There was a time when Daniel or Hyunwoong Kim considered himself “the most underrated rapper in Korea.” Known better by the mononym BLOO, the 25-year-old made a name for himself in the Korean underground hip-hop scene with music that dances around poetic self-destruction, loneliness and lovelorn woes. He makes for a dark, broody and tragic figure that’s more rockstar than rapper and you’d be hard pressed to find a music video where he hasn’t got a cigarette dangling from his lips or a bottle of alcohol clutched in his fist. However the magnetism of the entire picture is undeniable. “Obviously, I’m trying to write songs after sad incidents but I guess that’s what I tend to do… Maybe I like that feeling of feeling,” he confesses when we connect for a conversation about his artistry.
That ‘feeling of feeling’ is probably the best way to describe BLOO’s work. I’ve often felt that putting on one of his records is like floating on your back in a pool of emotion with your eyes closed, an escape without an agenda. You don’t have to relate to his experiences to immerse yourself in the music–in BLOO’s world there is no search for a lesson, no breakdown of theories; its about letting it take you on a journey without pushing a specific message. “I don’t really want them to learn about something,” he says when I ask about what he wants to impart to the world. “I just want them to enjoy and feel it whichever way they want to feel it.” I haven’t ever gotten an answer quite like this from an artist before and suddenly what he describes as ‘that feeling of feeling’ is crystal clear.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SPICE WORLD
Ice Spice ignored the haters, commanded our attention, and became a new kind of star. Next up: a great debut album
Pritam: THE HIT MAKER
INSIDE THE MIND OF HINDI FILM MUSIC DIRECTOR PRITAM CHAKRABORTY, WHO RECENTLY WON HIS FIRST NATIONAL AWARD FOR BRAHMASTRA: PART ONE - SHIVA, ON HOW HE CREATES SCORES THAT ENDURE AND SONGS THAT CLOCK MILLIONS OF STREAMS
K-Drama Flashback: 'My Name'
'My Name,' starring Han So-hee in the titular role, deftly subverts gender norms in society via a story of relentless fight for revenge
LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I WENT TO SILENT HILL AGAIN
The 'Silent Hill 2' Remake has you returning to that restless dream from 23 years ago
FIFTY FIFTY: 'WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOW OUR BEST SELVES'
Fifty Fifty's single 'Cupid' was a viral hit. The K-pop girl group is back with renewed vigor, releasing its new album, 'Love Tune.' The following interview covers details, insights, and anecdotes
EXCISE DEPT: 'IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE STRONG, BOLD CONTRASTS'
From An Armory Of Instruments To Personal Stories Told With An Uncharacteristic Straightforwardness, The Delhi/Goa Band Are Taking Over The World With Their Latest Full-Length
Mali is Heading to SXSW Sydney in October
For the longest time I have known that my music has a significant market outside the country,' says the Chennai/Mumbai pop artist
Ji Chang-wook, Lee Jun-ho, and Cha Eun-woo to Star in Superhero K-Dramas
Features the upcoming 'Twelve,' 'Cashero,' and 'The Wonder Fools' with the Korean stars in exciting new roles
Yoon Seobin Makes a Stylish Comeback with 'Rizz'
The Korean actor and singer well-known for starring in the K-drama Kissable Lips' returns to the music scene after a 10 months hiatus
Markio Tanaldo Pours Out Emotions in 'Mera Koi Na'
The Arunachal Pradesh singer-songwriter's second release is a poignant Hindi song that pays tribute to his late father