An Intro to the Brothers of K-Indie: Wave to Earth and The Poles
Updated: Oct 11, 2024
The Korean indie-rock music scene is brimming with potential and unchecked talent, so I thought I’d take the time to write a more detailed article on two bands that introduced me to the genre: Wave to Earth (W2E) and The Poles. If language is important to you when listening to music, it’s important to note that The Poles sing almost exclusively in Korean, while W2E sings in English. Both groups fall under the vast umbrella that is indie-rock, but differ in the musical pools from which they pluck their inspiration; Wave to Earth leans more lo-fi and jazzy, while The Poles draw from the roots of rock. The two groups share more than just a genre, however; Daniel Kim (guitars and vocal) serves as the foreman for both bands, and consequently becomes a conduit through which W2E and The Poles can transact musical notes.
The Poles were born first, the music-child of Shin Donggyu (drums), Daniel Kim (guitar and vocals), and Hwangje (bassist) in September of 2017 with the debut EP “From the Outset.” Shin Donggyu (aka Dong Q) then left the band, and was replaced by drummer Kyungbae. Originally dubbed Nabi (‘butterfly’ in Korean), the band’s name was changed to The Poles as a nod to the essential nature of the human experience as one that is defined by choice.
Wave to Earth followed not long after, debuting with the single “wave” in August 2019. Kim and Dong Q collaborated once again, forming W2E themselves before being joined by bassist Soonjong Cha on their January 2020 EP, wave 0.01. Kim, Dong Q, and Cha are supported by session members Jo Jong-geun (keyboard), Jeon-min (saxophone), and Hong Seung-gi (artwork)—necessary components for their jazz and lofi-inspired tracks. The name Wave to Earth reflects, in the words of Kim, “the band’s desire to ‘become the new wave’ and expand its own [musical] universe across the world.”
Genre-wise, the two groups have distinct sounds, though their roots remain entangled in the indie-rock scene: after listening to most of both groups’ discography, I found that The Poles generally follow a soft-rock flow, weaving in nostalgic rock sounds while also sprinkling in a little grunge. Their instrumentals consist mostly of electric guitar and cymbal-heavy percussion, while Kim’s voice pitches grittier and more explosive than his delivery in Wave to Earth’s discography. Contrastingly, W2E is much more mellow, with most of their tracks following a similar, relaxed ambiance akin to jazzy café music and the ever-popular lofi wave. These instrumentals accompany softer, more soothing vocals from Kim that spark reminiscence and the fuzzy fog of memory.
Looking at The Poles’ discography between From the Outset (2017) and Moon in Water (2018), we get pure indie-rock: heavy instrumentals made up of guitar solos and cymbals as an unfiltered Kim delivers lines like:
“이제는 알 수 없는 그때의 떨림만이 남아있다”
Translated: “Only the trembling from that time that I can no longer understand remains” (“Outset,” From the Outset, 2017).
Though Kim’s vocals always feel calm, cool, and collected, there’s a certain raw quality to his performance in The Poles’ discography that becomes evident when comparing it to Wave to Earth. My favourite work of theirs is their next EP, We Get, The Same, released in March 2020—their first half-length work with a softer sound that shifts focus from the instrumentals to Kim’s vocals. If you’re like me, someone who enjoys smoother melodies, this EP is definitely the one to start with if you’re just getting into their discography. We Get, The Same houses my gateway track: “느릿느릿 지는 해를 바라보자 The Setting Sun,” the first song with tamped instrumentals—only a softly plucked guitar accompanies Kim as he sings sweetly of growing old with someone by your side.
Skipping over single releases, we arrive at The Poles’ most recent work, their first full-length album dubbed The High Tide Club (2022). Here, we’re treated to a historical view of The Poles, as it offers a comprehensive look at their musical playground, taking us from heavier indie-rock roots in “Find Me!” to ballad-esque tunes such as “Sun Shower,” to the grungy finale, “Don’t be Afraid”. If you’re into the (sort of) rocker vibe, I recommend their songs “Find Me!” and “Intro.”
Though The Poles stay mostly within their parameters, they do experiment a bit with genre; Kim and Dong Q switch up their musical rapport considerably in Wave to Earth’s discography, where the musical tone stays consistent throughout. Per my research, I’ve found this to be a polarising (ha ha) characteristic of the group: some people love their reliability, while others complain that their work feels too homogenous. In my opinion, Kim and Dong Q are giving us the best of both worlds: engaging exploration in The Poles, and soothing stability in Wave to Earth.
Their first EP, wave 0.01 (2020), isn’t necessarily where you have to begin when diving into their work, but it serves as a good intro for what you can expect going forward. My recommendation would be to start with summer flows 0.02, their second EP released in the second half of 2020. Though the mood is consistent with the rest of their discography, this EP has structure: it imitates the perfect summer day, with each song seamlessly flowing into the next. From “summer flows” to “ocean floor,” this theme stays consistent; however, it is my opinion that “surf.”—the last track on the EP—should be listened to after “ride,” as it fits the ‘middle of the day’ mood better than the end. But let me know what you think!
Their most recent release is 0.1 flaws and all, a full-length album that dropped in April 2023. With a side A and B, the album adds up to 14 tracks—their biggest release yet. Kim stated that the goal of W2E is to have their listeners in a relaxed, soothed state—as such, most of the songs on the album feel very similar, making the album feel like one long track. Again, a polarising trait for an album, but I like it. I love “akira” from this album; it’s their only instrumental song, and you can really hear and appreciate the notes of jazz and lo-fi that are usually masked underneath the vocals.
If all of this hasn’t convinced you to give either group a try, then that’s my bad :’) Check out their live performances, and follow The Poles and Wave to Earth on Instagram!
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