By Honorary Reporter Crystal Grant from US
Photos = Crystal Grant

The Korean Cultural Center of New York on July 27 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York hosted "K-Indies Music Night" to mark 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and the U.S.

Concertgoers line up outside of Lincoln Center in New York.

Lincoln Center hosted this event at Damrosch Park as part of the "Summer in the City" series, which offers free performing arts events for the community. Throughout the season, the center has hosted performances spotlighting Korean musical genres including K-pop and shamanic folk.

Over the last few years, I have become a big fan of Korean indie music, a genre often overshadowed by K-pop. I was excited to see that this event promoted the genre as another facet of Korean pop.

Korean indie music in the 1990s developed in Seoul, primarily in the Hongdae area. The rise of the genre was seen as a counter-reaction to K-pop to gave indie artists the freedom to experiment by mixing rock, folk, R&B and hip-hop. 

The concert featured two popular groups in the Korean indie scene: Byebysea and Jannabi. The former's music is mostly new wave-inspired modern rock, and the group has won numerous awards in Korea. Its music has also appeared in many Korean commercials, TV series and movies. 

Jannabi specializes in "vintage pop music that evokes the sentiments and styles of old-school Korean pop and British folk."

Jannabi was one of two indie acts to perform at "K-Indies Music Night" at New York's Lincoln Center.

The sellout audience of 2,500 was a mix of newcomers to Korean indie music and hardcore fans of the two groups. Though the event was free, reservations were required. Thus concertgoers who got to the venue after it was full waited in long lines stretching across the center, hoping to snag a spot later as more seats became available as the event continued. 

The crowd at the event was a mix of newcomers to Korean indie music and fans of the two groups Byebyesea and Jannabi. 

Looking at the faces of the crowd during the concert, I could tell that the two bands, both of whom were performing in the Big Apple for the first time, and the genre gained many new fans. I felt that this event was a great way to celebrate the bilateral friendship.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.