AKMU "SPRING" (2016)

01/27/21 • 5 min

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An Album a Day is my exploration into the Korean music scene. This podcast will cover mainstream, indie and some underground artists within the scene and provide both factual and opinionated commentary. The biggest benefit to sharing my thoughts this way is that it will hopefully expose you to more great music and exploration of your own.

AKMU’s “PLAY” set the bar of excellence high. The duo took YG Entertainment down an unknown path of folk music and gained tremendously worthy attention. Were the siblings able to overcome the dreaded sophomore slump? Their May 4, 2016, EP “SPRING,” will tell us, right after the drop.

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Hey y’all, after the success of “PLAY,” Akdong Musician used the time in between to prepare for an ambitious follow-up entitled “SPRING.” The EP would be the first in a two-part series called Puberty. The album’s non-English title is “사춘기 상” (Sachun-gi Sang), which means “adolescent age,” so the youthful theme is the focus of the album. Before they released the EP, however, AKMU tapped into their acoustic folk roots with their single, “Time And Fallen Leaves.” If one were to assume that this was a precursor for what to anticipate with “SPRING,” then they’d be far off the mark.

Their sophomore album took on a greater R&B vibe for its arrangements. While Lee Chan-hyuk continued the standard of writing the album, arrangements were predominantly made by someone named Robin. I cannot find who this Robin is and it’s frustrating to me! The people behind the behind-the-scenes of K-pop simply don’t receive enough fan service in my book. Did Robin receive any of the flowers they deserve from this album? Who knows! No, seriously: who knows because I want to find this person?

Back to the music. While this is an enjoyable EP, it didn’t feel like an AKMU album. I fully acknowledge how premature this sounds from a person who had never listened to a full album of this duo until the previous episode of this show. Performing music that wasn’t fully of the folk genre when I’d set that as the expectation was jarring. Conversely, it makes sense: there is no benefit in forcing oneself to perform one genre. They never presented themselves as solely wanting to be an acoustic guitar, harmonizing duo. This was my assumption for the majority of their sound, and though this isn’t a full detour, “SPRING” allowed them to show more of their unique colors.

The EP has six tracks and is a little over 21 minutes long. Perhaps this isn’t an intentional habit, but they used the middle of the album once again to provide a song that seems as if it’s louder than the others. Maybe they are playing into a smooth ascension towards these robustly-produced tracks? It could simply be my ears doing weird things, I’m not really sure! What I am sure of is how sad I was that the album ended so soon. It feels complete but they came out of the gate with a full studio album for debut. Giving a listener just 21 minutes seems unfair! And maybe they felt the same way, too, as “SPRING” is the only EP in AKMU’s discography.

K-pop fans on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being essential listening and 1 not worth mentioning, the A3Day rating for this album is a 5. It has unexpected flair for new listeners and welcomed variety for invested fans. Continue to check out the #A3Day Highlights Playlist on Spotify, as it features tracks from today’s albums and past episode’s artists, and I’ll catch you in the next episode, bye y’all.

There’s sponsored ads and social media hashtags but this show is truly supported by the efforts of my MACGoalas, the most amazing fan base a lil’ entertainer could ever have.

Special shout out to my Patreon patrons -- the Student Body, the Scholars, and the Staff -- who keep my vision of becoming your favorite foreign Korean music historian, exploring all the industry from A to Z a real thing. If you’re interested in supporting the growth of this content, please visit patreon.com/multifacetedacg and for as little as $1.00 a month, you can get in on the magic.

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You’re tuned into An Album a Day. Show start.

There’s sponsored ads and social media hashtags but this show is truly supported by the efforts of my MACGoalas, the most amazing fan base a lil’ entertainer could ever have.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Previous Episode

AKMU "PLAY" (2014)

In the world of K-pop idols, stories of long training processes and cultivation to be a star aren’t a new phenomenon. More particularly, having the process documented on a survival television show in South Korea isn’t a new thing either. However, when it comes to siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun, South Korean born children who spent years in Mongolia with their missionary parents before returning to become the only major label pre-debut winners of K-pop Star 2? Well, that’s truly unique. Today, we begin exploring Mischievous Child Musician, better known as AKMU, and their debut album “PLAY,” right after the drop.

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Hey y’all, Akdong Musician, which literally means “mischievous child musician,” are a brother-sister duo signed to YG Entertainment, making their major-label debut on April 7, 2014. The timing of today’s episode couldn’t have been more perfect, as a report on major South Korean website Naver announced that they’ve renewed their contract with YG Entertainment for another five years. This means that the label will have been their home for a total of 12 years before they can consider other options. Before settling into the folds of one of Korea’s prominent entertainment companies, Lee Chan-hyuk and his little sister Lee Su-hyun lived a life outside of the spotlight.

In fact, a portion of their life was financially hard, so much so that the siblings had to depart the traditional education system in favor of homeschooling from their mother. Despite this, their profound love for music led to them joining a small label once returning to Korea from their two-year placement in Mongolia, and performing in various areas around the country. It wasn’t until they auditioned for and won the second season of K-pop Star that their passion would become wider known. With Lee Chan-hyuk composing all their songs and Lee Su-hyun as the main vocalist, the duo spent the months after their 2012 win working hard on their debut album, “PLAY.”

Their debut studio album is just over 38 minutes long and ushered in an unforgettable folk music experience into the idol scene. YG Entertainment maintains an active role in R&B and hip-hop artistry, but those involved in AKMU’s debut project, including the label’s founder himself, found themselves challenged in new ways. In fact, it was best to simply leave as much of the album as possible to the siblings, which is honestly the extra magical cherry on top of a dynamic album. There is a distinct sound to YG Entertainment artists -- that Teddy Park, actually, which is something we’ve acknowledged in past seasons of this show -- and AKMU’s debut album leaps out from behind that creative perimeter beautifully. Remember when I said things can hit you like fresh mint, that toothpaste tingle up to the nostrils? This entire album is that. For listeners with synesthesia, I can only imagine what you experience while listening to this album. It hit me at points like a forest of evergreen trees!

Lee Chan-hyuk wrote every bit of the 11 tracks on the album and he and his sister flutter from one theme to the next wonderfully. And the YG Entertainment style isn’t 100% missing, as there are occasional raps and funky instrument flair on certain tracks. Stand out track “Hair Part” is a perfect example of this folk-jazz and hip-hop concoction, actually. The only thing that seems abrupt through the listening experience is “Artificial Grass.” It’s a boastful folk diddy that, though smartly placed in the middle, seems so much louder than the rest of the album.

K-pop fans on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being essential listening and 1 not worth mentioning, the A3Day rating for this album is a 5. AKMU stepped into the scene as an undeniable force, moving over 6 million units worldwide on this album alone. After listening to album after album of songs that are close in style, shifting to a genre we’ve not explored has me even more excited about their discography. I was excited months ago, actually! I’ve never listened to all their works despite appreciating them and being a fan of some of their live performances. Let’s run along together in the field of AKMU happily! Continue to check out the #A3Day Highlights Playlist on Spotify, as it features tracks from today’s albums and past episode’s artists, and I’ll catch you in the next episode, bye y’all.

There’s sponsored ads and social media hashtags but this show is truly supported by the efforts of my MACGoalas, the most amazing fan base a lil’ entertainer could ever have.

Special shout out to my P...

Next Episode

AKMU "WINTER" (2017)

As seasons go, WINTER has come, coincidentally during the winter of 2021, no less. The final part to the two-part series Puberty, from sibling duo AKMU, right after the drop.

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Hey yall, before we start with the details of todays album, Im excited to announce A3Days first giveaway! The Staff tiered patrons from my Patreon are spearheading a K-pop merchandise giveaway for listeners within the contingent 48 states that begins tonight, Friday, January 29, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. CT when the second episode of A3Day Sister Show releases. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter at multifacetedacg to see the details, terms, and conditions. Good luck in advance!

Todays album, Winter, was released January 3, 2017, and is AKMUs second studio album. With a listening time of 30 minutes, the duo takes you down a path of reflection with passionate, live instrumentation. Lee Su-hyun vocally performed her butt off on this album, traversing her soprano range up and down the music. This album was most relatable for me, in terms of its context and made the listening experience very personal.

For those who dont speak the Korean language, looking at the English titles of each song wont really convey much. Whether they knew this or not, that plays into the wonder of winter, especially in places that experience snow. You dont know what youre waking up to from day to day -- it could be unseasonably warm or a genuine blizzard, regardless of what the weather forecast predicted. Titles such as Play Ugly, CHOCOLADY, and Reality, dont necessarily tell you what youre about to experience.

Speaking of an experience, if you have a moment, search for a live performance of Reality on YouTube and try to resist smiling. While the music is playful, the realities of the lyrics -- struggling to afford a taxi, low bank account balances, and awkward moments in coupledom -- are in juxtaposition. The reality of these universal experiences for so many people warmed my heart. Im at an age at the time of this recording where I can look back at how difficult some of these things were for me and feel the bittersweet reaction from knowledge. Someone younger or less experienced than me might find a balm to calm the anxiety as they listen to this song.

The album elevated their folk-pop sound, and tap dances its way into jazz-pop, a subgenre Im a huge fan of. On the reflective track, Way Back Home, a piano and shaker come together to accent AKMUs rapping and singing over a mellow hip-hop beat pattern, but its actually jazz. Its a great display of how music was never meant to be straight and narrow, but to cut lanes and spill into other areas. Music itself is as complex as the winter season. Its also as simple as the still of winter nights.

K-pop fans on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being essential listening and 1 not worth mentioning, the A3Day rating for this album is a 5. This album reflects maturity both within the Puberty concept and in its composition. Lee Chan-hyuk wrote and produced beautiful pieces with the assistance of a wonderful team. Continue to check out the #A3Day Highlights Playlist on Spotify, as it features tracks from todays albums and past episodes artists, and Ill catch you in the next episode, bye yall.

Theres sponsored ads and social media hashtags but this show is truly supported by the efforts of my MACGoalas, the most amazing fan base a lil entertainer could ever have.

Special shout out to my Patreon patrons -- the...