Known for its incredible seafood and beaches, Busan is also one of Korea’s most famous beauty and creative industries. It is also home to some of Korean music’s biggest stars, with the likes of Jeong Se-woon, Kang Daniel, Jungkook and Jimin coming from the Southern seaside city.

Promoting Busan’s hidden musical talents. Good Carpenters Records, a label established by native and music enthusiast Jeong Yeonja. The label has an established roster of artists across various genres. 

Whether you’re looking for hip-hop, refreshing well-produced beats, dreamy ballad-style vocals or vintage contemporary music, the label has something for everyone.

Jeong Bulta and Illsesions

Starting off, we have Jeong Bulta and Illsesions, a 6-piece hip-hop group that merges rock and rap through carefully constructed and well-produced instrumentals, drawing similarities to a classic jazz band. Their incredible sound is perfectly complemented by the slower, more methodical style of Jeong Bulta. The artists are probably the most exciting artists representing the Busan music scene.

Make sure you check out their song “Night of the City”, a song created to tell the beautiful nightlife of Busan.

the4pril

One of Busan’s biggest DJs, the4pril might be one of The Good Carpenters most important artists. Whether it’s performing on indie stages across Busan or working with artists, providing their creative input through incredible sound and engineering. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this DJ collaborating with some of your favourite musicians soon enough.

John Given

Also known as the singing scarecrow, this masked singer has honed his skills, travelling the world and creating his own tailor-made musical style. John Given may potentially be one of Busan’s most talented vocalists. His relatable lyrics speaking about love and self-expression come from travelling the world. Passing through India, China, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Russia, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland, Ireland and the United States. It is fair to say John Given has found his home in Busan.

He released his second EP, HIDDEN HEART at the end of August. The three-track EP sees the artist collaborate with some of the label’s biggest stars with lyrical help from the likes of Yoo Jungki and Jeong Bulta on “A Little Longer” and lyrical assistance provided by Yun Hyerin, Ha Yijeong and Jung Yuna. The album is a well-produced masterpiece in which John Given once again pours his soul into a heartfelt ballad EP. John Given is definitely an artist for anyone into ballad songs.

Band 88

You can’t talk about the history of Korea and not talk about the year 1988. Arguably one of the country’s most important years in terms of global impact and success. Hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics, many see the year as the real coming of age of South Korea and its economy. Holding deep and great memories for Koreans and those around during the 80s. 

But as well as the Olympics, the 80s was also known for its musical excellence and especially the genre of Korean rock. Whether it was the likes of Sinawe, headed by a young Shin Daechul who saw the birth of iconic Korean musicians such as Kim Jae-beom, Kim Jong-Seo, Seo Taiji and Kim Bada. Or the likes of the seemingly everlasting Boohwal, the time saw a break and freedom in Korean music that has helped lead to the music we know today.

Band 88 looks to bring back these memories and help the public reminisce on the good times. With clever engineering and instrumentals, the band bring a vintage 80s electronic and dance style. The band takes their own unique style to help recreate their 80s memories. 

As the Korean music industry continues to grow with more artists across various genres only gaining more attraction from music fans. It is only right that more areas of Korea get attention, like many artists and agencies of Seoul. This is what makes the work of The Good Carpenters promoting music and artists in Busan so special and label to check out.

Who is your favourite Busan artist? Let us know on Social Media, either on Instagram and Twitter or in the comments below.