'Sentiment' in Contemporary Asian Music
by
Alex Foo
As someone that loves looking for new music, I’m lucky to have been born in the digital age, since it has become easier and more accessible to support musical artists from different backgrounds. While in the past, you had to go to live concerts or scour the shelves for vinyl that was most likely pop music or from the UK alone, now music from all over the world can be easily streamed on platforms such as Spotify or Bandcamp.
With the rise of K-pop and J-pop, Asian musicians have come a long way in the West. But outside of popular acts like BTS, Blackpink, Ado and Fujii Kaze, Asia is a mine full of hidden gems. So, all the music that I’ll be recommending in this article will be by underrated Asian artists that deserve your support!
But I’m sure you’re wondering, what exactly is sentimental music and why are you recommending these particular albums to us? While not actually a genre itself, I like to think that sentimental music is any piece of music that portrays strong emotions, be it adoration, nostalgia or sadness. All the music I’m recommending in this article means a lot to me, for one reason or another. Without further ado, here are my recommendations:
Unexpectedly – Megumi Acorda
Suitable for: People who like being sad, fans of Fade Into You by Mazzy Star, those that are looking for music for a night drive, and people that want a new album to obsess over for the next three months.
Filipino band Megumi Acorda’s style is a unique mix of shoegaze and dream pop. Having started as a one-woman show, the band has evolved into a five-person act. Their debut EP is easily one of my most recommended pieces of music. Despite being only four songs long, it conveys sentiments of tenderness, yearning and wistfulness with ease. The title track, Unexpectedly, is a beautiful opener that touches on–predictably, considering the title–unexpected feelings of love. With fuzzy guitar riffs and soft drumming, this song conveys the persona’s yearning for their unrequited lover using a unique sound. However, unexpectedly or rather expectedly, it is the only track on the EP that is not about being completely heartbroken. The second song, Ghost sets precedent for the rest of the album, with the persona yearning for someone that doesn’t want them anymore. Megumi’s haunting vocals in this song and the ones following (Aftershow and I’ll Get By) tug at your heartstrings as she laments the loss of her love and pleads to be let back into their life. This album holds sentimental value to me because it is one of the albums that I listened to a lot when I first came to Wycombe. Its soft tones are perfect to listen to while staring at a wall contemplating your existence. Overall, this album with melancholic melodies and ethereal singing is definitely not one to miss!
Nonadaptation 비적응 – SE SO NEON
Suitable for: Fans of indie rock, pop, classic rock and ballads (there really is something in this for everyone!), people that enjoy dancing, and those of you looking to explore a new genre of Korean music!
With Pitchfork rating this album one of the 35 best rock albums in 2020, Korean rock band SE SO NEON is one of the most highly acclaimed bands on this list. The band is incredibly popular domestically, winning Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song at the Korean Music Awards. The album that I have chosen to recommend, Nonadaptation, is an easy way to get into their music as it covers a range of styles, from more RnB songs like Winter 눈 to more classic rock songs like E 이. The opener, Midnight Train 심야행, is easily my favourite song on the album. Its upbeat guitar is contrasted with the lyrics that talk about uncertainty and fear for the future. As someone that doesn’t understand Korean, I can truly say that SE SO NEON’s music completely overcomes language barriers through the emotion that can be heard in the lead singer Soyoon’s voice. Nonadaptation is sentimental to me in a different way to the previous one, as each song beautifully encapsulates a distinct feeling. From heartbreak and longing to freedom and expression, the EP has a piece for everyone, no matter what mood you may be in. Be sure to check it out!
Everything Is – Coming Up Roses
Suitable for: Homesick students that need a cry, sixth formers that are uncertain about the future, and people that love rock albums with a hint of shoegaze.
Coming Up Roses is a Singaporean alternative rock band now based in London. Despite being quite short, their newest EP, Everything Is, is catchy and full of upbeat songs. Everything Is starts off with a synth-filled opener, All Our Time, that reflects on forgiveness and moving on from past relationships. The soothing vocals and catchy rhythm contrast with the melancholic lyrics, setting the tone for the rest of the album. It blends beautifully into the second and my personal favourite song on the album, Glass Stained Eyes. Glass Stained Eyes is a track about wishing for a change and struggling to work for a better future, and is perfectly suited for anyone that wants a background track to play while overthinking their entire life experience! An album that focuses mostly on nostalgia, childhood and leaving the past behind, Everything Is is incredibly sentimental to me as the EP’s launch show was one of the last concerts that I went to before leaving Singapore for the UK. I was extremely lucky to have been able to attend it and can attest that Coming Up Roses are even better live. (Though the crisp recording quality on their album still does them justice!)
You can find all of these artists on Spotify and Bandcamp or Soundcloud, so be sure to check them out! Happy listening!
