Swatch MTV Playground

By Jung Yoon-Hui

(SEOUL KR) : Join Swatch MTV Playground at the aA Design Museum in Seoul on the 18th and 19th of September. We're bringing you a fully interactive art experience from this hot venue for young urban creatives.

스와치와 글로벌 뮤직 엔터테인먼트 채널 MTV가 만나 크리에이티브한 전시회이자 아트-쇼(Art Show)인 ‘Swatch MTV Playground’를 진행했다. 크리에이티브한 예술 작품은 진지한 갤러리에서만 만날 수 있다는 전통적인 개념을 뒤엎은, 마치 놀이터 같은 신개념의 전시회였다.

지난 7월 스위스 루체른에서 출발하여 상하이-도쿄-암스테르담-베이징-아테네-베를린을 거친 글로벌 순회 전시(Travelling Exhibition)가 서울에 상륙했다. 그래픽 디자인, 일러스트레이션, 애니메이션, 패션, 영상, 음악, 모션 디자인 등 7개 부문에 걸친 글로벌 콘테스트 출품작이 전시와 9인의 국내 아티스트들이 불꽃 튀는 크리에이티브 대결을 벌였다. 지난 9월 18일과 19일, 홍대 앞 aA 디자인뮤지엄에서 열린 인터랙티브 아트쇼의 현장을 담아왔다.

에디터 | 정윤희(yhjung@jungle.co.kr)

스와치와 글로벌 뮤직 엔터테인먼트 채널 MTV가 만나 크리에이티브한 전시회이자 아트-쇼(Art Show)인 ‘Swatch MTV Playground’를 진행했다. 크리에이티브한 예술 작품은 진지한 갤러리에서만 만날 수 있다는 전통적인 개념을 뒤엎고, 관객들이 작품을 직접 경험하고, 배우고, 즐기고, 논의하는 마치 놀이터와 같은 신개념의 전시회였다. 지난 5월부터 인터넷에 웹 갤러리를 오픈하여 글로벌 콘테스트를 진행해 온 Swatch-MTV Playground가 세계 각국의 창의적인 인재들이 작품을 공개하고 아이디어를 나눌 수 있도록 커뮤니티를 제공한 바 있다. 웹 갤러리에 모인 작품 중 최고만을 엄선하여 전시를 진행한 것.

홍대 앞 ‘aA 디자인 뮤지엄’이 가진 공간의 특성을 활용하여 패션, 영상, 음악, 애니메이션, 그래픽 디자인, 일러스트레이션, 모션 그래픽 부문에 걸친 신세대 아티스트들의 작품을 전시했다. 지루한 갤러리를 벗어나 마치 파티를 즐기는 듯한 이색적인 경험은 크리에이티브한 작품들을 즐기기에 손색이 없었다.

이번 전시에는 글로벌 수상작 외에 로컬 아티스트 16인과의 콜라보레이션 작품이 함께 선보였다. 패션 부문에서는 티셔츠 디자이너 오자화가 선보인 ‘Swatch MTV Playground’ 한정판 티셔츠가 전시되었으며, 그 옆에서는 한국의 비디오 아티스트인 VJ 지로가 거대한 대형 스크린에 2D, 3D 애니매이션과 스틸 이미지들로 이루어진 영상물을 화려하게 수놓았다. 테라스 위의 어두운 암실 방에서는 각광받는 인터랙티브 미디어 아티스트인 송호준이 관객들이 직접 참여할 수 있는 ‘라이트 그래피티(Light Graffiti)’ 오리지널 작품을 선보이기도 했다. 여기에 DJ 소울스케이프의 ‘The Sound of Seoul’ 라이브 뮤직 쇼케이스와, VJ 권의 비주얼 영상이 더해져 파니 무드를 북돋웠다.

또 능동적인 관람을 원하는 관람객을 위해 티셔츠 디자인 워크숍, 태깅(Tagging) 워크숍 등이 진행되었고, 워크숍에 참여한 관람객의 작품도 당당히 하나의 전시 작품으로 진열되었다. ‘Take out’을 연상시키는 ‘Art to go’ 섹션은 무료로 포스터를 가져갈 수 있도록 했다. aA 디자인 뮤지엄 내 전시된 작품이미지로 제작된 포스터를 전시장 입구에 걸어두고 관람객이 원하는 포스터를 마음대로 가져갈 수 있게 한 것. 지금까지의 전시 포스터가 그림의 떡이었다면 소유의 권리를 부여함으로써 전시에서의 추억을 간직할 수 있도록 배려한 것이다.

무엇보다 눈길을 끌었던 것은 라이브로 펼쳐진 ‘맥시 스와치 배틀(Maxi Swatch Battle)’이다. 주어진 주제에 대한 작품을 완성하고, 완성 과정과 결과를 관람객이 현장에서 바로 평가하는 신개념의 ‘아트배틀(Art Battle)’이다. 50분이라는 제한된 시간 동안 2인의 아티스트는 거대한 스와치 시계가 걸려 있는 높이 2미터의 대형 캔버스 위에서 자신만의 크리에이티브를 겨루었다. 행사 오픈 당일에는 ‘시간의 미래적인 해석(Imagine time in the future)’ 이라는 주제로 오자화와 자메이칸 와사비의 아트배틀이 진행됐다. 3명의 심사위원과 현장에서 이들이 작품을 완성해 나가는 과정을 주목하고 있던 관람객이 심사에 참여했으며, 근소한 차이로 오자화가 우승을 거머쥐었다.

이외에도 마카리오, 키미 등 뛰어난 신예 아티스트를 비롯, 한국의 그래피티 아티스트 그룹 420ml 팀 소속의 가루, 골드 스텝, 덕헤드, 미저스, 바사라, 한디 등이 총출동하여 5회에 걸친 열기 넘치는 배틀 현장을 선보였다. 또한 디지털 드로잉이라는 색다른 아트배틀과 그래피티 아트배틀이 펼쳐져 ‘아트쇼’라는 이름에 걸맞게 아티스트들의 창작 과정을 생생하게 체험할 수 있게 했다.

한 편, 이번 전시는 2009년 스와치의 새로운 콜라보레이션 라인인 크리아트 콜렉션(CreArt Collection)을 선보이는 자리이기도 했다. 도시의 원시주의자(Urban primitivist) 로 불리는 뉴욕의 빌리 디 아티스트(Billy the Artist), 유명한 화가이자 조각가이며 작가이기도 한 테드 스카파(Ted Scapa), 디자이너이자 그래픽 아티스트인 매튜 랭길(Mattew Langille), 프랑스의 스트리트 아티스트이자 힙합 뮤지션인 그래엄스(Grems) 이 네 명의 아티스트가 선보인 12종의 ‘세상에서 가장 작은 캔버스’가 전시되었던 것. 브랜드 초창기부터 예술과 긴밀한 관계를 맺어왔던 스와치의 남다른 감각을 엿볼 수 있는 대목이었다.

대중의 참여를 적극적으로 유도하는 ‘아트-쇼’ 형식을 도입하여 즐거운 놀이를 구현한 SWATCH-MTV PLAYGROUND. 예술을 바라보는 스와치의 유쾌하면서도 창의적인 방식에 MTV의 장난스러우면서도 개성 넘치는 유희를 더해 만든 인터랙티브한 놀이터였다. 그간 진행한 공모전의 결과와 세계 각국의 아티스트들이 선보이는 크리에이티브는 www.swatchmtvplayground.com에서 확인할 수 있다.

http://www.swatchmtvplayground.com/ko-KR/events/detail/6
http://www.mtv.co.kr/event/event_read.php?seq=00060

Event Planning/Production Directors : DFSB Kollective
Korean Music/Graffiti Artist Booking Agent : DFSB Kollective

2009 Pentaport Rock Festival

By Dann Gaymer

(INCHEON KR) : Last weekend the dusty Daewoo motor fields south of Incheon were transformed, through a collection of carnivalesque tents, a few stages, a few thousand people and more than 60 bands, into the third Pentaport Rock Festival. Yet this year, due to the emergence of the rival festival at the Jisan Valley resort, Pentaport took on a new role as not just another festival, but as a spotlight for Korean talent.

Since 2006 the festival has brought in big names such as the Strokes, the Chemical Brothers and Franz Ferdinand and, consequently, big crowds too. However, this year the rival set up went directly head to head over the same three days, pulling together an impressive line up that included Weezer, Fall Out Boy, Patti Smith and, of course, the band that was on everyone's lips, Oasis.

There was no doubt that Jisan's roster and scheduling was intended to scuttle Pentaport and claim its crown as the premier rock festival in Korea.

Yet rather than try to compete and pull in more big names at the last minute, Pentaport instead exploited a niche market in terms of the music on offer. While Jisan's line up was one that could not be easily beat (being on par with the likes of Fuji or Glastonbury), its strength was also its weakness. The line up suggested a high-end music festival in Korea, but not a festival of high-end Korean music. Pentaport, on the other hand, seemed more focused on showing the best of what Korea has to offer.

Aside from some foreign acts, the line-up was a literal education in Korean rock for all of those in attendance, but especially expats, proving that once you get past the surface of bubble gum K-Pop there is a wealth of exceptional Korean rock and indie artists, both old and new. The past was represented well with the legendary No Brain rocking the big stage on Friday night and stadium rock gods N.E.X.T, Korea's answer to the likes of Def Leppard and Guns 'n' Roses, captivating the crowd on Saturday night complete with Eddie Van Halen-style guitar heroics.

N.E.X.T, Korea`s answer to the likes of Def Leppard and Guns `n` Roses, perform at last weekend`s Pentaport Rock Festival. [Dann Gaymer]

Contemporary groups were also well-represented, such as the hard and aggressive Apollo 18 or the bizarre yet hyper energized GoGo Star, who rocked the Jagermestier stage with their brand of sinister comic book electro-pop. The eclectic nature of Korea's music scene was also demonstrated, with performances from Trench Town revivalists Kingston Rudie Ska, whose sound and aesthetic would have been perfectly at home in Jamaica, or else examples of some fantastic singer/song writer talents, such as Siwa.

Hitting the big stage on Sunday were Galaxy Express, a band at the forefront of the new wave of K-Rock and already semi-legendary given their incendiary live performances in clubs from Hongdae all the way down to Haeundae, and a sound stalled somewhere between the Hives and Motley Crue. In an interview, they talked about the state of the Korean rock scene. "It's the same as always. It hasn't changed and it won't change because most Korean people aren't interested in rock or indie music and the media only cares about K-pop groups."

Admittedly, Pentaport still sought to cater to Koreans with a taste for foreign artists and give expats a dose of what they were missing from back home. Saturday night saw the Deftones storm the main "Big Top" stage and unleash a blistering barrage of white noise and heavy beats, with vocalist Chino Moreno bouncing all over the stage, prophesying his quasi-poetic lyrics to the crowd. Although the band rose with nu-metal groups like KoRn in the early-'90's, they have since separated themselves from the pack with their genre-blurring experiments and taken on the guise of latter-day Californian rock legends. This being their first concert in Korea, the crowd's response shows there is a good chance they will be back.

Also on the main stage Saturday were Eskimo Joe, Australia's platinum selling indie rockers, who have changed their sound with their most recent effort "Inshalla." They delivered an energetic performance, playing new songs to exhibit their fresh direction, as well as tunes from their previous albums.

Later that night over on the smaller stage Japan's DJ Kentaro laid down some hard drum and bass grooves, a genre rarely encountered in Korea's burgeoning rave scene. Finally, Sunday saw Australian television actress turned solo singer-songwriter Lenka take the big stage and serenade the crowd with her finely crafted pop masterpieces.

But Pentaport 2009 was about Korean, rather than foreign music. And for us expats, bombarded with K-pop day after day, it was music to our ears.

Rather than devoting all the attention and exposure to already successful foreign bands, it gave a pedestal for domestic talent, allowing them the recognition they deserve and elevating them out of the clubs, if only for a weekend. Still, this sort of exposure may help open doors for these groups and encourage the scene to grow outside of its apparently circular confines.

For expats who made their way to the Daewoo motor fields, the festival was an exhibition of what Korea's music scene has to offer, a fair ground of original and exciting sounds, the likes of which you would find any where else.

This year's Pentaport festival was not about pulling in the biggest bands that people already knew about, but instead giving the spotlight to Korean bands that people should know about - let's hope next year follows in the same vein.

To contact the author, see his blog at http://danngaymer.blogspot.com - Editor

Korean Artist Booking Agent/Lineup Consultant : DFSB Kollective
Korean Talent & Artist Relations Coordinator : DFSB Kollective
Featured Artists : No Brain, Sugar Donut, Rux, Apollo 18, GoGo Star, Cocore, Guckkasten, Hanumpa, Kingston Rudieska, 99 Anger, Seoul Electric Band, Galaxy Express, Huckleberry Finn, The Plastic Day, Unjin

Epik High 'Remixing the Human Soul' Album Debuts on iTunes Top 10 Charts

By Ellie

(NEW YORK CITY USA) : The mega hip hop group Epik High’s new album, “Remixing the Human Soul” has launched worldwide today and according to statistics it has officially become “the highest ever debuting Korean album released in North America.” And now, ladies and gentlemen this is how you become a star without the glitz and glamour. The album has charted #7 iTunes USA Electronic Album Sales chart, # 9 iTunes Canada Electronic Album Sales chart, # 29 iTunes Japan Electronic Album Sales chart and #100 iTunes UK Electronic Album Sales chart. 

UPDATE : Since this press release, the album peaked as high as #5 in USA, #6 in Canada, and #15 in Japan iTunes Electronic Album Sales Chart

After the group’s successful “Map The Soul” USA tour, the three talented men went straight back into the studios to “remix, re-record, and remaster their greatest hits” with Planet Shiver, an electronica producing team.

Click here to read the interview with Epik High & Planet Shiver

The new album is available today in Korea at all major online/offline music stores and will be available worldwide exclusively on iTunes today!

As a special bonus for international fans, Epik High is the first Korean artist to offer a free digital booklet to those who purchase the entire digital album.

International Digital Music Distribution : DFSB Kollective
International Media/Online PR : DFSB Kollective

DFSB Kollective @ Miller GFC Vision Conference

By Music Department

(NEW YORK CITY USA) : A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend Vision, the first meeting of the Global Fresh Collective (GFC), a group of creatives from the realms of music, design, art, and fashion from all over the world (full list below). 

Over the course of Friday, June 26th, members of the GFC gathered in the amazing Angel Orensanz Foundation on Manhattan's Lower Eastside to discuss, explore, and debate various issues surrounding the future of creative collaboration and both global and local issues affecting music. The discussion was broken up into multiple sessions each of which addressed a different topic. One session included the GFC members' ideal formulas for successful collaborations, which given the range of the members' areas of expertise, I expected to be the high point of the discussions. While the session did yield the GFC members' preferred elements for the perfect collaboration (which you can see in the video below), it was dwarfed in comparison to the first session of the day, entitled "After the Revolution, is Free the Future?".

Led by Matt Mason (author of bestseller The Pirate's Dilemma: How Youth Culture Reinvented Capitalism), the discussion focused on the future of the music industry after piracy and the digital age. After giving a brief explanation and examples of how piracy has manifested itself through finding gaps outside of the market, creating vehicles, and harnessing the power of its audience, Matt explained how piracy could be responded to in ways which could in fact benefit industries and companies initially harmed by these illegal acts. By competing with pirates, rather than fighting them, Matt argued that companies had better chances at survival.

After citing a few examples, the stage was set for discussion of how piracy had affected GFC members and their respective industries. While the GFC was made up of a individuals in different fields, discussion seemed to inevitably center on music. Despite the GFC members' different experiences and responses (which you can get a feel for in the video below), as the discussion went on, the one thing that became increasingly clear was that a change from the traditional business model in place in the music industry is most definitely needed.

At the end of the long day, to me, and I think to many of those involved, GFC Vision overall was a success. It brought together individuals across different industries (whose paths quite possibly would not have crossed otherwise) and prompted them to think about and discuss some crucial issues facing creatives, that will only become more pressing as time goes by.

As piracy is one of these issues, I took the opportunity to talk to GFC curator, Pedro Winter, about how his label, Ed Banger Records, has been affected by it, as well as how he has been responding to changes in the music industry. You can check out the entire interview over at Showtrotta. 

Pedro Winter (France) - Curator of GFC, DJ, and head of Ed Banger Records

Crunc Tesla (US) - Producer, director, and DJ

DJ Daruma (Japan) - Part of the Japanese DJ group, Dexpistols, and fashion designer for Tokyo-based clothing line, Roc Star.

Asia Gorbacheva (Russia) - Deejays under the name DJ Sandra at the Odyssey party in Russia (among others), runs Black Jack Disco Club radio show on fmgu.ru.

Slikour (South Africa) - Founding member of the record-breaking South African hip hop group, Skwatta Kamp.

Tablo (South Korea) - Hip hop musician, rap artist, songwriter, lyricist, and frontman of Korea's premiere hip hop group, Epik High.

Sanghon Kim (South Korea/France) - Illustrator and graphic designer who has done work for Air, Hermes, Lacoste, Tate Modern, and Institubes among others.

Måns Glaeser (Sweden) - half of electronic music duo, Staygold.

Cisco Merel (Panama) - Street artist, painter, and sculptor.

Marcin Czubala (Poland) - DJ, producer, and owner of Poland's first techno label, Currently Processing. 

Can Sertoglu (Turkey) - Producer, artist manager, A&R, and founder of Rakun Music.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE
Music Ally UK (07.2009) : Music Ally Goes to GFC
Wired Magazine UK (09.2009) : Free and the Future of Music

KR Representative : Tablo (Epik High)
KR Conference Delegate / Talent & Artist Relations Coordinator : DFSB Kollective

< Epik High > Map The Soul USA Tour 2009

In Support of their New Album, Label, and Lineup
Epik High Embarks on 'Map the Soul World Tour'

(SEOUL KR) : After weeks of anticipation and speculation, Korea’s #1 bestselling hip-hop band, Epik High, has just confirmed the dates and details for their upcoming 'Map the Soul World Tour'. Kicking off on April 26th, the band will be staging concerts in Japan, Korea, and the United States in support of their new album, label, and lineup.

Sponsored by Verizon Wireless, Epik High’s 'Map the Soul World Tour' is not only the biggest K-Pop tour of 2009 to hit America but also the first time ever a Korean artist has launched a world tour to support a worldwide album release.

As one of the highest profile K-Pop acts to leave their record label and go independent, Epik High plans to showcase their latest artist lineup on the <Map The Soul> World Tour. Scheduled to appear as opening acts are Beatbox DG, urban musician MYK, and rapper/producer Kero One. As special guests, battle MC Dumbfoundead will be hosting the Los Angeles show while Asian-American hip-hop sensations -- Far East Movement -- will be joining Epik High on all their USA dates. 

DATES & VENUES
April 26th  Kobe JP (Wynterland)
April 28th  Tokyo JP (Shibuya Ax)
May 02nd  Seoul KR (Melon Ax) SOLD OUT
May 08th   Los Angeles USA (House of Blues) SOLD OUT
May 09th   San Francisco USA (Masonic Auditorium) SOLD OUT
May 15th   New York City USA (Irving Plaza) SOLD OUT
May 16th   Seattle USA (King Cat Theater) SOLD OUT

USA PRESS COVERAGE

Seoulbeats USA (03.2009) : Can Epik High Revolutionize Music?
Spin Magazine USA (04.2009) : Epik High Maps the Soul of Korean Hip-Hop
AllKPop USA (05.2009) : Epik High & FM in the House of Blues (LA)
Ningin USA (05.2009) : Epik High NYC Show
The Source USA - Epik High NYC Concert Review
MTV Iggy USA (06.2009) : Epik High 'Map The Soul' Interviews/Live Performances
MYX.TV USA (07.2009) : MYXCLUSIVE Epik High


USA Tour Planning/Production : DFSB Kollective/Plan C Agency/Map The Soul
International Media/Online PR : DFSB Kollective/Plan C Agency