Q&A: Silica Gel 실리카겔 Presents Folksy, Thoughtful Collaboration Feat. sogumm With “I’MMORTAL”
A BALLAD WITH QUITE A FEW SOUL-WRENCHING — and triumphant moments, South Korean indie-rock group Silica Gel, or 실리카겔, in Korean, has just released their second ever collaboration track. With “I’MMORTAL,” the group explores mortality through poetic metaphors alongside sogumm, who co-wrote the song with members Chunchu Kim and Hanjoo Kim.
Silica Gel has quite the discography. Under the bigger indie-rock blanket, the band has explored electronic, psychedelic, folk, and even techno branches of rock. Think Inner Wave, as they dare to release a 24:33 long instrumental track, casually dropping as “S G T A P E - 01” in 2021. Or, think Sunset Rollercoaster, as they turn the pop element way down and get more in line with Tame Impala and early HYUKOH. Silica Gel is the most comfortable when morphing and evolving multiple genres, and among all of their crazy scientist experiments, “I’MMORTAL” feels the most mellow in a solace-finding way.
“I’MMORTAL” is a true puzzle board that combines the genius of three thought-provoking songwriters. A folksy chant that builds up upon a few chords and an acoustic guitar, “I’MMORTAL” sets out to make you feel things — although this might be interfered with quite a bit of subliminal messaging through the later-on drum rampage and distorted guitar. The deliberate vagueness of metaphors leaves plenty of space for pondering between imageries of wilting flowers and starlight. The track reads like a half-conscious wander that grants bliss and acceptance. Even if you don’t understand the Korean language, you can feel a sense of chaotic calm through the shaky cam footage that is the music video of “I’MMORTAL.”
Read below to see what the band had to say when we sat down (virtually, through email exchanges) with Silica Gel to chat more about the new single, inspirations, and the multitude of the band.
LUNA: Hello! In your own words, describe this new track for us. How is it different from previous projects?
KIM CHUNCHU: Hello! The new single, “I’MMORTAL,” is Silica Gel’s second [collaborative] work to be officially put out. Our dear friend sogumm sang in it with us. We combined our narratives to talk about the idea of incompleteness and dissociation. Normally, we work by having one of us bring a song to the table, then the rest would add about 20% on top of that to complete it; whereas for this song, we’ve gathered together 20% from each, so it was quite a wild attempt but meaningful as well for that same reason.
LUNA: So, “I’MMORTAL” is a collaboration with sogumm. Did you guys have fun — especially since the lyrics were written by three separate artists? Who is a dream collaborator you would like to work with eventually?
KIM HANJOO: It was a lot of fun, for sure. Especially because it had been a while since we had someone featuring on our track, and all of us are fans of sogumm’s work as well. sogumm brought such good energy and enthusiasm to the whole process. It’s not just the lyrics but in writing of the song itself too. We reflected motifs from each one of us and sogumm. Diversity was the key message in this song, so we re-organized the workflow to cater to that as well. I think all this helped build a more concrete outcome in the end. It’s difficult to name all dream collaborators because I feel the list would be endless, but I do wish to shape various forms of collaborative relationships. Featuring other musicians would be part of it but not limited to that. It could be with musicians or artists of other sorts, or brands, even.
LUNA: Would you describe your music as existential? It feels quite existential to me.
KIM CHUNCHU: When I make music as part of Silica Gel, I try to focus on the moment itself rather than having a predetermined idea behind it — like the actual moments of writing, recording, or mixing the song. Now that I think about it, perhaps that adds an existential hue to it. After all, I hope people pay attention to how they feel and perceive it when they listen to our music. I do like hearing their own experience of it.
KIM HANJOO: I never really use “-ism” sort of words when describing our music, although I do hear it being aphoristic at times because of the lyrics. I feel like I should give a listen through our discography before I can say I agree or disagree. It’s an interesting question.
KIM GEONJAY: We get asked this sort of question more often recently. I personally don’t try too hard to define or label things. But I guess everyone wants to have a sort of confirmation so perhaps there’s this essence in our music too? I find it a bit embarrassing though, to have such a grand word behind what I do. I think I’ll go for half agree and half disagree.
CHOI WOONGHEE: Woah. I don’t think it crossed my mind as such, haha.
LUNA: The artworks for your music are all super cool — is there a particular medium you enjoy? Who is your favorite non-musical artist, if you have one?
KIM CHUNCHU: I enjoy visual arts a lot. I did think about using our portraits for cover art, but it’s always a drawing or animation that appeals more. My dad did [visual] art — he was one of the first special effects makeup artists in Korea. I’m quite used to grotesque and gore aesthetics. I love the works of painters like Francis Bacon and Magritte. I admire David Lynch as well.
KIM HANJOO: I make a conscious effort to take interest in various forms of arts, but personally, I’ll have to say film. I used to make a living by screen scoring, and I do hope I get to direct a film one day. Andrei Tarkovsky has always been a huge influence for me.
KIM GEONJAY: I think inspiration can come from everything that makes up the world, including music. Apart from music, I find structures and textures of things and constructs of elements, whether organic or inorganic, fascinating.
CHOI WOONGHEE: I love Stephen Chow movies. And comedy with depth.
LUNA: While there are quite a few K-indie fans here in the United States, we don’t really understand the Korean indie music scene that well. Would you mind describing what it's like to be an alternative/experimental rock band despite pop being such a popular genre in South Korea?
KIM CHUNCHU: It’s amazing to witness how Korean music is attracting more attention globally compared to in the past, especially from the western part of the world. It is a huge motivation for us to work as musicians, whether as part of Silica Gel or individually. If this interest in Korean culture and music continues it will eventually mean a wider audience for us and other Korean musicians who are in a similar place as us, whenever that might be. We will continue to work on what we do so we can make the most out of it when that moment is presented to us. It could be touring abroad or working alongside musicians in other countries. For now, we’re waiting on the right moment in a way.
KIM HANJOO: I see that in Korea, the working behind the music industry can vary a lot depending on what genre we’re talking about — whether it’s pop, hip-hop, or rock. I am quite interested in such disparities and do research on my own too but since we live in an exceedingly fast-paced world, I don’t think I can really give a set opinion. What I do think though is that with K-pop there’s so much new stuff coming out every day, both in terms of music and brand-aesthetics, so there’s definitely things to pick up from that.
KIM GEONJAY: I rarely use or take notice of the “K-” expressions. I mean, sure, it’s for categorization purposes, but I just personally don’t draw lines between what’s “K-” or what’s indie, you know. What I do is music, regardless of what labels it might entail.
CHOI WOONGHEE: I think it can be an advantage. To be a rock band in a scene so heavily populated with pop music, we’re doing something different and unique.
LUNA: If you could choose one ice cream flavor to describe your music, what would it be?
CHOI WOONGHEE: Dare I say Dippin Dots… It’s a cluster of all these grains but makes a harmonized taste once it’s in your mouth. Our music, too, is a cluster of elements but pretty tasty.
LUNA: Can you tease any projects you are working on?
KIM GEONJAY: We’re working towards more releases this and next year. Hmm, for now all I can say is to hang tight! And that we’re aiming for something voluminous?
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