Off the 405: LEENALCHI

LEENALCHI is a seven-piece band from Seoul drawing on pansori, Korea’s centuries-old tradition of musical folk storytelling, and channeling it through bass-driven grooves that might just as easily recall the Talking Heads. Their lineup is as singular as their sound: three singers, two bassists, drums, and keys—notably, no guitar. After winning multiple Korean Music Awards and garnering attention through appearances in the Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream. Netflix documentary series, LEENALCHI now take a major step onto the world stage with a new record forthcoming on Luaka Bop, the influential label founded by David Byrne known for championing eclectic, boundary-crossing music. The band’s creator and visionary, bassist Jang Young-gyu, is a major figure in South Korea’s film industry, known for scoring films including Train to Busan and The Wailing. He was also behind the now-disbanded art band SsingSsing, whose Tiny Desk Concert Bob Boilen called “one of my most memorable Tiny Desk Concerts of all time.”