New Music Friday - Dec ‘25
Nahyee - i love all the noise in the world
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
On her debut album, Nahyee manages to achieve a lot of different sounds. Choosing i love all the noise in the world makes the most sense as it’s really representative of the album's sound. The track, and the album that it stands for, feels ethereal but welcoming. There are some bitter lines about losing sleep over painful memories, struggling to put idle poetry into songs, and being able to cope with the darkest states. But despite this, her singing hides a bit of hopefulness, and there is real weight and belief when she sings about overcoming these difficulties. The sparkle of electric bits adds an interesting layer to the sound: sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s soaring, but it keeps giving this track something anachronistic or otherworldly. The bare prechorus with little guitar licks and a driving bass drum before the rousing anthemic chorus will make anyone feel like they can overcome whatever’s bringing them down.
Debong - Unfinished Words…
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
Unfinished Words… is incredibly catchy on the surface. But, actually, that’s selling it short: in addition to its touching lyrics, it has nice flourishes as well. Anchored overall by a jaunty acoustic guitar, bouncy toms, and a bass walking about elaborately. But there are nice, careful touches of intricacies throughout the song: synth horns backing harmonised vocals on the chorus, the very mandolin-sounding tremolo when he sings about being too late, or how the chorus shifts slightly from sadness into confusion with the guitar solo starting moody before distorting into noise. The wit and phrases of each line stand tall over Debong as he brings himself low: it’s charming self deprecation. As the title hints the words are unfinished, but he still manages to say so much even in his defeat.
Neeha - unanswered
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
A song about broken hearts and missing the one you love. There are some haunting synths and static noise as Neeha sings of her forlorn state. She handles nearly every sound on the entire EP (with the exception of 2 tracks enlisting 이규림 for guitar backup, and a vocal feature from 이예린). This track stands out in particular because of the impressive saxophone break by Minje Kim. It elevates the track with some stronger emotion, but also gives it a completely different music identity from the rest of the EP. Near the end, the vocals add a counterpoint line, and the drums turn into a cascade of toms, driving the song towards a slow end with a passionate saxophone return. It’s the perfect lighter-waving ending song for a set.
After Thoughts - This is How It Is
Chosen by Christian 이수 Mata (@chris_isu_m)
This Is How It Is is a fun pop-rock track about love and letting go. Its bubblegum sheen is at odds with its thought lyrics about letting the one you love move on. The singer's voice is interesting with a bit of pain, and she gets to show off a nice range in the song. It would have been easy to make a song begging for your lover to come back, but the singer chooses to be mature in the chorus: “I hope you find the peace that I never gave you/I hope you get a hold of the one that / will hold you” is a straightforward wish despite the song being mostly about regret for letting them go. Under the track there are some funny digital sounds thrown in that make it feel at home on an early 2000s mix, but every other instrument keeps a tight upbeat feel. It’s a danceable and satisfying song to help you move on.
Ironic Hue - Monkey
Chosen by Mica (@mishckah)
Monkey is controlled chaos at its finest. Riffs of guitar and synths warble and bend through layers of reverb while discordant textures crash into each other. It’s almost like the sounds are trying to escape from the song itself. The chords bleed into each other like a fever dream melting in real time. It’s disorienting, hypnotic, and refuses to sit still for even a second. The vocals break through and anchor themselves, echoing and answering each other like they are searching for something solid in all the disarray. Ironic Hue has made something difficult to pin down to a single genre. And that restless energy is exactly what makes Monkey stick.
Peach Truck Hijackers - Fuck You
Chosen by Mica (@mishckah)
Nothing is quite as refreshing as pure feminine rage and a song to scream along with. Peach Truck Hijackers didn’t waste time with any subtly with this track. Fuck You is pure punk rock with raw guitars, aggressive vocals, frantic drums, and anger that doesn’t apologize or explain. The music video is pure unhinged perfection: a horse entirely made out of middle fingers because why not? It’s absurd and aggressive and exactly the kind of visual that matches the song’s refusal to be polite or palatable. And I’ll admit, there’s something cathartic about watching women being this loud, pissed off, and messy.
The track itself is straightforward punk rock with no pretense and a fuck you attitude that’s hits like a brick. Peach Truck Hijackers understands that sometimes rage doesn’t need to be complicated; it just needs to be loud.
고래오(KO RAEO) - 사랑으로(Through Love)
Chosen by Marie Joncquez (@mariejoncquez)
At the beginning, one is immediately struck by a haunting voice that seems to suffer even as it celebrates harmonic beauty; then, very quickly, the beat kicks in to make it clear that this is hip-hop. It is often said that men do not express their feelings… Accordingly, Ko Raeo declares his love in a perfectly monotone voice, with a clear and rapid diction. In the chorus, the only word on which he slightly lingers is a supplication: let’s hug warmly, “just a little longer”.
배현이 (baehyuni) - 농 (PUN)
Chosen by Ethan Kim
Baehyuni’s music cannot be confined to a single framework. The track ‘농 (PUN)’ from her EP "I am a horse" is one of those that best reflects her diverse perspectives. From the distinctive rhythm, catchy rap and danceable intro to the second half, where a sense of depth gradually unfolds, the song presents a groovy soundscape. I chose this particular track because of its catchy melody and strong impact, but I highly recommend listening to the entire EP. It is a truly remarkable work.
Ahn Jiwon(안지원) - Pilju(필주)
Chosen by Ethan Kim
Ahn Jiwon's music, like a soothing palette in the small coastal town of Namhae, always paints its own picture. Her EP, released in November, includes the song ‘필주 (Pilju)’, which tells delicate stories about Pilju. The song moves slowly, almost as if you were leafing through a diary filled with everyday moments captured in photographs. It conveys a quiet and beautiful sense of the passage of time with its monologue. I highly recommend this piece as one of the most captivating indie folk songs from November.
꿈벅추 (Kkumbughew) - 벅추 (Bugchew)
Chosen by Ethan Kim
Have you ever heard of 'stationary electronic music'? It is a mixture of playful, childlike sounds, a fusion of 8-bit playful rhythms and bright, catchy melodies that evoke the innocence of childhood. Kkumbugchew's debut album Childlike Future invites listeners into this nostalgic world. Among the album's tracks, ‘벅추 (Bugchew)’ stands out with its familiar, soothing synth tones and familiar melody that evokes memories of youth. Although the song is short, it gives you just enough time to immerse yourself in a brief but vivid memory of childhood.
Honk - 점 (Spot)
Chosen by Ethan Kim
Honk's single ‘점 (Spot)’ floats through a dreamlike atmosphere, carried by a feeling of weightlessness. The song opens with a synth that exudes a subtly strange mood, and layers of lo-fi vocals and delicate harmonies that intertwine seamlessly express a quiet but distinct individuality. The hypnotic, sleepy sound temporarily obscures the song's focus, but this vagueness becomes its charm. If you're looking for a soothing track that suits a late-night mood, I highly recommend this one.
Jenny Choi - Nevertheless
Chosen by Sam Dougherty
Equal parts serene and spiteful, “Nevertheless” is a standout track about a post-relationship grudge. There’s a punchiness to the songwriting here. Each line is delivered with a quiet speed that lends the song an angry grace. Lofi guitar works wonders here and on the rest of Jenny Choi’s debut album, I used to be funny; an excellent introduction to her folk talents.