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Say Sue Me

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Say Sue Me
Choi Su-mi of Say Sue Me in 2017
Choi Su-mi of Say Sue Me in 2017
Background information
OriginBusan, South Korea
GenresIndie rock, surf rock
Years active2012–present
Labels
  • Electric Muse (South Korea)
  • Damnably (UK)
  • Tugboat (Japan)
Members
  • Sumi Choi
  • Byungkyu Kim
  • Sungwan Lim
  • Jaeyoung Kim
Past members
  • Jaeyoung Ha
  • Semin Kang
  • Changwon Kim
Websitehttps://www.saysueme.com/

Say Sue Me (Korean: 세이수미) is an indie rock band from Busan, South Korea, currently consisting of members Sumi Choi, Byungkyu Kim, Sungwan Lim, and Jaeyoung Kim.[1]

The group formed in 2012 and has released three full-length albums: We've Sobered Up (2014), Where We Were Together (2018) and The Last Thing Left (2022); and four extended plays: Big Summer Night (2015), Semin (2017),[2] It's Just a Short Walk! (2018),[3] and Christmas, It's Not a Biggie (2018).[4]

Say Sue Me won Best Modern Rock Album and Best Modern Rock Song at the 2019 Korean Music Awards.[5]

Biography

Childhood friends Byungkyu (guitar), Jaeyoung Ha (bass), and Semin (drums) met Sumi (vocals) at a tea shop in the Nampo-dong neighborhood of Busan in 2012. The three liked Sumi's speaking voice and immediately offered her a spot as the vocalist in their new band that would become Say Sue Me.[2]

Say Sue Me released their debut album, We've Sobered Up, in 2014, followed by their first EP, Big Summer Night, in 2015.[2] The albums reached No. 64 and No. 79, respectively, on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart.[6]

In 2016, drummer Semin fell into a semi-comatose state after rupturing his skull. Say Sue Me fans, as well as other indie bands from Busan, raised over 13 million won in one day to help pay for his medical bills.[7]

The band brought on new drummer Changwon to temporarily replace Semin and named their 2017 EP, the Record Store Day release, Semin, after the injured drummer.[2][8] That year, the band also released a self-titled compilation album on UK record label Damnably.[9][10] The band played in London, UK that year in May, supporting label mates Otoboke Beaver at the renowned 100 Club.[11] They also released a joint single, shared with their tour mates Otoboke Beaver, later that year, featuring song "Good For Some Reason" which was their first song together with new drummer Changwon.[12][13]

In 2018, Say Sue Me release their second album, Where We Were Together,[8] followed a week later by the Record Store Day EP, It's Just a Short Walk!, which includes covers of songs by Blondie, the Ramones, the Velvet Underground, and the Beach Boys.[14] That year, the band performed at SXSW, marking their first performance in the United States, and toured the UK and Europe.[15][14] During the tour, the band fell victim to a tire-slashing scam in Milan, losing a number of personal belongings, musical equipment and income from the tour. They started a fundraiser to help support them and future tours, releasing a 7" single with new songs "George & Janice" and "Don't Follow Our Van" as rewards for the fundraiser.[16] At the end of the year, the band released the holiday EP, Christmas, It's Not a Biggie.[4]

Say Sue Me were nominated for five awards at the 16th Korean Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year, making them the second most nominated act of the year, behind K-pop stars BTS.[17] At the February 2019 awards ceremony, the band won Best Modern Rock Album for Where We Were Together and Best Modern Rock Song for "Old Town".[5] The next month, the band performed again at SXSW and afterwards toured the UK again, following the release of a new single about humanity's disregard for the environment, "At the End of the Road".[18] In time for Record Store Day of 2019 in April, the band remastered their first EP, Big Summer Night, and their first album, We've Sobered Up, both released on vinyl for the first time.[19] Later that year, the band release new single "Your Book" with B-side "Good People".[17]

Changwon Kim last played with Say Sue Me at the Eurockéennes festival in France of July 2019. Their new drummer is Sungwan Lim.

On October 12, 2019, the band announced that founding drummer Semin Kang had passed away.[20] Following Semin's death, Say Sue Me reworked their single "Good For Some Reason" into a Spring and Winter version.[21]

In December 2019, the band played a live performance for KEXP, making them the first ever Korean act to do so.[22]

On August 10, 2020, Say Sue Me announced the departure of bassist Jaeyoung Ha from the group on the band's Instagram.[23]

On October 4, 2020, Say Sue Me posted their first picture with current bassist Jaeyoung Kim.

In August 2021, Say Sue Me released new song "So Tender" for the soundtrack of Korean drama Nevertheless, streaming on Netflix.[24] Shortly after, the band release a new song, "My Heart", made for another Korean TV series, Yumi's Cells.[25]

The band were honoured to endorse Harmony guitars and Mono cases.[26] They played two songs on the Harmony Jupiter and Silhouette electric guitar, exclusively for Harmony Home Sessions.[27]

While the pandemic prevents any international touring for the band, Say Sue Me played a virtual tour, "The Time In Between". They played at local Busan venues Ol'55, Ovantgarde and The Basement, with the performances streamed online via Bandcamp.

On 13 May 2022, Say Sue Me released their third album entitled The Last Thing Left,[28] which is the first album made since leaving their Korean label Electric Muse. The album was self-produced and recording in the band's own studio in Busan, released by Damnably records and Beach Town Music.[29] The album received favourable reviews from Rolling Stone, "[Say Sue Me] continue to refine their unassuming rock music, adding a more nuanced emotional heft to their songs than ever before"[30] and Pitchfork, "Making peace with the passing of their late drummer, the South Korean indie rockers lean into their gentler side as they channel noise-pop greats of yore".[31]

Musical style and influences

Say Sue Me's musical style has been described as surf rock[1][2][18][32] or "surfgaze."[32][33] The band has said that their surf rock sound was not intentional, but was likely influenced by their seaside hometown Busan and their practice room's proximity to the beach.[1] The band's influences are mainly 60's surf rock and 90's indie rock and inspired by bands like Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Blur, Seam, The Ventures and Cat Power.[34][35]

Choi sings in both Korean and English, and has said that she finds it harder to sing in Korean because she feels more "exposed".[8][1]

Members

Current

  • Sumi Choi – vocals (2012–present)
  • Byungkyu Kim – guitar (2012–present)
  • Sungwan Lim – drums (2019–present)
  • Jaeyoung Kim – bass (2020–present)

Former

  • Jaeyoung Ha – bass (2012–2020)[36]
  • Semin Kang – drums (2012–2016)
  • Changwon Kim – drums (2016–2019)

Source:[37][38]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details[39][40] Peak chart positions
KOR
[6]
We've Sobered Up
  • Released: 2 October 2014
  • Label: Electric Muse, Damnably
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 64
Where We Were Together
  • Released: 13 April 2018
  • Label: Electric Muse, Damnably
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 —
The Last Thing Left
  • Released: 13 May 2022
  • Label: Damnably, Beach Town Music
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
 —
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Compilation albums

Title Album details[40]
Say Sue Me
  • Released: 28 April 2017
  • Label: Damnably
  • Format: CD, digital download

Extended plays

Title EP details[39][40] Peak chart positions
KOR
[6]
Big Summer Night
  • Released: 7 July 2015
  • Label: Electric Muse, Damnably
  • Format: CD, digital download
 79
Semin
  • Released: 22 April 2017
  • Label: Damnably
  • Format: Digital download
 —
It's Just a Short Walk!
  • Released: 21 April 2018
  • Label: Damnably
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Christmas, It's Not a Biggie
  • Released: 7 December 2018
  • Label: Electric Muse, Damnably
  • Format: CD, digital download
 —
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Other releases

Split 7" with Otoboke Beaver (2017, Damnably)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 Korean Music Awards Album of the Year Where We Were Together Nominated [5]
Best Modern Rock Album Won
Artist of the Year Say Sue Me Nominated
Song of the Year "Old Town" Nominated
Best Modern Rock Song Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bulley, Jim (25 April 2018). "Say Sue Me blazes its own trail". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mandel, Leah (12 April 2018). "Get to know Say Sue Me, South Korea's sweetest surf rockers". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. ^ Leas, Ryan (20 April 2018). "Stream Say Sue Me's Record Store Day Covers EP It's Just A Short Walk!". Stereogum. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Say Sue Me Surfs in on a Wave of Tinsel with "Christmas, It's Not a Biggie"". KEXP. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Herman, Tamar (26 February 2019). "BTS Win Big at 16th Korean Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart.
  7. ^ "부산 인디 밴드 '세이수미' ˝행복하게 연주하면 형은 일어날거예요˝". Kookje Shinmun (in Korean). 23 December 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Arroyo, Steven (12 April 2018). "Say Sue Me "Where We Were Together"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  9. ^ Timothy, Mariana (17 April 2018). "The Future's So Bright For Indie Pop Group Say Sue Me". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  10. ^ Safavi, Ali (26 January 2019). "Daegu skatepunk band set for British invasion". The Korea Times. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Say Sue Me plays at 100 Club, supporting Otoboke Beaver". Londonkoreanlinks.net. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  12. ^ "7": Say Sue Me/Otoboke Beaver". The Grey Estates. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  13. ^ "Hear Say Sue Me's Restorative Beach-Rock Song "Good For Some Reason"". Thefader.com. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  14. ^ a b Leas, Ryan (20 April 2018). "Stream Say Sue Me's Record Store Day Covers EP It's Just A Short Walk!". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. ^ Yeates, Daysi (17 March 2018). "Korean Entertainment hits SXSW 2018". KVUE. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  16. ^ Tom (2019-09-02). "Say Sue Me – George & Janice/Don't Follow Our Van". Records I Like. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  17. ^ a b "Say Sue Me - "Your Book"". Stereogum. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  18. ^ a b Maicki, Salvatore (19 February 2019). "Say Sue Me sing to the ocean on new single "At The End Of The Road"". The Fader. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Here's the full list of Record Store Day 2019 releases". NME. 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  20. ^ @saysueme (12 October 2019). "저희에게 아침이 되어 해 같이 저희를 밝혀주던 세민이 형이 오늘은 저녁의 별이 되었습니다. 앞으로는 밤을 밝혀 헛딛지 않게 길잡이가 되어줄 세민이 형에게 안녕의 인사를 부탁드립니다" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Say Sue Me - Good For Some Reason (winter vers.)(Damnably/Electric Muse)". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  22. ^ "Say Sue Me - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)". Retrieved 2022-01-05 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Ghost Archive". Archived from the original on 2021-12-26.
  24. ^ H, Rob (2021-08-07). "Say Sue Me appreciate the delicacy of the moment in "So Tender" | Beats Per Minute". Beatsperminute.com. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  25. ^ "SAY SUE ME - MY HEART (YUMI'S CELLS OST Part.5)". Retrieved 2021-12-17 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "Artists - Adam Blackstone, James Bay & More". MONO. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  27. ^ "Say Sue Me and the Jupiter & Silhouette Electric Guitar | Harmony Home Sessions". Retrieved 2021-12-20 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "The Last Thing Left, by Say Sue Me 세이수미". Say Sue Me 세이수미. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  29. ^ "Say Sue Me". Riotactmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  30. ^ Kim, Joshua Minsoo (2022-05-10). "'Bright Energy, Rather Than Sadness': South Korea's Best Indie Band, Say Sue Me, Opens Up". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  31. ^ "Say Sue Me: The Last Thing Left". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  32. ^ a b Thompson, Stephen (1 March 2018). "The Austin 100: Say Sue Me". NPR. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  33. ^ Bemrose, Bekki (15 February 2018). "DiScover: Say Sue Me". Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  34. ^ "Say Sue Me « Riot Act Media". Riotactmedia.com. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  35. ^ "Tidal". Tidal.com. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  36. ^ @saysueme (14 September 2020). "We got reconnected. We're going to play an online stream show with a new bass player at our youtube page on 8pm Sep…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. ^ "엘튼 존이 말했다… "끝내주는 한국 밴드"라고". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  38. ^ "twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  39. ^ a b "세이수미 앨범". Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  40. ^ a b c "Music". Say Sue Me. Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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