Gdqun exclusive interview with popular South Korean independent band wave to earth

Indie band Wave to Earth, a trio of lead singer-guitarist Kim Daniel, bassist Cha Soon Jong and drummer Dongkyu Shin, from South Korea, has been established in 2019, with a jazz, indie rock and lo-fi music Deep understanding and innovative interpretation have rapidly risen in the Indie industry in South Korea and have become one of the most representative bands in recent years. Their creative core carefully explores the diverse emotions of love and longing, and the intimacy and profound emotions displayed in music make their works widely praised in the global music circle.

Wave to earth's music is mainly in English, showing a way of expression that is both approachable and emotionally profound. Popular singles such as “bad” that promised to be throbbed and “seasons” cleverly use the combination of simple structure and rich emotions to amplify the emotional tension of the music, forming a unique musical language. Their creation is not only a melody display, but also an emotional conversation that allows the listeners to find resonance and comfort in the music. This emotional resonance is an important reason why wave to earth can quickly attract global attention.

In addition to music, wave to earth adheres to the creative concept of “All Self-made”, from album cover design, music video to live performance atmosphere creation, all of which show their persistence in details and pursuit of art. Their work is like a dialogue between calm and passion, healing and full of tension, bringing the audience a whole new musical experience.

In 2023, wave to earth shines with its debut album 0.1 Flaws and All. All the festival performances and North American tours across Asia have been sold out, successfully expanding its influence to the global stage. During an earlier Hong Kong show, we approached the band and learned in-depth about their creative journey. In the interview, we explore how wave to earth can break the boundaries between language and culture with music and convey emotions around the world.

Your name “wave to earth” is poetic, symbolizing “becoming a new wave”. Does it have a deeper meaning for you? What message do you hope to convey to the world through music?

“The name 'wave to earth' is a reminder for us,” the band members admitted. “It keeps us accepting challenges and working to be a new wave. We enjoy a process of growing up like a wave.” In addition to innovation, they believe that there are deeper values ​​behind the name. “We hope to convey the importance of “loving yourself” and “reality” through music,” said lead singer Kim Daniel, a core philosophy that the band has always adhered to.

You have always adhered to the concept of “All Self-made”, from music production to album visuals, videos and even fashions, what is the motivation behind this? For you, what is the significance of such all-round control?

“This is a challenge, but we believe it is these challenges that allow us to express ourselves more fully.” Wave to earth's answer is direct and sincere, and this spirit is also throughout their creative process. For them, practicing the concept of “All Self-made” is not only a complete creative self-control, but they also add that this is an irreplaceable teamwork experience.

You are very particular about the visual style of album covers, videos and fashion. What does this have to do with music? Where does visual inspiration come from?

Recently, wave to earth has been particularly fascinated by the aesthetic of minimalism, a concept that has been permeated with their musical and visual creations. “We often think about what to highlight and what to let go,” Daniel shared. It is worth mentioning that Daniel often draws inspiration from architecture and furniture design, integrating this aesthetic into wave to earth’s work. They always believe that album covers, films and even fashion during performances are an extension of music and a way of expression in another language, and this cross-domain aesthetic exploration has also become a major wave to earth Features.

Your music combines independent pop elements such as jazz, R&B, Lo-fi, etc. How did this unique sound come about? Is it influenced by personal experience or music during growth?

“Each of our group members has a very diverse musical background, which is the root of our voice qualities,” explains Daniel, lead singer and guitarist, who is inspired by bands such as Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Oasis, who are melodiously vocalized by musicians like Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Oasis. and bold exploration of emotional expression have had a profound impact on his creation.

The drummer Dongkyu Shin is a loyal fan of John Mayer and Ryuichi Sakamoto. One is more delicate guitar playing and lyrical creation, while the other is known for his bold and experimental arrangements. These elements have penetrated into his performances style.

As for bassist Cha Soon Jong, he was deeply obsessed with Motown music in the 1970s. Artists such as Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, whose rhythm and emotional expression became part of his musical foundation. After forming wave to earth, their respective musical preferences and backgrounds naturally blend in creation, forming the band's unique sound. “We are not deliberately mixing these elements, but they naturally blend into our musical language as the creative process.”

Your songs often create a calming and healing atmosphere. How does this “self-healing” trait affect the creative process? What emotions do you hope the audience will feel?

For Wave to Earth, the calmness of music is not just for relaxation, but for an emotional companionship. “We hope these songs can be quietly integrated into the lives of our listeners, becoming part of their memories, and melodies that can be savored from time to time.” This slow-paced, calm atmosphere comes from his deep thoughts on the power of the sound, and also becomes the band's iconic one. traits.

However, this does not mean that their music is limited to a calm and comfortable atmosphere. The band members also mentioned that they also have the desire to create sounds that contrast with calm, allowing wave to earth music to give more layers and truly feel the fluctuations of emotions.

From its debut album “0.1 Flaws and All” in 2023 to its latest album “play with earth! 0.03” in 2024, what is the connection between these two albums? What does they mean for your band journey?

“For us, “0.1 Flaws and All” is a complete release and a restart.” The band members recalled the process of creating their first album and admitted that it was like letting go of the burden of the past and letting the music return to its truest form. state. However, as time goes on, they are not content to stay in their comfort zone, but are deliberately seeking new chemistry within the band. This kind of experiment and exploration is ultimately reflected in the latest album “play with earth! 0.03”. They are full of expectations for the future. “We will continue this creative model of “let go and rebirth”, constantly integrating and reshaping, and exploring more possibilities in music, which is also our ultimate goal.”

The latest album “play with earth! 0.03” has been on the 5th place on the Spotify Global Top Debut Albums chart and has received enthusiastic support from fans around the world. How do you feel about the gradually expanding global influence? How do you view the connection between cultures and different languages?

“We feel extremely grateful, it's all like a dream come true,” said the band members. For wave to earth, being able to reach global audiences has always been their goal, but what really contributes to it is the support and resonance of fans. The album “play with earth! 0.03” not only brought their music to a broader international stage, but also brought listeners from different cultures and backgrounds to gather together due to music. This connection is of great significance to them.

They are humble and grateful for their growing global influence. “We value the power of music, which connects listeners from different countries, and this experience is humble and joyful. We think the best way to give back is to create and share better music.”

Your “flaws and all” and “0.03” world tours were sold out in many countries. What is it like to perform for fans from different places? How did these experiences inspire you?

“Being able to travel all over the world and meet fans from different countries is still like a dream today. We are very grateful to be able to stand on stage and perform for everyone,” said the band member with emotion. For wave to earth, every performance on the tour is a unique experience, not only allowing them to connect with their global fans, but also allowing them to feel the power of music more deeply.

During the tour, the scenery, people and cultural atmospheres of different countries have undoubtedly become an important source of their creative inspiration. “The different ways of life and expression in every place allow us to have more interesting creative directions after returning to the recording studio, subtly affecting our music.”

As independent musicians, how do you view the current music industry? How to promote career development while adhering to the essence of creation?

“As social media grows, the music industry becomes more diverse around the world, and we are particularly aware that artists who focus most on their own unique styles tend to grow the fastest,” said the wave to earth member. Therefore, wave to earth’s strategy has always been to focus on our core values ​​and focus on creating sincere and in-depth works, “no matter how the environment changes, we focus on our nature, constantly polish and expand it to make our music Stay sincere and powerful in a changing environment.”

For wave to earth, this journey is an interweaving process of music, growth and connection. Through each work, they share their sincere creative attitude, and invite listeners to explore the calmness and tension in the music together, and use melody to build a resonance space that belongs to each other.

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