A Touch of Tradition: Interview with SU:M

How long have each of you been playing your instruments? When did you first get started?

Jiha: Actually, my major instrument is piri, the small flute, I started in middle school, which is more than 10 years ago.
Jungmin: I started in elementary school, just from CA, but change it in high school to my major, so I now play [gayageum].

There seems to be a rise in the popularity of traditional music lately, what do you think contributes to that?

Jiha: Generally, in Korea, young people don’t like traditional Korean music. But our group is playing not traditional Korean music it is just our compositions and our stories, so I think it’s more close to younger people’s music [taste].

In the past, traditional fusion bands like The Yoshida Brothers and 12 Girls Band have become popular around the world and have shared their traditional music with many people, do you think that someone like your band could do that for traditional Korean music?

Jiha: I think our group is a bit different from them, I don’t want to follow their popularity.

What are your writing sessions like for your music? Do you set out with an idea in mind, or just play music together and see what comes of it?

Jiha: Usually we improvise together. We will bring our instruments into the mountains and just with the silence in the mountain, light a small candle, and improvise with that mood. Another atmosphere can improve our mood and help put that into music.