Maybe I took my eye off the ball, but it’s been a while since I remember looking forward to a bunch of Korean indie musicians coming to the UK to do the round of the Spring music festivals. Let’s hope this is now a regular feature of the calendar.
In past years the Korean bands have collaborated in doing a showcase together. Exact details for this year have yet to be announced. Anyway, here are the four artists we can look forward to at Brighton’s Great Escape Festival this year:
Cifika
CIFIKA blends pop and experimental sounds, creating music that pushes boundaries. Her unique voice has been featured in Louis Vuitton’s Fall-Winter 2021 campaign with BTS, and she has collaborated with brands like Maison Valentino. CIFIKA has scored work for the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company and participated in Berlin’s Hexadome project alongside artists like Thom Yorke, Brian Eno, Suzanne Ciani, and Holly Herndon.
Her collaborations span genres from ambient to R&B, working with artists like Lusine, Romy from The XX, and Crush. CIFIKA has performed globally, including at SXSW and ADE, and continues to expand her reach, drawing inspiration from the vastness of space and the microscopic world to create innovative music.
Hypnosis Therapy
HYPNOSIS THERAPY are a Seoul based electronic-hip hop duo made up of rapper/producer JJANGYOU and producer Jflow.
JJANGYOU first gained international notoriety as a semifinalist in Korean rap survival programme Show Me The Money, having been a key player locally in the Korean Hip Hop scene since the late 10’s.
He performed an arena show in Paris last year alongside a line up of K-Pop stars such as CL & Chunga, and recently returned from Kid Milli’s Europe tour. Since his debut, he has always been known for his stage presence and energy.
Jacqui (재키)
Strutting onto the scene armed with a silken voice & a penchant for sass is KPOP’s latest initiate, Jacqui. Her songs ooze self-love & confidence. Jacqui’s soundscapes of nu jazz, neo-soul, RnB, & pop are offered with integrity & wisdom beyond her years. Jacqui’s debut full-length album ‘Dirty Mirror Selfie’ soundtracks the bold next steps in her undoubtedly vast career ahead. Jacqui has already earned her title as a force to be reckoned with & is growing ever stronger with each release.
Say Sue Me
Say Sue Me are a surf-inspired indie rock band from Busan, South Korea. Members consist of Byungkyu Kim on lead guitar, Sumi Choi on vocals and guitar, Jaeyoung Kim on Bass and Sungwan Lim on Drums. In 2019, Say Sue Me were the second most nominated artist at the Korean Music Awards (second only to the almighty BTS) and ultimately won two awards.
“Wistful indie rockers from Busan, South Korea who capture the loneliness you can only find in a crowded room” Dazed
“A perfectly paced fusion of jangling guitars, bouncing bass and sighed melancholy” Paste Magazine
“Despite the sweetness of their sound, Say Sue Me are an unstoppable force” Pitchfork