Artist Spotlights

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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