February’21 K-Releases

Three indie artists spanning genres of ballad, rock, and folk blues.

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A ringing in the forest
다린 Darin [숲 Forest]

Darin’s voice rings with sorrow. But it’s not complete sadness, rather a ringing around the eye rim at the verge of tears for longing, or the twinkle in the eyes gleaming at the sky. The album intro describes a forest as a landscape when time becomes a place that cannot be defined. A forest is a name for the ephemeral, beautiful life we are drawing, together with our voices, stories, and warmth. Recalling one of the greatest ballad singers, Lee Sora’s depth and vibrations, Darin’s voice has the strength to take us through this forest. All ten songs in [Forest], Darin’s first album, are poetry calling on the star with a lonely face, the blue milky way, and the cloud-shaped elephant.

The first time I heard “우리의 상아는 구름 모양 The Elephant” (below), I felt carried along an adventure through a mystical forest as the piano keys, vibrating cymbals and chimes, and Darin’s voice opens a gateway into a blinding new world. And maybe, in this world, elephants are shaped like clouds. I get shivers whenever I watch this live version.

Full album: Apple Music / Spotify

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A calling for one’s heart
Car, The Garden — [부재 Absence]

I have been a big fan of Car, The Garden since his Mayson, the Soul days. His cover for “Myeongdong Calling” is still my favourite. I’m constantly attracted to his voice, and as a composer and producer, he writes words that I never knew I wanted to say.

[Absence] is dedicated to people who need his music, while contemplating “what is absent that I’m always regretting and worrying?” The five songs follow a protagonist who craves for love from another — “그대 작은 나의 세상이 되어 darling, be my small world / 그려 본 적 없는 꿈을 꾸게 해 let me dream a dream i’ve never drawn” (“그대 작은 나의 세상이 되어 My Whole World“) — yet unable to hold oneself up — “아무렇지 않은 사람 난 못돼요 i can’t become a person that doesn’t care / 아프고 원망스러우니까 because it hurts and it’s resentful” (“아무렇지 않은 사람 Doesn’t Matter” below) — and eventually gives up — “오늘 밤에도 내일도 나는 나일 뿐일 테고 tonight and tomorrow, I’ll be myself / 결국 내 곁엔 아무도 없었어 eventually, there’s no one beside me” (“푸른색 유리병 Blue Glass Bottle“). Every song feels deep in self-reflection and a fight with oneself.

Full album: Apple Music

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A storytelling smeared with a familiar scent
장필순 Jang Pil Soon [장필순 Reminds 조동진 / Jang Pil Soon Reminds Jo Dong Jin]

“About the way of holding a name inside your heart.” This album is Jang Pil Soon’s dedication to the godfather of Korean underground music, folk singer-songwriter Jo Dong Jin who passed away three years ago. Already 32 years since her debut album, Jang Pil Soon is also a significant figure in folk-rock and has been a close companion of him. Along with his brother Jo Dong Ik (keyboard, mixing, mastering), Jang Pil Soon “re-sings” ten songs of Jo Dong Jin with simplicity and care, as if she’s inviting you into her warm house on a cold winter night, offering you a cup of hot tea and sharing you stories against the freezing wind blowing outside. She sings each verse with loose calmness, low and intimately into your ears, slowly melting away all that’s been bundling inside you.

I barely know Jo Dong Jin’s songs and have only heard of Jang Pil Soon’s 1996 album [나의 외로움이 널 부를 때 When my loneliness calls you] a few times, so I’m unsure how this album made its way into recommendations on my Apple Music. But I’m happy it did. The moment I heard Jang Pil Soon’s voice carried along with the chimes in the first song, “물을 보며 Watching the water” (below), a scent familiar yet unknown entered and I was on pause, dwelling in the memories of the words. This entire album feels like folktale storytelling, and it’s certainly a beautiful, warm, and honest dedication to her friend.

Full album: Apple Music / Spotify

“Violet”