Making Some Noise: Interview With Juck Juck Grunzie

The world has started paying attention to Korea’s music scene on a big scale, do you think that there is a greater chance for Korean indie groups to get noticed outside of Korea than to be big nationally?

Kyunghyun: I’m not sure.  It would be great if bands getting more exposure internationally could also help them get greater media attention at home as well.  That way bands would have the chance to boost their profile both globally and in Korea too.

What do you think needs to change in Korea to open the doors for rock music in Korea?

Kyunghyun: The most important thing is capturing the interest of the mainstream. I think if that happens, the rock music scene in Korea will grow far larger than it is now.  Increased media exposure will probably help.  And Korea having bands that play more diverse styles of music will likely help too.

Will this performance at the Glastonbury Festival be your first foreign festival performance? What are you expecting or looking forward to? 

Jeehye: Juck Juck Grunzie toured in Taiwan in 2013 to play at Spring Scream Festival.  And when I was in Vidulgi Ooyoo I went to SXSW in the US and CMW in Canada.  But Glastonbury will be the biggest festival I’ve ever played at.  It’s still hard for me to imagine we’re actually performing at Glastonbury.  As for what I’m looking forward to, I just want us to have a good time there.

Kyunghyun: I only joined Juck Juck Grunzie in December, so this will be my first overseas festival performance.  I can’t believe it’s happening at a festival like Glastonbury!  As for me, I’m most looking forward to sharing our music with audience members and meeting lots of music lovers during the fest.