Potatoi displays 'Orange Courage' with first full-length album

Cha Soon-jong, the wave to earth bassist who performs solo under the name Potatoi / Courtesy of Potatoi

Potatoi, the stage name of Cha Soon-jong, bassist of Korean indie rock band wave to earth, has dropped his first-ever studio album, “Orange Courage.”

An ode to his youth, the musician combined “orange,” the color he associates with this period of his life, with “courage,” for his journey to fully embrace his artistry. “I needed courage to try new things — to experiment, and to acknowledge that I can do these things. It takes tremendous courage to do so,” he explained about the creation of the record.

Released March 13 and composed of 10 tracks — including pre-released singles “100p,” “She Wanna Blue,” “See Ya” and “90s” — the record merges the mundane with imagined narratives. “The idea comes from daily life, but when I start adding flesh to it, I sometimes include a bit more fiction,” he said.

He cited “See Ya,” as an example, inspired by saying goodbye to his wife when he had to take a flight for an overseas tour. He also mentioned how “Lion’s Tear” — a favorite and collaboration with his bandmate Daniel Kim — was born from an inside joke that was turned into words of comfort.

While Potatoi's earlier music leaned towards a brighter sonic palette, the new record delves into darker themes and a more experimental sound approach. “I had to overcome that mindset that there are only certain people who suit specific sounds — like, ‘I want to do this, but is it OK for me to?’ I think some of the songs were born through that kind of process,” Cha said.

The album leans towards more alternative, retro sounds with lo-fi aesthetics and moody sensibilities. “I intentionally squashed those sounds together — kinda distorted, very cassette noise,” he explained.

Initially a jazz musician, Cha used to play in an all-instrumental band and release solo music under his English name, John. He quickly realized that working on his own music gave him a certain pride and decided he should do something about it. After joining wave to earth, the urge to do something personal remained. “My heart isn’t at ease — I feel like there’s something unresolved,” he elaborated.

Cha Soon-jong performs solo under the name Potatoi because he says people think he looks like a potato. Courtesy of Potatoi

Having no prior experience as a lead singer, he tried seeking a vocalist to work with but couldn't find a good match. He was left with demos of instrumentals he’d created, but they remained unfinished without vocals. “I really want my music to be out somewhere, but there was no actual output," he said. "Then I thought, ‘If I can’t find someone to sing my own songs, why don’t I sing it myself?’”

And thus was born Potatoi — taken from his nickname “potato” (“Because they say I look like a potato”) and “toy,” to add a playful flair to his new solo identity. Although he had to wait a few years before his official launch, the artist immersed himself in making music, and eventually made his debut with the track “Popsicle” in 2023.

Fast-forward to the present, and “Orange Courage” pushes his artistry to the limits. “It feels really great, because I had a lot of control with my music,” the singer reflected. He listed wave to earth as his major musical influence, along with artists such as Tame Impala, Mk.gee, Steve Lacy and Mndsgn.

While it may seem like a major challenge balancing band duties with solo work, it’s easy for Cha to separate his creative processes. “Potatoi has full autonomy,” he pointed out. “Meanwhile, wave to earth has more space to negotiate.” For him, the key lies in understanding his role in each context — a collaborator within the band, and the sole creative lead for Potatoi.

“With my own music, I am the entrepreneur. I sell my own work. So even if people say they don’t like it, I’m just gonna do it. I don’t care. I like it this way,” he asserted. And because he already feels creatively fulfilled through his solo work, Cha feels that he is more open to compromise when it comes to wave to earth’s music.

Potatoi live in concert, Jan. 31 / Courtesy of Wavy

Potatoi has set his aims high, but remains realistic about the challenges of building a following. Recalling the early days of wave to earth performing in basement concerts, he sees their current success as a miracle, while holding the same hopes for his solo work.

“Potatoi is still very small. But of course, I do hope it does well — but I also know how difficult that can be. For now, I’m just doing my best — putting out more videos and trying to market my songs in my own way. I’m still trying to figure it out,” he said.

Potatoi also released music videos for the tracks “Joe” and "90s" as well as a full-length playlist video of the album. He added that he’ll be shooting the visuals soon for “Lion’s Tear.”

Following the release of “Orange Courage,” Cha said he will shift his focus to new material for wave to earth. But that doesn’t mean Potatoi is stalling. Instead, he plans to keep planting the seeds for what comes next, like a solo tour, and holding onto the same courage that led him to create Potatoi in the first place.

“Orange Courage” is available for streaming on all digital music platforms, including Spotify. Visit wavy.kr or linktr.ee/potatoimusic for more information.

Mariel Abanes (@staymmmad on Instagram) is a freelance lifestyle and culture writer/editor from the Philippines, currently based in Seoul. She promotes indie music and culture, and writes poetry and prose from time to time.