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| EDM artist and DJ Cho Sun-gu performs live at a club in Seoul, January 2020. Courtesy of Cho Sun-gu |
By Lee Hae-rin
American indie band Fitz and The Tantrums' 2016 hit song, "Handclap," was playing while EDM artist and DJ Cho Sun-gu was sitting at a restaurant in Seoul for lunch a few years ago. It was his first time listening to the song.
Cho realized there was something unique in it. "I felt there was sort of bbong-kki (a feeling that arises from old-fashioned Korean music) that could strike a chord with Koreans, and that it would be a good match with the original soundtrack of the National Song Contest," he told The Korea Times during a recent interview.
Having aired on KBS since November 1980, the National Song Contest is the longest-running, traveling talent show aiming to discover local stars in different cities every week.
Inspired, Cho headed back to his workroom and created a remix of the two songs and the original album artwork. He uploaded the video on his YouTube channel on Oct 11, 2018.
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| Seen is the artwork created by Cho Sun-gu, which was used for the remix video, "National Handclap Contest," receiving 10 million views on YouTube. The image features Song Hae, host of KBS's talent show, "National Song Contest," and the neon-lit hand from the album with the song "Handclap" by Fitz and the Tantrums. Courtesy of Cho Sun-gu |
The video has become a big hit. On March 31 this year, it reached the milestone of 10 million views on YouTube. Since then, the YouTube video has garnered an additional 500,000 views, along with over 20,000 comments.
Cho said that his video going viral was a fun experience. When his video hit the 10 million views mark, he said it felt like winning a national medal.
Better known among fans by his pseudonym, J.E.B ― which stands for "Johann Electric Bach" ― Cho, 32, debuted as a DJ in 2014 with a remix album titled "Zynthar," featuring a variety of Korean songs, internet memes and electronic sounds.
He listened to all kinds of music while growing up and was once an indie rock band member in his 20s. Now he creates an original and contemporary blend of music from all genres, countries and times.
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| A self-made portrait of Cho Sun-gu, a.k.a J.E.B / Courtesy of Cho Sun-gu |
Cho said that he aims to be the equivalent of Bach in the contemporary electronic music scene. The symbolic red and blue lightning bolt on Bach's face in the image of his self-made portrait is an homage to David Bowie.
"I admire Bowie because he was a versatile and innovative musician. He explored several different genres without sticking to one thing only. As a musician, he tried to have several different personas, which I think is cool," he said.
Like other performing artists, his career was hit hard after the COVID-19 pandemic, as music festivals and performances were canceled or postponed. His remix videos are his latest pastime since the pandemic started.
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| Artwork for the remix video, "How You Like Y.M.C.A," made by EDM artist Cho Sun-gu. The remix features BLACKPINK's "How You Like That," and Village People's "Y.M.C.A." Courtesy of Cho Sun-gu |
In his mash-up videos, hit Korean and Western pop songs ― both current and vintage ― fuse together. He superimposes K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's song, "How You Like That," on U.S. disco group Village People's "Y.M.C.A." His sophisticated touch makes the remix video featuring the two songs of different eras and origins sound very natural. One fan wrote, "This makes me feel as if BLACKPINK were performing in the 1988 Seoul Olympics opening ceremony." Another wrote, "My deepest respect to your awesome job."
Asked what his dream is, he said that he wants to perform on a big stage and meet his fans if and when the pandemic is over. "Someday in my future, I hope to explore several different genres and make original soundtracks," he said.
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| Cho performs live onstage at Hyundai Card's Understage, central Seoul, May 11, 2019. Courtesy of Cho Sun-gu |
