Kakao Entertainment
Kakao Entertainment's music platform Melon selected Chu Dahye Chajis (Chu Dahye, Si Moon, Kim Jae-ho, Kim Da-bin), a band that has pioneered a unique genre called ‘psychedelic shamanic punk’, as the Artist of December through the indie music revitalization project ‘TrackZero’.
Chu Dahye Chajis appeared on Melon Station ‘TrackZero’ guest session released on the 4th, shared recent updates, and spoke in detail about various behind-the-scenes stories and the making of their second full-length album released in June, ‘Minority’. The full interview and playlist are available on Melon Magazine.
The album ‘Minority’, which includes nine tracks, is the deepened result of Chu Dahye Chajis' independent attempt to draw Korea's traditional shamanic songs into the grammar of popular music. In particular, attention was drawn to the behind-the-scenes story that recording suddenly took place at Kim Jae-ho's suggestion when mixing engineer Uchida Naoyuki (Uchida Naoyuki), who had participated in the first album, visited Korea for work with Kadeho.
Regarding the meaning of this album title, vocalist Chu Dahye first said, “Muga is minor even within traditional music, so it is hard to find and hard to hear. As I went around meeting shamans and learning from them, I wanted to carry the deep messages and healing power within into my music, and the outcome was drawn well in the first album, which led to the second.” She added, “I felt that the unique and vital genre of muga resembles minority peoples who are surviving today, so I chose it as the title of the second album. I put in a wish that it will be well passed down from generation to generation.”
The reason she became interested in muga was also introduced that day. Chu Dahye said she felt “an overwhelming sense of ‘That is art, and that is the artist’” when she happened to see a performance by a spirit-descending shaman, and continued, “When I went to see an actual shamanic ritual rather than a stage show, I was drawn outwardly to the performance and inwardly to its healing power. Wanting to turn this into my music, I met the current members and formed a band, and when I asked them to join, they agreed, and that is how Chu Dahye Chajis came to be.”
In the ensuing in-depth music talk, the members each chose one track from the second album and shared behind-the-scenes stories. Bassist Kim Jae-ho chose track 7, ‘Heosse’, which had been planned as a follow-up single but became one of the title tracks; guitarist Si Moon chose track 4, ‘Dambul’, which he felt was the most accessible, though its strong presence made them agonize over where to place it in the album. Chu Dahye introduced track 1, another title track, ‘Jakdu’, completed on the second take through an improvisation and one-take recording with the members based on feelings drawn from an actual ritual; drummer Kim Da-bin mentioned the final track, ‘Ninani’, which wraps up the album with a simple, cozy mood.
In the ‘Guest Hidden Track’ segment, they also unveiled recommended songs that offer a glimpse into the tastes of the members. Kim Jae-ho recommended ‘South Island’ by Bando, a band Si Moon plays in, and Kim Da-bin recommended ‘Red Ginseng’ by Omm (omm..), which he said he fell for upon hearing by chance. Usually enjoying meditation music, Chu Dahye introduced Yang Bang-ean's ‘Nameless Wind’, saying, “It feels like Mongolia's great nature and is a song that clears the chest.” Si Moon recommended ‘Next Levels’, released by rapper MF Doom under the name King Geedorah, saying that he found it interesting to put fame aside and operate under another name.
Through ‘TrackZero’, Melon announces ‘Artist of the Month’ and ‘Recommended New Tracks of the Month’ every month, continuously spotlighting a variety of artists and notable songs. ‘Artist of the Month’ targets artists who have released tracks in Korea, and ‘TrackZero Recommended New Tracks’ are selected from songs released within the past 3 to 4 months. ‘TrackZero’ is the only indie music support program in the domestic music streaming platform industry, and through it, the company is focusing on mutual growth across the entire music industry.
