Q&A: LEENALCHI Fuses Korean Storytelling With Synth Pop To Create Alluring New Sound In EP ‘Here Comes That Crow’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KYLEE WIENS ☆
SCINTILLATING SYNTHS, DANCY WALKING BASS LINES AND NEARLY OPERATIC VOCAL DELIVERY—no, it's not the B-52’s, nor was it released in the late ‘70s post-punk explosion. It’s Korean seven-piece band LEENALCHI and their brand new EP Here Comes That Crow. At once cosmic and surreal yet refreshing and current, their newest six tracks explore the human condition through fractal pieces of traditional Korean pansori storytelling and grooved-out instrumentation. Here Comes That Crow expertly fuses culture and innovation for a result that sounds familiar, yet innovative.
At just a 22-minute runtime, the EP commands listeners’ attention and thrusts them into a world of discovery. Featuring two bassists, a drummer and four vocalists, the band tells five traditional pansori stories of human lust, greed, envy, mistakes and love.
Luna recently sat down with the band to discuss inspirations, their decision to have two bassists and their recent U.S. debut. Read on to find out more, stream Here Comes That Crow on all services and be sure to pick up a physical copy at your local record store.
LUNA: First of all, what made you choose "Here Comes That Crow" as the EP’s title and lead single?
LEENALCHI: We made this song for our new EP with Luaka Bop. All of our songs are great, but we wanted to create a truly special moment for Luaka Bop, ourselves and our first North American fans. After all, nothing makes a moment more special than the perfect song.
LUNA: What does the crow symbolize for this release?
LEENALCHI: Honestly, we didn't write this song with any deep symbols or meanings in mind. For context, it's based on pansori. In the story, the crow is an omen signaling a massive battle ahead. We hope this song acts as a celebratory flair—a fresh new beginning for all of us.
LUNA: What aspects of Pansori do you think modern audiences can connect with?
LEENALCHI: I think Pansori is much more fun and human than people expect. It has stories about love, mistakes, greed, jealousy and other very real parts of life. Even though these stories were created hundreds of years ago, there are still moments that make people laugh and think, "Why would someone do that?" Times have changed a lot, but Pansori is full of emotions and stories that people can still relate to. That's why audiences today can connect with it as well.
Everyone connects with it differently. Some people love the storytelling, while others are moved by the dramatic acting. The singer is also an actor, leading an entire one-person show. There are also those who are simply captivated by the incredible vocal power.
LUNA: How did you develop your unique sound without a guitar?
LEENALCHI: I know many people find it unique that we have two bassists in our lineup. This setup is actually our way of embracing the traditional structure of Pansori.
Pansori is a dialogue between a single vocalist and a drummer, and we find the unique energy generated by that minimalist dynamic incredibly exciting. To strip away harmony and amplify the rhythm, we chose to omit guitars entirely and build our sound around two basses and a drum kit.
Rhythm is very important for us. We have four vocalists, two basses and one drum. The drummer mainly leads the other bassists and the vocals. We only have three instruments, but they're really important, and they create a very powerful sound.
LUNA: Did you explore any new sonic ideas or techniques on this EP?
LEENALCHI: Rather than being an idea exclusive to this EP, our vocalists have recently started playing simple instruments themselves to add more musical flavor and texture. If you come to one of our live shows, you'll hear these extra savory elements sprinkled throughout the music.
LUNA: Do you have a favorite song or moment on the EP?
LEENALCHI: Personally, we love the moments when different sounds come together to create something unexpected. Each sound has its own strong character, but sometimes they form one complete picture together. We think that's one of the most exciting things about this music, and there are many moments like that on this EP that we love.
LUNA: What do you hope listeners will take away from your music?
LEENALCHI: We don't expect anything grand. We couldn't ask for more if our music simply helps people blow away the sighs of daily life and cool down after hard work. We don't think people need to take away one specific message from our music. We just hope they discover the unique charm and energy of what we do.
LUNA: What's your favorite part about playing live?
LEENALCHI: Our favorite part of performing is sharing energy with the audience. Especially when one of our favorite bass lines comes in, or when the band's groove locks in perfectly, we get this feeling that's hard to describe. That's when we realize we're making really cool music. That's why we keep coming back to the stage.
Listening to a recorded track and watching a live performance are fundamentally different experiences—for both us on stage and the audience. A live show is the exact moment when music transforms from a daily routine into an extraordinary event. Once we share that moment, our separate daily lives resonate together as one collective experience through the power of music. That connection is what we love most.
LUNA: If someone is listening to your music for the first time, is there anything you want them to know?
LEENALCHI: We want to keep meeting new audiences, discovering new worlds and making music that excites us. If people remember us as a band that keeps exploring and having fun with music, we’d be very happy.
Our lyrics are incredibly fun, but don't worry too much about translating every word. Just focus on the sound. Traditional Pansori uses music to support the narrative. Our music flips that idea. The story becomes the seasoning, while the sound is the main dish. It's like the difference between a traditional movie score and the abstract storytelling of a music video. Knowing the full context adds another layer of fun, but it's definitely not a requirement for enjoying our music. If your shoulders are moving and you're grooving to the rhythm, you're doing it right. That's more than enough.
Even our lyrics are difficult for Korean audiences because they're written in very old Korean from hundreds of years ago. Roy Kabab is working on lyric videos with Korean pronunciation so international audiences can read the lyrics and understand the meanings. But understanding every lyric isn't necessary. We just want people to enjoy the music first, dance, and then, if they're interested, explore the lyrics later. There's no need to prepare before coming to our show. Just enjoy the music itself.
LUNA: Is there anything else you'd like listeners to know?
LEENALCHI: We're always grateful for the chance to meet people through new music, so we're especially excited about this U.S. tour and the new experiences waiting for us there.
We want to keep meeting new audiences, discovering new worlds and making music that genuinely excites us. We'll continue creating and performing music that we truly enjoy, and we hope to see you at one of our live shows someday.
There will be more exciting news from us coming out over time. We also have many more songs we want to release, so please stay with us.
