Sitting in a cafe while pondering what I could write about SE SO NEON’s London show, one thing came to mind: there are not enough adjectives out there to describe how incredible the group was. Consisting of Hwang So-yoon and Park Hyun-jin, the duo bravely breaks the mould, presenting their unique approach to Rock on an international scale. Although they are mostly known for the aforementioned genre, Hwang and Park are unafraid to experiment with other sounds, such as Alternative Rock and Pop-punk. I stumbled upon their music a couple of years ago, and, little did I know, this discovery would lead me to finally see SE SO NEON live.

Despite their genre-fluid approach, SE SO NEON maintains a consistent engagement with musical experimentation. And what I witnessed at the London show was pure magic. SE SO NEON’s songs are filled with raw emotion, both in their production and delivery. So-yoon, the vocalist, admitted that the interpretation of their music often depends on the listener’s experiences, allowing each individual to find their own meaning and connection.

The clock struck 8:45 pm, and in a heartbeat, SE SO NEON emerged onto the stage at the Electric Brixton. Their entrance was a smooth, atmospheric prelude to what would unfold, and as the duo and their drummer made their way onto the stage, I already knew I would be blown away by their performance. So-yoon’s live vocals and stage presence hit me straight away, calling upon the spirit of none other than the legendary Janis Joplin. And when the singer picked up her electric guitar, it was as if she channelled the spirit of the great Jimi Hendrix himself. So-yoon’s fingers danced across the strings of the guitar, creating a sound like no other. She proved herself a true guitar genius, all while the stage was bathed in quick, bright flashes of light as the group opened the show with joke! and E 이.

Addressing the crowd, So-yoon reminisced about the duo’s first visit to London, stating that her second show in the capital was much more exciting than the previous one. “Are you ready for fun tonight?” she asked, and the answer was an unequivocal, resounding “yes”. The next song, Stranger, took the pace down a notch but brought forth powerful guitar riff, all complemented by So-yoon’s superb vocals. Go Back, a track from the group’s 2020 album Nonadaptation 비적응, presented a slower tune that repeatedly showed So-yoon’s live vocal strength; her voice was a pure joy to listen to.

With the song Nan Chun, So-yoon continued to bring her musical magic, and each note she played was proof of her immense talent. The show marched on with GURUMI, and its mighty drumbeat soaked the entire venue with immense energy. The next song on the setlist was Dong, which featured So-yoon’s soulful vocals. The song itself was skilfully composed, leaning more towards the pristine, polished sound akin to what we encountered in UNG.

SUMMER Plumage, from their debut EP of the same name, to me, presented a sense of tension, featuring a well-thought-out kind of chaos in its chords and melodies. Each guitar was allotted ample space for expressive solos, which, although not prolonged, effectively maintained the song’s lively pace and groove. SE SO NEON performed many songs from their old and new releases, including Athena, The Wave, Kidd, New Youth, and Winter. After the show, the group surprised everyone as they decided to sign autographs for the devoted fans who had stayed behind.

After seeing SE SO NEON in London, I can say that this extraordinary group redefines Indie music with each new song they release. Their talent and musical ingenuity, were a true blessing to witness. Until next time…

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Written by Maggie Gogler

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