Today, one of the most recognized Korean indie bands, SURL, released their latest song, “Beside” from the single album of the same name. It is their first official release in a year after a well-received collaboration single “Don’t Say No” featuring rapper Jay Park.
Recommended by K-pop idols such as BTS‘ leader RM and IU, SURL is a four-member South Korean band known for crafting genre-blended hits and sharing relatable, true-to-life stories through their music. Being already widely recognized for such songs as “Dry Flower,” “Snow,” and “The Lights Behind You,” SURL continue rising their profile with unique-sounding tracks.
“Beside” and “Colors,” two songs that are featured in their new album, were tracks that SURL worked on in their early days as a band. According to vocalist Seol Hoseung, both are very personal and tell a life story that the listeners might have experienced themselves at least once.
The main song “Beside” appeals with relatable lyrics about the feeling of having a crush on someone along with ambient dream pop melody and the distinct guitar riff. The second track “Colors” is about comparing good and bad daily life events to colors and desiring to have more different colors in life while the reality is just black and white.
Both songs were initially included as hidden tracks (demo versions) on limited edition cassette tapes of SURL’s 1st EP Aren’t You? and 2nd EP I Know, which became one of the most popular items during the annual MPMG WEEK held earlier this year. Both songs got a lot of positive responses and were decided to be officially released after being carefully rearranged by SURL members.
Prior to its release, the music video for “Beside” gathered a lot of attention for the dreamy, fantasy-like visuals shown in the teaser. It was announced to be a collaborative work with an independent Korean animator who created a visualizer specifically for the song.
SURL is one of a few independent artists in Korea who are actively pushing the boundaries between music genres through collaborations with hip-hop musicians such as Jay Park and Hash Swan and connecting with artists from various fields. They also gained a solid overseas fanbase after being invited to perform at music festivals in Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Canada.
SURL’s single “Besides” is now available for streaming on all major platforms. Check out the music video, below!