Photo: 박현 Hyun Park
Biography
Photo: 박현 Hyun Park
"a moody indie folk whisper that fills the room
with the weight of a shout.."
- Atwood Magazine
"Her work is an exploration of emotion and sound"
- The K Meal
"Chillingly delivered vocals and sophisticated pop arrangements... Truly incredible stuff."
-Platform Magazine
Eundohee is an acclaimed singer-songwriter from South Korea, known for her deeply personal and evocative music. Her latest album, "Blue Comedy," marks a significant step in her artistic journey, exploring themes of bipolar disorder through a combination of melancholic and uplifting tracks. The album's title was conceived before the songs were fully created, with the color blue symbolizing transience, disappearance, and the emptiness often associated with feelings of melancholy. In contrast, the word 'comedy' represents the manic phases and the highs of bipolar disorder.
"Blue Comedy" delves into Eundohee's experiences with mental illness, offering a musical journey through the emotional spectrum of the emotional highs and lows. On the bad days, she struggles to complete even the most basic tasks. Sleeping, eating, and concentrating can feel impossible. During a manic episode, when her mood is good, she can talk about these distressing experiences humor, often turning them into laughter.
"The album captures my journey through bipolar disorder, exploring the deep valleys and unexpected peaks of living with mental illness. Life is a comedy anyway, so I try to take pleasure in it." eundohee says of the album.
The tracks "Clock," "Adjust," "Didn't Hear Anything," and "Let Me Be," express the pain she feels when close to depression. Conversely, tracks like "Blue Comedy," "Sleep On It," "It Happens Many Times," "Night," and "All Of Our Days" capture the emotions she feels when she is in a manic state. At these times, she desires more light-hearted, fun conversations which foster a an optimistic attitude towards life. "Gravity" encapsulates the full range of bipolar disorder, the slow, dragging beginning of the track contrasts with the fast-paced, rhythmic ending where she ignores the meaning of words, mirroring her pursuit of excitement, speed, and stimulation.
Eundohee began making music at the age of 19 using Cubase 5, finding joy in using a computer to play various instruments like drums, bass, and synthesizers. Her passion for music led her to study electronic music at university. After initially feeling ashamed of using computer-based instruments, she later embraced them, blending folk-rock influences with electronic music elements. After struggling with guitar demos for her second full-length album, she returned to using piano and synthesizers, creating a more natural and easy-to-listen sound. This change led to the erasure of ten previously written songs and the creation of 18 new songs in just two weeks. She collaborated with several other musicians to enhance the album's sound, including long-term collaborator honnip, Seulhan Koo of Bosudongcooler, Matt Storm (whom she met touring the UK at a Sofar Sounds show in Brighton), and Yoonchul Shin from the Seoul Electric Band. The track "Night" was co-written by and features the vocals of Damon's year.
Eundohee's music defies easy categorization, lying at the cross-section of influences including folk, trip-hop, indie rock, post-punk, and electronica. Her early interest in pop music was shaped by artists like Lady Gaga and Beyoncè, however, she was soon exposed to a radically different set of genres that she immediately resonated with, most notably trip-hop. "A teacher of mine suggested I listen to bands like Portishead and Massive Attack, and I immediately felt a connection. Their music has a folk feel, but the drum sounds come from other genres. I really enjoyed it, because it was not one kind of music, but more of a combination of different styles. I decided that I wanted to create music in the trip-hop genre, so I only listened to music based on folk bands, trip-hop bands, and indie rock bands for about a year straight."
This diverse musical palette, however, had a downside, as the dark themes of trip-hop exacerbated her depression. Eundohee's relationship with music is deeply personal, serving as a means of self-expression and play. Despite personal battles and moments of self-doubt, she continues to find joy and fulfilment in creating music. Her latest album, "Blue Comedy," is a testament to her growth as an artist, blending introspection with an optimistic outlook.
"Blue Comedy" was mixed by renowned mixing engineer David K. Younghyun (second engineer to Tony Maserati), who has mixed tracks for Kpop superstars (such as PSY, JY Park, Twice, New Jeans, LE Sserafim, TXT and Stray Kids to name just a few) as well as global superstars like Beyoncè, Mary J. Blije and more. This collaboration brought a polished and professional sound to the album, enhancing its emotional depth and musical complexity.”
Eundohee has been releasing music since 2018 and is currently signed to Beeline Records, a Seoul-based independent label. Her unique style has translated into much-lauded live performances, and she currently resides in Korea, although she has plans to travel in order to perform and explore her love of Anglo-American music. In 2022, she opened for Stella Donnelly in Seoul, showcasing her talent to a broader audience, and in 2023, Eundohee completed a UK tour, playing six shows including performances at Rough Trade, Dublin Castle, and several Sofar Sounds concerts. Her live performances are celebrated for their emotional intensity and musical diversity.
Blue Comedy Track List (Release Oct 24th, 2024)
Gravity (Single 2: Release Aug 22nd, 2024)
Sleep On It (Single 1: Release June 27th, 2024)
밤 (feat. 데이먼스이어) - Night (feat. Damons year) (Single 3: Release Sept 26th, 2024)
CONTACT
Patrick Connor
beelinerecords@gmail.com
+ 82 10 8268 7740