April 2026 - New Music Friday (part 2)
Guny n Guns - New Balance
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
Power pop outfit Guny N Guns deliver a springy song to hop around to after you get rejected. Taking a page from all the power pop and pop punk greats, the song deals with some unrequited love by not being able to get over it. Lyrics aside, it’s a track that will help you keep your head bobbing. Good as the gloomy bits of music in the scene are, the upbeat feeling that still retains emotion helps New Balance stand out against a lot of the harsh or downtrodden tracks that are sprouting around more and more these days.
허상(Illusion) - Oro ft. HAN
Chosen by Charity Lynn
Oro’s debut track Illusion is an emotionally refreshing alt rock/shoegaze release perfect for a walk on a rainy day. The lyrics hold a sense of loss but also carry a lingering feeling of hope; drifting through pale skies and “countless fallen stars,” caught between wanting to disappear and wanting to be found. There is a tension at the heart of the song that doesn’t feel fully resolved, and we’re left sinking into all these feelings. The layered guitars wash over HAN’s textured vocals, pulling everything into a hazy, immersive space. It’s strangely comforting in its sadness.
네 자리 (<3acancy) - yewee
Chosen by Sam Dougherty
The final track on Yewee’s new EP should accompany a spring road trip. Not necessarily a rollicking adventure with friends, but a solo trip to clear the mind on a nice day. Breezy guitars bring to mind the work of Real Estate, and Yewee’s voice floats elegantly through each twist and turn. She sings of a love that she knows will disappear someday, but from a perspective of wisdom more than sadness. It’s a great song to bring in a new season, while acknowledging the one that just passed.
El Roi - Spring Night (봄밤)
Chosen by Jess Howell
Springtime in Korea is as blissful as it is fleeting. This track is perfect for giving Spring’s delicate grace space to linger long after the cherry blossoms abscise from their branches. Singer-songwriter El Roi's newest ballad effuses all the senses of walking through the night with soft precision. Stars dot the sky as people abound, the chilly breeze serving to elevate the season's fragrance. A gentle electric melody punctuates the moment the wind grasps the last of the petals. The bad news is we normally have to sit in another orbit around the sun before we can capture that moment again. The good news? There's a replay button while we wait.
금빛 Golden Light - Yangbangs
Chosen by Liz Bolin (@elizabethboolin)
The new Yangbans album Wings of the Phoenix is a husky hello to springtime that tonally balances the joys of the season with the trepidation that accompanies its sometimes misleading arrival. Is this a false spring? Can I trust its fleeting beauty? The first track on the album beckons you in with the sounds of birdsong and that buttery Yangbans guitar groove, bathing the listener in the same kind of Golden Light it is titled after—the kind that “destroys the night.” This song is the perfect soundtrack for those of us ready to enter this spring like a phoenix rising from the ashes, “living the good life/with peace of mind.”
Humanity Declaration by Crystal Tea
Chosen by Mica
Lending more to late 90s/early 2000s rock inspiration, Crystal Tea pulls out a hardcore hit with her new song, Humanity Declaration. This new track has deceptively upbeat lyrics, tinged with melancholic meaning. The drums keep everything grounded and punchy, giving the song enough backbone to carry the emotional weight of the lyrics without tipping into full melodrama. The guitar is the real star here. It's got that frayed, almost-falling-apart texture that shouldn't work but absolutely does. It's a song that is definitely going on my road trip playlist.
chasing dreams on saturdays with friends once felt endless - last saturday i felt nothing
Chosen by Ethan Kim
The Korean emo scene continues to grow steadily. causeyourcheeksblushed returns with another long name. The track itself is short and light, yet conveys a strong sense of nostalgia for the 2000s, underpinned by a quiet depth of depression and despair. It combines the turbulent emotions of late adolescence with the lingering nostalgia of an earlier emo generation. As the EP is quite short overall, I would recommend listening to the full album Go for a Punch, which includes this track. It will be interesting to see how this artist develops.
PCR - Silver Slog Darling
Chosen by Ethan Kim
The band PCR occupies a unique position within the Korean indie scene. Whether or not you like their music may depend on the listener, but their sonic identity is instantly recognisable. Silver Slog Darling unfolds through its characteristic, repetitive loops full of anguish and conveys a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of artists such as Einstürzende Neubauten and Nine Inch Nails. The distinctive arrangement of noise adds to the track’s appeal, giving it a compelling and individual presence.
hiccup - Seo Jiyeong
Chosen by Jamie Finn
hiccup is the final track from Seo Jiyeong’s excellent debut EP, KILL KIDDO. What makes this track so special is the way it instantly shifts from a sultry, jazzy opening act to a crashing, emotional rock climax. This pastiche of ideas and styles could have been really jarring, but it’s so well done here. Seo Jiyeong is definitely one to watch for 2026.
Yeon and Pil - Fragile
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
Yeon and Pil’s new EP, Bad Room, handles a variety of sounds across its run time, but the songs all have a distinct texture that holds it together. The EP wastes no time with all 5 tracks showcasing what the band can do, but Fragile wins out for the dynamics. The opening strums sound empty as the singer confronts a toxic relationship. Then the drums enter and announce that this is going to be a relatable anthem about loving the wrong person. Musically, the little bursts of static and noise interrupt the verses while a touch of synths back up the chorus, keeping the layers interesting. This empty-full, push-pull mimics the message of the song perfectly.
snow - Park Hwi No
Chosen by Charity Lynn
Park Hwi No has a talent for making music that achingly lingers in your heart. In his new album release, Side Effect: Left Behind, the themes of winter and loss weave together, creating a cold but dreamy atmosphere. For me, the song snow stuck with me the most. The song opens with repeating guitars that gradually build up before settling down again, and then repeats. In a way, it mirrors the ebb and flow of a relationship, like a connection that drops into your life briefly, disappears, and returns again until it eventually fades for good.
Moher - A Good Day (손 없는 날)
Chosen by Ethan Kim
The blend of cosiness and a soothing sound feels as natural as the presence of a close friend. In Moher’s new track A Good Day, released in March, its simplicity, brightness, gentle melody, and performance all stand out. For those suffering from the exhaustion of modern society, their music evokes the delicate scent of nature. It is worth listening to this track and taking a moment to restore some inner energy.
NARRATIVE - Kim Neuk
Chosen by Jam Finn
The title track for Kim Neuk’s newest EP, NARRATIVE, is as deliciously experimental as you would expect from the eccentric artist. Its blend of synthy art-pop and R’n’B vocal style makes it have a Power Andre 99 feel. Then, out of nowhere, that big fat bass drum kicks in during the chorus and takes it to another level.
Sanho theater - Carrier Pigeon
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
The guitar tone on Carrier Pigeon feels like 60’s sunshine, cool breeze, and flowers blooming. It’s a sweet, folksy-tinged little track about a love letter (sent via carrier pigeon). The structure is interesting in that it has no chorus or hook, just the singer’s story. It’s confident and certainly rare to see that kind of songwriting, and the singer has an interesting voice to carry it. Musically, the overall folksy feeling is backed by the bassist giving lots of depth with fun phrasing throughout. The guitar solo is also a surprise. The group has a distinct style; hopefully, audiences won’t have to wait too long to hear more.
3584517 - Noise Between the Lines
Chosen by Charity Lynn
Straight from the newest AoB compilation album, Noise Between the Lines’ contribution is unique in both its title and sound. This track leans away from their usual style by including a more rhythmic drum pattern. However, it begins to slowly move back into that distinct NBTL sound as the song progresses. The lyrics loop in a hypnotic way while the keys give it a psychedelic vibe. It’s different, but not in a way that strays too far from what makes them them. It’s a fun and refreshing new release!
Runaway - ZIN CHOI, SATURNKO
Chosen by Jammy Finn
“My friends think I’m too busy, I always say I’m sorry. Truth is, I’m not too busy. I’m drawing tattoos on myself.” The opening track from the new joint EP by ZIN CHOI and SATURNKO has a kind of lethargic nostalgia to it. It’s 80s-dream pop-coded washy guitars and aloof vocal delivery make this feel like a warm, relatable hug of a song.
NECTA - PUT THEM IN SHOYU
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
A ready-for-club track that is booming but over too soon. How does NECTA manage to cram so much sound into just under a minute and half? The opening bass bumps, cash register chimes, and some crisp snare and hat stacks. This track is a packed crowd mover. Then the crunchy late 90s blips break in and flip the track. The ending tech collapse gives the whole track a fun pre-Y2K futuristic feel. Can’t wait until the regulars at Cakeshop or Bolero start passing this around.
Don’t Go Back - Oh Heejung
Chosen by Jimmy Jammy Finn
What made Oh Heejung’s last EP, Forest & Horns, so brilliant was that she makes glitchy blippy bleepy electro feel like sounds that exist naturally in the wild. She’s carried that same philosophy through to her excellent new album, Tofu, her most collaboration-heavy release to date. Really, every track from Tofu is worthy of inclusion here, but we’ve gone for the shimmering trip-hop-inspired opener, Don’t Go Back.
Chun Yongsong - Tong Tong Tong
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
The brightly colored vest and sun visors, rows of exercise equipment, crowded tables of Janggi and Baduk, trot blaring through small radios. The elderly of Korea are the essence of parks in Korea as much as grass or trees. This refuge for the aged is a distinct scene, and Chun Yongsong paints it lovingly. The track has wonderful space and dynamics; the melodies seem to dawdle and play about each other. The different blips and electronic beats have an otherworldly quality to it, maybe Haepa’s production adds to this. Tong Tong Tong feels like a ripple of memories; it’s happy and chipper, but something feels out of grasp. Like the elderly lost in their games, strolls, and songs, there is distance in the track; its strongest quality is handling these delicate ideas effortlessly.