The Korean indie rock and punk scene has always fascinated me. From SE SO NEON to Jannabi, and from Crying Nut to No Brain, I realised just how much this music market has to offer. One band that recently caught my attention is Rolling Quartz, thanks entirely to recommendations from my fellow journalist friends. After giving them a listen and learning that the girls would be touring Europe, including the UK – having missed their previous London stop – I told myself, “It’s now or never.”

But who is Rolling Quartz? Formed by merging two separate bands, Rolling Girlz and Rose Quartz, they came to light in 2019. Yes, I might be late to the party, but better late than never. While COVID-19 forced the band to pivot, they leveraged social media to maintain and grow their audience. This strategic shift not only kept them afloat but also broadened their reach far beyond South Korea.

With a healthy discography built over the years, their global success has been quite impressive, including climbing into the top 5 of the US rock albums chart on iTunes – a first for a Korean indie band.

Taking place at London’s iconic venue, The Garage, the girls filled the space quickly. The audience was diverse, ranging from young K-pop fans to rock enthusiasts. Rolling Quartz hit the stage at 8 PM with an unexpected opener: AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. Anyone familiar with Brian Johnson’s powerful vocals might wonder why a band would risk starting their show with such a demanding song. But without a doubt, Jayoung pulled it off effortlessly, and my jaw literally dropped. What charisma, and what a voice! Higher and Burning followed, with Good Night and Blaze afterwards. Listening to Jayoung’s vocals felt like being in another dimension – her voice soared gracefully from the stage to the back of the venue, flawless in every note.

The group wasn’t afraid to take on Queen’s classic We Are The Champions either. They nailed it, with the crowd growing louder and louder as the performance went on.

Paradise, paired with drummer Yeongeun’s solo, was incredible. When Iree and Hyunjung began smashing their electric guitars later on, it felt like I had been teleported to a 1980s rock show performed by the era’s greatest rock stars. Another cover, Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, showed the band’s limitless energy. Honestly, even if they played a rock version of a children’s lullaby, they would still sound like rock superstars.

The show continued with Azalea, Holler, and more, as Iree and Arem (bass) displayed their skills again. Red Wine, from their 2024 EP Victory, led into the title track of the same release. And those drums – again! Yeongeun is a force of nature behind the kit, delivering every hit with precision and energy. The sheer power she commands from such a petite frame is astounding. Her rhythmic drive and dynamic control are a masterclass in how to own the stage as a drummer.

Rolling Quartz performed a few more songs before ending with My Chemical Romance’s cover of Helena. It was an incredible way to close out a rock show – pure gold, if you ask me. As Korean indie rock continues to gain traction, bands like Rolling Quartz are set to lead the charge, offering a fresh and compelling alternative to the mainstream

Rating:

Written by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}