Seoulsonic returned to New York City last week as part of CMJ’s 2015 music marathon, with a new set of acts performing at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) in Manhattan on Oct. 15. Three Korean indie acts- Sultan of the Disco, HEO, and WYM- performed throughout the night to showcase the music coming out of South […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/HEO1.png12001600Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-10-19 05:53:232015-10-19 06:31:50HEO’s Ambient Rock Sound Takes The Stage At Seoulsonic 2015 [Interview]
Even if Korean broadcasting stations aren’t keen on airing songs that contain name brands on the lyrics, that doesn’t stop the artists from including them. Or at least not on the B sides. Hey, the struggle is real and they need their singles to get some airplay. So for this week’s playlist, we’re talking about […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PLAYLIST-SUNDAY-15.png600800KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2015-10-18 18:09:592015-10-18 18:09:59Playlist Sunday: Brand Name Shoutouts
Seoulsonic returned to New York City last week as part of CMJ’s 2015 music marathon, with a new set of acts performing at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) in Manhattan on Oct. 15. Three Korean indie acts- Sultan of the Disco, HEO, and WYM- performed throughout the night to showcase the music coming out of South […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/HEO1.png12001600Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-10-19 05:53:232015-10-19 06:31:50HEO’s Ambient Rock Sound Takes The Stage At Seoulsonic 2015 [Interview]
Even if Korean broadcasting stations aren’t keen on airing songs that contain name brands on the lyrics, that doesn’t stop the artists from including them. Or at least not on the B sides. Hey, the struggle is real and they need their singles to get some airplay. So for this week’s playlist, we’re talking about […]
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PLAYLIST-SUNDAY-15.png600800KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2015-10-18 18:09:592015-10-18 18:09:59Playlist Sunday: Brand Name Shoutouts
Seoulsonic returned to New York City last week as part of CMJ’s 2015 music marathon, with a new set of acts performing at SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) in Manhattan on Oct. 15. Three Korean indie acts- Sultan of the Disco, HEO, and WYM- performed throughout the night to showcase the music coming out of South Korea’s indie scene nowadays, brought together by Seoulsonic. I had a chance to speak to each of the acts before the show to hear about their careers and experiences at Seoulsonic.
[This is the first of a three-part interview/review series from the event.]
Hard rock meets ambience in the Korean duo HEO, comprised of male vocalist/guitarist/producer Heo and female vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Bo-yeong. During the live show, the pair and a drummer created a new take on dreamy indie rock, combining rock instruments with synthesizers and vocal distortion. The result was something akin to a waking dream, where music acts as the guide into wonderland.
The music during HEO’s set, the second of three at Seoulsonic’s New York City show, tip-toed the narrow line between the genres, never going too far off into either the rock or electronic genres at any one moment, but instead bringing them together to become a perfect indie rock dreamscape.
Even before the show, it was clear that the pair were consummate musicians, with Heo and Bo-yeong discussing their career passionately. Despite the fact that HEO had won the electronic dance album of the year award at this year’s Korean Music Awards for their LP, “Structure,” the pair still has a lot that they want to achieve.
The pair has been together since 2014, when Heo decided to bring in another vocalist. He knew Bo-yeong from their college days, when she was an underclassmen. “I already knew that she played keyboard and vocals, so I suggested, ‘let’s play together’ for the second album.”
On stage, despite the fact that the band is named after Heo, it is clear that the two are a pair and neither one overpowers the other. Heo’s intensity on stage as he sings, wails on occasion, and creates the electronic elements contrasts sharply with Bo-yeong’s blank gaze as she sings in her Lana Del Rey-esque voice and plays her bass and keyboard, but the songs would feel empty without one of the pair on stage. If anything, the two came off that night as living embodiments of indie meets rock: Bo-yeong wore the favored fringe and body glitter popular at indie music festivals, while Heo wore the iconic black leather jacket of classic rock.
HEO played at SXSW earlier this year, and the CMJ show was the second part of that journey with Seoulsonic. “This time around, touring with my band, especially coming to New York, which is world famous, it’s a huge honor and privilege,” said Heo. “Especially because so many of our favorite bands have played in New York and a lot of our favorite movies take place in New York so it’s very exciting.”
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Heo had appeared at Seoulsonic 2012 as a session guitarist for 3rd Line Butterfly, and was already familiar with Seoulsonic and the tour before HEO was brought on to the tour as the duo gained attention in South Korea and abroad.
Winning the Korean Music award for “Structure” was a big deal for the pair. “We couldn’t believe that we had won. It was a bit of a surprise that someone relatively unknown could win such a big prize.”
But despite the prize, they don’t feel like they’re famous yet.
“This whole album [“Structure”] was made without aiming for the mainstream,” explained HEO. “So as to why it even won is still a mystery.”
“If there’s anyone reason for why we won. It may be the fact the style of music is something that others haven’t really seen or heard before. It was very much a hybrid mix between rock and electronic, and while others have kind of experimented with mixing it, nobody else has really done it in Korea to this degree, with such a full force approach.”
With twelve tracks, many of which HEO performed at Seoulsonic, “Structure” is a full length LP of electronic rock songs that sound like the average night’s dreams on a lot of acid.
As for plans after they head back to Korea? “We’re going to go back to the studios and start working on songs, with the goal to release a new single every month. Hopefully by next spring, we’ll have enough to release an EP or a full length album from all of those singles. More importantly, we’re releasing a vinyl album.”
Do you have a favorite song by HEO? What’s your favorite Korean indie band? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/HEO1.png12001600Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2015-10-19 05:53:232015-10-19 06:31:50HEO’s Ambient Rock Sound Takes The Stage At Seoulsonic 2015 [Interview]
Even if Korean broadcasting stations aren’t keen on airing songs that contain name brands on the lyrics, that doesn’t stop the artists from including them. Or at least not on the B sides. Hey, the struggle is real and they need their singles to get some airplay. So for this week’s playlist, we’re talking about our favorite songs with shoutouts to fashion houses and overall brands. Because even though they’re rare — especially with K-pop — they exist.
Seven member hip hop group BTS released this catchy ode to Converse high tops on their 2015 mini album, “The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Part 1.” Their leader, Rap Monster, said his inspiration for the lyrics stemmed from the notion that his ideal woman should wear red Converse high tops. Clearly implying that Converse should be the only brand his girlfriend wears, the rapper jokes: “Oh f your Chanel, f your Alexander McQueen, f your Raf Simons.” The song continues to extol the virtues of the Converse brand, until fellow rapper Suga declares: “I really hate Converse,” simply because he feels they are they too difficult to remove when he is getting amorous with a woman. Due to strict laws on product placement in South Korea “Converse High” was banned by TV network KBS, who strongly objected to the over use of brand names.
Some of 2NE1’s early songs were just so full of sass. “Can’t Nobody” was released in 2010 and won an award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs) that year because the video was so on point. But it’s the lyrics of their English version of the song that were just jam packed with brand name shouts. The entire first stanza is just one designer brand after another: Balmain, KTZ, Jeremy Scott, Givenchy, Chrome Hearts, Fendi, they all are referenced by CL in the first few moments of the song (Lamborghini gets referenced later on). The Korean version of “Can’t Nobody” doesn’t have the same fashion-forward flare, but the message of the song is the same, and there is nobody who can hold these ladies down.
— Tamar
Rapper Beenzino has made it very clear over the year that he’s into fashion and art. Whether it’s by his everyday looks, the magazine spreads he’s featured in, or his lyrics, he makes it really clear that fashion occupies an important spot in his life. And similarly to BTS, Beenzino raps about the type of kicks he likes to see his girl wearing in “Nike Shoes,” which are, of course, Nike. The song is essentially an ode to this girl’s style, since he talks about everything from her effortless chic charm to her tight jeans. Throughout the song, he name drops a few other designer houses like Gucci, Chanel, and Givenchy, but ultimately, it’s the Nike sneakers on this girl what he likes.
— Alexis
Fans of BTS’s leader Rap Monster (real name Kim Namjoon) would know that the guy loves his outfits of the day. Rap Monster, who also goes by the moniker “Kim Daily,” regularly updates the group’s Twitter account with what he is wearing that day. Naturally, his passion for fashion makes its way through his lyrics, as not only seen in BTS’s contemporary songs like “Converse High,” but also in his pre-but tracks. In his version of Wale’s “Illest Bitch,” he confesses early on his affinity for girls in simple white tees, denim, and a pair of red Converse high tops through his original lyrics. Other girls may talk about brands like “Gucci, Louis (Vuitton), Fendi, Prada,” but to him those are the kinds of things that will mask her beauty. And even if he does refer to her as a “bitch” throughout the song, Rap Monster is a total sweetheart while showing off his fashion know-how.
Here in the United States it seems as though there’s always a new song that comes out that has a heavy emphasis on mentioning brand names and labels. It’s the norm here; artists can mention practically anything from sunglass brand Ray-Bans to vodka brand Cîroc and not receive any form of penalization for it, most of the time anyway. Meanwhile, BIGBANG’s “WE LIKE 2 PARTY” was deemed unfit for broadcast on one of the major Korean broadcasting network, KBS, for mentioning a wine brand, Opus One. Sure, there were other factors that played into why the song wasn’t allowed to broadcast, but you can’t have a song that talks about partying and not mention the most obvious, drinking. But then again, South Korea is still considerably reserved as country, it’s just insane to how quickly Korean music programs are to put a stop to streaming a song, even at the mention of a single brand name.
— Tam
What’s your favorite K-pop song with a brand name shoutout? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
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