Wikipedia

Smacksoft

Whang Bo-ryung = Smacksoft (Korean: 황보령 = Smacksoft), commonly known as Smacksoft,[1][2] is a South Korean post-punk and experimental rock band formed in 2000 by the lead singer-songwriter Whang Bo-ryung.[3][4]

Smacksoft
Smacksoft at Whang Bo-ryung's solo art exhibit, "Capital City : Soul", Seoul, October 2015
Smacksoft at Whang Bo-ryung's solo art exhibit, "Capital City : Soul", Seoul, October 2015
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresPost-punk, experimental rock
Years active2000 (2000)–present
MembersWhang Bo-ryung
Choi Hi-je
DeAnthony Nelson Jr.
Shin Ji-yong
Past membersSee members section
Websitesmacksoft.net

The band is prominent in the local indie scene in Hongdae, Seoul[5] where front woman Whang is known as one of the most respected female rockers.[6] Two of their albums were nominated for Best Modern Rock Album at the Korean Music Awards: Shines in the Dark in 2010[7][8] and Follow Your Heart in 2013.[6][9]

History

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2000–02: Formation and hiatus

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The band's founder and lead singer-songwriter Whang was born in Seoul and moved to the United States as a teenager. After performing as a university student in New York City, she returned to Seoul in 1998 and released an album of her own. In 2000, she formed the Smacksoft band when they played a final track on her second album, Sun Sign, which she was recording.[5] The band toured in South Korea and Japan in 2002, in support of Sun Sign, then took a hiatus when Whang took time off to continue her education and travel.[6]

2008–present: SXSW, North American and European tour

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Returning to Seoul in 2008, Whang reunited the band and released the EP SmackSoft 2.5 in January 2009.[10] She is also a professional artist and provides original artwork for the album covers.[11]

On July 24, 2009, they appeared with a group of musicians of different genres in concert at Gwanghwamun Art Hall, title Star English Concert, for the Educational Broadcasting System, a fundraiser for the hearing impaired.[12] They released studio albums Shines in the Dark in 2009, which received a nomination for Best Modern Rock Album at the Korean Music Awards, and Mana Wind in 2010.[5][6][7][8] Whang said the title Mana Wind stood for a supernatural wind, and symbolized a strength to overcome hardships in your life. One song on the album, "Blue Marbles", was based on her remembrances of the light's reflections on a favorite blue marble that she had played with when young.[13]

On February 26, 2011, the band participated in a fundraiser in Seoul for post-rock indie group Apollo 18, an indie band traveling to North America and SXSW.[14] The band was featured on Arirang Radio in February and March.[13][15] In August 2011, they performed at the Pentaport Rock Festival.[16]

In 2012, they released the album Follow Your Heart, which received the band's second nomination for Best Modern Rock Album at the Korean Music Awards.[4][6] On March 2, 2012, they played with nine bands at a benefit concert in Hongdae, "Rock & Resistance", in support of the Gangjeong Village's concerns about government construction of the Jeju Naval Base.[17] On June 30, 2012, three of the band members played an acoustic set at Jeju City's One Night Acoustic in Jamaica Concert.[5]

On April 19, 2013, they participated in a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation charity event in Hongdae, called Shake Shop, with bands Jambinai and Juck Juck Grunzie, and bellydancer Eshe.[9] On December 15, 2013, the band appeared on the SBS special Legends Cover, a tribute for underground singer Kim Hyun-sik.[3][18]

On March 14, 2014, they performed at SXSW's 2k14 Seoulsonic in Austin, Texas with Big Phony, Glen Check, Rock N' Roll Radio and Love X Stereo;[19] with a continued US tour, including CAAMFest in San Francisco.[6] On March 29, 2014, they played the second Hongdaefest, joining older and newer groups in an effort to introduce the Hongdae music scene, "once known as an incubator for indie bands such as Crying Nut and Rumblefish".[20] In April 2014, they performed at Amsterdam's CinemAsia Film Festival.[6]

On October 27, 2016, they released their sixth album, Urbane Sanity, with eleven tracks, following single releases of Are You Ready?_Urbane Sanity in August and Go! Urbane Sanity in September, with songs from the same album. They performed some of the new music at a Seoul art exhibition, "Mundo", held by Whang and artist Sin Ifie, also in September.[21][22] The album's ninth track "You Are There_R.I.P" is a memorial song for Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Robin Williams, Prince and Whang's father, who died the previous winter. Whang, also, humorously credits her house cat "Bach" for work on the song's creation, as he was sleeping on the synthesizer, then suddenly awakened and kicked off with his back foot, creating some notes on the last verse that she retained on the song.[23]

Musical style and influences

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The band's sound is influenced by artists such as Brian Eno, The Velvet Underground, and Sonic Youth. John Redmond of The Korea Times described their musical style as "a fantastic, densely-layered hybrid sound of post-punk, rock and electronica".[6] Kim Young-jin of the same newspaper described the band as having a "penchant for avant-garde", with "the music [ranging] from ambient to electro-synth", and compared lead singer Whang's "husky voice" to Cat Power.[20] In 2014 at SXSW, Luke Winkie of The Austin Chronicle said they "weave layered, smoky synthetic blankets like Portishead".[19]

Lineups

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The band's members who accompany Whang have changed over the years. In 2000, the band included Yoon Sung-hoon (guitar), Lee Min-jung (bass) and Hirsch (drums); in 2008, Park Jong-geun (guitar), Park Jin-sun (keyboards) and Seo Jung-hyun (bass); in 2009, Park Jong-geun (guitar), Park Jin-sun (keyboards), Seo Jung-hyun (bass) and Kim Heon-deok (drums); in 2010, Nicholas Ellis and Yoon Sung-hoon (guitar), Park Jin-sun (keyboards), Lee Jung-hyun (bass) and Seo Jin-shil (drums);[11] in 2011, Yoon Sung-hoon (guitar), Bachan Kyu-neun (keyboard), Seo Jung-hyun (bass) and Seo Jin-shil (drums);[13] in 2012, Rainbow99 (guitar), Kang Ha-neul (keyboard), Shin Ji-yong (bass) and Seo Jin-shil (drums);[11] in 2013, Ryu Seong-hyun (guitar), Kang Ha-neul (keyboard), Shin Ji-yong (bass) and Seo Jin-shil (drums);[10] and in 2014, Rainbow99 (guitar), Kang Ha-neul (keyboards), Shin Ji-yong (bass) and Seo Jin-shil (drums).[6]

Since 2015, the members are Whang (vocals, guitar, ukulele), Choi Hi-je (Korean: 최희제) (lead guitar), Shin Ji-yong (Korean: 신지용) (bass guitar), and DeAnthony Nelson Jr.[24][25] (drums).[26]

Discography

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EP

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  • SmackSoft 2.5 (2009)[27]

Studio album

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  • The Sun Sign (2001)[28]
  • Shines in the Dark (2009)[29]
  • Mana Wind (2010)[30]
  • Follow Your Heart (2012)[31]
  • Urbane Sanity (2016)[22]

Awards and nominations

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In 2011, they were number 54 on Louder Than War's "Top 57 new bands for 2011".[32]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2010 Korean Music Awards Best Modern Rock Album Shines in the Dark Nominated [7][8]
2013 Korean Music Awards Best Modern Rock Album Follow Your Heart Nominated [1][33]

References

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  1. ^ a b KMA Korean Music Awards 2013 (in Korean). Korean Music Awards. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  2. ^ Smacksoft 락 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Jung, Jin Young (December 15, 2013). 황보령밴드, SBS 다큐 ‘전설의 가객, 김현식을 노래하다’ 출연. The Korea Herald (in Korean). Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Lee, Eun-Ho (September 9, 2015). ‘골든 인디 컬렉션 – 더 뮤지션’ 공연으로 만났다 (part.1 밴드). Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Despres, Shawn (June 25, 2012). "Catch alt-rockers SmackSoft in Jeju City, June 30". The Jeju Weekly. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Redmond, John (February 25, 2014). "Smacksoft to tour US, Europe". The Korea Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Seo, Jung-min (March 9, 2010). 한국대중음악상 꿋꿋한 새출발. The Hankyoreh (in Korean). Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Park, Se-yeon (March 9, 2010). 제7회 한국대중음악상 30일 개최..주류-비주류 ‘향연’ 권위 높일까. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Kerry, Paul (April 16, 2013). "Belly dancers, rock acts shake things up". The Korea Herald. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Hill, Sabrina (August 2013). "Smacksoft: The music of discontent". Groove Korea. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Choi, Kyu-Sung (May 15, 2013). [골든 인디 컬렉션] 황보령이 말하는 그림과 음악의 접점. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  12. ^ 스타잉글리시 콘서트 7월 24일 (in Korean). Educational Broadcasting System. July 6, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c "Music 180, Whang, Bo Ryung = SmackSoft". Arirang Radio. February 19, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  14. ^ Min, Ines (February 17, 2011). "[Weekender] Korean indie bands to rock North America". The Korea Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  15. ^ "[Project No. 15] 황보령=Smacksoft". Arirang Radio. March 25, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  16. ^ Harrion (July 19, 2011). 올 여름 국내 음악 페스티벌 'HOT 5'는. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  17. ^ Redmond, John (February 28, 2012). "Concert to raise funds for Gangjeong villagers". The Korea Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  18. ^ "Kim Hyun-sik (김현식)". KBS World Radio. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Winkie, Luke (March 14, 2014). "SXSW Thursday Showcases – 2k14 SeoulSonic". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  20. ^ a b Kim, Young-jin (March 10, 2014). "Blunt and brilliant". The Korea Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  21. ^ 인디 1세대 아티스트 황보령, 2년 6개월만에 신보 ′Are You Ready? Urbane Sanity′ .... Gaon Chart (in Korean). September 3, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  22. ^ a b Urbane Sanity (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  23. ^ Kim, Kwan-myung (November 15, 2016). [3시의 인디살롱] 황보령, 어느새 6집 "당신 지금 올바른 정신인가요?". The Chosun Ilbo/Osen (in Korean).
  24. ^ "DeAnthony Nelson Jr". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  25. ^ Frazier, David (March 6, 2015). "Live Wire: Defying genre and geography". Taipei Times. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  26. ^ "스맥소프트 Smacksoft". Zandari Festa. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  27. ^ 2.5집 SmackSoft (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  28. ^ "공연... <황보령 2집 단독공연>, <Punk Rock Show! 크라잉넛 with Punk Friends>". Cine 21. October 25, 2001. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  29. ^ 3집 Shines In The Dark (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  30. ^ 4집 Mana Wind (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  31. ^ Follow Your Heart (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  32. ^ Robb, John (January 6, 2011). "Top 57 new bands for 2011". Louder Than War. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  33. ^ "Jay Park, G-Dragon, F(x) Bag Nominations in the Korean Music Awards". Manila Bulletin. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
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