Intertwined: On Global Pop Music
One thing we have learned from history is that musical traditions naturally blend, travel, and adapt through time. From the way in which roots of African American Spirituals have flowed into modern day jazz, hip hop and R&B, to how classical traditions in India and the Middle East have developed synonymously with Hindu and Muslim geo-political mingling, to the way in which hip hop has blossomed into the world’s most commercially successful genre, to how the Brazilian bossa nova and Latin dem bow appear recurrently across music styles around the globe, music is ever-changing and expanding. Although we speak different languages and come from different cultures with disparate musical backgrounds, we are intertwined in the same woven fabric of global culture, connected by a universal language of music.
I’m excited to share projects emerging from this cross-pollination of global pop music. With more third-culture kids and multicultural artists than ever before, there have been unprecedented levels of fusion and global pop projects and artists crossing markets to blow up elsewhere, such as Alec Benjamin in China, Bad Bunny in America, and BTS worldwide. Get ready to meet some incredibly popular artists and bands from different global music scenes, and hopefully some of your new favorite artists. I’m excited to share three incredible international pop albums with you today from the angelic stylings of Official HIGE DANdism, Sam Kim, and Arijit Singh, hailing from Japan, Korea, and India respectively.
Official HIGE DANdism: Traveler
When diving into the pop music scene of Japan, one of the first names you’ll hear about is Official HIGE DANdism (“Manly Moustache”). The four-piece funk and neo-soul inspired band includes four very lovable characters spanning an instrumental range of electric guitar, keys, bass, drums, and soulful vocals by Satoshi Fujihara. The band is most famous for their song “Pretender” off their 2019 album Traveler. With uplifting, high-energy melodies, and experimental, unpredictable production techniques, the band creates a unique, consistent soundscape across their releases that springs right out of an anime to create an ideal, heart wrenching emotional experience in real life. As well as having a huge fan club and a cafe dedicated to their music in Japan, Official HIGE Dandism creates music that is equal parts hype and touching. They will have you both tearing up while you look out a window, and bopping your head vigorously on your walk to class. If you enjoy Japanese culture–anything from architecture to sushi, ramen to anime, manga, J-dramas, and reality TV shows like Terrace House—you will love this band. They encompass this intangible feeling that so specifically belongs to Japanese pop culture, and arises out of the mainstream pop-cultural context of Japan.
Sam Kim: Sun and Moon
When it comes to Korean pop music, there are a number of names that come to mind. Many of these have become a part of global common knowledge including BTS, BLACKPINK and others such as G-DRAGON, IU, EXO. There are K-pop fans everywhere. That’s why I’m excited to reach beneath the craze of K-pop bands and idols and introduce you to a gem of a Korean-American artist by the name of Sam Kim. This tender and soulful singer-songwriter will make you cry with his song “SEATTLE” off his debut EP I Am Sam about growing up between Korea and America, seeking belonging. First gaining popularity by winning first prize on a K-pop TV show, he’s grown into an artist bridging both Korean and American audiences. With a voice that will cut right through your heart, and a creative blend of heart-wrenching Korean and English lyrics that come together to share the multidimensionality of his experience, his album Sun and Moon is a masterpiece. His covers on YouTube of similar sounding artists such as Bruno Major and Mac Ayres are incredible as well. This man has been in my ears for so many hours, and I’m excited to share him with you!
Arijit Singh: Arijit Singh – India Tour Hits
Finally, I’m excited to put you on to Arijit Singh—the crooning, tender-hearted king of Bollywood singers. Super kind and approachable-looking, this man absolutely kills it on every track he touches. One of his most famous songs is “Shayad” from the Bollywood movie, “Love Aaj Kal.” Arijit’s voice is smooth like butter with the capacity for a maelstrom of riffs like a cascading waterfall – runs that can truly go on forever, and a crooning tone of voice that imbues the music with the highest degree of romance, delicate and powerful. It’s something that you have to experience for yourself. Check out this playlist of music he’s taking on a tour through India for 2022-2023!
Feel free to comment and share your favorite global pop songs below and share any countries or global scenes you’d like to hear recommendations from next.