With Dreamy Tunes and a Hint of Shyness, 1415 Explores the Depths of Indie Music

Indie duo 1415 [UNIVERSAL MUSIC KOREA]

 

In the realm of Korean indie music, the folk-pop duo 1415 stands as a beacon for those eager to embark on a musical journey. Often referred to as the "Vivaldi of Korean indie," this dynamic duo, consisting of singer Joo Seong-geun and guitarist Oh Ji-hyun, have a unique mission: to compose songs for every season and weather, aiming to provide the melodic backdrop to every moment in their listeners' lives.

Signed under Universal Music's Korean division, 1415 made their debut in 2017 with the EP "Dear: X." They have since left an indelible mark on the scene with tracks like "Draw the Line" (2017), "When It Snows" (2018), "Surfer" (2018), and "naps!" (2021). The name "1415," pronounced as "il-sa-il-o" in Korean, draws inspiration from the number of guitar chords they frequently employ when crafting their music.

Recently, on August 23, 1415 released their latest digital single, "Trouble," featuring the title track and a B-side, "Coffee." This marks their first project in over a year and a half since their last album, "naps!," graced the airwaves in December 2021.

"Trouble" was birthed from the inspiration of girl group IVE's 2022 hit dance track, "Love Dive," particularly its alluring call to dive headfirst into love, irrespective of the doubts in one's mind. Joo Seong-geun shares, " 'Trouble' is about the exact moment when you fall in love — when you realize that you’re in trouble."

The duo has a knack for crafting their own songs, but "Trouble" represents their first endeavor in which they worked exclusively together, an accomplishment that brought them immense satisfaction.

In their latest musical creation, 1415 opted for a dreamy atmosphere, layering their voices repeatedly to achieve an ethereal auditory effect. They painstakingly recorded the song over 100 times, striving to infuse it with the delicate texture of love itself.

As Joo elaborates, "You get to feel a lot of different things in your life, and they could even be about just one person. They could be a very attractive person, but you have no idea whether they’re a good person. The more you fall for them, the more you realize that you’re only in trouble. So this was the emotion we wanted to get across with ‘Trouble’ because not all love is good and comfortable — sometimes, it could be quick and troublesome."

This sentiment echoes the very story of how 1415 came into existence — love at first sight. The two musicians crossed paths in 2014 when Joo was a vocal tutor and Oh his eager student. Their connection was immediate, and they have been inseparable ever since, now sharing their lives not only with each other but also with two cats and a dog, and a recent addition to the family.

To promote "Trouble," 1415 took inspiration from K-pop idols, creating short "challenge" videos on social media featuring other artists such as girl group TRI.BE, singer Kwon Eun-bi, and Young K of DAY6. Yet, their endearing shyness sets them apart from the typical idol image, and fans have embraced their authenticity.

Joo humorously recalls, "I've never been nervous on stage, but just thinking about having to shoot a challenge video made my hands tremble and sweat like crazy. I learned for the first time what stage fright feels like. But I've also found that the audience takes pity on us and helps us by smiling even more and cheering."

Oh chimes in, "They’re actually laughing at us. There was this comment on the YouTube video that said, 'I can’t watch you do this,' and all I thought was, 'Me neither!'"

The foray into a new style of work not only entertained their fans but also opened doors to the world of commercialized music, a departure from the typical indie artist's path.

Oh reflects, "I think these days, the idea of indie is different from the past. I think in the past, it really meant making music in your basement. But now, it feels like you’re indie if you make your own songs or if your songs have a certain band-like sound. I think the very fact that you can’t pin it down means that it’s just become a new genre of music rather than a specific cultural phenomenon."

Their journey to a contract with Universal Music Korea was a testament to their indie spirit. Oh shares, "We sent out emails to everyone. We took our own photos and explained our hopes of just getting an album. But a manager [at Universal Music Korea] said that they had never seen anyone do such a thing, so they wanted to see us in person. They eventually asked us to sign an exclusive contract, which was more than what we could have hoped for."

For now, 1415's aspirations remain simple: to continue creating music and express their gratitude to their dedicated audience. Joo concludes, "We just want to thank everyone and keep making music. We’re determined to do a lot more so that people see more of us and our work."

Sayart.net

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com