Within the abstract mantra that appears multiple times in their debut collective song ‘Noise’, South Korean label Beautiful Noise professes the turbulent vision they have for the music industry.
“People only want to see the noise and also those noise are so glittering.”
Veiled under terms like ‘non-conformist’ and ‘unconventional’, Beautiful Noise is on its way to becoming the most creatively conceptual label in the Korean music market.
Poking fun at trends and the glamourisation of mainstream music today, the self-described "cultural guerilla" passes its judgement over "glittering noises", an analogy for music that is only outwardly attractive to the public but nonetheless, substanceless past its surface.
BANDWAGON TV
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After its founding in 2018 by Mommy Son, the initial quartet comprising its founder, Zior Park, Wonstein, and Kim Seungmin, were joined by the likes of Chanju and Sion Jung in recent years.
With their clear preference for competition show alum and vibrant variety of talents, here’s everything you need to know about the mysterious and off-centre artists of Beautiful Noise.
Mommy Son
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After making his first appearance as a contestant on Show Me The Money 777, the pink beanie-d rapper (who is definitely not notable Korean rapper Mad Clown) caught viewers’ attention for his high-toned voice and electric flow. Mommy Son’s signature sound is described as more experimental and unorthodox.
His debut song ‘Mommy Jump’ features the South Korean metal singer Bae Giseong and acts as the dramatic theme song to the artist-led reckoning on the heavily-commercialised genre, cementing his indignant force as a hip-hop vigilante by shamelessly name-dropping other popular rappers.
His latest release was a remastered version of his 2019 album My Sadness and otherwise, devotes his efforts and time to his duties as the founder of the label.
Wonstein
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Often recognised for his unique tone of voice, Wonstein is most known for his appearances on Show Me The Money 9 as well as the popular MBC variety show Hangout With Yoo. As one of the initial members of Beautiful Noise, the 27-year old musician adds a husky and sentimental artistic colour to the team overall.
Receiving praises for not just rapping but his singing as well, the ‘When Night Is Falling’ act has most recently contributed to his first official soundtrack of trending K-drama 25 21, starring Nam Joo-hyuk and Kim Taeri.
Moreover, his individualistic voice has become a staple feature for some of the most note-worthy R&B and hip-hop acts in the Korean music scene, including LeeHi for ‘H.S.K.T’, Epik High for ‘Super Rare’, and Rad Museum for ‘Airdrop’.
Chanju
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As the only female voice within the label, Chanju is known for her lullaby-reminiscent vocals, painting a dreamy and ethereal air in each of her songs. The ‘zZz’ hitmaker tracked a tough path to achieving her musical dreams, one characterised by performing in cafés and clubs twice to thrice a month in her interview with W Magazine.
Citing her favourite musician as Corinne Bailey Rae, the South Korean singer-songwriter embodies a similar introspection and light-heartedness in her music.
Her most recent release is double-single Fireplace for your winter, consisting of a slightly-over-1-minute skit, ‘My dear’ and ‘zZz’ featuring labelmate Wonstein.
Zior Park
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Whimsical and addictively quirky, Zior Park manifests the titular Tim Burton and fictional character Willy Wonka in his musicality—the former being one of his favourite directors and the latter unsurprisingly being named as one of his role models.
Driven by intriguing visuals, the ‘BLACK FIN’ act carries the dream of founding a video production company and making it big in Hollywood. Translating his passion for film into his artistry, the doe-eyed musician has tried his hand in directing the music videos of the label’s collaborative pieces like ‘NOISE’ and ‘Sleep Exhibition’ with stunning craft. Zior Park has a characteristically helium-pitched voice when he raps, making his music all the more odd yet alluring.
Rebellious and bizarre, the 1994-born artist’s latest release ‘Christmas High’ perfectly simulates his controlled hold on genre-bending and seeming conceptual paradoxes.
Kim Seungmin
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Another Show Me The Money alum of seasons 777 and 8, Kim Seungmin represents the trademark chill and minimalistic sound of the South Korean indie scene within the label, with tracks like ‘Blue Light’ and ‘Halfway Off The Rooftop’.
As if to balance out the eccentricity of the various artistic talents within Beautiful Noise, Seungmin acts as the blank slate amongst his strong labelmates, complementing every track that he graces with his chameleon-like musicianship.
The artist proved to have had a busy 2021, having released 4 singles, an album, and featured on BIG Naughty’s track ‘Lie’. The latest of his drops would be ‘Blue Light’. With the flawless mastery present within the melodic single, his discography promises a release worth paying attention to in 2022.
Sion Jung
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Last but not least, the hidden gem of Beautiful Noise is none other than Sion Jung. Having appeared on The Voice of Germany in 2020, the semi-finalist is the label’s latest addition.
Donned in his thin-frame glasses with a demure posture, Sion Jung packs a secret punch with his significantly darker tracks like ‘Molting’. A true wild card, Sion plays to his advantage by subverting expectations, garnering curiosity on what his first album under Beautiful Noise might bring to the table.
Check out Beautiful Noise's latest collective track 'Sleep Exhibition', directed by Zior Park below:
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