Our Music? Just Pop Music, I Guess

Music you would listen to while driving or you would remember when you close your eyes lying on the beach. That is how members of an independent band called “My Aunt Mary” describe their music.

They don’t care much about the genre division and the musicality of their music. They only try to make something nice to listen.

The title of their third album, “Just Pop,” released last month, reflects how they think of their music: as just popular music. “Mary” is a name of an aunt of a band member, Jung Soon-yong (28, vocals and guitar). His aunt had immigrated to the U.S. and brought many presents whenever she visited. Jung explained, ”We would like to play music that can make people happy, just like when they are given many presents.”

“My Aunt Mary” is one of the early independent bands playing in clubs around Hongik University, and started performing in 1995. Three members, Jung Soon-yong, Han Jin-young (28, bass guitar) and Lee Je-yoon, who knew one another since high school, formed the band and released their first album, “My Aunt Mary” in 1999, after they finished their military service.

Lee Je-yoon left to study abroad after the release of their second album in 2001, and Park Jung-jun (27) replaced Lee.

The title song, “Golden Glove” carries a hopeful message, saying, “I will stand up again in my last moment and be ready for the moments still left for me.” Cheerful rhythms lead the song, and the brass band sounds during the chorus intensify the song’s appeal.

“On The Way To The Airport” is a song where members are saying goodbye to former band member Lee Je-yoon, who left to study abroad, and the sensitive melody is impressive.

“Memory’s Memory,” with its poetic lyrics and powerful rock sound reminds us of Lenny Kravitz’s music. Some lyrics of the 80’s song “A Day Like That” by a popular duet called “A Certain Day” were borrowed for this song.

Jung said, “When we were in high school, if we didn’t listen to Metallica or Loudness, we were treated like freaks. But, at the same time, we enjoyed the music of Deulgukhwa (Wild Chrysanthemums), Kim Hyun-chul and Yoon Sang from the radio. It feels like I am now slowly spinning the musical sensibility stored in me while I was listening to radio back then.”

“My Aunt Mary” has shows on September 10 and 11 titled “There is Something Special About Mary.” The band will mostly play songs from their third album, and some past hits like “Sunday and Seoul” and “Rock ‘n Roll Star.”

September 10 at 8 p.m. / September 11 at 7 p.m. at Jil Luh Hall, Daehak-ro, Seoul. 30,000 won (advance reservation), 35,000 won (at the door). Information: 02-795-2942

Sun-Woo Kim sublime@donga.com