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55 J a n g K I h a a n d T h e f a c e S Jang Kiha and The Faces are classic indie, with a straight-shooting, staccato sense of hu- mor that rejects the sentimentality oozing from most Korean music. Kiha’s breakout (but not standout) was the self-produced “Cheap Cof- fee” in 2008. He’s awkward and interesting in his delivery and completely unremarkable to look at, making him and his band The Faces a fresh prospect. His second album was called “Living Plainly,” which speaks volumes for the rare artistic sensibilities he represents. b I g p h o n y Big Phony, a.k.a. Bobby Choi, is a singer/ songwriter in the truest sense. Represented internationally on Bandcamp, he produces the kind of introspective English songs that Elliott Smith would be proud of; music best suited to a quiet evening or perhaps a montage of emo- tional weight. Sentimentality aside, Big Phony has a great attitude that comes across in his songs, which are always heartfelt but never overdone. h y u n a ; J a y p a R K In both cultural and artistic opposition to the artists like Big Phony that represent the new wave of Korean independent music, idol stars HyunA and Jay Park are also scheduled to per- form at the Austin festival. But K-pop fans take note: we’re in SXSW territory now, and K-pop will be viewed as a novelty act rather than the huge business it is on the peninsula. This odd reversal means the mainstream-as-they-come idol stars are actually acting as part of the counterculture on display at SXSW. h o L L o w J a n Most Korean indie (as in, independently re- leased or self-produced and managed) bands fall on the lighter side of rock. Hollow Jan is a stark, deeply moving riposte to pop punk and electronica, revealing a depth of talent that ri- vals anything seen in the J-metal scene. With a sound that is definitely comparable to Envy, the Japanese metal juggernaut, their style possesses something uniquely Korean while tapping into the gold vein of Explosions In The Sky-esque post-rock. They also happen to be an incredibly sublime act to catch live, which doesn’t hurt. Hollow Jan will be touring in sup- port of their forthcoming second album, but for a taste of what they bring to the Korean music scene, their amazing onstage performance en- ergy is palpable even in their YouTube videos. Aggressive rock music is rarely disseminated throughout Korea, and thus their representa- tion at SXSW is important for the future of the genre here. J a m b I n a I Jambinai is another fringe band representing the sound of post-rock in Korea. Their vibe is, at times, very close to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, especially on standout “Namu-ui Daehwa (Dialogue of Trees) 2,” but their use of traditional instruments marks them as special: the haegeum, geomungo and piri are utilized throughout the artist’s compositions to create a genuinely unique and Korean sound. Jambinai would make a fantastic opener for Hollow Jan; while Jambinai’s music doesn’t hinge on abra- sion, there is a distinct and noteworthy overlap between the two. In louder songs, the band it- self is a strange acoustic grindcore above and beyond post-rock: every track is smart and dis- parate in its own self-complete way. J a m b I n a I More info SXSW: sxsw.com Seoulsonic: facebook.com/seoulsonic.kr