The MBC K-pop and culture showcase at the indigO2 sold out in around 3 hours. For those who didn’t get tickets, what are we missing out on? Here’s LKL’s predictions: The headline acts 4Minute Cube Entertainment’s girl band 4Minute came to London last year for the United Cube concert in Brixton. In hindsight, I think … [Read More]
Category: Music interviews features and essays (page 3)
HJ Lim: the latest exciting artist from EMI Classics
When a record company launches a new young star, there’s always a slight suspicion that content is taking second place to style and presentation. But with Korean pianist HJ Lim EMI Classics are unapologetic, and with every justification. HJ (Hyun-jung) Lim has come to fame not via the conventional international music competition circuit: EMI’s PR … [Read More]
DPRK unveils new fusion technology on Paris concert platform
At least three things are of interest in relation to the 14 March Paris performance of the Unhasu (은하수) Orchestra from North Korea. First: that it happened at all; second: how it was reported back home; and third, what it was that the orchestra was playing. The funding First, then. How did it get to … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2011
The sixth of LKL’s annual unscientific and very personal recognition of the best things of last year. And in the field of film, books and CDs what is encouraging is that there is so much to choose from. There were also plenty of good Korean cultural events in London, Edinburgh and elsewhere, but there was … [Read More]
SHINee Happy People: fans turn out in force to greet their favourite K-pop band
Saharial joins the Shawols in Abbey Road and catches a glimpse of SMTown’s boy band. Abbey Road at 7.45am lies unsuspecting in the morning sunshine of the hundreds of kpop fans that will swarm the area in support of SHINee who are performing “Japan Debut Premium Reception in London“ (http://youtu.be/codeksErVqU) – a live streamed concert … [Read More]
Saharial’s Guide to Kpop – part 1
Saharial commences a journey through the many attractions of Kpop, which will lead her wherever you want her to go Introduction I’ve been following the Korean music scene since late 2004, after a small detour from the Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop scene turned into one giant change of direction in my interests in Asian … [Read More]
Korean Homesick Blues: the finest indie sounds from Korea
Bored with K-pop? Want to find something a bit more adventurous? Of course, you’ll already be an avid reader of Anna Lindgren’s excellent Indieful RoK. And now, if you want to listen to some of the most interesting alternative, indie and underground music around, you’ll be tuning in to Korean Homesick Blues, a regular podcast … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #16: A meeting with Hwang Byungki
Tuesday 4 May 2010. Hwang Byungki is probably Korea’s best known performer and composer for the kayageum. When I submitted my proposal to the Korean Culture and Information Service for the stories I wanted to investigate during my visit – of which the main one was the preservation and reinvention of Korean traditional culture – … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #12: A Meeting with Sorea
Monday 3 May 2010. In an unprepossessing building in a small backstreet in trendy Gangnam is a compact office which manages a gugak fusion band which briefly caught the spirit of a nation. At the height of the Korea, Sparkling promotional campaign, when the Korean Tourism Organisation was promoting Korea as a place with ancient … [Read More]
A meeting with Noeazy
Anna Lindgren of Indieful ROK meets with the up and coming Korean metalcore band Noeazy One of my very first evenings in Seoul, I found myself at Club FF checking out a bunch of hardcore bands. Although I had a pretty good idea of what the roster would treat me to, one band in particular … [Read More]
The many sides of Younee
Younee is back in the UK for a punishing schedule of live gigs, radio interviews and broadcasts. LKL is her first interview, two days after landing at Heathrow. We meet, together with her manager, Anthony Steinberg, at the now familiar rooftop bar at the St George’s Hotel, next to All Soul’s Langham Place. Last time … [Read More]
A meeting with Nah Youn Sun
It’s always nice when a singer you’ve been following for ages gets some well-deserved recognition. It’s even better, if you get the chance to interview her, when you find out that as well has having oodles of talent she’s a really nice person as well. Nah Youn Sun comes across as self-effacing on stage – … [Read More]
A meeting with Biuret
Biuret discuss their first UK performances, roots in Hongdae’s indie rock scene, and plans for an internationally focused third album. The band reflect on influences from Korean rock and 90s Western grunge, their Sutasi win, collaboration with overseas songwriters, and ambitions to expand beyond Korea while retaining their core sound. [Read More]
Tearliner revisited
Anna Lindgren of Indieful ROK gets in touch with Tearliner again, two years after her first interview. The past couple of years, my favourite Tearliner has gone from being the loveliest of indie musicians to becoming the excellent music director that perfectly sets the mood for any scene. Working on popular dramas he’s largely responsible … [Read More]
Younee and the British Invasion
Younee, the versatile singer-songwriter-pianist from Korea, is in London to launch her new album and play the Pizza Express Jazz Club. She takes a break from her rehearsal schedule to talk to LKL about her musical influences. It was not a good start to the interview. I had selected the Wigmore Hall bar as a … [Read More]
Map the Soul – a revolution for the music industry
Saharial shows her appreciation for the way in which hip-hop group Epik High’s new album is marketed: international fans are included, and even welcomed. On 21 March 2009, a website went live and promptly crashed under the weight of 300,000 hits. It was unexpected, but the kind of unexpected that you almost hope for in … [Read More]