Kiha & the Faces

Here is another segment of K-Pop Indie Gem and today’s winner of a band is Jang Kiha and the Faces.


Before the introduction of the band and the members, prepare to be amazed. This indie band is no ordinary band. Every indie group pursues “different” styles of music, but when it comes to Jang Kiha and the Faces, I really want to emphasize the word “different.”
For me, Jang Kiha and the Faces is more a band of performers rather than musicians. Don’t get me wrong, they are super talented musicians, but unlike other artists they focus a lot on the performance art aspect of their music. Meet the Mimi Sisters, who serve as dancers for the group and add a great deal of interesting visuals for the group.

The dances used in Jang Kiha and the Faces’ performances are not really the dances you would normally see in Kpop performances that have a hook move, dancing in-sync, and the like. They’re there just for fun of it, and to add spontaneity to performances so that each time they perform, things feel fresh and exciting.


Now, more about the band and the members. Jang Kiha started his music career as a drummer for a band Nunco Band in 2002. To continue his career on a different path, he created a band to play the music he produced and that’s when Jang Kiha and the Faces was created. The members include Jang Kiha (singer & songwriter), Jung Joon Hyuk (base), Lee Min Ki (guitar), Lee Jong Min (keyboard) and Kim Hyun Ho (drummer). Although they only have 2 official albums out right now, it’s amazing to see how much fame they have gained. At the 2009 Korean Music Awards, they won the award for Netizens’ Male Artist of the Year, the Song of the Year and the Best Rock Song all for the song ”Cheap Coffee”:
- Seoulbeats (2011.10.20)

One of South Korea’s foremost indie bands is Kiha and The Faces, and for the KCC UK’s K-Music Festival 2013 they were bought over to rock the UK crowds. With unique lyrics and catchy tunes, the band shot to fame in the late 2000s and have since then have been unleashing their fun and playful creations on the world. Not only are their songs a masterpiece of entertainment, but Jang Ki-ha himself directs their innovative and enjoyable music videos too, make sure you check out all their fabulous MVs, many featuring Ki-ha’s self-confessed sexy hands!

Relevant links: Official Website, Official Twitter, Official Facebook

After an awesome rehearsal for the debut London stage, we got a chance to sit and have a quick chat with the band about their gig in London and discover just who is Ki-ha and the ones behind the handsome Faces. We were also joined in this coffee table interview by Hellokpop, whose questions we’ve included in our transcript, so don’t forget to check out their site too to find out their experiences.

Kiha and The Faces interview

Interview

KCM: I wanted to start by asking a bit about yourselves. How did you all meet and come together as a band?

Jang Ki-ha: We were actually all in different bands, I was a drummer in a band previously. I wrote all my own songs and decided to form a band and gathered them all together.

KCM: Your songs are quite focused on lyrics, so I was wondering how do you compose new tracks, do you all play a part in making new tunes?

Jang Ki-ha: I write the melody and lyrics, then the band gets together and arranges it to fit their own instruments.

KCM: All your music videos have very fun and unique concepts, and I know that you [Jang Ki-ha] direct them. How do you come up with the ideas, is it just you or do the members get involved too?

Jang Ki-ha: Yeah, I direct the music videos all myself. I play the music in my head and try to fit the music into a theme for a music video.

KCM: The band name is ‘Kiha and The Faces’, do the other members ever want to be referred to as anything else?

Jang Ki-ha: [laughs] A lot of Koreans ask us this.

Lee Jong-min: We always answer we don’t have a problem with it [laughs].

Translator: I think he’s being a little sarcastic though.

Lee Jong-min: Do you have any alternate recommendations?

KCM: [panics] Kiha and the Handsome Faces? [KCM note: Don't judge me!]

Kiha and the Faces: Haha, thanks.

Kiha and The Faces interview

Hellokpop: You’ve got some critical success, do you think that’s changed your music in some way as you became so successful so fast?

Jang Ki-ha: No, it’s all fun. I don’t know about other people, but being able to have as big an audience as possible is good. If a lot of people know our music, it’s good.

Hellokpop: Do you think this success allows you more creative freedom or do you have more responsibility to create music that will be well received? Do you think you can experiment more with music, being so successful?

Jang Ki-ha: We can’t help but always remember the fact that we have to remember our fans who have always bought our music. But if our music changes because of that, it will make us losers. The great bands we look up to have always produced great music, with or without popularity.

Hellokpop: Which bands?

Jang Ki-ha: A lot of bands. A lot of Western bands. Definitely The Beatles, The Doors, Talking Heads, Roxy Music…

Lee Jong-min: The Beatles…

Jang Ki-ha: [laughs] I’ve already said that!

Kiha and The Faces interview

KCM: It seems more recently Korean indie has been getting more recognition. How can bands emerging onto the scene establish themselves?

Jeong Jung-yeop: Well, we didn’t actually think we’d be this successful…

Jang Ki-ha: It’s very simple, they have to make good music and be lucky. We were both, making good music and lucky.

Jeong Jung-yeop: It would also be good not to listen to the music that’s trendy and try to not follow a trend.

Hellokpop: In the UK on the Korea Rocks tour we had Gate Flowers, Apollo 18, Goonam and Galaxy Express come over. Do you think as a band you represent the Korean indie scene when you come here for this festival? Do you think when you come here for this festival you’re promoting the Korean indie scene or yourself as a group?

Jang Ki-ha: Obviously we’re here to promote ourselves, but if it all goes well we would become a representative of the K-indie scene as well.

Kiha and The Faces interview

Hellokpop: Do you think joining this festival here will have any impact on your popularity in Korea? I asked the bands on Korea Rocks and they all said playing abroad was a huge step for them, like being an ambassador for Korean indie music.

Jang Ki-ha: It doesn’t happen very often that we get to represent Korea in a different country through music. When we get back to Korea everyone will just think “well done”.

KCM: How did you choose your set list tonight? Did you think about th - Korean Class Massive (2013.06.23)

ABOUT THE VIDEO

The Creators Project: When did you form the band? Can you tell us a bit about its members?

Jang Kiha: Our band started in 2008, and we have produced a single album so far. The band consists of six members: I play the role of singer and a songwriter, sometimes playing an instrument. Our bassist is Jung Joon Hyuk, our guitarist is Lee Min Ki, and our drummer is Kim Hyun Ho. We also play with a team called the Mimi Sisters who are in charge of dancing, creating the atmosphere, and singing the choruses.

Were you involved in music before forming the Faces?

I was previously a drummer in many bands, but my own songs started to pile up, so I decided to create my own band with the people I’ve gotten to know during my career.

Your live show is really different from other Korean acts. How did you develop it?

Well, when we first made our band, the number one priority was obviously to make good songs. But for the audience, especially when an unknown band performs for the first time, they want something more fun and enjoyable. I think we just wanted to make everything more fun. In the early days, our band performed in small clubs, and since no other indie bands had dancers dancing while the lead singer sang, we thought we would try that. Enjoyment for the crowd was always the first thing in our minds.

What do you think about the indie rock scene in Korea?

The Korean indie scene, just like many other countries, features a wide selection of musical genres and produces great music. But we don’t get the same kind of acknowledgement and recognition as in other places. Most of our fans are people who regularly attend our shows. The media industry plays a big role in music advertising, I do think it’s improved compared to couple years ago.

What inspires your music?

First of all, I don’t think I’ve made any music when I was feeling good. In fact, you don’t need to make music when you’re feeling good because you can just live your life then. But when you’re feeling depressed, sad, or lonely, you create a situation that allows you to concentrate and think on your own. It is then that I am able to think up of melodies and lyrics.
- Intel & Vice : The Creators Project (2013.04.07)

Chang Kiha and the Faces’ rise to stardom is reminiscent of the old-school, small-band-strikes-gold fables from decades past.

With no backing by a major label, the band burst onto the local music scene in 2008 and instantly saw success, much to the surprise of the band members themselves, with its mega-hit self-produced EP “Cheap Coffee.”

The title track, a folky, ’70s-esque ode to disillusioned youth and the loneliness of urban life, catapulted the band to overnight stardom, making its front man, Chang Kiha, the poster child for the “880,000 Won Generation” (a local term referring to Korea’s younger generation struggling with growing youth unemployment, part-time jobs and monthly salaries of 880,000 won, or $776).

By the next year, Chang Kiha won an unprecedented three Korean Music Awards, including Best Song of the Year. In Korea, where preadolescent idol acts pop up at a dizzying speed and K-pop hype knows no boundaries, Chang Kiha and the Faces provides a breath of fresh air, serving as the Bruce Springsteen antidote to the Debbie Gibsons of the scene.

The group’s retro folk sound and witty lyrics about everyday life in Seoul have won over fans from both the indie circles and the general public while also earning critical praise, making the band somewhat of an oddity here. In addition to concerts and regular TV appearances, Chang is also the host of his own daily radio program, “Chang Kiha’s Great Radio.”

Last year, the group released its second full-length album “Chang Kiha and the Faces” with two new members - Yohei Hasegawa (guitar) and Lee Jong-min (keyboard) - and saw its backup vocal and dance team, the Mimi Sisters, drop out.

Along with its popularity here, the band has also been one of the more globally savvy acts of the local indie scene, releasing albums in and touring throughout Japan. This month, the band is heading across the East Sea once again to perform at the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo after playing at its sister festival, Super!Sonic, at Olympic Park next Tuesday.

The Korea JoongAng Daily caught up with the band (except for drummer Kim Hyun-ho, who is fulfilling his mandatory military service) in its studio in northern Seoul last week before the musicians head off to Japan.

Q. You became an overnight success with the single “Cheap Coffee.” Why do you think this song became such a massive hit?

A. Chang Kiha: We had no idea that people would like the song that much - we initially only printed 100 copies of the “Cheap Coffee” EP. More than anything, luck was really on our side. When the song came out, I think Koreans were starting to get bored with the same old style of songs in the mainstream scene, and our song was something different. Also, the lyrics, even though it was unintentional on my part, spoke to people, especially those of the younger generation who are frustrated with the social climate of the country and uncertain about their future here.



When did you first realize that you had become famous?

Lee Min-ki: When we performed at the Ssamzie Sound Festival after releasing “Cheap Coffee,” there were around 20,000 people in the audience and they were all singing along and dancing to our music. It was quite surreal, and I think we started to realize that we were going to go big. But I think it is different between Kiha and the other members. I don’t think the rest of us are recognized by the public to the degree that it would make us uncomfortable.

Jeong Jung-yeop: It’s really rare, but when someone recognizes me, I feel grateful. [Laughs]



As you said, out of the members, Chang Kiha, as a songwriter, lyricist and vocalist, is perhaps the one in the limelight, often appearing on TV shows and interviews alone. Is this team dynamic frustrating for anyone? Do some of you want to have more creative input?

Lee Min-ki: Sometimes there is friction, but it’s rarely about this team dynamic. The other members, including myself, all came into the band knowing that the main creative talent in the band is Kiha, and I think we are all happy with doing the best with our respective roles in the band.

Jeong Jung-yeop: It would have been a different story if, for example, the songwriter were Lee Min-ki but Chang Kiha got all the spotlight for being good looking. If that were the scenario, I think we would have been upset, but Chang Kiha and the Faces started with Kiha’s vision, and in the end, it is his band.

Chang Kiha: And I buy them lots of meals. [Laughs]

Lee Jong-min: And we are all working on our own music on the side. I think as musicians, it is important to keep creating things by yourself.



The songs in your first album sound like folky, singer-songwriter music, while your second album sounds entirely different, with a fuller, more band-like sound. What brought on this change?

Chang Kiha: For the first album, I did almost everything, from song-writing and lyrics to producing. For the second album, even though I wrote the - Korea JoongAng Daily (2012.08.09)

Time Out says

Tue May 28 2013

There is, you won't be surprised to hear, more to Korean music than 'Gangnam Style'. Here to prove it is K-Music 13, a capital-wide celebration of the diverse sounds of the East Asian states that takes in everything from Korean folk opera to underground rock at venues from Cadogan Hall to the Scala. Tonight, Kiha & The Faces showcase their herky-jerky pop-rock. Plus bloated, faintly shoegazey guitar balladry from Yi Sung Yol, a fixture at Korean Music Awards since 1994.

What do you think? - Time Out London (2013.06.20)

Rock band aims to keep making indie music, plans Japan tour in fall


While idol-centered K-pop has been heavily covered by the media, the Korean indie scene has received relatively little attention. Seeking diversity of Korean music, The Korea Herald is running a series of interviews shedding light on the Korean scene. This is the third installment of the series. ? Ed.

Chang Kiha & the Faces, a five-member indie band formed by vocalist, guitarist, percussionist and songwriter Chang Ki-ha in 2008, recently released a second studio album. And the music video of the title song “A Twosome” is creating a buzz, as the first two-thirds of the 3 minute 45 second video shows only hand motions.

Not defining exactly what the hand motions really mean, the movement flows funnily with the beats and lyrics, with a lot of finger pointing. Then, a hand wearing a bride’s glove holds a hand in a bridegroom’s glove. Then, the five poker-faced male members with one hand gloved hand each dance to the music at the end.

“I thought hands could represent humans. I also thought that music should serve the visual image,” said Chang Ki-ha in an interview with The Korea Herald.

The lyrics to “A Twosome” vaguely describe what’s going on between two people, rather than directly saying that they are in a relationship.

“It’s an open-ended question. Of course, I had something in my mind when I created it, but it is much more fun not to tell the audience what it really is,” Chang said.

Other tracks, such as “I Have Nobody to Miss But … ,” “Midnight Phone Book” and “Although I Heard Nothing to Feel Bad About … ” also tell how every story has two sides.

Although Chang composes all the songs, the other members said they had no complaints about the songs, except for the quite demanding, weird but funny choruses.

The other four members are drummer Kim Hyun-ho, bassist Jeong Jung-yeop, keyboardist Lee Jong-min and guitarist Lee Min-ki.

“Ki-ha makes everything himself ? the melodies, guitar lines, drums and even chorus ? and when he made the first album, there was no single thing that I wanted to change,” said keyboardist Lee.

“The demanding part is the chorus because we have to play instruments at the same time. But in the end, we all came to do it and I think it’s really cool.”

The band also included female chorus duo Mimi Sisters in the first album but the duo left the group in 2010.

Unlike many other indie bands to come out of the Hongdae scene, Chang Kiha & the Faces earned quick fame with debut single “Cheap Coffee” (2008).

Despite the CD being burned at home on PCs and skeptical reviews by critics saying the song had little popular appeal, it sold more than 10,000 copies through word of mouth. The group even won three awards at the 2009 Korean Pop Music Awards ? Male Artist of the Year, Best Rock Music for “Cheap Coffee” and the Song of the Year for “Cheap Coffee.”

Their first studio album “Living the Nothing Special Life,” released in February 2009, has sold more than 52,000 copies as of May, according to the band’s indie music label BGBG Records.

Now, Chang frequently appears on TV shows and radio programs and is close friends with celebrities such as singer Lee Hyo-ri and singer-songwriter Lee Juck.

“Just because you’re in an indie band doesn’t mean you should hang out with indie people only,” said the 29-year-old, who applied a similar logic to making indie band music and pursuing popularity simultaneously.

“Popularity comes and goes. But if you do pop music, you need to get famous. But I don’t mean to say that earning popularity is everything,” Chang said.

Even though the band has become famous, the members said in unison that they do not want to go for a major label. They said they will keep doing indie music, for the sake of “musical freedom.”

“We’re an indie band. As we don’t get investment from a major capital, our musical freedom is guaranteed,” said Kim, who used to be a drummer for Broccoli, You Too.

“We will not go to a major label. I like the way we are now.”

The latest album, consisting of 11 tracks, is something you should listen to attentively, by playing the CD on a stereo and putting on a headphone, rather than sharing an earphone with your friend on a subway, Chang said.

“People used to think of us as a ‘funny’ band, probably our looks were more focused with the duo Mimi Sisters,” said Jeong.

“But the second album offers more fun in musical sounds, with upgraded co-producing by Chang and Yohei Hasegawa (the guitarist of Kim Chang-wan Band).”

The band is getting some attention from overseas as well. The act debuted in Japan last year and is releasing the second album in the coming fall.

“We’re going to have concerts in Japan in the fall and it’s okay even if we don’t get famous there. Being on a stage with other Japanese bands and seeing them playing will be very helpful for us,” Chang said.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com) - The Korea Herald (2011.07.06)

Indie band Jang Kiha and the Faces recently grabbed the #1 spot for an online poll of the best artist/album for the upcoming "1st Olle Music Indie Awards" on October 25th. The online poll was open from September 1st to 18th on the online Olle music charts, where netizens had the opportunity to choose their favorite artists and albums released last month by an indie artist. Meanwhile, "Artist of the Month" went to Romantic Punch while "Rookie of the Month" was awarded to Eastern Sidekick. The "Olle Music Indie Awards" will be taking place every month, and winners will be given promotional and marking support through Olle Music and their affiliate channel, KT Music. The 1st awards show will be held on the main stage of the upcoming "Let's Rock Festival" on September 25th at Hangang Park. Check out one of their unique MV's below! - All K-Pop

The advertised start time for the gig was 7pm, and at 8pm there was still a huge queue at the door simply to get in. Clearly the administration of rock concerts at the Scala is not bound by the same conventions as a classical concert at a mainstream venue. Inside, the down-at-heel décor is probably par for the course for most rock venues, but an investment in air conditioning would be welcome.

Jang Kiha and the Faces at the Scala
Jang Kiha and the Faces at the Scala
As for the music, well, we had some first-rate musicians in prospect. Where Serious got the idea that they were “underground” is a bit of a puzzle, but most of the audience (it was probably 95% Korean) didn’t need to read publicity materials to persuade them to come along. Judging by the reception the they gave to the two singers, most of them had come to see Kiha & the Faces. LKL has followed both acts for a while: Yi Sung Yol’s 2nd album, In Exchange, was one of our albums of the year in 2007, but his latest album released in May this year was disappointing and so we suspected in advance of the Scala gig that Jang Kiha might be the star of the show given his catchy tunes and growing following.

Yi Sung Yol at the Scala
Yi Sung Yol tunes up
And as we stood in the muggy atmosphere at the back of the Scala, an unwelcome question occurred: Is Yi Sung Yol better as a recording artist than as a live performer? His immaculately crafted, slightly introverted melodies sound wonderful in the privacy of your living room, but live at Scala he didn’t really connect with the audience. In between numbers he was twiddling with his laptop rather than bantering with the punters. His remarkable voice with its huge range never really took flight. His less familiar songs were politely received, and even his old favourites failed to ignite the audience. Maybe the jetlag was affecting him – I never understand how musicians fly half way round the world one day and then are expected to be on top form the next – or he was just not feeling on top form. Either way, Yi’s set was a disappointment.

Part of the problem could have been the sound system, which made his mellow music come over as dark and muddy. But if so, that was something that was fixed before Jang Kiha came on. For even the slower, folk-style songs with which Jang started his set sounded cleaner and fresher than the sombre, murky sound that had marked Yi Sung Yol’s set.

In fact it was as if a cloud had lifted when Jang came on stage. He tried to temper the audience’s ebullience by stressing how sad his initial songs were, but still they were received with a deal of enthusiasm. And as the tempo picked up in the later songs the temperature raised still further.

Jang Kiha
Jang Kiha in pensive mood
Sadly, I had to leave just as the evening was really taking off. If there had been a bit of air conditioning, maybe I might have been persuaded to stay a bit longer, but I was glad to have had the chance to hear two of Korea’s leading indie acts live. I’ll continue to listen to my Yi Sung Yol CDs with pleasure, and I now realise that I have been seriously delinquent in not already having added Jang Kiha’s second CD to the first I already have. It was definitely Jang which was the star of the Scala’s show.

But what a shame that Kimchi Cult was not included in the initial PR for the event. While waiting for the Scala queue to die down I’d already over-filled my belly with a substandard burger at a nearby Turkish café. Had I known that the Kimchi Chariot was going to be serving Kimchi Burgers at the Scala I would have saved some room.
- London Korean Links

Korean indie band "Jang Kiha & The Faces" will become the first Korean rock group to play London's celebrated music hall Scala next month.
The band wants to show Londoners that there is a lot more to Korean music than Psy, Girls' Generation or Super Junior.


"I will be playing music with British bands as well. I am hoping to be well received by British people,.. as a band,.. that plays the same rock but with a different, unique color."

Korea's beloved traditional singing pansori master Ahn Sook-seon will also perform at the music festival.


"I think London is one of the most classic cities in the world. That's why I think the city will understand Korea's traditional sound."

The National Orchestra of Korea and Geomungo Factory will present the unique taste of traditional Korean gugak,.. at famous music venues,.. including the Barbican Centre.
British music agency "Serious" is in charge of local marketing and promotions.


" Not just bringing these artists to England once but making a way that they can come and work and be seen by more audiences, and also they can work with British artists."

London's Festival of Korean Music will open for an eight day run from June 14th at various venues around London.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
- Arirang

After an interview with Korean artists Yi Sung Yol and Kiha and the Faces, it was not difficult to realize that the night would be one about the Music. Forget the dramatic pulsing lights, multiple outfit changes, booming bass and sharp dance moves you would have normally seen at a Korean music event in the UK; on Thursday 20 June, everything would be purely about the Music.

Anyone who walked into the Scala that night would be able to sense the anticipation in the air as Yi led the event. Although quiet and somewhat coy, Yi is a well-respected and popular veteran in the Korean music industry. It never gets too exhausting with Yi’s music as he played gentle rhythmic beats, which worked harmoniously well with the other instruments. The guitar or the piano, each chiming in at the right tempo along with everything else, for a reason.

During the concert, the faces in the audience were engaged by not only his voice, but the way he in fact said not much at all. From the photos, Yi was mainly captured looking down, involved in his own musical world to care about anything else. Only a few times did he talk to the crowd, which was mainly to ask them to wait as he tuned his guitar for the next song or to introduce his next song. It didn’t matter. The audience seemed to be mainly made up of older Koreans, or people who have known him before the Hallyu boom in the late 1990s. It only mattered that they could see this music magician performing magical sounds right in front of their eyes. Sure to some new age K-pop fans, his music may sound strange, earthy, and dark, but that is what life is all about too. Yi’s music reflects real life and his performance at the Scala only shows how much sometimes music fans need to listen to this sort of genre. This melancholic, entrancing and hookless music will be sure to open up that small, hidden part of us.

Not forgetting the energetic band Kiha and the Faces, they were simple, fun and playful. Seemingly flippant because of their lyrics and Jang Kiha’s way of singing, audience was enjoying these moments. The band work hard for their critical success from scratch, and there was no word to describe their stage presence as the night went on. Judging the reaction from the crowd, Kiha and the Faces were a success not only because of their great music, but also of Jang’s ability to sing as if he was talking, and talking as if he was singing. Jang did not try any crazy notes or lyrics, and it worked well. His vocals was charming and his attempts at speaking English even more so.

It’s not only Jang Kiha in the band, but there are also Jung Joong Yub, Lee Min Ki, Jeon Il Joon, Lee Jong Min, and Yohei Hasegawa. The band members were all lovely. There to have fun in the UK as well as work, and they were not even shy to talk about wanting to meet pretty women and drink ale!

Kiha and the Faces are the epitome of a youngster’s dream, to have a successful band untouched by massive entertainment companies and no pressure to act in a certain way.

The night was amazing overall. Two different genres of artists worked together, who not just create an evening of fun, but also get people to wake up and smell the proverbial coffee. There is more out there, so much more.

Make sure to stay tuned for our upcoming articles on the interviews with both Yi Sung Yol and Kiha and the Faces! - Hello Kpop