Indie music in Korea is quite possibly the backbone of the music scene. I’ve been blessed to be able to delve deeper into Korean music through some of its greatest proponents: those artists with little recognition who grind every day to make a name for themselves without very much backing. They’re the heroes of the industry, as far as I’m concerned, exploring new avenues of creativity, pushing the limits of their craft and telling stories with every lyric. In deference to these artists, with today’s mixtape I pay tribute to the singers, songwriters, and bands I adore. In the order I discovered them, this collection features the first song I ever heard from some of my favorite indie darlings. Hopefully this small tribute is enough to show that I’ve forever given my heart to Korea’s indie scene as a bona fide Indie Baby.

It all started with a young man named Big Phony