Love X Stereo
Love X Stereo (Korean: 러브엑스테레오) is an electro duo from Seoul, Korea. Consisting lead vocalist and synthesizer player Annie Ko and guitarist and producer Toby Hwang, the duo debuted in 2011[1] by releasing an EP album called Buzzin'.
Love X Stereo | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
Genres | Electro, Electronic Rock, Alternative, Synthpop, Synth Punk |
Years active | 2011–present |
Website | lovexstereo |
Members |
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Band members
- Annie Ko: lead vocals, synthesizers
- Toby Hwang: producer, guitar, bass, synthesizers
History
1998-2011: 18Cruk and Skrew Attack
In 1998, Toby Hwang, then-bassist for Korean punk rock band 18Cruk, decided to quit to from a new 3-piece band, Skrew Attack.[2] Inspired by the faster-paced sounds of bands like NOFX, Black Flag, Bad Religion, and Minor Threat,[2] Hwang cycled through numerous lineup changes with Skrew Attack before meeting vocalist Annie Ko in the Hongdae neighborhood in 2005.[3] Ko had attended Ewha Women's University and Seoul National University (studying physics and astronomy, respectively), before pursuing a career as a singer.[3] Hwang and Ko remained core members of Skrew Attack until 2011.
2011-present: Name change and Love X Stereo
Driven by a desire to branch out from their punk rock beginnings,[3] Hwang and Ko decided to change the band's name to Love X Stereo, a name derived from Hwang's record label Stereo City Records.[2] In a 2013 interview with Schoolkids Records' BLURT Magazine, Hwang states:
We did punk rock for years and years, so this time we wanted to do something different, something that isn’t necessarily punk rock, and something fresh and new. We love to add experimental flavor into our music, adding different elements from different genres that we like, such as trip hop, electro, alternative rock etc. So, changing band name was quite inevitable.[2]
Love X Stereo released their debut EP, Buzzin' on December 28, 2011, incorporating elements of electronic music not previously featured in Skrew Attack's music.[4] Subsequent releases have continued to feature heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines, further developing their electro-rock sound.
Discography
LP
Year | Album | Track listing |
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2017 | 37A
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1. Maybe I 2. Dark and Light 3. Lemon Spark 4. Bring Me Back to You 5. Battle Wings 6. 백색소음 White Noise 7. Paradise Lost 8. Parallel Universe 9. Like a Waterfall in the Sky 10. Rage Is Not Enough (Danja Mix) [Remastered] |
2017 | 37B
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1. Nosedive 2. A Revolution 3. Le Grand Bleu 4. Instalove 5. Turn It Up 6. Thunder Kiss 7. Trendkill 8. Pulse 9. Deeper Than the Dark 10. Slipping Away |
2019 | 37X
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1. Turn It Up (Art Effects Remix) 2. Deeper Than the Dark (Retro Remix) 3. All Over Again (Urban Remix) 4. Hide and Seek (Dance Hall Remix) 5. Fly Over (Open Ocean Remix) 6. Dead Beat Generation (Hard Time Remix) 7. Le Grand Bleu (Clockwork Remix) 8. We Love We Leave (Techno Remix) 9. Parallel Universe (Rabbit Hole Remix) 10. Zero One (Ultra Bleu Remix) |
2019 | 37C
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1. Annihilation 2. Free Fall 3. Imagining You (feat. I Made Subandi) 4. Head On the Ground 5. Christmas Sunset 6. All Over Again 7. 찰나 Ksana 8. Zero One 9. 불러줘 내 이름 Call My Name 10. Slipping Away (Acoustic Version) |
EP
Year | Album | Track listing |
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2011 | Buzzin’
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1. High Road 2. Free Ass 3. Ocean Breeze 4. Ocean Breeze (Korean Version) |
Off the Grid
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1. Soul City (Seoul City) 2. Chain Reaction 3. Storm | |
Glow
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1. Lose to Win 2. Fly Over 3. Secrets 4. Crossing Rivers 5. Soul City (John Gaska Remix) 6. Soul City (J-Path Remix) 7. Chain Reaction (J-Path Remix) | |
We Love We Leave, Part 1
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1. We Love We Leave 2. Chain Reaction (Deluxe Edition) 3. Ocean Breeze (Deluxe Edition) 4. My Anywhere 5. Fly Over (Deluxe Edition) 6. Free Ass (Deluxe Edition) 7. Soul City (Seoul City) [Deluxe Edition] | |
We Love We Leave, Part 2
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1. Dead Beat Generation 2. Beauties Die Young 3. Love Is On The Way 4. New World 5. Hide and Seek | |
V/A
Year | Album | Track listing |
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2013 | Bu-Kkeu-Reo-Wo-Yo
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1. Bu-Kkeu-Reo-Wo-Yo 2. Bu-Kkeu-Reo-Wo-Yo (J-Path KTB Remix) |
Indie Goes Pop
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8. Safe and Sound (Capital Cities Cover) | |
Hide and Seek
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1. Hide and Seek (Single Version) 2. Hide and Seek (J-Path 88 Remix) | |
Cheese In The Trap OST Part 8
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2. Hide and Seek (OST Version) | |
Rage Is Not Enough (Danja Mix)
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1. Rage Is Not Enough (Danja Mix) | |
Winter Dreams
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4. 찰나 Ksana | |
Zero One
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1. Zero One 2. Zero One (Ultra Bleu Remix) | |
Love Alarm 좋아하면 울리는 (Original Soundtrack)
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2. Tearliner - In My Dreams (Feat. Love X Stereo) 7. Tearliner - In My Dreams (Acoustic Ver.) (Feat. Love X Stereo) | |
Imagining You
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1. Love X Stereo - Imagining You (feat. I Made Subandi) | |
International Festivals
- Ubud Food Festival 2019 (Bali)
- Reeperbahn 2018 (Hamburg)
- APaMM (Asia Pacific Music Meeting) 2018 (Ulsan)
- Baybeats 2018 (Singapore)
- FOCUS Wales 2017 (Wrexham)
- Pentaport Rock Festival 2016 (Incheon)
- KCON (music festival) 2016 (Los Angeles)
- South by Southwest 2016 (Austin)
- Vans New Wave Musicfest 2015 (Bangalore)
- Mu:Con 2015 (Seoul)
- Zandari Festa 2015 (Seoul)
- Canadian Music Week 2015 (Toronto)[5]
- CMJ Music Marathon 2014 (New York City)[6]
- Culture Collide 2014 (Los Angeles, San Francisco)[7]
- Hyundai Card CityBreak 2014 (Seoul)
- Ultra Music Festival 2014 (Seoul)
- Music Matters Live 2014 (Singapore)[8]
- South by Southwest 2014 (Austin)[9]
- CMJ Music Marathon 2013 (New York City)[10]
- Indie Week Canada 2013 (Toronto)[11]
- Zandari Festa 2012 (Seoul)
- Jisan Valley Rock Festival 2012 (Icheon)
Awards
- 2018 Best Music Video: Rage Is Not Enough (Canada International Film Festival)
- 2017 Best Music Video: Nominee (Girona Film Festival)
- 2017 Best Dance & Electronic Album of the Year: Nominee (Korean Music Awards)
- K-Rookies 2014 Annual Finals: Runner-Up (Korea Creative Content Agency)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Love X Stereo. |
References
- Herman, Tamar (July 16, 2015). "Synth Punk? Electro Alternative? It Doesn't Matter, Love X Stereo Knows What It's Doing [Interview]". KultScene.
- "THE SEOUL SONIC FORCE OF BLURT'S BEST KEPT SECRET #22: Love X Stereo - Blurt Magazine". Blurt Magazine. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
- "In Love and Stereo: Korean Indie-Pop Songstress, Annie Ko". ATK Magazine. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
- "K-pop Indie Gem: LOVE X STEREO". seoulbeats. 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
- "CMW Announces First Round of Showcasing Acts Including Banoffee, Dune Rats, Redway, Daytrip, Jack & Eliza and More!". Canadian Music Week. December 12, 2014. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- Stanley, Adrienne (September 25, 2014). "CMJ Music Marathon Delivers Second Artist Lineup Including Seoul-Based Electronic Rock Band Love X Stereo". KpopStarz.
- "Culture Collide International Artist Spotlight: Korea's LOVE X STEREO". Culture Collide. October 2, 2014.
- "Music Matters Live 2014". TimeOut Singapore. April 28, 2014.
- Miller, Ariel (December 3, 2013). "FOUR ON THE FLOOR: BANDS WITH SEOUL (PART ONE)". SXSW.
- Xtian (October 22, 2013). "Love X Stereo at Korea Remix for CMJ 2013". Korean Indie.
- Mills, Fred (July 11, 2013). "THE SEOUL SONIC FORCE OF BLURT'S BEST KEPT SECRET #22: Love X Stereo". Blurt Magazine.