I will always be a fan of combining Korean traditional music with modern genres. There are many opportunities to create something that’s inspired by both worlds. Fre Naz and DJ Tiz accomplish this on Deori-Deollong. The four-song EP reinterprets folk songs with hip-hop.
“Geomundo Boat Song” uses the folk song melody and supports it with hip-hop. It sounds perfectly natural with the beat and flow. The track is also the perfect introduction to the talents of DJ Tiz and Fre Naz. The organic arrangement highlights both genres perfectly.
The second track, “Deori-Deollong,” is upbeat funk instead of a standard hip-hop arrangement. Adding 신최고영진‘s saxophone gives the track different energy. It sounds less like traditional music and more like something you’d hear in the 70s or 80s, but with a clean and polished sound.
“Hyeoncheon Troupe Play” sticks close to “Deori-Deollong” with a funk-forward sound. It reminds. The entire EP sounds like it lives in the same universe as Nujabes‘ jazz-hop. BADDY’s vocals sync with Fre Naz perfectly, with an old-school tone but a smoothness that glides through your ears.
When it’s Fre Naz and DJ Tiz, it falls back to a pure folk and hip-hop sound. Personally, I find this the most enjoyable. I don’t mind the features, but the mellow sound the duo creates is the most interesting. I think Deori-Deollong has the best balance between Korean folk and hip-hop. It’s a short experience, but it makes a deep impact.
Fre Naz
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DJ Tiz
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Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.