InterviewWave to Earth brings Korean indie rock to forefront with stirring Lollapalooza Chicago debut
Korean rock band Wave to Earth performs on the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage at Lollapalooza Chicago in Grant Park, Sunday. Courtesy of WAVY
CHICAGO — Under the unforgiving August sun in Chicago's Grant Park on Sunday, the air shimmered with heat as Lollapalooza festivalgoers slowly drifted toward the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage. At first, the scene was relatively quiet.
But by the time Korean indie rock band Wave to Earth struck their final chord, an enthusiastic crowd was locked in, singing along and roaring with the kind of fervor usually reserved for global rockstars.
"We didn't expect that many people to show up," bassist Cha Soon-jong told The Korea Times during a backstage interview just minutes after the band's set, his face still beaming in the afterglow. "But as the set went on, more and more came to see us perform. It was almost kind of overwhelming."
From left are Wave to Earth members Cha Soon-jong, Kim Daniel and Shin Dong-gyu. Courtesy of WAVY
Wave to Earth may not be a household name among fans of the flashier, performance-driven side of K-pop, but they've quietly become one of the country's most exciting musical exports. Their music trades in atmosphere over spectacle — hazy lo-fi guitar lines, soft jazz-inflected drumming and melancholy lyrics.
The Seoul-based trio, made up of frontman-guitarist Kim Daniel, bassist Cha and drummer Shin Dong-gyu, formed in 2019 with the goal of creating music that felt human and handmade. In person, the three were thoughtful, low-key and almost shy about the attention they're receiving.
"I was surprised by how many people came just to see us," Kim said. "It didn't feel like the crowd was just there out of curiosity. They genuinely seemed to enjoy our music, which made the performance all the more fun."
Korean rock band Wave to Earth performs on the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage at Lollapalooza Chicago in Grant Park, Sunday. Courtesy of WAVY
At Lollapalooza, the band performed songs including "annie," "bad" and "peach eyes," each met with eager cheers from the crowd.
Most of the set was in English, not as a calculated bid for global appeal but, as Kim explains, because that's how the songs first came to him. The choice has helped the group connect with listeners beyond Korea.
"Every show feels different," Kim said. "That's the beauty of playing live music. Each one has its own nuance, and the fact that we can create something unique every time is the most special thing about onstage performances."
"We're feeding off each other in real time, fully focused and present," drummer Shin added.
The band noted that the crowd at Lollapalloza brought a different energy — louder and looser than Korean audiences.
"In Korea, people really focus on listening," Kim said. "Here, they're more expressive. Even if they don't know the lyrics, they sing along anyway."
Korean rock band Wave to Earth performs on the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage at Lollapalooza Chicago in Grant Park, Sunday. Courtesy of WAVY
Wave to Earth's rise has been slow and intentional. The band recorded their early EPs at home, handled their own mixing and visuals as they built a loyal fanbase through live shows rather than algorithms. They now tour internationally, often selling out venues on word of mouth alone.
Shin remembered their first tour stop in Berkeley, California, as the moment that cracked everything open.
"We had no idea what to expect," he said. "Then the crowd started singing so loud, it cut through our in-ears. It completely shocked us in the best way."
Still, the band is often swept under the catch-all label of K-pop, a category they don't resist but don't entirely fit.
"We have no problem with it," Kim said. "We're Korean musicians, so in that sense, it is K-pop. It all depends on how people perceive us, and we're okay with however they choose to define it. That said, we also hope people recognize us as a band that makes good music regardless of nationality."
Korean rock band Wave to Earth poses with the crowd during their set on the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage at Lollapalooza Chicago in Grant Park, Sunday. Courtesy of WAVY
Shin agrees. "K-pop's global recognition definitely helps," he said. "Because of global acts like BTS or BLACKPINK, more people are paying attention to Korean acts in general. And that opens the door for bands like us."
Now in their sixth year as a band, Wave to Earth say they still feel like they're just getting started.
"It feels like a long time, and yet it doesn't," Kim said. "We're still happy making music, just like we've always been. I'm excited to see what kind of music we'll create next."
Cha chimed in with a laugh. "It feels like we've just been charging ahead nonstop. Honestly, it feels more like three years. I'd probably subtract the pandemic years from the count."
As for the future, the trio is thinking big but staying grounded.
"We do dream about bigger things like Billboard or the Grammys," Kim said. "But more than anything, we want to make albums we're proud of. That's what matters most to us."
"For us," Cha added, "it's not just about the destination. It's about being on the path."
To new fans, Kim had this to say: "However you might have found us, we'll keep making the kind of music that's true to us. We hope you'll stick around and watch how we grow."