Jeonju Rock Scene: The Pure Music of ATLAT

A lot of 19 year olds want to start a band, but few actually do, especially in school-obsessed Korea. Ad of those that do, very few make it to their third album.

Lee Mi-soon said she is happy with what she has achieved with her band ATLAT.

In 2006 the petit singer, armed with her acoustic guitar, joined guitarist Charles “Chul-soo” Lee and formed Soonsoo (순수). Soonsoo (the “soon” from Mi-soon and the “soo” from Chul-soo), meaning pure, written in Hangeul separately ㅅㅜㄴㅅㅜ, became ATLAT. Clever. “I want to say that we are seeking the purity in music,” ㅅhe duo explains.

During the recording of their first album, “설레다” (Heart Flutter) in 2007, Charles and Mi-soon worked with bass guitarist, Leem Ji-sun and drummer, Lee Chan-young, both session musicians who became members of the band.

“Usually bands form before they start recording, but ATLAT was a little different,” said Charles.

The band site British act Porcupine Tree as a source of their musical influence, but unsurprisingly other influences and inspirations came from the likes of Eric Clapton, Queen and Pink Floyd.

Lead singer Mi-soon looks like any other 20-something, but on stage she is full of surprises. Her voice is strong and she is capable of filling the rather large shoes of Eddie Mercury when belting out the band’s favorite cover song, “I Want to Break Free,” and she is equally comfortable performing the band’s vocally challenging original songs such as “Remembrance” from their second album, “Hope You Can Make It” and “Fade Away,” a single for their upcoming third album.

They are individually talented and each musician carries their own. They fit well together, producing songs that impress both musically-minded audiences and the casual concert goer.

The band have just completed their national tour, “Made in Jeonju” alongside other great Jeonju bands such as Humans.

Their third album is due to be released in autumn. “We try to show our true feelings through music, but there is not a particularly special message. We just enjoy it and hope that everything will be great,” said Charles.

For more information, look for the groups Cyworld, Facebook or Myspace pages.