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]
Category: Pop, rock and indie (page 39)
Rain MV banned for breach of traffic regulations
Rain’s latest music video, Love Song, has been banned for flagrant jaywalking. via @allkpop http://bit.ly/9zYlpS #. According to AllKpop, Yoo Seung Chan, PSY and Kim Jang Hoon have also had MVs withdrawn or edited as they too violated traffic regulations. [Read More]
The Korean Music Awards
The winners of the Korean Music Awards were announced on 30 March. Anna over at Indieful ROK has the complete list. A couple of the winning acts were highlighted by LKL contributors as leading lights of 2009. First, Anna herself voted Apollo 18’s Red Album as her Album of the Year: “the most amazing post-rock … [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]
Jang Sa-ik profiled in Korea Times
Great profile of folk singer Jang Sa-ik in the Korea Times. A world tour is planned for 2011. Hope it includes the UK. “He began his singing career at the age of 46 after jumping from one job to the next, working as an electronics salesman, car shop manager, insurance clerk and furniture store manager.” … [Read More]
Younee returns for her second UK tour
After the success of her 2009 UK tour, Younee is back for two months and a series of concerts. LKL will be meeting her this week to talk about her plans. In the meanwhile, here are some dates for your diaries: 19 Mar 2010 20:15 BBC Three Counties Radio ‘Sue Marchant Programme’ Cambridge 26 Mar … [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]
Epik High tops US Hip-hop charts
Mark Russell has spotted that Epik High’s new album Epilogue has topped the US hip-hop charts on iTunes. Amazing. http://bit.ly/Y1GzU0. “Very encouraging for a more “real” group to make some noise outside of Korea, as opposed to a more manufactured teen-pop group,” notes Mark, noting that the album, released on iTunes on March 8, is … [Read More]
Biuret to play in Southampton
Good news for K-rock fans near Southampton. Biuret, the overall SUTASI Pan Asian winner 2009, will be performing at The Brook, Sunday March 14th at 9.20pm. They’ve also been invited to perform at the International Live Music Conference in London on 12 March. After their Southampton gig they’re off to Vietnam to perform in Ho … [Read More]
Album Review: Kyu Won – 두 번의 겨울이 만든 이야기 – 1st jib
Saharial reviews Kyu Won’s first album, released by Open Music on January 7th 2010 I bought this album simply on a whim. Maybe it was the cute artwork or perhaps it was the lure of an artist that wrote, sang and performed all his own work that was the lure. At least, that’s what I … [Read More]
Wonder Girls “Nobody”: video of the year
More Korean vote-stuffing (remember Rain v Colbert?), or is the US simply catching up with the rest of us? Wondergirls Nobody is video of the year http://bit.ly/bIMIoS # [Read More]
Showbiz agent to focus on indie music
“There’s no other place in the world as lacking in musical diversity as Korea” – says Jeon Do-yeon’s former agent Park Sung-hye, who plans to focus on indie music in the future: Source Chosun Ilbo [Read More]
A belated look back at 2009
For the past 3 years LKL has concocted a quiz of the year as a way of gathering together some of the news stories which have most caught our eye. This year, as I came to draw up the list in mid December I found it hard to think of anything amusing or diverting: most … [Read More]
SNSD are National Assembly’s singers of the year
Korean National Assembly have refined tastes: Girl’s Generation named singers of the year by their popular culture and media study society. http://bit.ly/8EnyG7. [Read More]
Younee wins best songwriter at Musicaid awards
Congratulations to @youneelondon: Best Songwriter & nominated for best female solo artist in Musicaid 2009 Song Contest http://bit.ly/5azmbo. 9:14 PM Jan 4th from bit.ly [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Philip
The editor provides an eclectic choice of albums from this year. 2009 has been a bumper year for new, innovative music and some welcome re-releases of the back catalogue. And anyone interested in the Korean contemporary music scene needs to be very grateful to Anna over at Indieful ROK for the work she does in … [Read More]