Not all Korean American musicians are K-Pop stars like Psy in “Gangnam Style”. Run River North is a band of classically trained Korean American musicians who describe their music as “gangster folk oriental music.”
“When people see they’re Korean, they have to shrug off the K-Pop thing and wrap their heads around the fact these kids are making real music and singing about issues with sincerity,” said their manager, Kyle Griner.
The group performs original compositions, many of which focus on the Korean immigrant experience. The band’s most popular single, “Monsters Calling Home,” is a child’s ode to his immigrant parents. According to Alex Hwang, the band’s lead singer-songwriter, his lyrics debunk the model minority myth by dealing with themes of financial hardship, domestic violence and intergenerational conflict, issues that are pervasive in the Korean community.
The band’s self-titled debut album is set for release this month. To read more about the band’s beginnings, read the article at the Wall Street Journal.
