Hong Kong emo band Wellsaid expands into Korea with debut shows in Busan, Seoul

Hong Kong emo band Wellsaid / Courtesy of Gideon de Kock

Hong Kong indie quartet Wellsaid — composed of frontman Rocky Sum, bassist Dixon Chan, drummer Darryl Blacker and guitarist Jackson Ng — is slated for its debut performances in Korea with tour stops in Busan and Seoul this weekend.

“It definitely feels like a long time coming,” Sum told The Korea Times.

After discovering local acts such as Daegu-based math rock outfit Mountains several years ago while curating an Asian music mixtape, he said the band has long looked forward to performing in the country.

“I most look forward to learning more about the DIY scene in South Korea, knowing that it is super vibrant and full of surprises,” he said.

Wellsaid has been an active presence in Hong Kong’s independent music scene since forming in 2017, but the bandmates have long set their sights on stages beyond their hometown. “Early on, our type of music wasn’t very common in Hong Kong — it still isn’t — so it felt particularly lonely,” the frontman said.

What initially seemed like a drawback instead encouraged them to expand their reach outward, allowing them to connect with like-minded acts in the region, including Taiwan’s VOOID, Singapore’s Forests and China’s Chinese Football.

“As we started playing more shows around Asia, we met so many supportive peers. We continue to be motivated by this DIY community,” Sum said.

Last year, the band also embarked on a multi-stop European tour.

This cross-cultural collaborative spirit extends to the band’s visual identity, as they have worked with Taiwanese manga artist Ding Pao Yen for album visuals since the very beginning. “He always nails the mood of our music,” Sum said, noting that the artist’s illustrations capture an unspeakable tension that mirrors their sonic aesthetic.

Cover art for Wellsaid's 2024 album "Regretopia," designed by Ding Pao Yen / Courtesy of Wellsaid

This continuously growing support system has encouraged Wellsaid’s members to keep pushing their musical boundaries. “We feel so privileged to be able to take our music to new places, and we are just grateful for anyone who comes to the show and gives our music a try,” Sum said.

While the band’s tagline is “Hong Kong’s best emo/worst blues band” — an inside joke among the members — its music is anything but ironic. With a promise of delivering “a raw and sincere performance,” fans can expect intimate, high-energy sets that showcase the four-piece’s distinct indie rock and emo DNA. “I think our music is best consumed live,” the vocalist noted.

Onstage, Wellsaid transforms performances into memorable shared experiences. Sum recalled one particularly chaotic moment when, instead of grabbing the microphone, a friend climbed onstage and began fiddling with his effects pedals. He also recounted the rare times they would perform the song “Eien” — his personal favorite from their latest album — and the crowd would sing along to the outro. “That’s always special,” he remarked.

The band’s earlier records drew from Midwest emo bands like Free Throw and Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate). Currently, Wellsaid’s material leans towards darker and heavier sonic layers influenced by the likes of Pile and Fugazi as well as Japanese bands Eastern Youth and Number Girl.

That shift is particularly pronounced in the 2024 release “Regretopia,” which was created during what Sum described as “a disorienting time exiting the COVID period, where everything felt so possible and yet we carried the bad memories with us.”

He called the record their most diverse to date, balancing the signature Wellsaid style seen in tracks like “Halloween Heist” with more experimental ones such as “Like Water in Water” and “Attention Economist.”

Now, after nearly a decade together, Sum attributed the band’s longevity to their strong bond. “I think our friendship, including with past members, is the driving force to keep this band going. Outside of music, we hang out and we try to be a part of each other’s lives and support each other,” he said.

Another factor, he added, is their enduring appetite for new music. There’s fresh excitement in putting songs together and incorporating new elements into their sound. “It never feels stale,” the frontman noted.

Wellsaid is carrying the same fervor this year, hinting at upcoming initiatives in the next few months. “We are planning to release a 7-inch in May and hopefully record our next full length sometime in fall,” Sum shared.

Wellsaid is making its first stop in Busan on March 6 at 8 p.m. with opening band Soumbalgwang, followed by its Seoul stage on March 7 at 8 p.m. alongside Ureuk and the Gypsies. Follow @wellsaidhk on Instagram to keep up with the tour.

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.