Recommended Indie Korean Songs That Must Be on Your Playlist

Kapanlagi.com - This article was written by Aricha Safira Rachma

Korean music is synonymous with pop and electronic genres that are often performed by girl and boy bands that many people love. However, the Korean music industry also offers various other music genres, including indie music.

Indie music in Korea refers to independent music developed in South Korea in Hongdae in the 1990s. This genre is considered as the opposite of K-Pop, which is described as something commercial.

Indie music emphasizes the authentic message of the musician. So it's no wonder that indie music is more like telling a story or conveying a message. Without further ado, here are the Korean indie songs that you must listen to.

1. Stella Jang – Recipe

Credit: Instagram.com/@interstellajang

Stella Jang is a singer and songwriter from South Korea under the management of Grandline Entertainment. She made her solo debut on September 19, 2014 with the digital single Dumped Yesterday. Recipe is a song released in 2020. The song tells a sweet love story with a retro vibe.

2. 10CM – Drawer

Credit: Instagram.com/@10cm_official

10CM is an indie duo band consisting of Yoon Cheol Jong and Kwon Jung Yeol. The band's name is based on the height difference between the two members. 10CM debuted in 2010, but unfortunately in 2018 Yoon Cheol Jong had to leave the band and now only Kwon Jung Yeol remains. Drawer is one of the many recommended songs by 10CM. This song is the official soundtrack of the famous drama played by Choi Woo Sik, Our Beloved Summer.

3. Jannabi – For Lovers Who Hestitate

Credit: Instagram.com/@bandjannabi

Jannabi is an indie band formed in 2012. Jannabi itself means monkey in Korean. The name was taken because all members were born in the year of the monkey.

For Lovers Who Hestitate is a song released in 2019. The song won several awards, including the Daesang Song of the Year and the Digital Song Bonsang at the Korean Music Awards and Golden Disc Awards 2020.

4. The Black Skirts – EVERYTING

Credit: Instagram.com/@holideez

The band, consisting of only one member, Bryan Cho or Jo Hyu Il, made its debut in 2008. Initially, this indie pop and rock band was under the label Sony Music Entertainment Korea and then moved to Doggyrich until in 2016, the band officially joined HIGHGRND, the agency owned by Tablo Epik High.

Growing up in New Jersey, he learned about the music in American media such as MTV and Rolling Stone. His song titled EVERYTING released in 2016 has become viral on the TikTok app. Having a very smooth and calming melody, it is suitable as your sleeping companion.

5. Hyukoh – Comes and Goes

Credit: Instagram.com/@ hyukohofficial

Hyukoh is an indie band consisting of 4 young men born in 1993. The band, formed in 2014, is actually under the same agency as The Black Skirts, HIGHGRND, a subsidiary of YG Entertainment that oversees indie bands.

Hyukoh gained popularity when invited to perform on the popular Korean TV show, Infinity Challenge. The band is also diligent in collaborating with Korean musicians and producers.

The song released in 2015 apparently has quite deep lyrics.. Discussing their fear of adulthood. The song also portrays their desire to return to childhood where they didn't have to worry about growing up.

(kpl/mag)