We’re back with a new Indie Pick and this time we’re taking a closer look at Kim Sawol. This indie sweetheart has been hitting it out of the park since her debut.
Debut
Together with Kim Hae-won, she formed the duo Kim Sawol X Kim Hae-won. In 2014, they released the EP ‘Secret’ and in 2016, they came back with the single ‘Honey Baby’.
Kim Sawol released her first solo album in 2015. ‘Suzanne’ is a collection of 11 songs. She wrote and composed the tracks herself. Kim Hae-won is listed as the responsible for the arrangement. This entire album is a 10/10. Each song has its own charm and even today, this album feels incredibly fresh.
Her ONSTAGE performance of ‘Freak’ is insane! I love it so much. The song was also used as one of the OSTs for the series ‘Extracurricular’.
Two years later, Kim Sawol was back with her second full-length album ‘7102’.
The third full-length album came out in 2018. ‘Romance’
The single ‘Bloody Wolf’ she released in 2019, is still one of my favorites to date.
In 2019, Kim Sawol also created the single album ‘Sabbath’. She was inspired after reading the book ‘뉴서울파크 젤리장수 대학살’. It’s a super interesting jazz and rock fusion track. Unfortunately it isn’t available on Spotify in my region. I did find it on YouTube Music here.
The year after she came out with her next full-length album ‘Heaven’.
2021
Her most recent release came in the shape of a mini-album. ‘Drive’ consists of four songs. I listed this in my Weekly K-Indie Report.
I really recommend listening to the last track on the mini-album. ‘Fight’ is just under seven minutes, and it’s such a mindtrip to listen to. It isn’t afraid to meander and it makes for a wonderful listen. It has spoken word and actual singing parts.
Overall, Kim Sawol has a wonderful sound that escapes time and remains relevant. She writes and composes her own music and the talent is bountiful. Sawol has a lot of music out, but I recommend taking your time, going through her albums in full. Because her discography definitely deserves it.
Lastly, go ahead and check out her Spotify here and her Instagram here.
