South Korean noise?

Started by SiClark, April 19, 2016, 02:06:47 PM

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SiClark

I just listened to a BBC radio documentary 'South Korea: The Silent Cultural Superpower - Part Two' (which is available on itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-documentary/id73802620?mt=2)
There weren't any clear names of the noise/experimental artists they spoke to in the latter half of the documentary but used the phrase 'hell joseon' to describe the dissatisfaction felt in Korean society which seems to have given rise to more noise/experimental artists.

Just curious if any one here knew of any Korean noise artists? 

Johann

Hong Chulki, and his friends are the only ones I know. I believe he mostly uses turntables and its harsh drone, but honestly haven't investigated extensively. Personal Best has a nice interview with him, can't remembeR the exact issue

SiClark

Thank you, I will check him out.

VelvetCurtain

There was a really good article in "The Wire" like 5-6 years ago on the free imrpov scene in Seoul, though it was not focusing on NOISE it did seem pretty noisy. 

Potier

As mentioned above, Hong Chulki and pretty much everything associated with him is worth checking out. There appears to be a rather active group around a small performance space called Dotolim (http://www.dotolim.com/) in Seoul. It appears that there are a lot of ties into the global free improv movement as well as into installation and/or conceptual noise/sound art.

Here are some things that are definitely worth checking out:

Dotolim Concert Series on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dotolim

Hong Chulki
Choi Joonyong (both these guys also have some great harsh noise releases as Astronoise)

Jin Sangtae
Ryu Hankil

Do yourself a favor and check out the output of the Balloon & Needle label - all of those guys have releases on there!

The last thing I heard from there is this one:
https://www.discogs.com/Choi-Joonyong-Drumm-Kevin-Hong-Chulki-Normal/release/7838212

Most of the output is basically cracked electronics sound, harsh digital explorations and heavy room recordings of imrov-material & live-collabs.

SiClark


butter

bumping this up so as not to start a new thread, despite the 10-year gap - i'm currently in SK looking for spots. I know the big ones here are still Dotolim & Seendosi, as well as MoIM improv in seoul and ROPE Editions as a record store, but interested to see if anyone here has recommendations for more grimy, noisy spots rather than the more sound art / free improv end (which i do love also, but a girl needs a varied diet)

junkyardshaman

#7
Not really many more punk noise venues, as the noise scene is still kind of developing and mostly through the sound art end I think, even now much more better than 2 years ag0.

I recommend checking anywhere Human Infrastructure, Dayoon Lee or Hanjo Lee (who has run the most longest running experimental group Bulgasari for 20 years) and I believe Swiss origin Ian-John Hutchinson are playing and trying to keep up.
Probably more to the sound art end (Dayoon is doing harsh noise though, quite hands on and rare approach there, Ian uses many sort of lofi-self-built and interesting junk instruments too), if the impro is also ok, then guitarists Joong Won, vocalist Eunsil No, Dactophone player Joyul, Passing Josh, Deja, and their friends are also good leads. Jena Jang is also South Korean noise artist, but now mostly living and touring Europe. I also come and play maybe once a year or so.
I just found out in April 19th there will be a Noise No Seoul festival, so you might want to check what that is all about.

junkyardshaman

https://www.youtube.com/@anotier/videos

Also this channel, which used to be called Noisoom, mapped out almost single handedly all of Korean experimental scene with performances couple of years ago, there is one set from me also, mostly synth based things, but many very good and interesting experimental sets.

butter

thank you! really appreciate that - i'll check them out.

junkyardshaman

I now remembered the name of the probably most punk club, ACS, you might want to go see some shows there if they are having some.