After the release of her newest album Name Of Your Light, South Korean-born Berliner Enyang Urbiks aka Enyang Ha joins our Top 5 series and shares her favourite artists from the Korean music scene.
“I grew up in Korea until I was 14 until I decamped to the USA – Kentucky, to be exact,” explains Enyang. “I wanted to detach myself from the extreme traditions and the norms set by the society. Moving to Kentucky alone led me to drift away from the local art and music scene. Fast forward two decades, I found myself immersed in the role of a mastering engineer collaborating with groundbreaking artists like Arca and Amnesia Scanner. And gradually, I began to have a contact with Korean musicians and labels. This experience was profoundly influential, rekindling my connection with the country and culture, and offering a fresh perspective rooted in my heritage. The close collaboration with Korean artists provided invaluable insights into their creative processes and inspired the conception of my recent album, ‘Name Of Your Light’. There are many talented artists in the contemporary Korean scene, but allow me to introduce you to the ones who inspire me the most. Check my latest show ‘Seoul Rains’ on Refuge Worldwide if you want to explore more Korean music.
1. Leevisa – At Last I Am Free
“Leevisa is an artist who effortlessly navigates between Avantgarde, hiphop, and electronica genres. She has also contributed compositions for the Korean horror/thriller feature film ‘Mi-hok’. Recently, she relocated to Canada and has taken on a co-management role at her label, Perpetual Care. The label predominantly specializes in electronic dance styles, aligning with Leevisa’s music which serves as a conduit between the Korean and North American underground scenes.”
2. Joon Kwak – SONGZIO 24SS Collection ‘PURE REBEL’
“Joon Kwak is a resident DJ at the renowned Seoul club, Faust. Beyond his DJing, he’s extensively engaged in composing soundtracks for various fashion brands. Additionally, he spearheads the warehouse rave project, PERMIT, known for organizing raves in locations ranging from abandoned American military shooting ranges to traditional Korean residences, and even frigid warehouses, all complemented by thoughtfully curated techno music. To mark FAUST’s 9th anniversary, Joon Kwak has released a new techno track titled ‘4D’.”
3. Leesuho – Worship From Elsewhere
“Leesuho is a multi-talented artist, excelling as both a musician and a videographer. He is an integral member of the music collective, Balming Tiger. Notably, Leesuho has contributed his creative vision to produce and direct striking music videos for artists such as BTS’ j-hope and CL. His production style is characterized by its wordless perfection and distinctive touch of playful humor and hypnotizing magic.”
4. Liu Lee – Byuljari (Star Sign)
“Liu Lee is a versatile DJ, seamlessly blending genres from techno and trance to punk. She has also made her mark as a writer and producer, specializing in electronic alternative pop music. Her most recent release, “Byuljari,” which translates to “Star Sign,” has just been launched on Carousel Seoul. This label is associated with the esteemed Cake Shop, a hub for experimental electronic music in Seoul. Notably, Carousel Records boasts an unexpectedly global reach, collaborating with artists worldwide who are currently shaping the sonic landscape of the experimental electronic music scene.”
5. Scorched Evrth – Hiking
“The electronic musician Scorched Evrth unveiled his album “JAWA” in 2022, utilizing his own voice as a unique tool to shape the overall sonic landscape. Through this, he forged a distinctive ecosystem where electronic elements took on an organic quality to portray his identity. The album’s mixing was skillfully handled by Kwangjae Jeon, and it saw its release through Sound Supply Service.”
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Name Of Your Light’ is out now: https://system.lnk.to/nameofyourlight
