While many find their way to music, very few are called upon it. Since childhood, ID: Earth knew she was fated to be a musician, having been bestowed an intricate role in connecting the Earth and human civilisation through a blend of sounds and musical styles. 

"At a young age, I often had prophetic dreams that filled me with a sense of guilt; If I sketch a song, such lyrics or musical styles appear. For this reason, at first, I wanted to be a musician who foretells the future to prevent bad things," the Korean artist shares with Bandwagon. 

Creating what she describes as "Earth music", the eccentric, out-of-the-box artist wants to instil a new sense of action and purpose in her listeners through her collage of techno, electronic, rock and pop sounds. 

"It can be said that ‘Earth music’ contains anthropology, knowledge, and philosophical messages," says ID: Earth. "I'm in the process of getting to know life and Earth, and I want to share the enlightenment of some routes in the process. I want to approach music that wakes up the brains of other worlds that are invisible to the public and gives energy."

ID: Earth released her debut single 'Egypt' in 2019 and has since unveiled various projects like her CAVE series and her 2020 album Be. With each and every release, the 'Olympus' act has been slowly piecing a puzzle she hopes to fully reveal to people within the next couple of years. 

As the next piece of her big picture, ID: Earth is en route to release her EP Panorama this 22 March 2022. Ahead of the drop, Bandwagon caught up with the experimental act to talk about her journey to music, her creative process, and what lies ahead. 

Hi ID:Earth! Tell us, how did you know you wanted to do music?

Music has always resonated with me throughout my life. There was always a reaction to the sound and I wanted to let people hear that sound.

My parents were really supportive and encouraged me from a young age. I started wanting to write songs around 10 or 11 years old. I heard an orchestral song being played at school once, I didn't know at the time how to draw the score, so I started drawing it at the pitch level on my desk. From then on, I knew that I wanted to do music on my own.

Tell us more about your persona as ‘ID:Earth’ and how she came to be. How does she differ from or relate to who you are outside of music?

I see myself as being an intricate part of this planet, an ambassador of sorts. I am here to tell stories about the Earth through music. At a young age, I often had prophetic dreams that filled me with a sense of guilt; If I sketch a song, such lyrics or musical styles appear. For this reason, at first, I wanted to be a musician who foretells the future to prevent bad things.

I'm not sure if it's all right. I thought that something could change due to naturally made music but it was difficult to realise because the time and work process until the official release was long and it had already occurred. After that, while sleeping, the sound of the electricity kept waking me up, and I started to find out why it bothered me.

At the same time, it was connected to the essence of the Earth. During a European tour awhile back, I visited a museum and saw a mummy for the first time, which led to my debut song, 'Egypt'. I was attracted to these things and came up with ID:Earth. So when I write a song, I turn off the switch and enjoy music unconsciously. Other than music, I turn on the switch. If I live as I am, people will say that I am a maniac who does not live in society.

How would you describe the music that you make, both sonically and thematically? How do you hope it resonates with your listeners?

I like to play around with sounds, anything that catches my ear—be it techno, rock, pop and soul. I’m doing experimental music to consistently create new genres by mixing and matching genres. It can be said that ‘earth music’ contains anthropology, knowledge, and philosophical messages. 

I'm in the process of getting to know life and Earth, and I want to share the enlightenment of some routes in the process. I want to approach music that wakes up the brains of other worlds that are invisible to the public and gives energy. If the public heard my music and touched something, if they knew something or if they knew what they were going to do or who they were, I did my job.

Who are some of your musical influences, both internationally and locally?

I am influenced by fresh experiences, nature, classical music, and dreams.

Your upcoming EP takes on a very intriguing concept, could you walk us through the story behind Panorama and the message you hope it conveys?

Panorama refers to the scanning of things that pass by in your life. Inspiration is a signal of a gift sent from space every moment, and it is the way to become a star that records today and creates a panorama from stars to stars.

Also It is an EP that makes it common for all black and white people to feel the taste of people who can't see, can't hear, can't taste. Among them, the featuring version of 'Betting' was selected as the first release song but the EP also includes the original version. The special track will be released first to let you know that society is the theme cause you have to be ready to make a bet. That's the beginning.

You often describe your music as “a puzzle” meant to be connected and pieced together. How does Panorama fit in that puzzle?

My previous work, CAVE, was about arriving in nature. Panorama is a series of arrival in the city. As you can see from 'The Seed', which was the theme of parallel theory, the particular appearances that appear as silhouettes in the music video mean a link. So that you can see the shape of the puzzle gradually.

Is there a track off of the EP that you were particularly excited for people to hear? What is it and why?

I recommend the title 'Panorama' or 'Home'. It's because those songs approached in an emotional way.

What does your music-making process usually look like?

I recorded what came to my mind with my cell phone. After completing the song, I put what I imagined in the arrangement. If necessary, we'll invite performers with sounds that go well with this song.

When the recording is done and the song is made, ID:Earth, which expresses a persona that fits the story of this song, will appear in the world considering the release date after filming the music video.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?

It must be at the end of COVID-19, but I want to see you travelling to all countries. Especially, I want to see me at the film festival. By then, I think my ego will be divided. I think a total of 70 songs will be released by 2027. I think it can be any medium.

Share with us what else we can expect from you this year.

Like this year's project under the theme of 'Society,' I think we will make various attempts to reach the public. I don't have a lot of Korean music cause of my musical genre tendency, and cause I lived abroad when I was young; but this year, I will come to you with music in my country's language.

And to suit the new society, I am releasing a limited NFT edition worth keeping to the public and preparing for the work as a movie music composer at the same time, so you can access my various music in the Korean series.

Listen to ID: Earth's 'Home', off of her upcoming EP Panorama, here.