실리카겔 Silica Gel: A Dive Deep Into Sound, Diversity, and Their Upcoming Show at Maho Rasop Festival.

실리카겔 Silica Gel is a South Korean indie-rock group, known for boundary-pushing styles since the day that they released first EP Five Perspectives of a Zero Gravity Deer Ingested Again in 2015 and Self-Titled album in October 2016. They are continually evolving, kept creating, then the lastest work like POWER ANDRE 99 came out, which gained so many audiences in their city with an explosive energy from live performances later on.

In this conversation, Chunchu Kim (guitar, vocal), Woonghee Choi (bass), Hanjoo Kim (keyboards, vocal), Geonjay Kim (drums), the four members of 실리카겔 Silica Gel talks about their unique sound and creative journey, share insights of how they approach to music, also touches on the dynamic scene in Korea, the struggles faced by electronic artists, and their excitement for the upcoming show in Maho Rasop Festival, Thailand.

We’ve heard that you took the name 실리카겔 Silica Gel after seeing it from the gum container, so what does the name “Silica Gel” actually signify you as a band or music that you’ve created?

[Woonghee] In the past, seeing silica gel packets in instruments or food packets made me think about all sorts of things, and I found it funny. Nowadays, though, it feels like ‘Silica Gel’ has become a part of me, and I don’t think about it as much. But, just like how the name ‘Silica Gel’ came about, I feel our spontaneous and experimental choices have remained unchanged since the beginning.

To be a rock band in a scene that’s so heavily populated with pop music, What inspired you the most to make a different sound? Since the first debut to the recent work like ‘POWER ANDRE 99’

[Geonjay] We didn’t really set out with a particular scene or era in mind. Making music led us to meet each other naturally, and because we wanted to keep going with each other, it evolved into a band format. Rather than deciding on a form first, I think the form just developed as we kept creating.

If I were to name a major inspiration behind creating a distinct sound, it would be that all the members are fundamentally curious and deeply interested in exploring ‘sound’. This naturally leads us to think, ‘This time, let’s try this,’ or ‘Let’s approach it this way.’ Over time, as we experimented and tweaked our approach bit by bit, I think that’s how people started recognizing our sound as something ‘different’.

The term ‘different sound’ almost feels like it might come off as boastful, which makes me a bit worried. Personally, I don’t believe it’s truly a different sound—it’s all out there, and it’s something anyone can reach.

It was really just about capturing the sounds we were surrounded by at the time, what we were hearing, thinking about, and feeling—and as we kept refining those, they naturally turned into music and eventually into an album. I’d say that our second album, ‘POWER ANDRE 99’, is the culmination of that journey, a way to organize everything we experienced up until last year.

We also heard a lot of ideas and multiple genres in the ‘POWER ANDRE 99’ album. From Modern Rock, Psychedelic to Electronics, even Hip-Hop. How do you overcome all of those music industry expectations? Does the indie scene in South Korea open freely like we seem?

[Chunchu] There are so many diverse musicians across genres in Korea. However, compared to nearby countries, Korea’s relatively narrow language base and small industry market make it difficult for these musicians to truly engage in music ‘freely.’ For that reason, I think it would be great if there were more proactive efforts to collaborate with and build relationships with musicians from other regions, especially within Asia, which would lead to more opportunities for Korean musicians to be introduced internationally. But this isn’t just an issue for musicians alone; it’s a broader task that requires the collaboration of promoters, industry professionals, and artists working together to help Korean music thrive with greater freedom.

What about the DJs – VJs or Electronics Music scene compared to Indie Scene?

[Hanjoo] While there have been some gradual improvements in the environment for bands, the reality remains very challenging for DJs and electronic musicians.

In Korea, there are very few labels that provide dedicated support for electronic artists. This means that much of the work happens independently, at a smaller scale. There’s a sense of hope for creativity to emerge from such an environment, but it’s saddening that this independence isn’t exactly a choice—it’s a necessity. Specialized shops for electronic musicians often struggle to stay in business but continue out of passion and commitment to the scene. As an electronic musician myself, I share many of these concerns. Korea has so many talented electronic artists. I ask for your support and interest in them.

I really like that you combined the song ‘T’ and ‘Tik Tak Tok’ together with So!YoON! Feature on it. Because you know, I secretly admire her voice for years. Also love the tension between calm, bouncy rhythm and that brilliant guitar solo. I just want to know the meaning and the production behind these songs. Can you tell us more about it?

[Hanjoo] This track was crafted with some intentional planning, right from the early conceptual stages. We designed it with So!YoON!’s involvement in mind, aiming to create a setting that would complement her unique style. I’ve analyzed So!YoON!’s vocal expressiveness for some time, and I believe we were able to execute the track well in line with that vision. The song title, ‘Tik Tak Tok’, alludes to the theme of time, which we tried to express in an abstract way. We invited So!YoON! to add her perspective, bringing a new angle and a sense of distortion to the introspective elements.

As for the guitar solo, that’s something we cannot leave out. Chunchu’s skills as a guitarist are one of our biggest strengths and points of pride, so we wanted to showcase his talent without restraint. In the demo phase, I initially tried my hand at playing the solo, though it was a bit rough. But through practicing with the band, the guitar solo part found its energy and took on a complete form, which I’m truly glad to see.

What are your favorite Korean bands that we might not know, but you would like to mention?

[Woonghee] In Korea, there are many great bands like Noridogam, Wah Wah Wah, and Shirakami Woods. Haha. I recently think that Balming Tiger is incredibly fun and interesting.

After the recognition, You know that 실리카겔 Silica Gel was one of the first and most requested bands when the Thai-promoter asked about which bands that Thai-Fans would like to see, So Are there any particular things you’re most excited to experience when you arrive? Especially during the short trip or while playing at Maho Rasop Festival.

[Geonjay] Oh, really!? I had no idea people in Thailand were looking forward to us! This will be my first time visiting Thailand and I’m especially excited. I actually love Thai food in Korea, and after shows when I feel sore, I enjoy getting a Thai massage, and I’ve even seen a lot of Thai culture on Netflix. I guess I’ve been drawn to Thai culture without even realizing it!

I’m really looking forward to trying authentic massages and delicious Thai food in Thailand. I’ve always wanted to experience Thailand’s traditional markets, architecture, and the local music scene with Thai musicians performing. I can’t wait!

Let’s talk about the upcoming show at Maho Rasop Festival. What can we expect from your performance in terms of energy and specific setlist? Or What message or vibe do you hope to share with the crowd at Maho Rasop Festival?

[Woonghee] For 실리카겔 Silica Gel ’s show at the Maho Rasop Festival, we’ve selected a set-list packed with the songs that have had the best response from our countless shows in Korea. We’re so excited to bring the energy and connection we’ve felt with Korean audiences to the fans in Thailand. We’ve put a lot of thought into crafting the set-list to ensure we can deliver it with the most powerful and impactful sound possible.

We hope you’ll show a lot of interest in Silica Gel’s stage at Maho Rasop Festival. We’re looking forward to it, and we hope you all are too!