Singer-songwriter jeebanoff of House On Mars has performed three of his songs live for Naver On Stage 378. They have now been released as a single.
Mad Clown & San E: We Want You 2018 Tour
Mad Clown and San E are teaming up this April for a month-long, packed North American tour: We Want You. Read about their upcoming tour spanning over 15 cities including New York, Washington, D.C., and LA!
SXSW Artist Spotlight: Jay Park
Jay Park is an artist that needs very little introduction. His rise from idol group notoriety to the first Asian-American artist signed to one of
SXSW Artist Spotlight: Keith Ape
He’s one of Korean hiphop’s most polarizing figures, and he plays both sides unapologetically. About Keith Ape Keith Ape isn’t new to music. Back in
SXSW Artist Spotlight: Crush
In the past five years Crush has well established himself as one of Korean R&B’s most creative and sought-after talents. Read about Crush and his showcase at the 2018 SXSW Music Festival!
About Crush
Shin Hyo-seob has been a presence in the Korean music industry for quite some time, making a name for himself as a producer. In 2012, he worked alongside rapper Cheetah, forming the duo Masterpiece. Though their time together was short-lived, it did give Crush the opportunity to flex his musical muscle and really get himself established as a true artist. He released single “Red Dress” in 2012. Quickly word began to spread about this young producer with the eclectic vocal style.
Crush’s official debut came with the release of “Sometimes,” a complex R&B track that blends traditional construction with synthetic strings and a subtle 808. His name continued to crop up in Korea’s underground scene, and eventually he caught the attention of Simon D. All his hard work paid off, and in July 2013 he signed to Amoeba Culture. As the youngest member of the Amoeba Culture family, Crush brought a refreshing mindset to his music: bright, intelligent R&B that manages to be innovative and layered yet still capture the essence of what makes popular music pop. His nuanced approach to R&B meant that those he worked with were also innovators of the genre. Most notable at the time was his work with R&B/Soul singer Zion. T, a man whose name is synonymous with R&B rooted in tradition yet somewhat esoteric in delivery.
He put that attention to detail to work in 2015. Crush’s first full-length album, the aptly titled Crush On You, highlighted his R&B inclinations. However, there was something deeper in his music, a sound that was more well-rounded and grabbed for something deeper than the quick and drippy music that defined the genre in Korea at the time. With high-profile collaborations with the likes of Jay Park, Gaeko, and Simon D, the album propelled him into public notoriety in a big way, garnering both commercial and critical success.
Crush continued to stretch his musical vocabulary with subsequent releases. Between releasing hits between 2015 and 2016, continuing to rack up collaborations (most notably with DEAN and Jeff Bernat on track “what2do” in 2016), he was still pursuing his college degree in music composition. His education was on full display with 2016’s Interlude. The album saw him take a new approach to his music, branching out from the typical R&B that initially garnered him attention and opting for more experimental sounds. It was a bold statement, departing from what was making waves in Korea at the time of its release. But Crush handled that with the same earnestness that brought his name to the forefront.
He continued to form meaningful relationships, establishing his own “crew” with artists Elo, Gray, LOCO, and longtime friend Zion. T. He then became part of the now semi-infamous Fanxy Child crew with ZICO, Penomeco, and the founding members of club e$kimo, DEAN and producer Millic. Following the experimentation of Interlude, Crush released the Wonderlust EP. While Interlude was Crush as an ambitious artist, Wonderlust focused more on Shin Hyo-seob the technician — and most importantly, the man. Fans were given a deeper appreciation of his jazz and old-school soul inclinations, borrowing a bit from the stylings of artists found on the legendary Blue Note label.
Crush continues to be an artist fans of honest-to-goodness music flock to. His sound is ever-evolving, but he always maintains his foundation. Though not his first visit to the States, this will be his first time on a South by Southwest stage. He’s sure to gain much more attention and win the hearts of music lovers.
SXSW KOREA SPOTLIGHT (18+)
Location: The Belmont
Date: March 18, 2018
Time: 10:10 PM – 10:50 PM
Official article: Korea Spotlight
Songs by Crush you should know:
“Red Dress” (feat. TakeOne) (Dec 2012)
“Sometimes” (April 2014)
“Hug Me” (feat. Gaeko) (Jun 2014)
“Sofa” (Oct 2014)
“Just” (with Zion. T)” (Jan 2015)
“Don’t Forget” (feat. Taeyeon) (Jan 2016)
“In the Air” & “Woo-Ah” (live)
“Nostalgia” & “Fall” (Oct 2016)
RELEVANT LINKS:
SXSW Korea Spotlight
SXSW Artist Profile – Crush
Follow Crush:
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SXSW Artist Spotlight: DPR LIVE
One of the most dynamic debuts of 2017 came compliments of rapper DPR LIVE, who will be performing at the upcoming Korea Spotlight during the
Changstarr presents street dance version of ‘Funky Swag’
With the hopes to shine more light on the elements of hiphop besides music, Changstarr has worked with director Hypnos and four street dancers to create a dance video for his track ‘Funky Swag (with Tammy)’.
DPR LIVE, Crush, and Lee Hi To Perform At SXSW 2018 (Korea Spotlight Showcase)
The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) returns to Austin for SXSW 2018 with the highly anticipated Korea Spotlight Showcase (formerly known as K-Pop Night Out). Check out the list of featured Korean hiphop (and associated) acts, as well as our recommended track for each artist!
DPR LIVE
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdxZY4tgjY0/?taken-by=dprlive
A rising star in the Korean hip hop scene, DPR Live has quickly emerged to be one of the most highly anticipated artists in 2017. Raised in Guam and in South Korea, he’s able to skillfully incorporate English and Korean into his rhymes and melodies. As the first artist under visual/label collection DPR (Dream Perfect Regime), he aims to connect Korea’s music scene to the rest of the world. Read about DPR LIVE on the official SXSW page.
Be sure to check out our DPR LIVE articles:
- Artist Profile
- Exclusive Interview with Korean Hip-Hop Artist DPR LIVE (published March 2017)
- Coming To You Live (Full Album Review) (published May 2017)
CRUSH
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc_1mNuHjiM/?taken-by=crush9244
Crush emerged as a new star in Korean hip-hop and R&B scene in 2014. He has made a name for himself not only with his edgy charisma, but also his knack for understanding current, musical trends as a producer and singer/songwriter. His sound is influenced by a wide spectrum of music including old-school funk, neo-soul, slow jams, hip-hop, and future R&B. Read about Crush on the official SXSW page.
Be sure to check out our Crush articles:
LEE HI
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW7v74SA05W/?taken-by=leehi_hi
Commonly referred to as the Korean Adele, Lee Hi is a powerhouse R&B singer born in 1996 and appeared on national tv as a K-Pop Star Season 1 contestant at the age of 15. As runner-up, she debuted in 2012 as a solo artist under YG Entertainment. Since then, she has several awards for her two studio albums with several chart topping songs including “Rose,” “It’s Over,” “1, 2, 3, 4,” and “Breathe.” Read about Lee Hi on the official SXSW page.
Be sure to check out these selected Lee Hi articles:
Other featured Korean acts include Hyukoh, KARD, CIFIKA, and Say Sue Me. Korea Spotlight will take place at The Belmont on Friday, March 16. SXSW Platinum and Music badgeholders receive primary access to the event. Interactive Badges, Film Badges, and Music Festival Wristbands receive secondary access. This showcase will be open to ages 18+.
Billy Carvin releases single and short film ‘Feminism: Violent Legacy’
Cream Villa‘s rapper Billy Carvin (previously known as LOBEN) has pre-released the single ‘Feminism: Violent Legacy‘ off his first solo album. A short film on the topic of misogyny in Korea was released as well.