Guest
Over the coming week Seoul Community Radio will present a selection of some of its most exciting members, from MPC gymnasts and experimental hip-hop iconoclasts to modular synthesists and electro-acoustic experimenters. First up is a very special Against The Clock session from Lionclad, a rising producer, beatmaker and artist. Though a proud member of local crew Azikazin Magic World, a multidisciplinary art collective comprised of filmmakers, musicians and puppeteers based out of Songpa-gu, in recent years Lionclad has caught global attention. Back in 2019 she was crowned Beat Battle Champion at the Goldie Awards, a competition presented by A-Trak and Fool’s Gold that sees producers and DJs going head-to-head in front of a panel of judges, which in 2019 included the likes of Armand Van Helden, Busy P, DJ Craze, Alison Wonderland, Just Blaze, Take A Daytrip, UNIIQU3 and Kittens. “I like trippy, dreamy beat music, so I make it!” she explains. “The important thing is the weird vibe. I really like weird stuff, there’s a lot of emotions in there! You can’t really dance with it, but at the same time it’s really groovy.” “I started performing my music in Itaewon, Seoul in about 2017,” says Lionclad. “With beatmakers and DJs in Seoul we tried out some parties, and through those communities I got to know about Seoul Community Radio. So we did parties and projects together and I got close with them. SCR introduces underground artists and supports the music scene in South Korea, which inspires a lot of artists and helps communicate with them too.” For the producer, radio has pivotal role in navigating the trials and tribulations of a difficult period, providing an emotional tool for those seeking different kinds of solace in music. “People like to be in their zone in 2021,” she explains. “Radio helps people to gather music to their own space and even share the zone together. I think that is a very important way to bring people various kinds of energy.” This resolute approach to the communicative power of underground radio is reflective of a deeper optimism Lionclad has regarding the Seoul music scene, even during a time when coming together as a community is harder than ever. “There are lot of ways to perform indoors, like online performances, which have the benefit that people can get to know artists and enjoy music very easily,” she says of finding ways to play her music during Seoul’s various lockdowns. “I think in some way it helped people to really dig deeply into their own taste, and the internet music community in Seoul really grew. Physical space is very important to communities, I can’t deny that because of my experience of getting energy from those places. But as technology is growing virtual environments can also share energy too. It’s really interesting that people keep making systems in virtual spaces to really make their projects work. It’s all about trust, I guess.” Looking forward, Lionclad remains optimistic about her community’s potential. “When I first started performing I felt that Seoul’s underground scene was very small, but I see now it’s growing rapidly. I just hope the scene gets bigger, so I can share in more inspiration.” For more information about Lionclad and her music, you can follow her on Instagram and check out the Azikazin Magic World YouTube channel. Tune into Seoul Community Radio via their website and YouTube and for more information follow the station on Instagram.
