico

Zico is the pseudonym for Woo Chiho, a rapper, composer / songwriter, producer and leader of Block B. He has two solo albums, several mixtapes and many collaborations with other talented members of the Korean music scene.

The repertoire of this versatile young man includes both aggressive tracks with a powerful beat (Veni Vidi Vici, Tough Cookie), as well as hypnotic r'n'b compositions () and lyric ballads (I Am You, You Are Me, She's a Baby).

The song Anti from the new album Television is dedicated to the specific relationship that emerges between the musician and the audience (“The product has no personal space, the buyer is king here”). And in the video, Zico takes a journey into a gloomy afterlife, where every artist finds himself when a capricious viewer turns off the TV.

Gain

From time to time, some Korean female singers go beyond pop culture sterility and create something provocative. But no one does it as stylishly and aesthetically as Son Gain, a member of Brown Eyed Girls.

Together with the group, Gain tried different styles and concepts, but she really revealed herself in solo work. She is not afraid to sing about difficult things: for example, FXXK U brings up the topic of coercion in pairs.

In his stage image, Gain confidently manifests the sexuality of an adult woman who knows about her desires (and unwillingness) and is not going to hide them. Paradise Lost, from the album Hawwah (Hebrew for Eve), is about seduction - and a dark, mesmerizing clip with snake choreography complements it perfectly.

Jay park

Since the American Korean Park Jaebom moved to Seoul in 2005, he has managed to be the leader of an idol group, leave it due to a scandal, release four full-length albums, found a hip-hop label, join the cast of the Korean version of the comedy show Saturday. Night Live and star in the music video for Charlie XCX.

Jay Park names Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and Usher among his role models. His music videos are regularly banned on conservative Korean television - you can watch Mommae to see why.

The track Me Like Yuh with its Latin American motives will give the atmosphere of a pool party, and Jay's honey voice combined with hot dances from the video will warm you up.

Nell

The indie rock band was formed in 2001 and has received numerous music awards throughout its existence. Korean critics have always noted the richness of the arrangements and the freshness of the sound.

The listening experience is similar to that of Snow Patrol, The Editors and early Coldplay. But they are far from direct similarity, rather they are close in mood.

In general, the influence of Brit-rock is noticeable in Nell's music, and the lyrics written by frontman Kim Jongwan are almost always filled with melancholy, existential longing and loneliness in the big city - although in the latest releases they added notes of hope.

Ailee

The vocal range and lung capacity of Amy Lee, or Eily, could have envied Christina Aguilera during her heyday. Seriously: the performer is sometimes criticized for the fact that she "sings" some notes (as the opposite of the word "falls short") and sounds too powerful.

Eily grew up in America and after moving to Korea quickly won over the audience: her second mini-album, A’s Doll House, sold out on the first day after its release. The singer's repertoire includes many ballad drama soundtracks and songs that can only be called "typical" of Korean pop music. But we can say with confidence that her true element is the good old r'n'b.

Trumpeters, the atmosphere of Broadway, iridescent light bulbs and a little jazz - in the image of a luxurious diva, Eily feels great and looks amazing. If all this is to your taste, then we also recommend Don’t Touch Me. And if you want something more modern - there is a wonderful Home, a collaboration with hip-hop singer Yun Mirae.

G-dragon

"I'm a celebrity for your celebrities," states Kwon Jiyong, better known as G-Dragon, in a collaborative track with rapper PSY. And he is not exaggerating: dozens of young performers call GD's sunbannim "Seongbennim" - a Korean polite address to a senior colleague. to those who inspired them to make music.

Debuting in 2006 as the leader of Big Bang, G-Dragon wrote and produced most of the group's songs, and in 2009 released his first solo album, Heartbreaker.

In his work outside the group, GD does not recognize any framework, and it is very difficult to choose one clip to present it. Therefore, to begin with, we offer two very different songs about parting.

Crooked is an energetic pop song with electronic keyboards and drums reminiscent of punk rock.

And this is the title track of Kwon Ji Yong's album, released in June. There is nothing here except the piano and the voice - and it is the emotional, dramatic and a little theatrical performance that makes the melody so beautiful.

For those who like a little strange we can recommend One of a Kind. If you want something even weirder - Coup D'Etat, and if you want something completely insane, please: MichiGO and Crayon.

Dean

The work of Kwon Hyuk, who took a pseudonym in honor of American actor James Dean, will not disappoint fans of sensual sound in the style of Zane Malik and The Weeknd. Dean writes and produces songs for himself and other artists, and is also a Fanxychild crew member with Zico, r'n'b-performer Crush, DJ and producer Millic and underground rapper Penomeco.

Bonnie & Clyde from the debut album 130 mood: TRBL is almost 4 minutes of pulsing beat and velvet vocals, periodically turning into falsetto, and the melody of the chorus will gently penetrate your head and stay there for a long time.

IU

Lee Ji Eun is a singer and actress, songwriter and producer who has been recognized by the strict Korean public as "the nation's little sister." IU made her stage debut at age 15, released four albums and starred in several dramas, including the lead role in the hugely popular Scarlet Hearts.

If her talent as an actress does not always inspire everyone's admiration, then as a musician IU has definitely taken place. Her songs are very sincere and simple, which combined with the gentle voice and image of the "girl next door" creates a very captivating combination.

Palette is the melodic electro-pop, the title track of the April album of the same name. IU talks about little things that may seem completely unimportant, but which are always good to discover and accept, because they make you you.

BeWhy

Rapper Lee Byung-yoon is one of the most promising representatives of Korean hip-hop. Appearing in the fifth season of Show Me the Money - a TV show where both famous rappers and newcomers compete in skill - BeWhy has earned a well-deserved victory and gained popularity.

With each new release, he remains true to himself: rich multi-layered sound, torn, boring rhythms, sincere lyrics, in which BeWhy often raises philosophical questions. If you decide to find translations, you will definitely not regret it. But even without translation, listening to this talented person is a pleasure.

The Solutions

Pay attention if you like to throw cheerful indie parties, and Foster the People, OK Go and Two Door Cinema Club are already fed up. The founders of the group, vocalist Park Sol and guitarist Naru, claim that they were greatly influenced by American and British rock of the 90s and 00s, but this is not very believable - the guys create too life-affirming music.

The Solutions is catchy melodies, pleasant vocals, experiments with synthesizers and energetic rhythms to which you will certainly want to dance or go for a run. Or at least take a car ride through the evening city.

A lot of the songs are sung in English, so if Korean sounds a little too weird for you right now, you should start with these guys.

Mad clown

Rapper, songwriter and producer Mad Clown (Cho Donrim) debuted in 2008 with Love Sickness and has since released five full-length LPs and numerous tracks in collaboration with soft-voiced singers and fellow rappers.

Mad Clown in her unchanged oval glasses always looks a little embarrassed and does not at all correspond to the stereotypical image of the rapper - "bad guy". This impression is supported by a soft manner of performance and lyrical lyrics about the difficult relationship that happens between two people.

Featuring singer Lee Hari, Lie is a melancholic rap ballad about a one-sided feeling, written from the perspective of the receiving side of love: “Not being able to swim, I came to the ocean. Not knowing how to love, I came to you."

Hyukoh

Founded in 2014, this group is arguably the most famous among Korean indie bands. Hyukoh sounds really unique. From invigorating tracks to reflective rock ballads: frontman Oh Hyuk's husky voice sometimes serves only as an accompaniment to rich instrumental parts, and sometimes comes to the fore - and then one cannot help but admire his capabilities.

In addition to the work of the group itself, it is worth paying attention to the collaboration of Oh Hyuk with hip-hop producer Primary. Bawling, Island and Gondry - here the rock vocalist went over to r'n'b and soul, and it worked out really well.

For initial acquaintance, we offer the hit Hyukoh - the energetic Comes and Goes from the group's second album, 22.

Jessi

Jessie (Ho Hyunju) is a singer, rapper and member of the hip-hop trio Lucky J. Her career cannot be called smooth: from 2009 to 2014, Jessie was forced to take a break from her musical activities. Since then, she has released several singles, participated in many collaborations and recorded a solo album, Un2verse.

A charismatic owner of a wide vocal range and deep timbre, Jesse is capable of both aggressive reading (Ssenunni) and melodic singing (Don’t Make Me Cry, Excessive Love). She vividly demonstrated both of these talents in a joint composition with rapper #Gun in the semi-finals of the Show Me the Money 5. True, Jesse herself is only present on the screen, but this does not diminish the expressiveness of her performance.

Do you listen to Korean music? Who else would be added to this list?