Rock music is considered a cult genre in Korea, according to SURL, with the general public not knowing much about it.

But as one of the groups set to take part in Mnet’s upcoming music survival program “Great Seoul Invasion,” a program aimed at discovering the next generation of Korean groups, indie group SURL hopes to bridge the gap.

“We want to break down that barrier. Hopefully our next full album and Mnet’s next band survival show will become an opportunity to do just that,” said Lee Han-bin, the band’s guitarist.

Vocalist Seol Hoseung explained that the group reaches out to their listeners with a universal message of comfort and relatability. He also said that many people, especially those in their twenties, are depressed today and the group is trying to touch on those common emotions.

“Our songs also go beyond these feelings to send a message of comfort. People naturally feel that they are not alone when listening to our songs, and it gives them comfort,” he added.

Seol described himself as a young man in his twenties like the others, determined but worried about what lies ahead.

“These days, not only people in their twenties, but everyone is worried about the future, and I think I’m just one of those people,” he said.

“I went through a tough time when I was 20, and the feeling of depression was pretty strong. But there were a lot of people around me who reached out to me, including these friends. Our song” The Lights Behind You” is a message of gratitude to these people.

SURL consists of four members: vocalist Seol Ho-seung, guitarist Kim Do-yeon, drummer Oh Myeong-suk and guitarist Lee Han-bin. Before the group, they were just ordinary South Korean students playing music at school. The four members, all born in 1998, started the band when Lee called up his 20-year-old high school friends to make music together for fun.

The quartet quickly gained recognition in 2018 after winning the Shinhan Card Hello Rookie Awards, with only a year of practice and no previous physical albums.

For fans, the group epitomizes liveliness, with the members’ light playfulness and songs that take the listener back to their youth.

It was this youthful spirit that had driven them forward despite the challenges they faced. The four lodged together to train during their first year as a group and described their working environment at the time.

“The space was too small. … It was just over 1 pyeong. It was difficult for the four of us to sleep in such a cramped space,” Seol said.

“What I remember is the bathroom burst in the basement practice room and the bathroom hallway overflowed with water. It was very shocking,” said Lee.

“(We had) a self-confidence that grew out of ignorance. Because we had no experience, we had nothing to worry about,” Oh said. “Even in that kind of environment, the music we were making was so good. We were able to endure those times because we enjoyed them.

From Underground to Greatest: Unveil is a series of articles and video interviews that delve into the stories of South Korean artists who started out in the underground scene and made a name for themselves through their style and music unique. –Ed.