NokeNok and the Feeling Behind the Sound

Written by Sam Dougherty (@samtdougherty)
Photos by Randy Richardson (@uatuphotography)

It’s easy to get lost in a  NokeNok (녹이녹) performance. As the Seoul-based trio takes the stage, their songs build with quick-moving intensity before a perfectly timed double neck guitar solo shifts everything into slow motion, creating a mesmerising experience.

The trio of Choi Chang Hee (guitar), Park Hee Soo (bass) and Kim Dong Hyun (drums)  has been getting attention for their live performances in Seoul, and just released two excellent debut singles, Moment and My Clothes have no Smell.

The band's origin begins with a moment of personal struggle. "I wrote the first song in 2016," Chang Hee explains. "At the time, I wasn't necessarily thinking about starting a band — I was just trying to escape a tough situation." Using a guitar and a broken multi-effector that he borrowed from his roommate, he created something that would later become the foundation of NokeNok's distinctive sound.

"When I listened to it again later, I really liked what I had created. That led me to write more songs, and over time, I gathered members to form the band," Chang Hee recalls. He recruited Kim Dong Hyun, "an incredibly steady drummer" from his military service days, and Park Hee Soo, a former engineer at Hongdae's Salon Badabie who had also played bass in DABDA.

Chang Hee believes that NokeNok's sound is deeply rooted in his childhood musical influences. "In the end, I think my musical taste, which I developed as a child, is the foundation of our sound. The music I grew up with naturally influenced my playing style," he explains, resonating with the phrase "The child is the father of the man."

"The band is a process of bringing together individuals with different experiences and backgrounds, all working together to create something new," he adds. "While each member's style is important, I believe the sound of the band as a whole is what truly matters."

The band draws inspiration from diverse sources. "There's so much music that has influenced me," Chang Hee says. "Bands like Underwears Band (속옷벤드), Bulssazo (불싸조), Cadejo (까데호), and Say Sue Me have had a big impact." He also mentions electronic artists like hue:, Kirara, and Haihm, as well as his recent interest in "Emo, Shoegaze, and Slowcore music" from bands like Ghost Bookstore, mxnxslxxp, and international acts such as Toe and Telever!.

Performing without vocals presents unique challenges. "I think music is its own form of language," Chang Hee reflects. "There's a deeper resonance when we express emotions through sound rather than through words. We may not always have the exact words to express what we're feeling, but it's the process of creating the music that allows listeners to connect with our emotions. That's what really matters—the feeling behind the sound."

The band's first two releases tell a story of personal transformation. "My Clothes Have No Smell was written in 2016,” Chang Hee shares. "At the time, I was struggling with the difficult reality of being a beginner in society, feeling like I had no time to live for myself. It was a hard period, and this song was my way of expressing my frustration and trying to escape that depression."

As time passed, he realised "those tough times helped shape the happiness I feel now. That led to another song, 'Moment,' which reflects the emotional journey of realising that I am who I am because of those past experiences."

Despite the adventurous soundscapes in their music, Chang Hee's approach to effects is surprisingly straightforward. "I don't use as many pedals as people might think. Rather than trying to create something unique, I tend to focus on finding a texture that feels nostalgic — something like the sound of '90s Britpop."

Bassist Hee Soo adds, "I'm really interested in gear, and I love researching which vintage pedals and equipment are used to create certain sounds. I don't have as much to experiment with on bass, but I always try to find ways to make the bass stand out."

Within Seoul's music scene, NokeNok has found their place among bands that blend various genres. "In Korea, many bands blend elements of shoegaze, post-rock, and other genres, which creates a really unique and appealing scene," Chang Hee observes. The band has even launched their own performance series called "Fake Product," showcasing bands they admire.

Looking ahead, NokeNok is taking a brief hiatus from live performances. "We started this band because we wanted to perform live, but ironically, due to the absence of some members, we'll be focusing on reorganising and working on a full-length album for a while," Chang Hee explains, while continuing to "experiment and study sound" in the meantime.