“Genius means douchebag, scumbag. But we wanna be geniuses,” explained Kim Il-du, guitarist and lead singer of the Busan-based indie-rock band Genius.
Three years ago, American expat drummer Lee Chung-mok watched a band called Nabongkkundeul at a popular expat bar called The Basement, near the PNU area of Busan.
“They were the coolest band I’d ever seen. Never did I imagine that they would let me play drums with them. But they did,” Lee said.
The enigmatic but no-nonsense folk singer Kim Il-du has been around the Busan music scene for years. Currently, guitarist and lead singer of Genius, Kim is also an adept solo performer.
Last month saw the release of a remastered version of one of his earlier solo albums “SUSPENS,” and a split album with Ha Heon-jin.
Although members of the band On the Spot have been together for less than a year, one would be wrong to consider them rookies. They have been active in Seoul’s music scene for 10 years as soloists, session musicians and as vital parts of other acts.
They’ve eased into their new roles and are currently recording their fourth new song. At the same time, they’re composing and performing around Hongdae and on stage as the house band for the musical, CASH, currently running in the National Theater of Korea.
Back in March 2010, when dapper drummer Kim In-soo and flame-haired singer Jung Byoung-sun got together with the idea of forming a band, they were in no rush to be great. They just wanted to play.
The later arrival of young-and-funky bass player Kim Dong-joo and guitarist Jo Jae-mook resulted in the birth of the Dillytangs. Since then, they have become part of the musical fixture in Jeonju’s most expat-friendly music venue, Radio Star.
The stage Jung Soo-yoon, the lofty lead singer of the Korean rock band Orange Planet, is self-described as “a giant orange floating around the universe” looking like Liam Gallagher and dancing like Elvis.
Back in the days of Wonkwang University, the band’s five members - Cho Joo-hyun (guitar), Jeon Han-sol (bass), Park Je-hyun (drums), Lee Jae-hyoung (guitar) and Jung Soo-yoon (vocals) - met and began playing some jazz and metal covers for nothing more than the sake of playing together.
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.
Radio Star
Located in the Junghwasandong area of the city, Radio Star is as popular among expats as it is among musicians and locals. Don’t be put off by nicknames such as “the dungeon” – there are worse places to be held captive.
The atmosphere inside makes it a top choice for many Jeonjuites. The musician-cum-owner, Park In-yeol is friendly and welcoming to even the strangest of strangers. A lot happens here. If there is not already a concert or band practice going on, he will pull down the big screen and show a film or sporting event.
