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Leenalchi

AGENT
Michaël Bardier

Leenalchi (LEEE-nal-chi) — the seven-piece Seoul-based band led by bassist Jang Young Gyu — announce their Luaka Bop debut, a new EP entitled Here Comes That Crow, out June 12th, and a North American tour. The music of Leenalchi is taken from pansori, a traditional Korean style of musical storytelling often compared to opera. Rooted in shamanism and developed during the Joseon Dynasty (17th century), these songs tell epic tales of love, virtue, sorrow, and dragon kings. As if reverberating in our ears from a spiritual plane, the sounds emitting from Leenalchi's singers are transcendent. Their line-up, as singular as their sound, features two bassists, drums, keys, no guitar, and four singers.

The psychedelic riffs found in Leenalchi’s songs are courtesy of Jang, the band’s enigmatic leader, who looms large in the country’s small but dedicated indie music scene. An NPR Tiny Desk concert of one of his former bands, SsingSsing, racked up 9.9 million views on YouTube and was praised by Tiny Desk founder Bob Boilen as "one of my most memorable Tiny Desk Concerts of all time." He’s also a prestigious film composer, scoring soundtracks for some of Korea’s most celebrated movies like Train to Busan, The Wailing, and The Good, the Bad, the Weird. 

"Leenalchi has changed the way I think about music, dancing and Korea. I have never heard anything quite like this.” — Brian Eno

“I'm grateful to hear this Korean classical form used so playfully, in danceable guitar/synth rock, with serious hooks. Hihi! Haha! Hihi!” — Merrill Garbus (of Tune-Yards)

TERRITORY North America

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