Interview: Any Good Music Here? Fes! Reunion
Interviews by Charity Lynn (@_charitylynn_)
Photos by Christian Mata (@chris_isu_m)
Looking for good music? It’s all here! Any Good Music Here? FES!, or AGMH FES, is an up-and-coming, small indie music festival whose focus pushes beyond language and genre. The team is made up of two members–Yon from Korea and Sali from Japan–who came together with a shared goal in mind: to bring together some of the best indie bands from both South Korea and Japan. There is something for everyone here. And who knows, you may even find something you didn’t know you would like.
The idea for AGMH FES began after Yon and Sali met during Narotic’s Tokyo tour in 2023. While working as staff, Sali noticed how Narotic interacted with Japanese bands and the idea naturally emerged, “Wouldnʼt it be great to perform together in Korea?” Still, she wondered, “Who will make it happen, and how?” That’s when Sali and Yon took the first step together to make this idea a reality using their musical connections in both countries.
The first show was in November of 2024 in Korea, and has since continued in both Korea and Japan with over twenty participating artists. The third instalment of the festival, AGMH FES: Reunion, has just wrapped up with a total of ten teams at Space Station in Hongdae. Let’s hear what some of the bands had to say:
luvliminall ラブリミナル
Introduction:
We are the band luvliminall from Japan! We express the music and art that has shaped our lives, and the emotions and thoughts that arise naturally in everyday life. We freely create the kind of music we love.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
It was an amazing opportunity for Korean and Japanese indie bands to perform together. Performing in Korea was an unforgettable experience that was refreshingly new and enjoyable. Above all, the most meaningful part was meeting some amazing Korean bands and learning from them. We’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to AGMH for creating this space for connection, and to everyone who helped bring it together.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
We felt that Korean audiences respond much faster, even to acts theyʼre seeing for the first time. Their reactions are very genuine: they engage sincerely with the music, even when they're unfamiliar with the band, and that energy translates back to the performers. As a result, the artistsʼ passion increases, and you can feel the venueʼs energy circulating and intensifying. It was a very emotional experience.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
Even though we come from different countries, we grew up listening to similar music and shared tastes. Each of us continued making music, and meeting at the same event to share such a special time together was incredibly meaningful. There were moments when we could say “I like your music” to each other, and that feeling transcended language barriers; it was pure connection. This might go a bit beyond indie music culture, but even in everyday life, there are moments of empathy that cross linguistic and cultural lines. That warm atmosphere of trying to understand each other–it moves us deeply as well.
What is your dream stage or collab?
It's not tied to any specific stage, but we'd love to perform live in different countries and connect with bands from around the world.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
From now on, we plan to continue writing new songs and expand our activities both domestically and internationally.
YOWLL
Introduction
We are YOWLL, a three-piece band from Osaka. Each of us had been active in other bands for over 10 years before coming together as the current members. So while we're a relatively new band, each member brings years of experience as a musician. That said, we think our sound is surprisingly pure and sparkling. Thatʼs because we're just three people who truly love music. We play loud and have fun, driven by impulse.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
What stood out is that it's a collaboration between bands who are truly rooted in the indie scene. Since it involves bands that regularly play in venues, the exchanges felt much more genuine and close. We'd love to come back and play more shows in Korea, and we also want to invite Korean artists to Japan. We've grown really fond of Korea, and this event became something very meaningful to us. Thank you so much.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
We were really surprised by how eager Korean audiences are to have fun during shows. In Japan, the vibe is often more about taking in the music, rather than enjoying it in an outward way. But in Korea, the audience responded enthusiastically to everything we did on stage, and that made playing incredibly fun.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
We felt there's a strong sense of affinity with the Japanese indie music scene. Perhaps because many bands play in smaller venues, theyʼve developed a self-contained sense of balance and expression. In that sense, the performances were impressive as both shows and musical expressions. Every band we played with was an absolute joy to watch and listen to.
What is your dream stage or collab?
We'd love to play at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
We want to keep playing shows overseas as much as possible. And we hope to create opportunities where Japanese and international artists can come together and connect.
Ghost Bookstore
Introduction:
Hello, we are the band Ghost Bookstore from South Korea. We tell the kinds of stories that ghosts of an abandoned bookstore might share.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
It was fun to be able to experience a kind of cultural exchange between Korean and Japanese bands. Through participating in AGMH FES in both Japan and Korea, all of our members’ Japanese language skills improved a lot. It was a pleasure to perform alongside such great teams.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
In Japan, we noticed that artists make very detailed and professional requests to the sound engineers. This process of taking time to perfectly set up everything and rehearsing each song one by one left a strong impression on us; we felt we had a lot to learn from that. As for audiences, the crowd in Japan seemed to focus more deeply on the music and the moment, while the Korean crowd gave a more immediate and participatory reaction.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
For us, we think musical diversity is growing more and more. Rather than being lumped together under the term “indie music,” artists are standing out more by expressing different genres in their own unique style. Individuality seems to be truly shining, which might explain the growing interest in the indie scene.
What is your dream stage or collab?
We’d love to play on an outdoor stage on a nice day, especially with our song Spring Song.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
We are scheduled to perform at a few other festivals, big and small, including Block Party in September. We are also working hard on a full-length album, so we’d appreciate your continued support. Thank you!
The Onebutton
Introduction:
Hello! We are The Onebutton, a four-member indie rock band based in Hongdae.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
It was a fun and meaningful experience to play alongside amazing teams from Japan, and we are truly honoured to have been invited. We were deeply inspired and made unforgettable, precious memories.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
Even though the languages are different, we were able to connect through music. These moments made us so happy, and it was a great joy to meet new teams and audiences through our performances.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
New, talented bands are constantly emerging, and it motivates us every time. With so much great music coming out, we feel inspired to work even harder. The scene feels vibrant and diverse, and we are excited to see what’s to come.
What is your dream stage or collab?
We’d love to perform at a big outdoor festival in the summer and share our music with a large audience.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
Right now, we are working on a new album. We plan to be more active on the stage and hope to greet you with even more diverse music and performances soon!
Sunset on the Bridge
Introduction:
Hi! We are a four-member rock band from Korea called Sunset on the Bridge. We make music that expresses our emotions.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
To us, AGMH FES is like an oasis of a festival–one that discovers hidden musical gems and brings great music to the public.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
When we perform in Korea, there is a comfortable familiarity. In Japan, we felt like we were searching for a more delicate, unfamiliar, yet beautiful sound.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
Lately, it feels like some of the unique music and sound diversity is disappearing, and similar-sounding music is taking up most of the space.
What is your dream stage or collab?
Performing at a big outdoor festival in front of a large audience would be fun. As for collaborations, we’d love to reinterpret the music of the bands we have played alongside and vice versa.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
We just released our first full-length album on July 19th, marking our 6th year since debuting. We are working hard to connect with our listeners through various activities and channels, so please look forward to it!
Noise Between the Lines
Introduction:
We are Noise Between the Lines, an experimental band from South Korea. Our music is not bound by a single genre, and we are always creating new ways to express our sound.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
It was great to play alongside not only artists from Japan, but our friends as well. We love the purpose behind the festival: to connect with teams from other countries and open up opportunities among them. We’re thankful to have been invited! We haven’t played in Japan yet, but we hope that one day it can come true.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
There seems to be a sort of “band boom” coming. Many new bands are forming that are diverse in both sound and personality. With the growing interest in indie music lately, it feels like the barrier between the scene and a wider audience is breaking down, so it’s hopeful. We hope people will also show interest in the venues, as well, since they are just as integral to the scene as the musicians.
What is your dream stage or collab?
For our dream stage, DMZ Peace Train Music Festival. As for artists, Atarashii Gakko!, baehyuni, Lang Lee, and Pipe Lips, just to name a few. We’d also love to collab with artists from other fields, such as visual arts or theatre.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
There will be a member change sometime soon, as our dear friend and bassist Neeha will be parting ways with us. Also, we’ll be changing our gig concept, so expect some new sounds from us.
Polyamory
Introduction:
We are Polyamory, a two-piece instrumental post-rock band based in Seoul.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
We felt truly honoured to play alongside some really amazing teams from Japan.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
One main difference is, of course, the language barrier. When we performed in Japan, there were many times when we relied on using hand gestures to communicate. However, the sound engineers in the venue were very passionate, and the set change times are longer compared to Korea. So, it was an overall comfortable experience.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
As the scene grows, more subgenres are getting a little more attention. However, there is still more focus on the mainstream bands. We hope to see more bands make music like us!
What is your dream stage or collab?
Someday, we hope to be a headliner of a rock festival, like Pentaport or Busan Rock. For team collabs, it would be cool to work with Red C or even Slipknot.
What can we expect from the band in the future?
We are hoping to release a new full-length album by next summer. Also, we’re planning to release an LP vinyl of our first album sometime soon!
Narotic
Introduction:
We are Narotic, an alternative rock band from Korea.
What are your thoughts on AGMH FES?
It felt so refreshing to be able to perform in both Korea and Japan. It would be nice to have more small-scale festivals like this, with both Korean and international acts. We hope to have a concert again in Japan soon and perform with more bands there.
What makes performing in Japan different from performing in Korea?
Performing in Japan was very comfortable. The waiting rooms for bands are very spacious. Also, we noticed that even smaller venues in Japan hire a whole team to handle the gigs, so everything was very professional.
What are your thoughts about the indie music scene these days?
There are times when it feels a bit tiring. When someone tries a new style of music, people pay attention. However, there are people who want to chase and copy them. It feels like those people have lost their originality. It’s good for musicians to try new things, but they should also remember to keep their originality. Also, taking care of indie bands is important. There are plenty of great teams who just need a little help with advertising. It would be good to give them more opportunities to do that.
What is your dream stage or collab?
Maybe…heaven? Haha
Whatʼs can we expect from the band in the future?
We’ll be playing more gigs, including Block Party festival. There are no new songs in the works yet…but who knows? We want to make more merchandise, so if you have any good ideas, DM us!
AGMH FES has connected artists and audiences across both countries. Yon and Sali both agree that they have made many great memories so far. While there are no concrete plans for the next show yet, the team wants to have at least one in Japan and one in South Korea. Since the Korea show has already finished, perhaps we can expect something in Japan soon. If you are an artist interested in joining AGMH FES in the future, please feel free to reach out on their Instagram page (@anygoodmusichere_fes).