KARDI - Let's start a revolution [INTERVIEW & CONCERT REVIEW]

The Korean Embassy in Berlin hold some days ago again a concert series of Korean rock bands.The "K-Indie Festival" included 4 bands, who in Hamburg (27th June 2024, Gruenspan) and Berlin (29th + 30th June 2024, Kesselhaus).

I was theire for band KARDI, who performed on 30th June in Berlin and had the opputturny to interview the members before the show as well done the live photos for their performance. Let's taka a throw back to that unfortable evening.

Photos: Discomfort Wings ©

Back story

KARDI unveils exceptional sound and energy, designated to strike the heart of worldwide fans and listeners. In short timeline, KARDI garnered acclaims and popularity worldwide for their performance and rich sounds as each member blended their distinct and unique stories into one. During the last years, the members were featured on diverse tours, festivals and media.

After the members were formed in “Super Band 2”, they directly began to release an amount of records, which were featured on different media such as TV Soundtracks and Games. The following years, band KARDI spent much energy in new tunes and live shows to build up for what they stand today.

Concert review

It was the last day and the last performance of the K-INDIE Festival series, who took place 3 days in Hamburg (27th June 2024) and Berlin (29th + 30th June 2024). Fans had the possibility to buy the current album and merchandise on the booth.

The performance of KARDI started 9 p.m. on this dizzy, humid evening. It was the 2nd time for the members in Germany, after playing last year already in Hamburg. The members Yeji (vocal), Leen (guitar), Inkyu (bass), Dawool (geomungo) and Yeonhyeong (support drums) took their places on stage, when Yeji (vocals) entered the stage. The opener song "City of Wonder" showed the crowed directly, that KARDI was in the house. The concert hall got suddenly almost full, the atmosphere directly felt fired up in the room and the crowd was hyped. 

You could see perfectly, how Dawool (traditional instrument geomungo) and Yeonhyeong (drums) controlled perfectly their instruments, while Yejis voice reached the hearts of the fans. Each instrument shined through this evening, and they still managed to interact as a team on stage perfectly. You could really feel the harmony under the band members itself, when they performed classic KARDI songs like "Watch out" and "Riot".

Vocalist Yeji took a moment of silence for some honest word to the audience. Be yourself.

"Let's start a revolution, 

right here right now"

Photos: Discomfort Wings ©

And then - there was the 2nd concert part: WOW! If you were a new listener of the band, you would be a now at that point a new fan for sure! KARDI filled the Kesselhaus venue with so much harder rock sounds that perfectly vibed with the traditional elements. Bassist Inkyu and guitarist/ back vocals Leen persuaded the audience with an outstanding stage presence, that featured great solo parts during their live performance with songs like "Seven Nation Army" (Cover), "7000RPM" and "Skybound".

Ballad songs like "Night Keeper" made the evening even more emotional, also because they revealed their newest single. The regular concert ended with "Ready to fly", when the members left the stage and suddenly came back with an outfit change in their newest band shirts to play two encore songs that really then ended this great evening after the 1,5 h live concert.

After the concert, the group stayed on the merchandise booth, where fans were able to let the band sign the CDs and posters. What an incredible day!

My personal throw back

Over the years of discovering new bands, Genres and sounds, this evening was so much more that words can not describe. Since over 15 years I'm into the different Asian music subcultures and almost 5 years ago, this blog (re-) started with an Korean Rock band as well. I discovered band KARDI some years ago over the Super band II contest (Korean TV show). All together, the interest, the contact again as in 2022 with the Korean Embassy and the band itself for sure made it to an unforgettable night, and I'm just thankful to be part of it, seeing music is an possibility to breaking solitude chains in our daily life and reach out people with similar thoughts.

A special thank you again to the Korean Embassy, the project management and the team, who has been again so kind to me. Thank you really for what we could create, with the things that we made. I think, it really started a revolution~

-Set list-

City of Wonder

Out of Sight

Knockdown

Amog

Watchout

Riot

칠 Chil

Blow

별밤지기 Nightkeeper

선 Line

Inside Out

Seven Nation Army

No Need

7000RPM

Zone

Havin' a good time

Skybound

Ready to Fly

ENCORE:

21 (feat.황린)

PARTY

Photos: Discomfort Wings ©

-INTERVIEW-

Before the concert, I had the possibility to meet the band and management.

Hello and welcome to Germany! Thank you for your time and let me interview band KARDI on my blog Discomfort Wings!

Q: Can you introduce yourself to the audience? (name/ instrument)

Leen: Hello! I’m Hwang Leen, guitarist of Kardi.

Dawool: Hello, I'm Park Dawool, and I play the geomungo.

Inkyu: Hello, I’m Hwang Inkyu, I play bass in the band Kardi. Nice to meet you!

Yeji: I’m Yeji. I’m the vocalist in Kardi.

Q: You combine an interesting sound mix of new and old elements. Can you explain your concept by using traditional instruments in your music?

Leen: Yes, we do have the traditional instrument-but we don’t think about tradition. We’re living in present, and listening new music. We’re just focusing on the sound of geomungo and how to mix this sound with our music.

Dawool: I mainly use rhythm and riffs.

Q: What are your musical influences?

Leen: I’ve grown up with metal music, but now I’m listening to every genre.

Dawool: Comics, games, animations.

Inkyu: Games, Cinema.

Yeji: The different emotions felt in everyday life, and various musics.

Photos: Discomfort Wings ©

Q: How is the concept of creating a new KARDI song?

Leen: There’s one thing from the start of this band. The perfect mix of our characteristics.

Inkyu: When one of our members come up with new idea, we try to develop it by objectifying through discussions. In fact, we argue every time.

Yeji: Ideas always come from various sources. For example, sometimes we each create rough riffs on our instruments and bring them in, or we might start by writing the melody first.

Q: What are your impressions so far from Berlin and Germany?

Leen: People with a free spirit, old-fashioned beautiful street, delicious food.

Dawool: Free and good.

Inkyu: The weather was amazing and the food was fantastic. Southern style Schweinehaxe was my favorite.

Yeji: The German people were all so friendly, and I found it fascinating that the sun doesn't set until 10 PM in the summer.

Q: The Korean Embassy of Germany created this event by seeing music as culture exchange through our two countries. Music has such an impact in many peoples live. What meaning has it for you person in one word?

Leen: Music is also language.

Dawool: Music is my life.

Inkyu: The only drug that the government has permitted. (Korean meme)

Yeji: It seems to be one of the ways, that allows me to pour out my pent-up emotions and heal myself.

Q: You already have joined live shows outside from South Korea. What would you say is the difference between the Korean audience?

Leen: Korean audiences are mainly watching the show, and they unites well as one. They yells together, raising hand together. German audiences are mainly listening the show. They’re enjoying the music, and dancing with oneself. It not means that they are uncooperative, just the difference of people’s personality.

Dawool: I don't know.

Inkyu: The audience from Berlin gets really into the music. I could tell by seeing them dancing and getting into the groove.

Yeji: Everyone seems to be equally enthusiastic. I didn't notice much of a difference.

Q: Do you know a German band or some words in our language?

Leen: I only know RAMMSTEIN. I want to see their live show.

Dawool: Hänschen!

Inkyu: Rammstein and moin!

Yeji: Kardi ist angekommen, Guten abend

Q: We have currently the European Soccer Championship in Germany. Could you capture the mood a bit of our vibe? Do you follow the current games?

Leen: When a goal was scored, fireworks fires in the street. That was a little scared moment.

Dawool: Everyone is crazy about football. It's amazing how passionate everyone can be about something like this.

Inkyu: It was overwhelming.

Yeji: The excitement is incredible! It reminds me of the 2002 World Cup in Korea; the atmosphere must have been similar. I'm not particularly interested in soccer, but the passion around me made me excited too.

Photos: Discomfort Wings ©

Q: South Korea has an impressive music scene. For someone who is new into the scene and your band, which songs would you recommend of band KARDI?

Leen: Watchout, Skybound, Nightkeeper

Dawool: 7000RPM

Inkyu: Out of sight. Anyone can enjoy the song even if they don’t understand the lyrics.

Yeji: "Watch out." That song is the catchiest, and I think it will easily draw the attention of first-time listeners to our band.

Q: What are your upcoming plans for the band?

Inkyu: Our new song ‘havin a good time’ will be released on July 16th.

Leen: And we have lots of domestic festivals.

Some words to German fans:

Leen: Thanks to coming our show, listening our songs. Hope to see you again!

Dawool: To our German fans: KARDI will return to Germany. Wait for us.

Inkyu: Thank you for having us. I miss you all.

Yeji: I always wanted to come back to Germany, and I'm so happy to be here again. Despite the language differences, it's incredibly special and meaningful to be connected through music. Thank you, everyone.

Photos: Discomfort Wings ©

ALL RIGHTS © KARDI

-Single Releases-

7000RPM (2021)
Ready to fly (2021)
Nightkeeper (2023)
그리다 (2023)
City of wonder (2023)
Winter’s Glow (2023)

-EP- Chil (2022)

-Album- Inside Out (2023)

Soundtracks - Korean Drama
The Glory, NETFLIX (2023)
Delightfully Deceitful, TVN (2023)

Todays’s Webtoon, SBS (2023)
FAMILY, TVN (2022)
Hope or Dope, Seezn (2022)
EVE, TVN (2022)
Golden Spoon, MBC (2022)
BLIND, TVN (2022)
Dali and cocky Prince, KBS (2021)
BULGASAL, TVN (2021)

NEXON | Kartrider DRIFT

Go Fast (2022)

NEXON | Closers

i (2022)

Com2uS | Summoners War

Make your Mark (2022)

International shows
2023 Germany Hamburg, 834th Hamburg Port Festival

2023 Austria Vienna, Donauinsel Music Festival

2023 Austria Vienna, Flex Halle Live

2023 Hong Kong, Ear up Showcase