Korean band N-Sonic is performing today at the K-Pop festival. Its young members are looking forward to some collaborations with Indian musicians. By Karan Bhardwaj
In their early 20s, these young Korean boys of band N-Sonic might not be able to speak fluent English but their ‘cool’ tracks like Super Boys, I Won’t let Go and Never Stop have already become chartbusters and eventually produced new superstars from that part of the world. PSY’s Gangnam Style is clearly not the biggest export from Korea. Thronged by the hundreds of youths at the Korean Culture Centre, these six boys prefer to communicate only with the language of music. “Namaste”, greets us the lead vocalist J Heart. N-Sonic is in the city to perform at the 3rd edition of K-POP festival.
“We will perform our hit numbers and look forward to face some amazing audience,” says the vocalist. N-Sonic has of J. Heart, Sihoo, Byeol, Minkee, Black J and Zion. All of them come from different background but they all met at auditions organised by a music company. They liked each other’s fascination for electronic and instrumental music. “We got together in 2011 and have released a few tracks,” he says. N-Sonic trained for a long time before its debut. When asked about how they felt about their first performance, Black J said, “I didn’t get to show my all onstage. I couldn’t believe I was making my debut. I didn’t think ‘finally’, but rather, ‘Am I really doing thisIJ’ Everyone said it was great and that I did well, but I don’t know.” They reinvent themselves with each song. They sing, dance and play instruments in their videos. The band believes that the popularity of K-Pop is rising across the globe and India is no exception. However, it is still at the nascent stage. Although K-Pop comprises all genres of “popular music” within South Korea, the term is more often used to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music covering mostly dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, rock, hip-hop and more.
“In countries like Japan, China and Indonesia, K-pop is an established art form. K-pop is all about different forms of music and not restricted to one format. So everyone can connect with it. It also includes look, get up and mannerism of the artistes on the stage,” says J Heart, who has been learning music since childhood.
In their limited exposure to India, the band members quote My Name Is Khan as a great movie with good music. “Indian music is artistic, pure and soul-stirring. We would love to collaborate artistes here,” he says.