![[Column] New trends in K-Pop x Indie Electronica](/../assets/images/column-k-pop-indie-electronica.webp)
Why did K-Pop change from a “giant industry” to a “testing ground”?
Text: mmr｜Theme: Exploring the current status of new Asian pop music born from the intersection of K-Pop and indie electronica
From the late 2010s to the 2020s, K-Pop has become more than just idol music.
Of course, it is still sophisticated entertainment produced by huge capital. But inside, surprisingly free musical experimentation is underway.
Of particular importance is the connection with Indie Electronica.
In the past, K-Pop was described as a ““latest pop factory’’ that rapidly absorbed EDM, hip-hop, and R&B. But in the current scene, more subtle, introspective sounds are starting to break into the mainstream.
Ambient. Lo-fi. Hyperpop. Dream Pop. Glitch. UK Garage. A minimalist atmosphere after New Jeans.
This is music that used to belong to the “indie realm.”
But now they are making their way into the heart of K-Pop.
This change is not just a fad.
Music consumption in the streaming era. Fragmentation by TikTok. Popularization of headphone listening. And a feeling of fatigue from “too perfect pop.”
All of that started pushing K-Pop in a more vague and soft direction.
K-Pop used to be “overwhelming music.”
Today’s K-Pop is becoming ““music that permeates the air.’’
The fusion of K-Pop and Indie Electronica symbolizes a shift to an era of “texture” rather than flashiness.
What was Indie Electronica in the first place?
The term Indie Electronica is very ambiguous.
Rather than a strict genre name, it is more like a general term for “electronic music with an indie feel.”
In the 2000s, it was formed at the intersection of electroclash, IDM, Dream Pop, and Folktronica.
What is important is that they prioritized ““atmosphere” over ““popularity”.
Create emotion with detailed textures, rather than pumping up the atmosphere with loud music.
for example,
- small noise
- Reverb lingering sound
- Whispering vocals
- incomplete beat
- Lo-fi texture
These aesthetics were the complete opposite of traditional K-Pop.
However, in the streaming era, things change.
Smartphone. earphones. Late night viewing. Short video.
In this environment, ““intimacy” functioned more strongly than ““pressure.”
The worldwide popularity of Bedroom Pop is an extension of this trend.
K-Pop absorbed this change extremely quickly.
This is also because the Korean music industry has prioritized ““update speed” over ““genre.”
Indie Electronica was music that emphasized “emotional distance” rather than huge sounds.
The foundation laid by the Korean indie scene
The fusion of K-Pop and Indie Electronica didn’t come out of nowhere.
Behind this is the Korean indie scene that has developed since the 2000s.
Particularly important is the club culture around Hongdae.
The Korean indie scene has developed a little differently than Japan.
Not just rock electronica, noise, ambient, art pop, Experimental music was intermingled at very close distances.
Even more important is the existence of the SoundCloud generation.
As DAW environments became cheaper, home production rapidly became popular.
As a result, young producers who were active outside of K-Pop began to flow into idol music.
The traditional K-Pop production team is
- large studio
- Overseas composition team
- Division of labor system
was centered on.
However, in the 2020s, creators with a Bedroom Producer-like sensibility will become important.
As a result, K-Pop has begun to rely not only on ““perfection” but also on ““a personal atmosphere.”
This is also in sync with changes in global pop music as a whole.
The accumulation of Korean indie scenes supports the delicate electronic sensibility of current K-Pop.
“Quiet revolution” brought about by NewJeans
When talking about K-Pop x Indie Electronica, the appearance of New Jeans is inevitable.
They have greatly changed the structure of traditional K-Pop.
Until then, K-Pop was
- intense drop
- Rapid development
- complex configuration
- Excessive amount of information
It was characterized by
But NewJeans went in the opposite direction.
In particular, it was important to incorporate the lightness of UK Garage and 1990s R&B.
The number of sounds is small. Vocals are soft. Don’t make flashy peaks.
However, instead, it had a strong “texture that you can listen to over and over again.”
This was very adaptive in the Spotify era.
Furthermore, in terms of visuals, emphasis was placed on the ““natural look’’ rather than over-the-top production.
In other words, New Jeans is
“Giant idol” rather than “Pop that enters the living space”
He created it.
This trend quickly spread to other groups.
In current K-Pop, ““quiet sounds’’ have much more power than before.
NewJeans changed K-Pop from “exploding music” to “penetrating music”.
Dangerous approach between Hyperpop and K-Pop
As the fusion with Indie Electronica progressed, another important thing was Hyperpop.
Hyperpop is extreme electronic pop that spread from the internet in the late 2010s.
The characteristics are
- Vocals that are too artificial
- Extreme processing
- Noise editing
- Genre collapse
- Chaotic development
It was.
At first glance, this seems to be at odds with sophisticated K-Pop.
But in reality, they were a good match.
This is because K-Pop itself was originally a culture that affirmed “artificiality.”
Hyperpop doesn’t hide its “unnaturalness”.
Rather exaggerate it.
This feeling was strongly connected to the futuristic image of idol culture.
Furthermore, in the TikTok era, the ““instantaneous feeling of something foreign’’ has become a viral sensation.
However, K-Pop did not directly adopt Hyperpop.
easier to listen to, smoother, It was converted to a more pop style.
As a result, in current K-Pop,
“A slightly broken electronic sensation”
has become an important attraction.
Hyperpop brought the “unnaturalness of the digital age” to K-Pop.
Idol music becoming “Lo-fi”
Lo-fi used to be a term that was born from the poor recording environment.
But now Lo-fi exists as an aesthetic.
noise. Tape feel. Cloudy sound image. Imperfection.
These became symbols of “realism.”
K-Pop has also begun to embrace this change.
Noise and blank space that would have been removed before is now left behind as a “taste.”
This is a very big change.
This is because K-Pop has long valued “perfection” itself.
But in the streaming era, listeners are starting to tire of music that’s too perfect.
the result,
“It’s a little broken.” “A little vague” “It’s a little close”
Music was in high demand.
This lo-fi trend is also reflected in the visual aspect.
Film-style images. Old digital camera texture. VHS style editing.
In other words, current K-Pop doesn’t just aim for “high resolution.”
Rather, it has begun to create a sense of “incomplete memory.”
Lo-fiization means that K-Pop has begun to choose “intimacy” over “perfection.”
Changes in female vocals and the era of “whispers”
The biggest change in K-Pop x Indie Electronica may be the vocals.
In the previous K-Pop,
- powerful treble
- Strong vocalization
- dramatic singing
was emphasized.
But things are different now.
Whispering singing. Breathing. Ambiguous pronunciation.
These are deeply connected to the post-Indie Electronica sensibilities.
In particular, the closeness to ASMR culture is significant.
In a headphone environment, a quiet voice feels closer.
In other words, current K-Pop music is designed to be closer to earphones than to live venues.
This change also changed the conventional concept of ““singing ability.’’
At present, In addition to the accuracy of pitch, texture, sense of distance, How you get used to the air is becoming important.
K-Pop vocals have changed from a “screaming voice” to a “voice in your ear.”
“Internetization” instead of globalization
“Globalization” is often talked about as the reason for K-Pop’s success.
However, the changes currently occurring are not simply internationalization.
Rather, it is similar to “internetization”.
Today’s K-Pop is more than just crossing borders.
“Youth culture that shares the same algorithmic environment”
It is spreading within.
That’s why, South Korea, America, Japan, European music continues to mix simultaneously.
The fusion with Indie Electronica also happened naturally as a result.
In a Spotify playlist, K-Pop and Bedroom Pop line up.
On TikTok, Hyperpop and Korean idols are consumed in the same context.
In other words, current K-Pop is not only ““Korean music,” but also ““Internet music.”
Changes in K-Pop were accelerated by ““integration with internet culture’’ rather than internationalization.
Chronology: K-Pop × Indie Electronica flow
The fusion of K-Pop and Indie Electronica was not an overnight revolution, but the result of more than 20 years of accumulation.
Where will K-Pop go from here?
K-Pop is currently at a major crossroads.
On the other hand, it continues to improve its status as a huge industry.
However, on the other hand, there is an Indie Electronica-like ambiguity, Silence, I continue to take in the blank spaces.
This dual structure is the most distinctive feature of current K-Pop.
It won’t be completely indie. But it can’t remain as a huge pop.
In the meantime, new music continues to be born.
What is interesting is that this change is proceeding “quietly”.
It’s not a big revolution. However, if you notice, the sensation of your ears itself has changed.
K-Pop used to be the sound of the “city of the future.”
Today’s K-Pop is becoming the sound of “late-night smartphone screens.”
It is smaller; more personal, But it’s music that is connected to the world.
The trend of K-Pop x Indie Electronica symbolizes the “new intimacy” of the digital age.
