New Music Friday - our picks of the top Korean tracks this week (Fri 02.07)

In the latest part of a series called “New Music Friday”, our writers will pick their favourite of all the recent singles coming out of the Korean indie music scene.

블루자몽 (blue jamong) - 아낌없이 주는 나 (The Giving Stump)

Chosen by Marie Joncquez (@mariejoncquez)

It starts with a nervous bass that seems to be running. Indeed, it never stops, tireless throughout the song, taking us on a frantic ride where the voice hums a catchy 'la la la la' a bit insolent, like the chorus of a sassy kid. At the end of this thrilling journey, it feels like this uninterrupted race ends up sweeping everything in its wake, joyfully piling up the instruments one after the other in a wonderful final crescendo.

OLOGI, HEIBE - Nightcap (Feat. 김유진 YUJIN KIM)

Chosen by Connor Cass (@aminorcharacter)

OLOGI and HEIBE, a collaborative producer duo, are united by a singular mission on their first EP ACT - to mash up R&B and dance-pop headlined by captivating vocalists. Yujin Kim (김유진), usually a mellow jazz-leaning singer, perfectly blends in with the well-groovy basslines and pillowy synths of Nightcap. The trio oozes so much charm together I was fully sold even before the beat kicked in and the track ascended to dancey bliss.

Sun’stroll - dontneedatalk (feat. Ga Teh)

Chosen by Connor Cass (@aminorcharacter)

Sometimes, the most low-key music can have the biggest impact on us. Think of some of Frank Ocean's and Joji’s biggest songs and how understated they are. Sun'stroll, assisted by Ga Teh for some gorgeous harmonies, demonstrates a similar charming simplicity on dontneedatalk. From the yearning guitar arpeggio to the sleepy beat, it feels like every part of this track is carefully crafted to draw you into Sun'stroll’s dreamy world.

MOOII - 숙취 (Hangover)

Chosen by Mica (@mishckah)

From the very first second, "숙취 (Hangover)" grabs you by the throat. Forget a gentle build-up; the song explodes right out of the gate with a heavy, almost frantic beat that immediately sets the pulse racing. Layered on top of this driving rhythm is the signature shoegaze wall-of-sound tied with distinct punk rock vocals. The guitar work is downright chewy, thick, and distorted, creating a dense atmosphere that envelops you. Blending it all together, the song could be described as a shoegaze post-punk genre bend.

MOOII has crafted a sonic tapestry that perfectly captures the feeling of late-night introspection. "숙취 (Hangover)" is a track to get lost in, to let wash over you like the headlights of passing cars. If you're looking for music to soundtrack your next long drive or simply to immerse yourself in a wave of emotional intensity, then you got it.

Beirut Taxi - Flower

Chosen by Charity Lynn (@_charitylynn_)

Flower opens with a fun and catchy synth-infused melody that makes you want to dance. A perfect follow up to their EP Moraeal’s intro song, which slowly built up the anticipation for what was coming next. The upbeat start is paired with dreamy guitar solos and reverberating vocals, which then descends into a slower, more melodramatic pace toward the end. This psychedelic wind-down dissipates the frenetic euphoria from earlier, and eases everyone back to a more grounded reality. It’s definitely a song that will be on repeat.

Lazy Palace - Palace freestyle

Chosen by Jess Howell

There is nothing lazy about Lazy Palace's new release, aptly called Palace Freestyle. As soon as I hit play I was hit with a clean, effective beat that beamed me right back to the 90's. Coming in at just over two minutes, this song is a sum of its parts. Both English and Korean fuse to construct a lyrical floodgate that opens to a polished flow bursting with the oft-forgotten fundamentals of rap. Humble with their talents, Lazy Palace makes the herculean task of code-switching mid-song seem effortless. Long after it ended, I found myself still bopping with rhythmic hydraulics. Thank God for the replay button.

Park Hwi No - Heart

Chosen by Sam Dougherty (@samtdougherty)

Slow but steady wins the race with this track. A gentle and warm shoegaze ballad from Park Hwi No’s new album, Side Effect: The Death of Orpheus, Heart is dreamy but never drowsy. It floats along with the help of White Album guitar tones and a sweetly plodding keyboard. Heart doesn’t have to explode to reach its high points, but rather blossoms gracefully throughout its runtime, keeping you in its thrall. 

서울전자음악단 (Seoul Electric Band) - 비가 되어 내려 (It Rains)

Chosen by Lim Seungjae (@HavveGo1ucky)

Those who are unfamiliar with Seoul Electric Band might think of them as a somewhat hardcore electronic act (which is totally not a mistake I made when I first heard of them). In reality, SEB is a mellow fuzz rock band led by Shin Yoonchul, son of the legendary Shin Joonghyun. And It Rains showcases the essence of the band’s musical repertoire. Dive into the heightened sensitivity of folk music and warm fuzzy guitar of classic psychedelic rock, with poetic yet subdued lyrics laid on top of it. It’d be safe to say – to quote Carly Simon – “Nobody does it better.”

Gwac - In My House

Chosen by Jamie Finn (@jamiefinn2209)

It’s really cold in Korea. I hate the snow. It’s pretty perfect timing for this song to come out. A comforting yet melancholic track about the angels in your home. Gwac has been putting out really tender and soulful acoustic music for a while now, and this might be one of his best. The vocals, in particular, are really powerful, obscured by echoes and given the feeling of a man falling. It’s got this beautiful production to it, too, with a dream-like effect that builds to an emotional climax. FYI, the angle in my house is my standalone heater.

Leenalchi - God of Mud

There was a time when Leenalchi didn’t make any new music for ages, and some questioned if they were perhaps finished as a creative force. Over the last few months, though, the band have shown that they’re far from done, having released some of their best material to date. God of Mud is a typically off-kilter track, with their iconic pansori vocals matched perfectly with the funky electronica that made us all love them in the first place.