Korea’s Top AltROK Bands to Kick Off First Ever Seoulsonic North American Tour

(SEOUL KR) : After weeks of anticipation, K-Pop creative agency, DFSB Kollective, has just announced the confirmed lineup and schedule for its SEOULSONIC concert series. Stagediving into Seoul's dynamic music scene, SEOULSONIC breaks the speed of now with a pulsating radar on Korea's top breakthrough artists. From indie clubs to international festivals, SEOULSONIC pushes the tempo of Korean music acts making waves across and beyond Asia.

K-Pop 크리에이티브 에이젼시 DFSB콜렉티브가 서울소닉 북미투어의 공식 스케줄을 발표하였다. 서울소닉은 다양하고 에너제틱한 한국의 라이브 음악을 지속적이고 안정적으로 더 넓은 세계에 소개하려 한다. 해외의 다양한 인디 클럽부터 세계적인 뮤직 페스티벌까지, 서울소닉은 한국음악을 아시아를 넘어 더 넓은 세계로 내보내며 거침없는 속도로 큰 풍파를 일으킬 것이다.

For March 2K11, SEOULSONIC will be rolling out its first ever North American tour featuring AltROK sensations Galaxy Express, Idiotape, and Vidulgi OoyoO.

다가오는 2011년 3월, 서울소닉의 첫 번째 팀인 갤럭시 익스프레스, 이디오테입, 그리고 비둘기우유가 북미투어를 떠날 예정이다!

Launching at Canada’s largest music festival, CMW Canadian Music Week (Toronto Ontario : March 9th - 12th), SEOULSONIC will take its traveling rock n roll roadshow to the 25th anniversary celebration of America’s biggest new music festival, SXSW South By Southwest (Austin Texas : March 16th - 20th) with additional concert dates in New York City (March 24th @ The Knitting Factory Brooklyn), San Diego (March 31st @ Tin Can Alehouse), and Los Angeles (April 2nd @ The Roxy Theatre). Tickets are now on sale online.

* 캐나다의 최대 규모의 음악 축제 CMW Canadian Music Week : 3월 9일 - 12일 (토론토, 온타리오)

* 미국 최고의 음악 축제 SXSW (South By Southwest) : 3월 16일 - 20일 (오스틴, 텍사스)

* 미국 뉴욕 : 3월 24일 (The Knitting Factory Brooklyn)

* 미국 샌디에이고: 3월 31일 (Tin Can Alehouse)
* 미국 로스앤젤레스: 4월 2일 (The Roxy Theatre)

공연티켓 온라인 판매를 시작 하였습니다.


Special guests on the SEOULSONIC North America tour include Korean-American modern rockers Kite Operation (New York City) and singer-songwriter Big Phony (Los Angeles).

더불어 미국 동부의 한국계 모던락 밴드 카이트 오퍼레이션 (Kite Operation, 뉴욕 공연)  그리고 미국 서부의 싱어송라이터 빅 포니 (Big Phony, 로스엔젤레스 공연) 등이 이번 서울소닉 북미투어의 스페셜 게스트로 함께 할 예정이다.

Soundcheck http://www.seoulsonic.kr for the latest news, ticketing, and updates.

서울소닉의 홈페이지 www.seoulsonic.kr 에서 서울소닉의 최근 뉴스와 정보를 확인하실 수 있습니다!

FACEBOOK : http://facebook.com/seoulsonic.kr
TWITTER : http://twitter.com/seoulsonic
YOUTUBE : http://youtube.com/seoulsonic


About GALAXY EXPRESS




About IDIOTAPE




About VIDULGI OOYOO




Concert Tour Executive Producer : DFSB Kollective
North American Club/Festival Booking Agent : DFSB Kollective
Website/Social Media Network Development : DFSB Kollective
International Media PR : DFSB Kollective
International Music Distribiution : DFSB Kollective

The Korea Times : Korean Indie Bands to Rock North America

Galaxy Express(WEEKENDER EDITION) It’s the ultimate band roadtrip. Except this isn’t your typical, Americana garage-band straight from Smalltown, U.S.A., it’s post-rock indie group Apollo 18 from the capital of South Korea.

“We’re nervous in general about going to the U.S., playing at South by Southwest (SXSW), the clubs, the venue ambiance and the people inside those venues,” bassist Kim Dae-inn laughed. It will be the first time any of the band members have stepped foot on North American soil.

This spring, Apollo 18 and four of the country’s most-buzzed underground names will enter the American scene by touring some of the most prestigious festivals this March and April, shattering the idea that Korean music holds a mere wisp of a presence worldwide.

Apollo 18Kim and his bandmates, Galaxy Express, Vidulgi OoyoO, Idiotape and EE will go west to make a stand for Korean music either by DIY or with corporate backing. The move records both the marked increase of local bands at SXSW (March 16-20) and the official debut of Korean music at Coachella (April 15-17).

“This (rock) sound is originally from the U.S., so if you’re in a band, it feels right to go to America and experience it firsthand, be inspired by it,” Choi Hyun-seok, the guitarist for Apollo 18, said. The three-man group managed to expand their initial festival performance into a five-state, 14 gig roadshow using only their knowhow, Googling skills and an abundance of e-mail.

Previous years have seen one or two Korean mainstream bands play at the acclaimed Texas music event, one of the largest in the country with nearly 2,000 acts. This year, a total of four indie bands will play SXSW out of the 13 Korean groups that applied.

“This will take a lot of money, so if we go, we want to go for more than just the festival,” Kim said, referring to their decision to turn the showcase into a tour. Apollo 18, ever the hard rockers, took the grassroots approach so they could customize their own schedule independently. A rental van is in the works.

Though the group was originally invited to the 2010 showcase, a lack of funds and preparation delayed the band for a year. But their determination saw a rapid comeback as fundraising and money out of their own pockets will send them on their first overseas trip.

Art performance duo EE, who will debut at the legendary Coachella, was brought to the attention of the Western industry through Seoulsonic, a now-defunct concert series that was transformed into a multi-faceted music organization that aims to be the Korean Pitchfork Media.

Parent company DFSB Kollective refurbished Seoulsonic to focus on both local and international activities through “packaged” band tours, and Galaxy Express, Vidulgi OoyoO and Idiotape will comprise its first North American venture.

IdiotapeThe trio of bands will hit up Canadian Music Week, SXSW and hold a variety of shows from New York (The Knitting Factory) to Los Angeles (The Roxy).

“During the day, we would speak about and hear about how hip and how hot the Korean music scene was perceived overseas. But at night, perception and reality didn’t really mix too well at cocktail parties,” said Bernie Cho, president of the DFSB Kollective, a digital music distributor and promoter.

“Whenever we attended showcases sponsored and hosted by different countries’ governments, we were amazed by the live performances of international artists hailing from music markets comparable to and far smaller than Korea. Time and time again, we kept asking and were being asked the same questions. ‘Why is there no Korean night? Why are there no Korean bands here? Where is this cool Korean music people are talking about?”’

DFSB decided to take the matter into its own hands and, after studying other music promotion methods, decided to take Seoulsonic into the direction of group tours.

“Rather than have each act play on its own and get lost in the shuffle, we felt there would be strength and safety in numbers by bundling the bands together under the Seoulsonic brand,” Cho said. “All the bands represent a distinct style and flavor that show the diversity and dynamism of the AltROK scene.”

"It was never a matter of ‘if’ but more of a matter of ‘when’ Korean music acts would step onto the biggest music stages worldwide,” Cho said. “Spring 2011 seems to now answer the ‘when.’”

Vidulgi OoyoOPrevious Korean guests at the Texas festival are less optimistic about Western acknowledgement.

“Actually, there’s still not that much interest about Korea,” said Song Kyoung-kun of Gong Myoung, who performed at SXSW in 2009.

The group, who entered in the fest’s world music category, was featured on prevalent national radio network PRI during their stay in Austin, and regularly attends art markets in Europe to garner international recognition.

Though they often play abroad, Song said that many people still believe Korea to be somewhere between Japan and China, culturally. Indeed, this year’s SXSW will see nearly 20 bands from Japan and eight from Taiwan.

But whether it’s this year or not that Korea will rise from the trenches of the unknown, the experience for the collective bands touring will prove to be a learning one — particularly for other musicians here.

Lee Sang-yun, the drummer for Apollo 18 and the quietest of the three, said: “We want to go and show others that ‘Hey, we did it, so you can do it too.’”

Seoulsonic will hold a pre-tour party today at Club Mansion with Crying Nut, Rock Tigers, Telepathy and more. Visit www.seoulsonic.kr.

Apollo 18 will be holding a fundraiser concert at Live Club Ssam Feb. 26. To support their upcoming tour and catch guest performances by Art of Parties, Vassline, Smacksoft and others, visit www.ssamnet.com. Tickets cost 20,000 won.

For more information on EE’s upcoming show at Coachella, visit www.coachella.com.

MEET THE BANDS

Apollo 18: The three-piece post-rock group will make you sweat, roar and jump in their intense live performances. Their DIY tour carries all the makings of a true band road trip, down to the scouring of Craigslist for empty beds and their enthusiasm for good eats while traveling the American South.

Galaxy Express: Arguably one of the more well-known indie rock groups in Korea, Galaxy Express has done it all: leave their record label, perform to thousands of fans at both Jisan Rock Valley Festival and Pentaport and, of course, won the 2009 Rock Album of the Year at the Korean Music Awards.

Vidulgi OoyoO: Literally translated into “Pigeon Milk,” Vidulgi OoyoO’s ambient, shoegaze rock will slip you into a rhythmic trance by the time you’re halfway done with your first drink. With such track titles as “Mosquito Incognito,” who wouldn’t be taken?

Idiotape: The pulsing electronics of Idiotape are irresistibly grabbing, with slow builds that reach a climactic intensity before falling back into a simplistic lull. Hints of disco funk add to the entertainment, resulting in an all out dance party.

EE: This art performance duo will not only don skintight costumes and sing in your face during their shows, they’ll make you love them. From residencies at the alternative culture space Platoon Kunsthalle to hitting up this year’s Coachella, this pair is not one to miss.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art
By Ines Min

Cool in Britannia : UK Monocle Magazine Shines the Spotlight on K-Pop

(SEOUL KR) :  A global news journal covering international affairs, business, culture, and design, British-based media maven, Monocle Magazine, has been the subject of intense industry buzz with their recent expansion into producing innovative TV and radio shows broadcast around the world.

As part of their highly anticipated holiday programming, Monocle invited six international music acts to their London recording studios for their annual ‘The Monocle Winter Series’ radio show. Presented by Monocle’s editor-in-chief, Tyler Brûlé, along with culture editor Robert Bound and editor Andrew Tuck, ‘The Monocle Winter Series’ features exclusive live music performances from new and noteworthy artists as well as in-depth discussions with special guests every week throughout the Christmas/New Years’ season. 


Following up on the successful showcases last season by Japanese hip-hop heavies M-Flo and Canadian rock icon, Bryan Adams, Monocle’s staff selected for this year not one but two critically-acclaimed bands from Korea : electro-pop quartet, W&Whale, and alternative rockers, 3rd Line Butterfly.


W&WHALE

Recipients of the 2009 Korean Music Awards for Best Electronic/Dance Album and Song of the Year accolades, W&Whale make a splashing European debut with stirring acoustic renditions and exciting reinterpretations of some their biggest hit singles on the December 24th edition of ‘The Monocle Winter Series’ (12:00 Central European Time / 02:00 Korean Standard Time). Simultaneously on the same day, W&Whale will launch their award-winning album and remixes on iTunes Stores worldwide.




3rd LINE BUTTERFLY

Nominated at the 2010 Korean Music Awards for Song of the Year and Modern Rock Song of the Year honors, 3rd Line Butterfly belts out a blustery medley of their favorite festival anthems on the January 7th edition of ‘The Monocle Winter Series’ (12:00 Central European Time / 02:00 Korean Standard Time). In celebration of their 10th anniversary as a band, 3rd Line Butterfly has just re-released completely remastered versions of all their albums on iTunes stores worldwide.



In addition to the international broadcast on their website, ‘The Monocle Winter Series’ will also available as a free podcast download on iTunes stores worldwide.

For more information and updates, please check out :

MONOCLE MAGAZINE : http://www.moncole.com
MONOCLE MAGAZINE WINTER SERIES : http://www.monocle.com/the-winter-series
MONOCLE MAGAZINE ITUNES PODCAST : http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-monocle-weekly/id300684061
W&WHALE WEBSITE : http://www.wnwhale.com
W&WHALE ITUNES : http://itunes.apple.com/artist/w-whale/id411627114
3RD LINE BUTTERFLY WEBSITE : http://www.3bf.co.kr
3RD LINE BUTTERFLY ITUNES : http://itunes.com/3rdlinebutterfly


W&Whale Artist Management : Fluxus Inc.
3rd Line Butterfly Artist Management : Beatball Music Group

International Booking Agent : DFSB Kollective
International Distribution/PR : DFSB Kollective

Three of Asia’s Top Pop Stars Align For A Special Charity Album : 3rd Wave ‘I Will Be There’ Will Hit iTunes Worldwide on 10.10.10

(SEOUL KR) : As widely rumored over the past few weeks, the 3rd Wave project album, ‘I Will Be There’, featuring Taiwanese urban music icon < Van Ness Wu >, Korean R&B balladeer < Brian Joo >, and K-Pop boyband sensation < Choi Siwon of Super Junior >, has been confirmed for worldwide release on iTunes music stores on October 10th, 2010.

On many levels and in many ways, the 3rd Wave ‘I Will Be There’ collaboration is a unique and unconventional creative departure for these top Asian pop acts. Known for their silky voices and smooth dance moves, all three radically shift their genre gears by not only recording faith-inspired rock tracks but also singing all their lyrics entirely in English.

Making this surprise effort even more special is the fact that award-winning American CCM talents such as Lenny LeBlanc (2003 Dove Award for Inspirational Song of the Year) and Tom Hemby (2004 Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year) also appear on the album and Baeho Bobby Shin (Recording Engineer for Grammy-nominated artists Jason Mraz and Craig David) serves as the Producer and Arranger for the album.

In bringing these accomplished artists from the East and West together, Executive Producer Pastor Johnny Lee expressed that “it’s been such a privilege to work with artists who are so committed to bringing hope to others.”

(LEFT Van Ness Wu / RIGHT TOP Brian Joon / RIGHT BOTTOM Choi Siwon of Super Junior)With profits from the album sales being donated to the Food for the Hungry’s ‘IWIN Campaign’ which provides educational support and medical relief to the Ivory Coast in Africa, Van Ness Wu shared his enthusiasm for this charity endeavor by noting, "It's a huge blessing for myself, I believe in making a difference instead of a living."

As to what fans should expect from this new album, Brian Joo explained, “When you [fans] support it, you’re getting something out of it and you’re giving something more.”

Asked about what motivated him to join 3rd Wave, Choi Siwon of Super Junior confided, “I feel so honored that I could sing on a project like this because you don't get many chances like this.”

Available worldwide only on iTunes, the 3rd Wave ‘I Will Be There’ digital album will contain an exclusive digital booklet as well as bonus HD video interviews from all the participating artists.

For more information and updates, please check out :

WEBSITE : http://www.3rdwavemusic.org
FACEBOOK : http://www.facebook.com/3rdwavemusic
FACEBOOK : http://www.facebook.com/IWINcampaign
TWITTER : http://www.twitter.com/3rdwavemusic
YOUTUBE : http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdwavemusictv
ITUNES : http://www.itunes.com/3rdwave

  
Artist/Project Management : 3rd Wave Music
International Music Distribution/PR : DFSB Kollective

Intel & Vice Magazine : The Creators Project @ Seoul South Korea

(SEOUL KR) The Creators Project is coming to Seoul and bringing with it an eclectic assortment of musicians, artists, designers and filmmakers. This celebratory event will be taking place on August 28th at Creative Culture Space Kring, and we want you to be there.

크리에이터 프로젝트가 드디어 다양한 뮤지션, 아티스트, 디자이너, 영화감독 들과 함께 서울을 찾아옵니다. 이 이벤트는 8월 28일 대치동에 위치한 복합 예술공간Kring 에서 열리게 됩니다. 여러분도 함께 해주셨으면 합니다.

The event will begin with a dazzling array of exhibitions and installations from 12PM to 6PM, featuring some of the very best digital artists at work today. These will include Radical Friend, Nick Zinner, Takeshi Murata, DSP, Mark Essen, XX, Peter Lee, HoJun Song, Lumpens, Choi Jeong Hwa, and SeungKwan No. It’s open to anyone who wants to come along and interact, so we hope to see you there.

이벤트는 현대 최고 디지털 아티스트들의 설치 작품과 전시회를 오후 12시부터 6시까지 여는 것으로 시작됩니다. 서울 이벤트에서 작품을 선보일 아티스트들은 Radical Friend, Nick Zinner, Lumpens, 정연두, Takeshi Murata, EE, Spike Jonze, DSP, 최정화, 송호준, Peter Lee, Mark Essen 등입니다. 이들과 함께 소통하고 싶은 누구나 참여할 수 있습니다. 전시회에서 여러분을 기다리겠습니다.

The festivities will continue into the evening, from 6PM to 12AM, starting with screenings of films by Spike Jonze, Nikki S. Lee, Danny Perez & Animal Collective, Peng Lei, Ray Lei, Patrick Jean, Ladj Ly, Jeong Yeon Doo, and Sun Haipeng; and panel discussions; followed by a huge party featuring live performances from N.A.S.A., Drunken Tiger & Tasha Reid, EE, IDIOTAPE, SpankRock, Galaxy Express, and special guests, along with DJ sets by DJ Soulscape & 360 Sounds Crew, DJ Decode (Oriental Funk Stew), DJ Kuma (RRM), DJ Murf, DJ Kid-B, and DJ Conan. For a taste of what to expect check out this video. This will be an invite only event and you’ll need to register for tickets by clicking here. We will then randomly select winners in a series of prize draws. Once you are registered you will automatically take part in the next draw taking place on August 25th. We will contact you after each draw to give you the result.



축제는 저녁에도 이어집니다. 오후 6시부터 오전 12시까지 상영회와 패널 토론회로 시작해서 특별 초청된 N.A.S.A의 라이브 무대, 한국 아티스트인 Drunken Tiger, EE, Idiotape, Galaxy Express 와 DJ Soulscape, DJ Decode (Oriental Funk Stew), DJ Kuma (RRM), DJ Murf, DJ Kid-B, DJ Conan의 DJ셋이 축제를 더 뜨겁게 달굴 것입니다. 이벤트 당일의 분위기를 미리 알고 싶으신 분은 이 비디오를 살펴보세요. 이 이벤트는 미리 초대된 분들만 참여할 수 있으며, 크리에이터 서울 이벤트의 열기를 함께 느끼실 분들은 왼쪽의 신청 양식을 기입하시면 티켓을 받아보실 수 있습니다. 세 차례에 거쳐서 진행되는 각 추첨이 끝날 때마다 결과를 알려드리도록 하겠습니다.

이벤트 참가를 신청하셨다면, The Creators Project Facebook page의 팬이 되어주세요. Facebook page 에서 업데이트되는 행사의 중요한 사항들을 받아 보실 수 있습니다. 또한 Twitter 에서도 크리에이터 프로젝트의 소식을 받아 볼 수 있습니다 (Creators Project Twitter 링크).

The Creators Project Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/thecreatorsproject
The Creators Project Twitter : http://twitter.com/creators_sk


Korean Music Artist Lineup (Consultant) : DFSB Kollective/EMEHT Agency