Korean underground electronic music heads to UK for SXSW, Glastonbury

The participating artists for "Enter the K-Bass Vol.1" / Courtesy of Seoul Community Radio/Scream Records

Seoul Community Radio (SCR), having built itself as a platform for Korea's underground electronic music scene, is taking steps to spread its influence internationally. Teaming up with SM Entertainment label ScreaM Records, they are in the U.K. this week to showcase the next step in Korean music for the inaugural SXSW London, under the theme "Enter the K-Bass Vol.1."

Serving as co-curators, SCR and ScreaM will offer a six-hour showcase of seven producers and live acts on Tuesday, the second day of the six-day festival. On Wednesday, they will have a panel discussion.

SCR, which operates as an online radio station and creative hub and acts as an event producer, has partnered with SM's dance music label. The two entities are set to release a compilation album featuring dance floor-oriented tracks from five up-and-coming Korean bass music producers: 7ip7o3, H4rdy, Mar Vista, Coziest and yunji.

Mar Vista performs at Park'n'Ride Carrara in Australia in 2024. Courtesy of Need2Freak

The five producers will perform DJ sets in London, joined by rapper BLASE and electronic artist The Deep.

SCR and ScreaM will shine a spotlight on an emerging movement in Korea that stitches together both Korean popular music and U.K. dance music.

Seoul Community Radio holds a Korean sauna rave, March 30, 2024. Courtesy of Seoul Community Radio

“Over the years, SXSW has hosted many Korean artists who have also featured on SCR such as Balming Tiger, Hypnosis Therapy, CIFIKA, 404, Kirara and many more," said Richard Price, the British founder of SCR. "The event is seen as a massive springboard for independent musicians to reach global audiences and with the U.K. and Europe’s legacy for cutting-edge electronic music, we are very proud to have been invited to take part as Korea’s sole co-curator for the inaugural London conference. With our partnership with ScreaM Records, we feel it’s the perfect mix of worlds to help showcase to the many international fans of K-pop what the K-underground is bringing to the next dimension of the journey."

Price added that participating in SXSW London was especially meaningful for him.

"Not only is London my hometown but the area of East London — Shoreditch where SXSW is being held — is where I did a lot of my growing up, especially in a musical context," he said. "Even the venue 93 Feet East in Brick Lane was somewhere we used to hang out and enjoy dubstep, grime and dnb nights so it really is amazing to be going back there with my overseas life’s work from Korea."

People hang out around Seoul Community Radio's headquarters in Itaewon, Sept. 9, 2023. Courtesy of Seoul Community Radio

This year marks the inaugural SXSW, based on the massive SXSW event held annually in Austin, Texas. It will take over dozens of venues, galleries, clubs and other spaces around London for keynote speeches, music showcases and innovations in tech, gaming and entertainment, as well as new arts and culture programming.

Adem Holness, head of music for SXSW London, said, “For me, SCR are the glue at the heart of one of the most exciting, radical and creative new music scenes in the world. SXSW London is focused on spotlighting intentional underground music scenes, so I knew we had to have SCR help us present the future of music from their perspective. They’re bringing some of the most exciting new and rising artists with them, and I can’t wait for people to experience this music.”

A poster for the "Enter the K-Bass" showcase at SXSW London / Courtesy of Seoul Community Radio/Scream Records

Zakky Kim, a representative of ScreaM Records, said, “When Seoul Community Radio approached us with a desire to tell an authentic story about the emerging underground electronic producers shaping the future of K-pop, we believed that collaborating with such a dynamic and dedicated team would help us create a more vibrant and diverse presence at SXSW London. Additionally, starting with SXSW London, we look forward to experiencing K-POP ScreaM and K-Underground all across Europe!"

After SXSW London, the team from Korea will go west to Somerset for the Glastonbury Festival on June 25 to 29. There are also plans to announce more major festival dates in the coming days.

Visit seoulcommunityradio.com for more information.