Photos, clockwise from top left: Epik High, Hitchhiker, EE and Crayon Pop. All photos courtesy of the artists.
The annual KOCCA presented K-Pop Night Out returns for its third year at SXSW. The showcase will take place on Thursday, March 19 at Elysium (705 Red River).
This March, Hitchhiker, Epik High, Crayon Pop, The Barberettes, Asian Chairshot, EE and Eastern Sidekick will make the trip from Seoul. Once again, you’ll find your perception of Korean music challenged with the most engaging KPNO lineup yet.
Until recently, Choi Jin-woo was known as one of K-Pop’s top hit-makers as a producer, songwriter and remixer for Korean superstars such as Girl’s Generation, G-Dragon, EXO and SXSW alumni act f(x). Now the tables have turned with his new project Hitchhiker, a worldwide YouTube phenomena that’s thrust him into the spotlight with the amazingly bizarre “11” video and its accompanying polarizing earworm of a track. Seriously, just watch it. This will be Hitchhiker’s debut live performance.
Seoul’s Epik High are often credited as bringing hip-hop to the mainstream in Korea, and will be making their first SXSW appearance, supporting their eighth album, Shoebox, while K-Pop girl group Crayon Pop return to the US with their signature helmets and “Bar Bar Bar” dance in tow after touring with Lady Gaga on her Artpop tour.
The Barberettes, perhaps the most surprising of the bunch, create a time-warp of '50s and '60s girl group harmonies with a dedicated nod to The Shirelles, The Ronettes and The Kim Sisters.
Part performance troupe, part art collective, EE is a blur of eccentricity that comes across as a Korean hip-hop inspired version of The Knife, if you can imagine such a thing.
As always, Korean underground rock plays an important part of a K-Pop Night Out showcase. Asian Chairshot find common ground between Black Sabbath, Soundgarden and Radiohead with their Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins) produced LP, while Eastern Sidekick come across as an edgier Korean version of The Strokes.
Don't miss the third annual K-Pop Night Out showcase at SXSW Music! Badges and hotel rooms are still available. Schedule is subject to change.
By James Minor
2015 KOCCA KPop Night Out Showcase (Planning/Production/Promotions) : DFSB Kollective x SL Communications
International Digital Distribution : DFSB Kollective (EE / Eastern Sidekick)