K-pop might be taking over the world right now, but the Korean indie scene is growing and expanding into the west.
Theres a big difference between the two, other than the sound – idols are mostly given their music from dedicated producers while indie artists have the creative freedom to write their own.
And therein lies the reason you should consider branching out if youre a fan of K-music already.
Three of the scenes most exciting acts – 3rd Line Butterfly, Billy Carter and Gonne Choi – performed in Londons Rich Mix at the 2018 K-Music Showcase, hosted by the Korean Cultural Centre UK and the Korea Creative Content Agency.
And Metro.co.uk had an exclusive chat with each one on how indie music is different to the K-pop scene, how they consider K-Pop artists to be like puppets, and how indie is the next biggest thing.
3rd Line Butterfly is one such (awesome) indie band, who have actually been around for 20 years. But now, partially thanks to K-Pop taking over the world, theres suddenly a global market for their music too, and theyre bringing it to the UK.
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But the two genres are very different – for one, indie artists create their own music, which they say is important to their Korean audience.
Lead singer Nahm Sang-ah told Metro.co.uk: The Korean audience is sensitive to lyrics, they love great lyrics more than the melody, a lot of people listen to the lyrics before listening to the melody.
In K-pop, some musicians write their own music, but thats very rare, she said. In the k-pop scene the major companies they buy the songs from the composer so theyre not making their music, theres no freedom or nothing.
They just get the music they sing on it, they dance on it and stuff like that.
Singer Gonne Choi added that K-pop producers often take their inspiration from indie artists.
K-pop producers are often inspired by indie musicians. They take motifs to their musics, she said.
She joked: Its like plagiarism! We are the victim!
Gonne Chois bassist added that because idols dont create their own music most of the time, its harder for them to release something they wrote.
Because the K-pop musicians are machines that produces every time, its harder to release music, he said. They are like puppets.
Indie musicians pursue music differently as artists rather than being a product.
He added, jokingly: I wouldnt say no to being an idol. But Im too old.
However, 3rd Line Butterflys Nahm Sang-ah added that as the scene continues to grow and become global, with the likes of BTS taking over the world, she explained things are starting to change.
These days its changing too. There are a lot of major [k-pop] musicians who write their own music, its changing, she said.
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Speaking of how they create their own music, Nahm Sang-ah said: Most of the time we write one by one, our own material at one, and then come together and listen to what the others wrote. We develop on it. Sometimes we get around and write a lyric together, but mostly we write at home.
The band Billy Carter said that as the pop scene grows and becomes more experimental, it is opening doors for alternative bands to come forward too.
Were doing different music in a different scene, but K-pop music is very complicated and experimental, Jiwon Kim, lead singer of the band said. Theyre called pop music, but they experiment a lot. I think its very helpful for bands who are trying to do something new and create a new sound.
So think outside the K-pop box, their indie scene is worth a try too.
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MORE: Heres why BTSs Fake Love is being censored on US radio
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