Who Popped Off at Asian Pop?
Written by Jess Howell & Jamie Finn
A couple of weekends ago, some of the best musicians Korea has to offer were joined by their international contemporaries to take part in a collaborative experience people won’t forget. An unexpected June weather forecast predicted a perfect blue sky over the Paradise Stage, and the unique makeup of the indoor stages allowed for some truly intimate performances that promoted a sense of elevation all their own. No matter which side of the continent they were from, every single artist on the carefully curated lineup left everyone wanting more. Here’s a spotlight on a few that stood up and stood out:
Hollow Jan (Korea)
Hollow Jan is one of the few heavy bands that have managed to push through the trends in Korean music to carve a long-lasting name for themselves. At Asian Pop, their evocative screams coupled with post-rock roots were delivered unfiltered. They’re the sort of band that makes their audience skip the Brita Filter and drink straight from the river like the animals they are. Hollow Jan’s set was a challenge for headbangers to fight past their primal instincts to decode the cypher of poetry hidden within their lyrics. - JESS
87dance (Korea)
Opening up the festival were Seoul-based indie loungers, 87dance. The band’s laid-way-back, smooth-as-hell style acted as an ideal mood setter for the day. It was a great showing of the band’s frankly underrated technical ability, as each member shone through the band's genre-spanning back catalogue. Interestingly, the band have chosen to drop their biggest hit, How Can I Forget You Girl, from their set. Though the half dozen screaming women standing just to the right of me didn’t seem to mind. - JAMIE
Ego Wrappin’ (Japan)
Out of Osaka, Ego Wrappin’s been tapping toes and shaking hips just shy of thirty years. Their electrifying set at Asian Pop folded another corner in their continuing narrative. Busting the night open with Paranoia set the tone for the rest of the evening. Yoshie Nakano didn’t hold back in serenading an increasingly eager audience with the pure contiguity of her emotional range. For one unforgettable hour, the full ensemble of Ego Wrappin’s infectious cabaret set the clock back a hundred years to a better, simpler time. - JESS
Chiyoonhae (Korea)
If there’s one thing that has the power to stop time and make everyone listen, even for a second, it’s Chiyoonhae’s acoustic strums. His set on the Rubik Stage epitomised the beauty in simplicity. The power of his band is twofold. It either pits you against traffic down memory lane or sits you on a tire swing on a lazy summer afternoon. In either case, you’re left with a sense of renewal by the time that last string is pulled. - JESS
Kingston Rudieska (Korea)
Here’s a hot take - ska veterans Kingston Rudieska should open the main stage of every outdoor festival. Or at least every outdoor festival where there’s a bit of sunshine, because this just worked. Led by a charismatic, crowd-invading performance from Lee Suk-Yul, Kingston Rudieska brought the exact right energy to Asian Pop. The band would later make a surprise appearance on stage for Galaxy Express’s set. - JAMIE
Dabda (Korea)
What Chiyoonhae exemplifies in simplicity, Dabda does in complexity. The self-proclaimed “pastel psychedelic’ math rock band turned the Rubik Stage on its head. Through their intricate rhythms and divergent time-signatures, Dabda took a funnel to their crowd’s collective sentiments, siphoned them, and evenly distributed them as one glorious shared visceral experience. There was never a bad time to stop rocking out, and there was never a bad time to close your eyes and listen. - JESS
GDJYB (Hong Kong)
It wouldn’t be right to mention serenades without touching on GDJYB’s set. The four-piece hailing from Hong Kong pacifies the chaotic order of their shifting progressions with their tender harmonies. Vocalist Soft’s traditional folk register humanises both domestic and universal experiences with political and gender representation. The set felt like they were reeling out an ever extending rope, inviting all who relate to grab it and hold on tight. By the end of their forty minutes, all hands were on deck and nobody was ready to let go. - JESS
Fat Hamster and KANG New (Korea)
Full disclosure, I wasn’t sure about seeing Fat Hamster and KANG New. On the one hand, yeah, they’re my fave babes and an absolute top live acts. On the other hand, I’ve seen them live more times than I feel comfortable saying. However, see them I did. And god damn am I glad. Boosted by a great stage set-up and wild visuals, the duo were in fine form, putting on maybe the best performance I’ve seen by them. The crowd ate it up, too. Fat KANG summer is here. - JAMIE
Hiperson (China)
Of all the black sheep at Asian Pop Festival, Hiperson perhaps stood in the shade the most. Taking the stage from Chengdu, China, Hiperson incorporates their roots through the integration of traditional sounds and spoken word poetry. It takes a special blend of integrity and vision to marry these influences with garage rock. Fortunately, they check those boxes with permanent ink. This set was an upheaval of unfiltered rock brought to order by China’s highest authority in slam poetry. - JESS
For its sophomore showing, the folks at Asian Pop once again proved they have a penchant for quality noise that desperately needs to reach ears the world over. Music is a ubiquitous validation of our lived experiences, and so far, Asian Pop has lined up artists who understand that better than anybody else. Here’s hoping they hit another home run in 2026.