 Blues singer Kang Huh Dallim is holding a concert at the Welcomm Theater from Sept. 9 to 12, inviting fans on a stroll down memory lane. / Courtesy of Soom Entertainment |
Singer-songwriter Kang Huh Dallim’s voice is magnetic. It’s a bit old-fashioned compared to the voices of the young and hip stars, but instead fills the listener with a sense of nostalgia emitting a hint of jazz, blues, rock, and even Korean traditional music. Her voice is not something you would call sweet or pretty, but it pulls the listener in, something that is seldom possible in the upbeat and electronic tunes of today.
The 37-year-old singer is holding a concert this week, and both fans and music lovers will be able to experience the breezy autumn at the venue before it actually touches the leaves and grass.
This performance will wrap up her work from her first album “Waiting, Fluttering” (2008) and also offer some twists on favorites from the record. Fans will get to listen to some of her new songs, which will be featured in her second studio album, now in progress.
Folk and blues fans will hear some of their favorite hits rearranged by the singer, including Han Young-ae’s “Thirst,” Lee Jeong-seon’s “Lonely People,” and also pop numbers such as Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and “Miss Celie’s Blues” from the film “The Color Purple.”
The concert venue, the Welcomm Theater, is famous as a stage for both the singer and the audience to watch, listen and communicate with each other. It is smaller than other fancier venues and the stage is relatively close to where the audience sits. Thus the show will be full of interaction and sharing.
Although she made her official debut in 2005 and has only two releases — one single and one studio album — under her belt, the singer has been a favorite among blues, folk and jazz lovers ever since she started singing on the underground blues scene in the early 2000s.
Kang was among the first to graduate from the Seoul Jazz Academy in 1997, before working with feminist band Margo. From 1998 to the early 2000s, the singer performed as a vocalist for Full Moon, a blues band for the blues bar, Just Blues, in Itaewon, and also sang as the last female vocalist in the legendary blues band, the Shinchon Blues.
After making her way within the indie scene, she released her first single “Monologue” and went on to complete her first studio album “Waiting, Fluttering.”
The record, which was also nominated in numerous categories at the Korea Music Award last year, sold more than 5,000 copies, which is considered a huge success in the indie music scene.
Her music is quite unique. She graduated from a prestigious academy, but her music is more than just academic. She experiments with Korean traditional elements as well, creating a distinctive sound that includes both Western and Korean factors.
Experiments can be tricky, but the singer manages to mix just the right amount of everything, adding a delightful and emotional helping of her own melodies and words. For those eager to embark on a journey to a different, yet engaging destination, her concert will likely be the perfect travel companion.
Kang Huh Dallim’s concert will be held at the Welcomm Theater near Dongguk University from Sept. 9 to 12. All tickets cost 33,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3143-7709.
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