EP Pre-Release Live: Gray Days
"Nice to meet you. We're the band Group Sound, and I'm guitarist Ha Suyeon, taking on the role of leader."
Her forehead half-exposed, hair swaying lightly. A thick cotton sweatshirt paired with a pleated skirt patterned in checks, falling to mid-thigh. White socks covering her calves just so, and adorable white shoes. Applause poured in from the crowd.
"She's so pretty!" Cheers like that rang out too, but she ignored them as if it were nothing new for a guitarist, simply greeting the audience.
Next came introductions for the band members. Bassist Choi Iseo, keyboardist Jeong Hyeona, drummer Yoo Seoha.
I've heard about them already, but damn, they're all such pretty girls. Suryeol wondered if they'd been scouted for looks and then drilled mercilessly in practice.
The leader seemed the prettiest, with the others having a slight variance but still striking.
"And as we announced on Twitter, today we'll be focusing on the pre-release track from our new EP, Gray Days, along with... some other unreleased songs."
The crowd answered her "That cool with everyone?" with roaring cheers. Suryeol scanned the audience.
The outdoor venue was already packed solid, no room to breathe. Fans who'd heard the news in advance, passersby there just to check it out, high school girls filming videos, and more. Even with die-hard fans voluntarily organizing the crowd, it was chaos.
And those core fans directing traffic... they looked utterly out of place in the indie band scene.
Wild. Suryeol wasn't an indie specialist, but he knew how the scene worked. And in his view, its biggest issue was that only the enthusiasts enjoyed it.
New bands popped up, but fresh consumers didn't. Yet Group Sound defied that. They drew in people with zero indie ties to a dingy Hongdae club like Paradox.
The club owner shouting, "At this rate, I'll buy a building!!" was probably no exaggeration.
How? Suryeol let the question burn briefly before snuffing it out. Critics didn't need to analyze scene structures. Music just was.
"Let's get the show started~!"
In the meantime, the bassist up front had shouted that. The opening song was a current hit from a Japanese band—cheerful lyrics, trendy dance, bizarre MV that had blown up on TikTok.
A cover to kick things off. Disappointing for a critic like Suryeol. But perfect for pulling in an outdoor crowd.
"What's this?"
"Some kind of show?"
Maybe the flashier arrangement than the original. People kept coming despite the crush. Curious couples leaned against trees to listen; a kid on a board stood tall on it, craning his neck.
"Now for our new song as the first original. Please listen to Gray Days."
After a few covers, the pre-release finally kicked in. Drumsticks tapped four times, instruments roared to life.
A touch slower tempo than the audio track. Punchier bass rhythm. Had they toned it down to avoid excess? Mass appeal? No clue, but it wasn't a skill issue.
Steep hills we climb, the tortoise waits for us there
You and I bit into a white apple on tomorrow's train
A voice chanting from afar. The slightly obtuse lyrics—crafted to capture j-rock vibes? Even through portable amps for the outdoor setup, the distant, wistful emotion wrapped around it faintly.
Suryeol bumped Group Sound's rating up a notch. Not some copy-paste audio hack or half-baked live from amateurs.
The tortoise left three days ago
Without knowing where, the shadow of the first snow returns to you once more
"Gray days, come back to me."
All instruments cut out at the end. Just the guitar, playing a sparse melody like a soliloquy, closing it out.
Thunderous applause. Suryeol realized he was clapping unconsciously too.
"Thanks for coming out today. For our finale, an unreleased track. No title yet."
A smaller cheer. She nodded; drums snapped four quick stick hits.
The upbeat BPM shot high, unlike the slower tunes before. Guitar tone blasted through the amp—mid-lows nuked for a bright, crisp ring. Drums chased it, bass and keys in tow.
The heart I felt the day I met you was like crashing waves
Making today's me push a little further
The heart I feel today from meeting you is like a paper boat on water
Churning endlessly more than yesterday's me
The bassist's voice—perky, cute. Perfect for these love-struck lyrics and style.
Now I want to leap this subtle distance with you
Shake off this wandering heart and gift it to you
"Thanks!"
The bassist bowed as the playing ended. Applause crashed down. Fan cheers mixed with passersby's "Who are these girls?" and "Do you know the band name?" turning the venue into pandemonium.
Suryeol slipped away, pondering his review headline. "Rookie Genius Band Emerges!" too cliché. "Revolution in Indie!" too grandiose.
But that's what he wanted to write. At least in this moment.
The band that sold out Paradox Club without a single official release. Famous for their heavenly guitarist. All members stunningly attractive.
But their fame outpaced actual results—until now. No official releases...
...not to mention stellar arrangements and performances. The guitar shines without overpowering balance. Influenced by j-rock grammar but reinterpreted Korean-style—an bold move for rookies.
Only nitpick: mixing and mastering...
Who'd call them rookies after this track? Master-level guitar, perfectly placed bass, keys, drums. Daring to say: their 2024 arrival is a blessing for Korean band scene.
Kim Suryeol ★★★★☆ (4.5 / 5)
"Total rave review, huh."
Myeongjeon muttered as she closed the browser tab. She'd figured it'd land, but not this well.
What fired up Kim Suryeol? All she'd asked Professor Chae Hogun was to tip him off about the live show. Nothing more.
He'd questioned, "Suryeol has that habit, but how'd you know?" She brushed it off.
What explanation? "I'm Seo Myeongjeon from my past life—he told me himself"?
Still... Nice to get the praise, but back when she was Seo Myeongjeon, Kim Suryeol trashed her albums. 1.5-2 stars average.
Memorable lines: "80s cheap-tape melodies from a master's hand," "Guitar skill alone doesn't cut it." She'd rage-called him every time.
"I'm a critic; honesty is my job." That principled BS just fueled her fire.
Water under the bridge. 4.5 stars now? Good enough.
"Suyeon, you see that?"
"Just did."
"Huge! Isn't this gonna blow up in articles or something? Wild seeing us get this. Like in magazines?"
"Magazines are digital now. Musica still prints physical?"
Myeongjeon recalled her fading Seo Myeongjeon days. Physical up to the 2000s; after, no clue.
"They do. I'll hit a bookstore after practice. Gotta grab one."
"You'll get tons of reviews soon—need to carry it around?"
Iseo shot her a "What kinda guru talk is that?" look. Too old-man? Myeongjeon turned away, playing innocent.
"Anyway, EP's wrapping up. Release hits, more reviews'll drop..."
"Buy 'em all then. First single! First album! More milestones, the better."
Her positivity was refreshing. Now just finalize EP, mix, master, release.
Can't wait for release day.
Finding mix/master engineers was an issue. Nonstop grind ahead. Promo too.
Even at the endgame, problems loomed for Myeongjeon and the girls.
But she shelved them. Watching the three laugh over the Gray Days review? No need.
Embrace the fun. With Technicolor days bursting ahead, why dredge up gray memories later? No point.