Cloud Underground performs for the first time in Seoul at The Studio HB, June 1. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Graham Parkinson has been part of Korea's underground punk and hardcore scene since 2012. His latest band, Cloud Underground, is pretty far removed from that, at least musically, if not catering mainly to the same crowd.

"Punk and hardcore are best made by people with a passion for it," Parkinson said in an unhinged interview with The Korea Times that oscillated between brutal honesty and blatant falsehoods. "The flame doesn't exactly still burn for me. I'm not angry anymore, I'm just tired."

The new band blends electronic music, post-punk, shoegaze and alternative. With electronic beats and heavy synths, the songs sound closer to new wave or prog rock than anything in the classic punk and hardcore library.

"I want to try new things musically. I get bored easily. It's not like there's any money in this, so it just comes down to entertaining myself," Parkinson said. "If there was some serious cash involved, I'd write whatever the fuck they wanted me to. I have very little integrity."

There has been a spate of similar bands appearing around the world, like High Vis, Home Front and Oi! Division, made by musicians coming from high-energy music like hardcore and punk who are making something new that's — no offense — a little more sophisticated.

When asked about this kind of music, Parkinson said, "I honestly have no idea — I don't listen to anything that came out after 2004."

This isn't his first time in a band with the other two members of Cloud Underground. They have played together before, and all of them had been part of the notorious Seoul hardcore band Yuppie Killer.

"Well, look, we're all gettin up there in age," said Parkinson, who had been the drummer for Yuppie Killer. "I have all the friends I need. I don't like going outside anymore. Inside kinda sucks, too. But I needed musicians that don't have lofty goals of artistic or financial success."

Parkinson, who also previously led the band Acid Party and has played in Victim Kit and Leper Temple, fronts Cloud Underground as an uncharacteristically soulful singer, backed by Ali on guitar and Ian White on synth.

Ian White plays his old synth during Cloud Underground's first Seoul show in The Studio HBC, June 1. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

"In the beginning, (White) played a Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 (T-800)," Parkinson said. "It had a handful of cool sounds but was ultimately too heavy and had too much low end. A couple months ago, he sold it and upgraded to a T-1000. It fits the live sound a lot better. Much quicker response and flows naturally, like water."

White clarified that he used to play an analogue Moog Grandmother, and has switched to a digital Arturia Microfreak.

Ali, meanwhile, lives across the country in Busan, where he is also a member of Bandits.

"Ali actually didn't always live on the other side of the country, but rather, once at band practice, he came in late on the chorus and was exiled to the countryside," Parkinson said, before taking another cheap shot at Korea's second-largest city. "Some people would argue that Busan isn't the countryside but I would argue shut up."

The band also makes use of a drum machine, and each member packs their own pedals to tweak their sound, even on the vocals.

"There are no less than 437,000 pedals in this band," Parkinson claimed.

Ali, left, plays guitar during Cloud Underground's first Seoul show in The Studio HBC, June 1, under the scrutiny of Jennifer from the band Lucy Valentine, of which he was also a member. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Despite Parkinson's interview responses growing a little unhinged, he was able to take a compliment about the band's five-song debut EP, released on Bandcamp Aug. 31. The songs are moody and dark, and Parkinson's voice stands tall amid the layers of sound.

"It sounds good because Jeff at Binary Studios cranked the fuck out of the Studio Magic knob," Parkinson said. "Like a movie made in the editing room, this was really made in the mixing stage. There were a lot of ideas we came in with. Some worked, some didn't. But we were able to get something cohesive by the end of it. It took fucking forever. Learned a lot for next time."

Graham Parkinson crouches during Cloud Underground's first Seoul show in The Studio HBC, June 1. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Due to the long distance separating the bandmates, they don't play too often, having only done two official shows together so far. White called this "Enough to know better."

Their next one will be at Block Party, happening Sept. 21 and 22 in central Seoul's Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan neighborhoods.

"We are playing the coveted Sunday midnight at Pet Sounds slot," Parkinson said. "Come fuck up your Monday with us."

Visit cloudundergroundsk.bandcamp.com to listen, and follow @blockpartykorea on Instagram for more information about the festival.