Silica Gel (Korean: 실리카겔) is a South Korean indie rock band. The band currently consists of Kim Geonjay, Kim Chunchu, Kim Hanjoo and Choi Woonghee.[1] Since their formation in 2013, the band has released a studio album Silica Gel (실리카겔) (2016). They won the Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the Best Modern Rock Song in 2022 and 2023 at the Korean Music Awards.[2]

Silica Gel
OriginAnsan, South Korea
Genres
Years active2013-present
Labels
Members
  • Kim Geonjay
  • Kim Chunchu
  • Kim Hanjoo
  • Choi Woonghee
Past members
  • Koo Kyeongmo
  • Kang Donghwa
  • Lee Daehee
  • Kim Minyoung

Career edit

Silica Gel was formed in 2013 by students from Seoul Institute of the Arts in Ansan. They had to name the group to submit to the PyeongChang Biennale, and they named the band after seeing the silica gel in the gum container.[3] They received attention for their style of combining band music with VJing.[4]

In 2015 they released their first EP Pure Sun (새삼스레 들이켜본 무중력 사슴의 다섯가지 시각), and in 2016 they released a self-title studio album.[5] They won the 2016 EBS Hello Rookie Contest Grand Prize hosted by EBS and the 2017 Best New Artist of the Year by Korean Music Awards.[6][2]

In 2017, they released a collaboration single Space Angel with South Korean band Parasol.[7][2] In November, they released EP SiO2.nH2O.[1]

They had a 2-year hiatus from 2018, and vocalist Kim Hanjoo interviewed, "I was thought about how potential could be developed at the period."[3] They came back through their 2020 single Kyo181. Their 2021 single Desert Eagle won the Best Modern Rock Song at the Korean Music Awards.[8]

In 2022, they released their single No Pain, which gained huge popularity in South Korea.[9] They won the Best Modern Rock Song again at the 2023 Korean Music Awards.[10]

In 2023, they released EP Machine Boy,[11] and they were in the lineup of various rock festivals, including the Pentaport Rock Festival[12] and the DMZ Peace Train Music Festival.[13] They have released their single Tik Tak Tok (틱택톡) with Hwang So-yoon of Se So Neon in August.[11] They announced that they will release their second studio album, Power Andre 99.[14]

Musical features edit

They aims for rock music combined with Vjing. Therefore, their true value is more demonstrated in the performance. In addition, the members' positions are not fixed, and each member's music taste is different, from psychedelic to post-rock, dream pop, neo-garage to even hip-hop, and their styles are different for each song. The music they pursue is said to be music that makes the audience experience and feel something different when they see their performances.[15]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

  • Silica Gel (실리카겔) (2016)
  • Power Andre 99 (2023)

EPs edit

  • Pure Sun (새삼스레 들이켜본 무중력 사슴의 다섯가지 시각) (2015)
  • SiO2.nH2O (2017)
  • Machine Boy (2023)

References edit

  1. ^ a b "실리카겔 / Silica Gel". Magic Strawberry Sounds. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  2. ^ a b c Jang, Jiyoung (2023-08-11). "이디오테잎·실리카겔…'쿼드 여름페스타' 24일 개막". Kookmin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  3. ^ a b Haeri, Choi (2022-11-30). "밴드 실리카겔을 닮은 컬렉션". Musinsa (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  4. ^ Yoonjeong, Choi (2017-09-15). "실리카겔의 공감각 예술". Noblesse (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  5. ^ Kwon, Ikdo (2022-08-25). "실리카겔, 신곡 'NO PAIN'…"시공 초월에 관한 이야기"". News Tomato (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  6. ^ Min, Kyeongwon (2017-02-17). "정체불명의 매력 '실리카겔' … 인체 무해하니 들어보실래요". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  7. ^ "파라솔×실리카겔 (Parasol×Silica-Gel) 『Space Angel』". Music Y (in Korean). 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  8. ^ "[한국대중음악상] 에스파 '올해의 노래' 등 3관왕...'올해의 음반'은 이랑". Voice of People (in Korean). 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  9. ^ "실리카겔, '양가성'으로 획득한 진취…함정을 피하는 '집중력'". Newsis (in Korean). 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  10. ^ "실리카겔(Silica Gel) 'NO PAIN'". Korean Music Awards (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  11. ^ a b "실리카겔, 새소년 황소윤 함께한 NEW 싱글 '틱택톡' 발매". Daily Sports Hankook (in Korean). 2023-08-19. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  12. ^ "실리카겔, 인천펜타포트 무대 깜짝 선물". Sports Kyeonghyang (in Korean). 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  13. ^ "'DMZ 피스트레인' 타고 온 젊은이들로 북적". Gangwon Ilbo (in Korean). 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  14. ^ "실리카겔, 반년 만에 단독 콘서트…'파워 안드레 99'". Newsis (in Korean). 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  15. ^ 씨즈온 인터뷰 https://blog.naver.com/ahncsik/223189560391