INTERVIEW: When Hardcore Kids Start Oi-Inspired Punk Rock And Win. SEOUL DOLMANGCHI

INTERVIEW | Seoul Dolmangchi
Korean Punk Rock
https://www.instagram.com/seoul_dolmangchi/

In the world of hardcore today, it’s hard to know whether or not today’s hardcore youth have an affinity for punk rock in any way shape or form. When we were growing up, we were definitely massively into metal and then somehow found ourselves immersed in hardcore and punk rock. Both of these things actually went hand in hand and a lot of those 90s hardcore bands were only JUST beginning to sound more metal than hardcore. Up until that point, a lot of the hardcore we were listening to definitely still had that punk rock foundation front and center but were veering into more crosshover territory – especially those NYHC bands that we fell in love with. But without a doubt, punk rock was still a big part of loving hardcore. So to this day, we love listening to good, well-written, heartfelt punk rock.

Which is why when a few years ago we accidentally came across an oi-punk band called SEOUL DOLMANGCHI we were instantly enamored with the sounds coming out of our speakers. The band sounded like a good ol’ pub band with rousing vocals that would instantly whip up an entire room of people to sing along. And the beauty of it all is that the band sings in Korean, and even as a non-Korean ourselves, we began humming and singing along.

Fast forward to today, the band has just released an epic new EP full of tracks that will fill your soul up. The vocalist, CG, was kind enough to send us some background information on the band and the new tracks.

This was a very personal interview for us because we’ve ALWAYS wanted to know the background to this band. So this is interview is more for us than you – but we hope you enjoy it too.

UA: For a lot of our readers, they will be hearing you guys for the first time. Can you tell us a little about the band’s history? When did it start, and what were the musical influences in the beginning?
We formed back in 2014 through Seoul’s hardcore punk scene. Both myself and our bassist Yongsam were already part of the scene through our bands FIND THE SPOT, CHADBURGER and BANRAN. Besides hardcore, we were also heavily influenced by Oi. Singing about the working class was something we were really interested in so we wanted to start a punk band that sang about this identity. Later Honggu joined in on drums, and Maeno and Haedong were added on guitars turning us into a 5 piece band.

In 2017, shortly after releasing our first EP, ‘Consolation’, our bassist Youngsam immigrated to Germany which stopped the band in its tracks. After a brief hiatus though, the owner of CLUB SHARP/vocalist of SKA SUCKS, Jinsuck, joined us on bass. Ever since then we’ve been playing throughout Korea and Japan.

We initially wanted to really sound oi but once we started writing music, it naturally turned into something different. We’re all influenced by way more music than just hardcore and oi, so what resulted in our music was something more emotional and warm. A blend of hardcore, punk, oi, rock and roll with a slower tempo which made it easy for big singalongs about friendship and radical ideas. Some of us started calling us “Working Class Punk Rock” but we’re just a punk band.

UA: I agree that the resulting music definitely has an oi base but is still very different. The way you described it as more emotional and “warm” is perfect. But why did you want to create an oi-sounding band in the first place? What is it about the music and the culture of (working class music) that inspired you?
We all grew up loving listening to oin punk bands and are HUGE fans of bands like Cock Sparrer, Cockney Rejects, The Business, etc. so that’s why we thought forming our own oi-sounding band would be a lot of fun. Actually, when we started most of the members were actually blue-collar workers so it was like we were creating songs that were anthemic for ourselves and our other working class friends and people.

UA: And since you guys were all involved in the hardcore scene, once you started playing what was the reception like from the scene and community? From all your live videos I always see the entire room singing along! It always looks so damn special and heartwarming!
First of all, I think many people were comforted by the lyrics because they were written in Korean and because the lyrics were both about the working class and also about those burdened with hardships living in our world. The original members, bassist Youngsam and vocalist Changeun, did an amazing job writing the lyrics. I think that’s why quickly many in the punk community connected with us and our music.

“If we did sing in English it certainly would help us connect with punk communities around the world, but we want to sing in the language that connects with our local working class communities.”

UA: Congrats on the new EP! What are the songs about?
The first track, ‘Diary’, is about life and labour – similar to tracks off our debut EP. The second track, ‘Spider’s Web’ is about fighting against complacency and getting the energy to get up and fight again. ‘Filtration’ is a warning to fake punks who defile the punk scene. ‘Punk Rock’ is a song about what punk rock meant to our lives as children. ‘Let’s Live’ is a song about suicide trying to encourage to people to not end their lives and finding ways to move on. The last track, ‘Lost Holiday’, is like a pep song for the Seoul punk scene.

UA: The EP is coming out on Japanese label CREW FOR LIFE. How did this happen?
I’ve had a long established relationship with Hiro the owner of CREW FOR LIFE in Japan. He released my band FIND THE SPOT’s debut album and so it was natural to get him involved with releasing this new EP as well. He has always been so supportive!

UA: It is REALLY cool that the band sings in Korean, why did you guys decide to stick to it?
I’ve always written ally my lyrics in Korean even in FIND THE SPOT. We sing the sentiments of the working and lower class people of society. Most of them don’t speak English at all and so if we did sing in English it certainly would help us connect with punk communities around the world, but we want to sing in the language that connects with our local working class communities.

Go blast the new EP and get those fists ready to be pumped in the air!