Philip of London Korean Links drew my attention towards an upcoming London event: Balloon and Needle: The New Korean Avant Garde.

Turns out a whole bunch of performers, including Hong Chulki and Choi Joonyong, tied to long running noise & experimental music label Balloon & Needle will be headed for Europe in the beginning of 2011.

Exactly where they'll be going seems a bit uncertain with dates and destinations varying depending on source, but it seems that in addition to London the two will at least be going to Oslo together with Ryu Hankil to play the Saturday of next year's All Ears festival. Other destinations may include The Netherlands (Amsterdam*), France (Belfort*, Nantes*, Paris*, Bourgogne**), Switzerland (Geneva*, Zürich*), Austria (Vienna*), Ireland (Cork***), and Italy (Milano***). Other artists that will join at various locations are Jin Sangtae, Jason Kahn and filmmaker Lee Hangjun.
* according to Balloon & Needle's website
** according to Hong Chulki's website
*** according to Jin Sangtae's website


With the exception of the filmmaker, and addition of Park Seungjun this group of performers had a CD called Dotolim released in November this year. It was composed and recorded by Jason Khan that on his website describes it as "both a tribute to this group of musicians and the space which has served them and the small but vibrant community of experimental musicians in Seoul so well", Dotolim also being the name of a venue for the occasional improvisational and experimental music event. For more from Dotolim, check out the official YouTube channel.

As the year comes to an end there's not just a surge in holiday related album releases, but also a bunch of awards being handed out. Bugs Music had its users vote for top song in several categories, and the result was published last week. Here's what happened in the indie section:

2010 Bugs Indie Music Awards
1. Lucid Fall - 고등어 [MV]
2. 10cm - Good Night [live]
3. Springloll - 허밍 [MV]
4. Dalmoon - 옥상달빛 [on Sketchbook]
5. Kyu Won - 기찻길 [MV]
6. Misty Blue - 하나
7. Daybreak - 팝콘 [MV]
8. Dr.Core 911 - The Escape [MV]
9. Mono Diary - 추억이라 부르는 이름의 노래 [MV]
10. cheezstereo - 화성 로맨스 [MV]

Here's a YouTube playlist in case you want to watch all related music videos in one session:

Tonight Popseoul headline "Indie Band covers 2NE1 “It Hurts”" caught my attention. Turns out rapper Verbal Jint put on an atypical show at Pastel Music café Kubric last weekend, covering 2NE1's 아파. From what I can tell, 2NE1 is one of the most popular idol groups among Korean indie musicians, some which have covered other songs in the part. I Don't Care in particular is regularly sung by O So Young and has also been heard performed by Julia Hart.

Anyhow, hearing Verbal Jint in that unsual setting led me to find that he released a new EP, _easy go 0.5, on December 6. Teaser available here, music video for main track 약속해 약속해 here. Among other things, the EP contains a Christmas themed tune called 크리스마스를부탁해 that much like the 아파 cover was much less hiphop than I had expected. It also has a song called 기름 같은걸 끼얹나 featuring deb.

As much as I'd like to deny it, with the fourth Sunday of advent just about over it is inevitably so that christmas will arrive very soon. I haven't been able to keep up with recent releases lately, but did hear about a few christmas related kindie releases this year anyway.


Pastel Music was first out on December 9 with Merry Lonely Christmas And Happy New Year. Gathering both old and new Pastel affiliated artists, the two CDs hold 16 tracks. The contributions from Zitten, Casker vocalist Yoong Jin, and new female artist Shim Kyu Sun have all gotten music videos to go with their recordings. Before the weekend an unofficial video with clips from Home Alone to go with always interesting rock band Bulssazo's take on the main theme from the movie in question surfaced:
1.03) Shim Kyu Sun - Redribbon Foxes
1.04) Yoong Jin - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2.06) Bulssazo - Somewhere In My Memory
2.08) Zitten & Friends - Happy X-mas (War is over)

A Pastel artist not on the christmas compilation was Fanny Fink, but the duo did release a digital "winter single" called 가장 아픈 사랑 on December 8. The music video has a bit of snow in it.


Come December 15, LoveRock Company put out an album called 2010 Love Rock Christmas Album. An offering from the Love Rock Family (e.g. Galaxy Express and Telepathy) the album holds fresh tracks in genres such as showing-off-tronica, erotic folk, and bum side hiphop. Sample title track Punk Punk Punk at the Galaxy Express Wild Days blog.


As you may recall, DJ Soulscape's alias Espionne has been making a soundtrack for cosmetics chain belif. With christmas coming up, a new song called Toys & Bells has been added to the OST and until December 26 it's available in a special download event.


I had wanted to prepare a different kind of christmas themed post lining up some of my favorite christmas themed kindie songs from previous years, but couldn't find the time. What I did do, however, was to put together a very short Spotify playlist, Indieful Christmas, with the songs I could find there. Although both good songs, sadly all I could put on it this time around was Bobbyville's 알콜로 얼룩진 성탄절 and Windy City's Christmas Time so should you be a Spotify user that happens to stumble upon something more you're very welcome to let me know.

Over the past year I've heard a bit about Swimmingdoll but never gotten around to giving the band a listen. Then last week I got an email with a MySpace link from Vanillacoke saying the first Swimmingdoll album should be out soon (I love those kinds of emails by the way, although I receive them far too seldom). Once I had sorted out some technical issues on my side, I could finally press play and was met by an intriguing sound that prompted me to I write down a few questions which she kindly answered:

Could you please start by introducing Swimmingdoll?
Swimmingdoll are shoegazing and experimental sound makers.
- Band line up in early 2008 was Zeroway (guitar), Vanillacoke (bass/drum), Motherdoll (synth, piano, vocal)
- Started having shows at Badabie in Hongdae area in them middle of 2008, then continued in several areas.
- The guitar player changed in September of 2009 to Hyoje, then changed again in September of 2010 to Mingue.
- Own Organization series show titles as follows,
1) Logos - shoegazing, experimental and post-rock etc. (Logos vol.1 - 10/31 , Logos vol.2 - 12/19)
2) Plug & Plug - improvisation playing, experimental sound making and noise sound etc.

Your music seems full of intriguing and haunting qualities. How would you like to describe your sound?
When creating our songs, imagination of any images, the universe and watched movies is the basis. Then sharing it is the representation of the song.

The first track, Silence paradoxically, "sound" was trying faithfully to the original meaning of the song.

Decret, Freak imaginary story and image of faded film are tried to made of song. (Decret = Delete + Secret)

Maha suddenly one day, a longing for "enlightenment" and "to transcend" made instantaneously,

All of things to be Swimmingdoll's motifs.

What can you tell us about your first album?
Originally, we were preparing an EP with 2-3 songs in 2009, but as time passed we decided to release our 1st album. That is 8wimmingdoll. Now we're also playing extra songs, so maybe we will release a single album soon during next year.

The meaning of 8 is not the normal meaning of the figure. It means circulation, the meaning of eternity. Cross outside to inside and top to bottom, our meaning is an endless and boundless world. We are trying to say that for this infinite world "band swimmingdoll" was the motto of the music. In other words, an infinite world of the spacewalk = 8wimmingdoll. (If you see our CD image, you can understand easily)

What can you tell us about Logos?
The Logos show series is meant to "return to experimental art".

We wanted to have a universal range of titles. The music we have personal things on the inside is mostly derived. We are doing shy and unkindness music, but the show exact opposite. Constantly communicating with people over the windows open to breathe with them.

---
And here's the CD image in question. Currently all 6 tracks from the album are streaming at MySpace, so do go there to have a listen and make sure not to miss 8. The CD should've been out already in November, but due to various problems the release has been delayed and it wasn't till today that the first copies could be delivered to Hyang Music.

The second instance of the Logos show series will take place tomorrow, December 19, and Shawn Despres offers some more info on it over at Korea Gig Guide: Building Band & Brand Recognition. The same Shawn had an interview with the band last month for an article on Swimmingdoll in Groove Korea, where you can find out more about not just Logos, but also the lineup changes and the album recording process.

Today 10 Asia continued its 인디 10 series with band number 12, Vodka Rain:
- [INTERVIEW] Indie band Vodka Rain - Part 1
- [INTERVIEW] Indie band Vodka Rain - Part 2

It's December 15 and that means that the Music Alliance Pact once again is ready to offer you music from all over the world! With Eardrums currently on a hiatus from MAP, starting this month the Norweigian blog in the pact is Birds Sometimes Dance.

The Korean song this month is 텅 빈 우주 from gifted singer/songwriter Image, that in this mini interview with Indieful ROK described the song herself in the following way: "[It] delivers the feeling when one's central being to depend and lean on, has been eradicated or collapsed, comparing it as the feeling of the emptiness of his universe. It figures the sense of emptiness, has elegant but little bit twisted melody, combines acoustic and electronic sound, culminates in scenery of placid and bright but filled with strong tears at the same time."

To download all 35 songs in one file click here

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Nairobi - Minerals
Nairobi is a dub band based in Buenos Aires. Approaching dub from a diverse perspective, they create vibrant climates and fresh interpretations of the genre. This song is the first single from their second album, Wet, which was mixed at Mad Professor's studio in London and features Roberto Pettinato on saxophone.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
Miracle - A Big Jet Plane
I recently discovered this 18-year-old rapper born in Ghana but now residing in western Sydney. The word is that he got signed to his label based on a song sampling Pete Murray's Better Days, a track he made for his high school music assignment and eventually became his first single. Personally, I liked his version of Angus And Julia Stone's hit Big Jet Plane better.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Diego e O Sindicato - Amigo
Influenced by 70s Brazilian rock and tropicalism, amongst other musical styles such as psychedelic rock and even samba, Amigo is a great taster of Parte De Nós ("Part Of Us"), the first full-length record by Diego e O Sindicato, released last month. The album is available to download for free at Compacto.REC, a netlabel focused on independent Brazilian music.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Olenka & The Autumn Lovers - Sparrow
Olenka & The Autumn Lovers' newest album, And Now We Sing, is just about the finest folk-pop album you could ever ask for. It brilliantly blends together Eastern European-tinged folk, smoky jazz, country and a variety of other elements to create an album that's easily one of the best to come out in 2010. Sparrow showcases Olenka's Eastern European roots.

CHILE: Super 45
Los Nadieh - Lisa y llanamente
Los Nadieh are members of Potoco Discos, the independent label that houses Como Asesinar a Felipes (an excellent jazz trio with a DJ and MC), who proclaim to play "the other kind of rap". That claim also defines the approach of this band from Valparaíso, homesickly looking at the harbour city but showing their feelings by experimenting with the formal structures of hip hop. This scorn for risk is reflected on Desde El Último Lugar, their debut, backed up by local heavyweight Foex (ex-member of FDA and a contributor to the increasingly successful Ana Tijoux).

CHINA: Wooozy
Rainbow Danger Club - Neighbors On The Rooftops
With riveting, epic melodies that soar and patter along majestically, the Rainbow Danger Club manage to effortlessly skirt the line between beauty and ugliness, light and dark, innocence and depravity. One of the greatest bands to emerge from the Shanghai music scene lately, they never cease to amaze audiences with their grandiose musicality and adeptness at crafting songs that don't seem to leave your head. Their debut EP, The New Atlantis, is not to be missed.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Capzula - Lo Dejamos Asi
Capzula have been the surprise of 2010 in the pop/rock scene of Colombia thanks to their popular single Rock. Big things are expected of them in 2011 and their new single Lo Dejamos Asi clearly shows they can rise to that responsibility.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
Sleep Party People - A Dark God Heart
In late November, Danish label Vuf released the sixth in their renowned series of compilations titled The Vuf Compilation #6 - Back To Nature, sporting 12 tracks by established and upcoming Danish and Swedish artists, half working in alternative pop/rock and half in electronica. Among them is critically acclaimed one-man dreampop act Sleep Party People aka Brian Batz, whose hauntingly beautiful B-side A Dark God Heart is the final Danish MAP track of 2010. If you crave more, the compilation is available for free download here.

ENGLAND: The Guardian Music Blog
Fantastic Mr Fox - Brandy - Angel In Disguise (Fantastic Mr Fox's Nature Boy Rerub)
Stephen Gomberg alias Fantastic Mr Fox is one of the most in-demand dubstep producers and musicians around - The xx took him on tour with them to the States and Warpaint commissioned him to remix one of their tracks. His songs have been described as "digital symphonies" and result from painstakingly chopping up pieces of pre-existing music - sounds, melodies, handclaps and so on from his favourite urban tracks such as R&B queen Brandy's Angel In Disguise, as featured here - and reassembling them in new shapes. In the Guardian's New Band Of The Day column, Paul Lester hailed this as "abstract R&B arranged with a Cubist disregard for form". Sheer futurist invention.

ESTONIA: Popop
Multiphonic Rodent - Printsess & Page
Multiphonic Rodent is the nom de plume of multi-instrumentalist composer Erkki Hõbe. Mainly known as the founder member of Opium Flirt, he has been doing home recordings since 2005 and playing live as a one-man big band on guitars, percussion, keys and wind instruments since 2008. His multi-layered style is influenced by classical minimalism, avant-garde jazz and psychedelic rock, to name a few stylistic origins.

FINLAND: Glue
The Friend - New Berlin Wall
The Friend play melodic indie-rock music to make people dance, or, in their own words, they play "songs that are brisk, atmospheric, playful, three-and-a-half-minutes-long compact packages". Take a listen to their first single, New Berlin Wall, while we wait for their first full-length to be released early next year.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Dizzy Errol - Pride
Dizzy Errol is the one and only Turkish beatnik in Germany. His name perfectly describes his fuzzy, straightforward sound. Pride is the most powerful song on the album Motherlamp from 2010. Dizzy Errol is part of the artist collective Kamerakino, who recently released a compilation named Infant Munich Hits Rock Bottom, which is quite a nice sample of the city's underground music.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
Abbie Gale - Terry Torry A List
Abbie Gale's third studio album, No Inspiration, an impressive addition to their catalogue, showcases a sweeping collection of 11 songs that are at once riveting, dreamy and sonically lush, swelling and tranquil. Gripping melodies are embellished with whirling arrangements, spirited outbursts and Evira's wide-ranging, emotive, splendidly affecting vocals. Terry Torry A List feels simultaneously familiar and challenging. It's a compelling, intricate song in which to lose yourself. It gets under the skin and unfurls its majesty from the first play.

ICELAND: Icelandic Music Maffia
Nóra - Opin Fyrir Morði
Nóra started in a dark garage on the west side of Reykjavík. In 2006, brother and sister Egill and Auður, along with their friend Hrafn, started as a trio. In 2008, the band became a quintet when Bragi and Frank joined. They play honey-glazed indie-pop influenced by Radiohead, Bob Dylan, TV On The Radio, The Mars Volta, The Pixies, Roy Orbison and Neil Young. Opin Fyrir Morði is taken from their debut album, Er Einhver Að Hlusta? ("Is Anyone Listening?"), which was released in early summer.

INDIA: Indiecision
Tempo Tantrick - Psychoblabber
Tempo Tantrick is a trip hop duo from Bangalore. Their sound palette ranges from downtempo to pulsing EDM that finds a likely home in clubs open to both electronica and experimental. Psychoblabber falls squarely in the latter end of the Tempo Tantrick soundscape. The track features an irresistible, throbbing refrain reminiscent of Shiny Toy Guns.

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Kelelawar Malam - Suara Kegelapan
Kelelawar Malam means "Night Bat"; Suara Kegelapan means "Voice of Darkness". The band name and song title already set a hint of horror, and their lyrics were written as though they were intended for horror B-movie scripts, with old Indonesian villages as the setting. The music is heavily influenced by The Misfits.

IRELAND: Nialler9
James Vincent McMorrow - If I Had A Boat
Having captivated Ireland with his falsetto folk ballads, McMorrow has signed to Vagrant Records in the US. A self-titled EP is currently acquainting itself with international ears and here's your chance to do the same. If I Had A Boat is the first song from the EP and a perfect introduction to McMorrow's oaky timbre.

ISRAEL: Metal Israel
Winterhorde - The Tenth Wave
Winterhorde is a blacker than the blackest black metal band from the north of Israel. Unfortunately, Israel's north is pretty black right now itself with hundreds of acres of forest destroyed by the largest fire in the country's history with a death toll of over 40. In any case, Winterhorde's sonic path twists from symphonic melodies to sheer straight-up metal intensity, melding these two extremes with elegance and professionalism. Winterhorde will freeze your soul with its echoes of longing, darkness and unrelenting desperation. Good stuff created in a classic vein.

ITALY: Polaroid
(m+a) - (we)
Michele and Alessandro (hence the name of the band) are two young, talented boys from the town of Forlì. That's more or less all I know about this project. But then there are these amazing sounds: gloomy glitch electronica with a warm acoustic heart and a cool touch of fresh pop which goes from Radiohead to Plaid via Hot Chip, if you need some kind of weird recipe. This is a song from their incoming second album but you can download their first one for free at their website.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Troker - Planeta Terror
Guadalajara-based 'jazz vinyl' band Troker was formed in 2005 by six conservative musicians and has developed into a powerful, danceable and naughty funk-rock sound - a groovy horn section, violent drums, a sexy piano and spicy scratches that make the turntables work as a roll 'n' roll instrument through a jazz-based structure. Planeta Terror is one of the delightfully sour tracks from their second album El Rey Del Camino.

NETHERLANDS: Unfold Amsterdam
The Benelux - Pet Needs Friends (Bear remix)
This Amsterdam indie quartet are fresh, frisky and dancefloor flammable. There are certainly retro guitar-pop elements at play here, such as their saucy bursts of swaggering guitar jangle. But any hints of classic garage rock are mixed with quirky synths and fun, big beat grooves. So much so that their Girl Singer EP is topped off with remixes by NON Records labelmates Palmbomen and Bear. The tracks lend themselves perfectly to dance-friendly interpretations - Soulwax come to mind in this sense - which is why we've chosen the Bear remix of Pet Needs Friends as a party-starting introduction.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Pikachunes - Nervous
Miles Loveless' commanding baritone strides atop his lofty synth lines and unrepentant drum machine tracks, riding a dance wave like that of LCD Soundsystem. On the bedroom producer's song Nervous, a Knight Rider-esque bassline cavorts with a floating, flutey synth that comes in with Loveless's emotionless, almost monotone voice providing a laconic environment for his social awkwardness to shine. Pikachunes released his debut self-titled album on Lil' Chief Records last month, and he has a great video for the song Shout It Out.

NORWAY: Birds Sometimes Dance
Uno Møller - Your Quiet Little House
Singer-songwriter Uno Møller plays beautiful minimalistic pop with just the sound of his fragile voice coupled with the playful tones of an acoustic guitar. His debut album was released a few months ago on the British label Lazy Acre Records. He's also a part of Team Me, a promising band that has been praised both in and outside Norway. They've been booked to play at Øyafestivalen and by:Larm next year, but let's hope Uno has more time for his solo project too.

PERU: SoTB
Kid Solano - Solano Swing
Think of a perfect party in a place where night is eternal and the collective dancing turns everyone into a jumping mass. Now imagine the perfect song to accompany those moments and the result would be something like Solano Swing. Make space in your record collection for the amazing lounge/breakbeat of Kid Solano.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Minta & The Brook Trout - Large Amounts
Minta is Francisca Cortesão - a talented singer, musician and composer who has been in other bands and works as a session and live musician. The Brook Trout are Mariana Ricardo, Manuel Dordio and José Vilão, friends of Minta who collaborated on her first album, Minta & The Brook Trout. Minta's sound will please fans of the likes of Beth Orton or Belle & Sebastian.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Makunouchi Bento - Anchorshaped Siren
Makunouchi Bento is an experimental project with influences from musique concrète to IDM. Their lunchbox has many more surprises than anyone could imagine. There are two main directions in their sound - the use of electronic gadgets (Spectrum, C64, Amiga, Atari) and sampling as the key for a haunting cinematic atmosphere. This could easily be the soundtrack of a David Lynch film or a rainy, gray Romanian December afternoon. Their album, Swimé, can be downloaded for free from Bandcamp.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
Rachel Sermanni - Eggshells
Rachel Sermanni is a talent worth swooning over. The 19-year-old from the Highlands cites her idols as Joni Mitchell and Eva Cassidy, which makes perfect sense when you find yourself enchanted by her pure, fragile vocals and poetic lyrics. A star in the making for sure.

SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...
The Lard Brothers - Wish You'll Never Leave Time (Ownself Remix)
The Lard Brothers have carved a niche for themselves remixing and reworking songs by other Singaporean bands, sometimes roping in outside collaborators in the process. Their approach ensures their work isn't so much a rehash of existing material as it is a means of bringing the music community together, and giving us a fresh take on Singaporean music. Their latest release, the Bonsai Warriors EP, stays on the same track but fittingly leaves room at the end for a remix of themselves, a glorious uplifting on their 2008 original.

SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Reburn - Outta My Mind
Reburn is a five-piece alternative rock band whose mix of catchy beats and a quirky feel has seen them rise to the forefront of the local scene. Outta My Mind encompasses the band's sound, which is distinctly British-influenced with its polished tone and a slight indie edge. Reburn's motto is that the band was brought to life for no reason other than to make "music for pleasure" and that they do. Stylishly so.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Image - Empty Universe
Female singer-songwriter Image has already been active for more than a decade, but it wasn't until fall this year that she presented her first digital EP, Metaphoricalizing. Determined to make music of veracity, Image combines both acoustic and electronic elements when giving life to the folk ethos she wishes to express. Empty Universe is the main track off Metaphoricalizing and will be recorded in an English version for her upcoming first CD album.

SPAIN: Musikorner
Odio París - Ya No Existes
We don't have any reason to hate Paris, but apparently this five-piece band from Barcelona does. Odio París, who have supported The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, are influenced by shoegaze legends The Jesus And Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but they also take inspiration from Spain's biggest indie band, Los Planetas. Ya No Existes, their first single, is living proof of that as it recreates the characteristic distortion of the Andalusians' early releases.

SWEDEN: Swedesplease
Le Days - Ring Baby Ring
Le Days aka Daniel Hedin has announced the upcoming release of a debut album titled Dead People On Tape. The predominant instrument may be an acoustic guitar but this is by no means folk music. It's a disturbing blend of over the top emo and confessional rock à la Jeff Buckely. The first single in all its tormented glory namedrops Judas, curses violently and lays its heart on its proverbial sleeve.

SWITZERLAND: 78s
The Bianca Story - Coming Home
You thought Switzerland was neutral? It's not. We're totally asking you to take sides with our quest to bring better music to the world. Our weapon of mass seduction: The Bianca Story, a five-piece from Basel. Their sound is best described as "pop taken seriously" - you get the catchy tunes but with added layers of depth. Their latest single, Coming Home, is an appetizer to their second album due for release in 2011.

UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating
Painted Palms - All Of Us
San Francisco's Painted Palms aren't the first experimental pop band to take cues from Animal Collective, but they're perhaps the most unique of the bunch. Combining a wild assortment of genres from Afro-pop to krautrock to electro-pop, the tracks on their debut Canopy EP (free download here) are equally addictive as they are artful, bringing a smile to even the most jaded of listeners.

VENEZUELA: Barquisimento
Viniloversus - Ruleta Rusa
Viniloversus started rocking Caracas in 2004, both live and on record. One of the many reasons for their unique sound is the presence of two bassists in the band. Impeccable performances and sharp, strong notes hit the audience like thunder in their shows. Ruleta Rusa is taken from their Latin Grammy-nominated latest album Si No Nos Mata.

One thing I like about collecting those indi charts from Bugs is how it makes me aware of music I would've missed otherwise. Back in September I learned of the existence of Image and I didn't have to spend long on YouTube before I took a liking to her and wanted to find out more. And so, a little while ago Image kindly answered a few questions for Indieful ROK:

Who is Image?
A singer song writer who sings a song of silent outcry in an uncanny reality. Sings a song sometimes pleasantly and sometimes dolefully on and off the stage to communicate with people and to question the life. (currently running www.imagemeetssound.com and reviewing and planning concerts as well)

I spontaneously decided to communicate by means of art while thinking of what I could do in this uncanny reality, and the means of communication were more about metaphor, not the indicative. Music was what I had longed for since I learned how to "metaphoricalize" by writing and drawing instead. However, I met a chance to have the music to be more than just a object of craving, by winning the "Yoo Jaeha (Korean singer songwriter) music scholarship contest" 2002, in my age of twenty. By experiencing many trial and errors, I could assure that the music will act as the main means of communication in my life. I try to give accent on the lyrics and also visualize the image of my songs to encompass the means other than the music. This is how the story of "Image meets sound" begins.

How would you describe your music?
The first concert I had with my band was 1999, already been more than ten years. Where am I standing? Why am I singing?

I could have sung a song more likely to be loved by majority of public. But what I think to be more important is the reality we are facing with, and singing sharply by fiercely thinking of current reality on the basis of historical context.

Unignorable time has passed until the release of my digital single under my real name. I didn't want to be considered as a clown without any philosophy. So in most of the time, I studied Korean literature, visual design and movie as well as experiencing the social life to be matured out of boundary of music. I recognized that my behavior was retrogressive to the musical carrier, I intentionally took the detour, ceasing the band activities, concerning the social role of music, and finally determined to do a "music of veracity" seeking for Folk's ethos and lyric's aesthetics. This EP Metaphoricalizing would be my personal beginning point to get to that veracity.

What can you say about 은유화?
The first story solely by myself, conveying sometimes sweet joy of composition, sometimes my bitter internal solitude, Metaphoricalizing (은유화)

"Everyone needs a being which helps to sustain the harshness of reality. That could be something that is good to be called as love, dream or just a hallucination. That hallucination is sung in Metaphoricalizing Begins with dream (Lucid dream/루시드드림), craves for communion and loving with others (Lie of heart/마음의 거짓말), feels hollow when loses it (The empty universe/텅 빈 우주) and sees the double sided pleasure comprising lusciousness and vulnerability (Cookie/쿠키), this album is arranged to feel these with metaphor, like having a dream.

The main title is The empty universe, delivers the feeling when one's central being to depend and lean on, has been eradicated or collapsed, comparing it as the feeling of the emptiness of his universe. It figures the sense of emptiness, has elegant but little bit twisted melody, combines acoustic and electronic sound, culminates in scenery of placid and bright but filled with strong tears at the same time.

Metaphoricalizing opens its introductory by climax having mysterious feeling, undergoes first track Lucid dream which helps listeners to get into their dreams, meets Lie of heart softly and curiously sings about the possibility of communication with the others, passes The empty universe where everything goes into nothing, finally returns to reality by Cookie, comparing the double sided pleasure comprising lusciousness and vulnerability to a cookie.

So far your music has only been released online - when can we expect something on CD?
This journey, the journey of Metaphoricalizing waking up after having a bite of bittersweet dream, will continue on regular album comprising enhanced band sound and reinforced lyrics pungently staring the reality.

---

Looking forward to that album already! Especially since there'll be a bit of English lyrics on there as well, for those that like myself can't really grasp all of those intriguing lyrics when expressed in Korean.

In addition to official site Image Meets Sound, you can check Image out on the official YouTube channel and follow her on Twitter. Check back here in little more than a week for more!