Many of us approach to K-pop through the upbeat dance music of idol groups. However, if you’re willing to explore deeper into other genres, you will find hidden gems that are yet to make into the mainstream. Below is a short list of talented Korean indie artists.
We Are The Night
Genre: Electronic Pop
The band singing about “sentimental nights,” We Are The Night comprises four members each in charge of vocal, guitar, bass, and synthesizers. The dominant sound of sound synthesizers creates a distinctive mood that is recurrent in their music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2JLHkvsQLk
John OFA Lee
Genre: R&B/Urban
John Lee, or OFA, first made his name known through Super Star K’s 7th Season. Having started his musical career as a teenager by uploading videos on YouTube, John Lee officially launched his activities recently by releasing an album. He has made collaborations with renowned artists including Primary and Kim Min-seok of Melomance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4BoHrw5QPI
SOLE
Genre: R&B
The rising R&B singer SOLE is the only female artist of Devine Channel, which is the producing team known for its collaborations with top K-pop artists including BTS, EXO, and Red Velvet. SOLE also collaborated with Gaeko of Dynamic Duo in his recent solo release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsIMSIh_snM
Colde
Genre: R&B/Hip-hop
If you know OFFONOFF, you may recognize Colde’s voice as he is the vocalist of the popular indie group. The sounds he makes as a member of OFFONOFF and as a solo artist are distinctively different, so it is worth checking out both!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQKZD0GlARY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b1E-zu-QEM
Paul Kim
Genre: R&B/Urban
Paul Kim rising as one of the most beloved male singers in the genre. (You may recognize his voice if you watched the Korean drama series, “Should We Kiss First?” He sang the soundtrack for the drama.) Through his YouTube channel, Paul Kim presents various experimental means to introduce his music, such as street busking, cover, and first-person-view live videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2232O1QVD9s
OOHYO
Genre: Electronic Pop
OOHYO is working on her way to build her own genre, which, to roughly put, is the combination of a laid-back voice, synthesizer, and electronic pop. Many of her songs share the same atmosphere, but the repetitive hooks are equally addictive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLhKEKgg53M
Darin
Genre: Folk/Acoustic
Looking for songs to listen to on a sleepless night? This entrancing folk singer will give you the perfect playlist. Her deep and low voice creates a mood that’s cozy and sentimental at the same time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R0RVkuoCIY
By Heewon Kim
