[EZ Hyung] New Minialbum

7 month after finishing his activities for his 2nd album 'Spectrum', EZ Hyung comes back with a new mini album called '봄의 기적' (Wonder of Spring) and a concert to it.

The mini album, filled with warm and simple melodies, comes out 23rd February; the concert is 13th March.

EZ Hyung's first mini album 'Coffe&Tea' came out 2007 in a limited amount.

For people who have a cyworld account, there is currently (27.01.~08.02.) an event where you can listen for free to full songs of several Happy Robot artists here ^^;

[9 and the Numbers] Who are they

Or rather who is 9.

Through a Interview from Mintpaper with 9('ku') and some internet articles I found out a bit about 9.

9 is Song Jae Kyung, the President of Tune Table Movement and he also was the guitarist in a band called '그림자 궁전'(Shadow Palace).
He started to freely write and compose songs about life and started like this a band that was totally different from Shadow Palace, calling his music electro folk or guitar synth-pop.

A music video for '말해주세요' is in work, planned is a music video with the feeling of an old Korean movie. 9 and the Numbers also have their first concert 27th February at club ta, guest is Oh Ji Eun.

9 also informs about the album of a new band called ‘Miracle of the Hangang’(한강의 기적) in mid of March, an album from Frenzy, a new album from Heureun and a remix album from Loro's.

To read the whole interview and get to know much more about 9, go here.

[Zitten] New Album in March

Reading Pastelmusic's retweet on Twitter, Zitten came together for a meeting on their next album today. The album is supposed to be released in March already and a concert will follow in April.

[MaryJane] First EP Coming

When I picked up a photo of MaryJane today with a sticker on the back saying that their first EP will be buyable at the Label Market in January, I was disappointed that I couldn't find anything. But going into their cyworld club it offers already a beautiful album art, a tracklist and the words that the release of the first EP isn't far.

On the tracklist there is also 'Super-Showman', which has been on the Beyond compilation, as Indieful ROK reported.


tracklist:

So Well
Super-showman
The Answer
Feeling... Over You
Breakout
Love Of Century

[Guckkasten] Japanese Album

I can't say for sure how far the process is, but Guckkasten are releasing a japanese version of their first album. This album won't be just a japanese version; songs from the first korean album will be/are sung in japanese. It seems that there will be also two new songs,'붉은밭' and '매니큐어', and an acoustic version of '꼬리'.

On 17th Vocal Ha Hyun Woo states that 5 songs have been finished and went into mixing, making 6 songs left to be recorded.

[Mate] New Minialbum

Mate's new Minialbum comes out tomorrow (20th January) and brings even a short trailer with it. As Mate said that they want to show different colors I am curious what they will bring this time.


메이트 (Mate) - With Mate (MINI ALBUM)

Tracklist
01. It's all about love
02. Better
03. 이제 다시
04. Go
05. Dear my mate
06. 긴 시간의 끝
07. 이제 다시 (again)

[Amado Lee Jaram Band] Working on Album This Year

The band around Lee Jaram announced that they won't have any activities for the next 10 month. Their goal is it too release their first album in mid October. They are also preparing for a concert 25th April.

It also has been announced that drummer SaengSeon, who is currently on a travel in Island, left the band. He apparently rather wanted to be a writer. (But I think he is still making photos for Mintpaper.)

[Midnight Stitch] New Single

The designer, cafe owner and musicians in one, Midnight Stitch, posted info on a third single on their homepage. The track 'Deadman Walking' isn't uploaded on myspace yet, but this may change.

It was originally planned to be the last single before the full length album, but Midnight Stitch says that they will now have one more song released in February.

[Lee Han Chul] becomes Professor

Singer Songwriter Lee Han Chul(38)has been assigned as a professor at Dong-Ha Institute of Media and Arts for the 'singer songwriter major'.

Lee Han Chul, who stepped into the world of singers through winning the great price at the 1994 MBC Campus Song Festival, won 3rd place at the promising YooJaeHa Music Competition and made several hit songs like 'Superstar'.

Lee Han Chul says "I will give my best to teach the singer songwriter juniors with the curriculum that is made up by my own personal know-how which I gained through a lot of music activities."

[Mintpaper] New Infos about LIFE

Mintpaper has been updated with some infos about the 3rd compilation 'LIFE'. More updates will probably follow at the beginning of February.

Artists that are currently recording or will start soon are

Joa-Band - 안부
Oh Ji Eun - 겨울아침
Lala Sweet - Good Bye
Autumn Vacation - 취미는 사랑

It has been said that Sisters Barbershop's guitarist Lee Neung Ryong (이능룡) will participate with his first solo song.
All in all 13 artists will participate.

The release date has been pushed from 'end of March' to 'mid of April'.
SaengSeon, who is in charge of the photos, will soon travel for a while to Island...

[Annyeong Bada] Interview

In an interview from 24th December 2009 (that I got to translate just now u_u) it turns out that 'Annyeong Bada' or 'ByeBye Sea' is not the full name of the band but 'I cross with you the sea' (난 그대와 바다를 가르네) and was shortened for an easy use.

They also reveal a little story behind this huge balloon.

In a part that was not interesting enough to be translated, the journalist mentions that ByeBye Sea will start to work on a full length album that is supposed to come out this year(2010).

To read the interview click 'Read more'

[Pony] Guitarist left

Pony's guitarist Kim Won Jun left the band for personal reasons. They are now searching for a new guitarist. Sang Min and Won Jun started the band with two other members first, taking in Seung Bo and Woo Suk later.

Nevertheless, Pony plans to bring out a new EP with a new feel during the first half of the year.

[Happy Robot] 2 Newbies

Now it has been made official. The new bands that are joining Happy Robot this year are Daybreak and The Koxx, both have been participated at the GMF through Hello Rookie.

Both bands join the MPMG-'party' in the Live Club Ssam on Clubday January 29th together with No Reply and Serengeti. Daybreak is releasing their EP 'NEW DAY' under Happy Robot January 19th.

Daybreak
The Koxx

[Mate] Joon Il and Heon Il taking over 푸른밤

Mate's Heon Il and Joon Il have been active every sunday as DJs for the MBC radio program '푸른밤'(blue night). Moon Ji Ae was DJ of 푸른밤 over the other days, but due to the death of her father she is taking a break and Heon Il and Joon are taking over her place until the 10 January. With their soft voices and flowing way of speaking they show a not-rookie-like appearance and get good comments from the viewers.

At the same time Mate is busy with preparing the last part of their 5~6 track minialbum that is supposed to come out at the end of January.

[Daybreak] Daybreak's Name

Like EZ Hyung said, first you search the name, something that sounds good and think of the meaning at the very last. Daybreak started with their abbreveation. They found that 'db' was looking nice and it looked like headphones. So they started to think of names that could be abbreviated with 'db'. After suggestions like 'Daebak'(big success) or 'Dubu'(Tofu) they finally came to their name 'Daybreak'. But before that another name with in discussion, 'Kangnam Boys'. At EZ Hyugs question who of the five came from Kangnam it turns out that noone comes from there.
Daybreak is the time when everyone sleeps, but like people who are already preparing for work or the daily life, Daybreak is the name with the thought of them wanting to sing about this daily life they're living silently.

Daybreak is going to release their EP this month (probably 19th) which contains 5 tracks including an intro, new versions of 사진, 범퍼카 and Urban Life Style, which were already on their first album, and the song 좋다 which they promoted during 'Hello Rookie'. In the broadcast of Mintpaper radio on 3rd December they also said that they plan to release a 2nd album in midst of 2010.

[No Reply] Narration job from 2008

2nd July 2008 the spanish group La Casa Azul, lead by producer Guille Milkyway, releases their Album 'La Revolucion Sexual'. The title song with the same name is a spanish song with japanese narration. The album contains several versions of this song, also a korean one with Yeongene on vocals. The japanese narration has been replaced by a korean one by No Reply's Jung Wook Jae.


cr:kosymo

His voice can be heard around 1:38 and 2:46.

[Dr. Core 911] New Bassist?

- Not really.

At a broadcast of SBS' 'Bae Ki Wan, Choi Young Ah, Jo Hyung Gi's Nice Morning' from 30th November actress Lee Ji Ah was shown on the concert of Dr. Core 911 on 29th November. That day she said that when she was little she also played 'a bit' bass and went up to the stage, playing. Dr. Core 911 Leader and bassist Shogi said about the surprising performance "When she first said she'll do it I thought she would do just a bit, but she played a lot. She played very well" he didn't spare with compliments.

Lee Ji Ah is mostly known through Dramas like 'Style' and 'Beethoven Virus'.

[Naru] The Name 'Naru'

As I was asking myself how Naru actually came to his name, as it is usually translated with 'ferry, ship', I found accidentally an article (from may 2008) where he explains it.

"You ask why 'Naru'? Friends called me 'Kkangnaru'. When I wrote on the Ssamji Sound Festival Board, I left without thinking the 'kkang*', which is the last name, away and wrote as 'Naru'. At the end this became my name. It really has no meaning. It's a bit boring, isn't it?"

* His real name is Kang Kyung Tae, Kang being the last name.

When Naru was in a school band in High School, playing the guitar wasn't more than a hobby, but listening to friends he participated at the Ssamji Sound Festival (which takes place every year), uploading two of his home made songs (meaning he did all - guitar, bass, drums, singing). Even though he didn't came through, Happy Robots who heard his songs was calling him and taking him into their 'family'.

Next question that has to be solved: How did the friends come to call him 'Kkangnaru'.