ROCK N ROLL RADIO

Update: For today only (Friday, Oct. 17), Culture Collide is offering 2-day wristbands for only $10, while supplies last. Visit the ticket booth at Taix to score your tix.]

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Now in its fifth year, Culture Collide continues to be a kind of international Echo Park Rising. It's still accessible at $30 dollars for a three-day pass, and like Echo Park Rising, the festival takes over Sunset Boulevard with enough music, craft beer and munchies to cause a riot.

But Culture Collide also offers a unique element of discovery that's now missing from major music industry gatherings like SXSW. This year alone, you'll be wigging out over avante-garde EDM from Israel and Korean rock 'n' roll that doesn't sound like homogenized, plasticky K-Pop — minds blown, right?

In all, over 60 bands from around the world will invade Echo Park for three days, October 16-18. Which means there's a lot to see when you're not getting blitzed in the beer garden — or trying to figure out what an Aussie BBQ is without missing the next set. But that won't happen, because you'll just take this list with you. Here are the five acts you simply cannot miss at this year's Culture Collide.

3. Rock 'N' Roll Radio (Korea)
Coming off a killer performance at SXSW, Rock 'N' Roll Radio has been making some serious noise on the Korean indie scene. Every song in the quartet's debut Shut Up and Dance drips with glossy productions and bouncy disco rhythms. Which results in their sound zapping you like a K-Pop version of the Strokes doing Britpop covers — on speed. But when you hear their laser-funk guitars and epic choruses, you realize Rock 'N' Roll Radio is light years ahead of what most Americans associate with K-Pop. In other words, they're the band we should be talking about. At the Champagne Room, Thursday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 p.m. both nights. - LA Weekly

Rock’N’Roll Radio were one of the breakout indie rock bands from 2013, whose groovy beats and smooth guitar melodies instantly struck a chord with music fans and gained them a strong international following. I’ve personally found their upbeat yet chill numbers great for long drives, late nights and lazy Sunday afternoons, and always find myself going back to the excellent Shut Up and Dance for a pick-me-up.

I’m really looking forward to the exciting new stuff they’re working on. All of the questions were answered by the band’s guitarist and vocalist Naehyun Kim.
Can you introduce the band? How did you choose your band name?

Hi, we’re Rock’N’Roll Radio from South Korea! We’re a four-piece band that formed in March 2011. In 2013, we released our full length debut, Shut Up and Dance. That album helped us win “Rookie of the Year” at the 2014 Korean Music Awards. Last year was a great year for our band.

In addition to winning a Korean Music Award, we also toured in the US twice. In March 2014, we played at SXSW and CAAMFest and in October 2014 we played at CMJ and Culture Collide. And this June we’ll be playing at Midem in France and then doing gigs in Saint-Étienne and Paris.

Our name was actually the title of a song by a band called Go Go Beat. Go Go Beat featured all of the members of our group except for me. We also considered using the name Shall We Dance?, but in the end we all thought that Rock’N’Roll Radio sounded better.

How would you describe your music?

We all like different styles of music, and we mix them together to make Rock’N’Roll Radio. Our songs have funky rhythms and sentimental melodies. And our music has a retro feel to it too. We’ve recently began labeling our sound as neo psychedelic disco.

How did the band get started?

All of us used to be technicians for YB. Jinkyu, Minkyu, and Minwoo did that from 2002, and I started doing it when Minkyu and Minwoo needed to do their military service. That’s what led to the start of our band. Minwoo and Minkyu have been in bands together since middle school. They met Jinkyu in high school and started a band together. That band was called Go Go Beat.

Jinkyu was kicked out of the band in 2009. Around that same time I was fired from a band I was playing with, so the two of us formed a band called Burning Flowers. Then the four of us met in 2011 and Rock’N’Roll Radio was created.

What is your process when writing and creating new songs?

Our songs are made through jam sessions. We usually start with a guitar riff or a melody line and then jam together from there. Jinkyu usually leads the jams and give lots of ideas on how he thinks a new song should progress. We follow his lead.
What are your musical influences?

I like bands like Depeche Mode and Talking Heads. Minkyu and Minwoo enjoy stuff like Red Hot Chili Peppers, D’Sound, and Incognito. Jinkyu is into UK bands like Foals and Franz Ferdinand.

After releasing your first album, you came to the US on tour last year. Now you are preparing for a European tour. What are you expectations?

Our US tours last year were really good. We got lots of compliments and even talked with an agent in North America. We were really surprised by the positive reactions we received. I think our France tour is going to be a lot of fun. I hope we enjoy ourselves and get to meet many beautiful girls!

Was it surprising to get attention for your music internationally?

Over the last few years, a bunch of really cool, unique rock bands from Korea including us have been introduced to international audiences by groups like Seoulsonic and KOCCA. They’ve worked hard to help Korean bands get attention for their music overseas.

And sites like Korean Indie and people like Chris Park have been a big help in introducing Korean bands to listeners around the world. And for that we’re very thankful.

Your music is very groovy and dancey, I imagine it would be very fun live. What can listeners expect from your live show?

Our intention is to make people dance. I think our playing is exciting but sometimes the lyrics in our songs can be sad, but by that point people can’t stop dancing!

Have you been working on new music since Shut Up and Dance?

We’ve been working on some new songs. And while we’re in France, we’re going to record a new EP in Paris with Romain Tranchart from the French band Modjo, Gregory Louis, and Yan Memmi. The EP will be released probably around August or September in Korea and France. We’re excited about this new release. Please watch out for it!

Any last words for our readers?

Reading this interview and listening to our music are great and we thank you for doing these things. But if you really want to experience Rock’N’Roll Radio, come out a show! - wikitree.us

After forming in 2011, Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio’s big break came when being asked to play at the 2012 Korea Live Music Festival. And that was before Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio had even released their first album, the 2013 EP “Shut Up and Dance.” After winning multiple awards and performing abroad, the band has gone on to become one of South Korea’s most intriguing bands.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio consists of vocalist and guitarist Kim Naehyun, guitarist Kim Jinkyu, bassist Lee Minwoo, and drummer Choi Minkyu. Kim Naehyun took a few minutes of his time to talk to KultScene about what makes the band tick, how they work together, their experience winning prestigious awards, and much, much more.

After seeing you perform in New York City at 2014 Seoulsonic, I’m very excited that you are willing to talk to KultScene. Would you please introduce yourselves to our readers who may not be familiar with Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio?

Hi! We’re Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio from South Korea. We won “Rookie of the Year” at the 2014 Korean Music Awards and last year toured the US twice. We had a great time during both visits! This June, we’ll be performing in France for the first time to play at Midem Festival in Cannes and also do concerts in Paris and Saint-Étienne.

Our songs are melodic and exciting, and we express different feelings with our energy and grooves. In Korea, some people say that our music sounds like British rock music. We can’t deny that the Korean music we grew up on and the British music we love to listen to now have both influenced the songs we play. Maybe KultScene’s readers will think our music sounds more British than Korean? Please listen to our songs and let us know what you think!
Would you mind telling us the meaning of the name “Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio”? Does it by any chance have to do with The Ramones’ song “Do You Remember Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio”?

There’s no special meaning behind our band’s name. Jinkyu, Minwoo, and Minkyu previously played together in a band called Go Go Beat, and one of the songs that they wrote as that group was called “Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio.” When we were discussing band names, there were a few other monikers we were considering including Shall We Dance, but Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio sounded the best. And we do love that Ramones song!

We’re actually a bit sad with the name we chose, and that’s because it’s really hard to find our band when people Google us!
You are a rock band performing dance style rock songs. What’s your creative process like? What influences you the most when making music?

We make our songs through jamming along to guitar riffs or melody lines. While we’re jamming, Jinkyu suggests how a song should progress. He’s influenced by many British bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Foals. The rhythm guys, Minkyu and Minwoo, are influenced by bands with strong rhythmical sounds such as Jamiroquai, D’Sound, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’m influenced by ‘80s post-punk bands such as Depeche Mode and Talking Heads. Since we draw our inspiration from many different bands, our songs sometimes travel in unexpected directions, which is a very cool thing.

In 2014, Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio won “Rookie of the Year” at the 2014 KMAs. How did that feel?

We were nominated in three different categories at the Korean Music Awards, and we won the prize for “Rookie of the Year.” It’s one of the most prestigious awards in South Korea so we were very honored to win. The K-pop idol group EXO was nominated for “Rookie of the Year” too and they had many fans at the awards ceremony. We apologized to all their fans during our acceptance speech!

Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio’s performed all over the world. What has it been like performing for audiences who aren’t aware of you?

We were nervous during our first gig outside of Korea, but we quickly realized that music speaks for itself, and people will love a band if its music is good. At our first overseas gig, we still remember how thrilling it was to witness the moment when people’s faces started to shine because they were enjoying our music even though they had never heard us before.

How do you feel about the Korean rock and indie scene as it is now?

It’s a shame that the Korean music scene is focused only on big entertainment companies and idols at the moment. However, there are so many superb musicians that continue to emerge in the rock music scene despite its small market size, and we feel very proud of this. If music lovers start paying more attention to indie music, then they’ll have chances to listen to a wider variety of music and this will ultimately bring a better and brighter future for both listeners and musicians.

Are there other Korean rock artists that you feel international audiences would appreciate?

Definitely! People should try to check out Korean bands like Galaxy Express, Goonam, 3rd Line Butterfly, Asian Chairshot, Bye Bye Badman, Love X Stereo, and Maan.
2014 was a big year for Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio. What can we expect from you in the future?

Last year was great for us and went by in the blinks of an eye! We want to keep making great music and performing in both Korea and overseas. As I mentioned before, we’ll be going to France in June to play at Midem in Cannes as part of the K-Pop Night Out concert there and then we’ll be doing other shows in a few more cities. While we’re in France, we’re also going to record a new EP with some friends in Paris – Romain Tranchart from the French band Modjo and Gregory Louis and Yan Memmi. They are going to work with us to produce, record, and mix the EP. We’re planning to release the EP in France and Korea in late summer or early fall.

Is there anything else that you would like KultScene’s readers to know?

Thanks so much for reading about Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio. Please give us your love and support! - kultscene.com