The Barberettes

The Barberettes

So Hee Park, Sunnie Lee Kyeong, Shinae An Wheeler, Midem 2016.
Background information
Origin Seoul, South Korea
Genres Doo-wop, Korean retro, ballads
Years active 2012 (2012)–present
Labels EggPlant
Website www.eggplant.co.kr (Korean)
Members Shinae An Wheeler
Sunnie Lee Kyeong
So Hee Park
Past members Grace Kim

The Barberettes (Hangul: 바버렛츠), is a South Korean retro, doo-wop female trio, which debuted in 2012, and is based in Seoul. With their covers and original music, they reproduce the sound of the 50s-60s music,[1]and are referred to as a time slip girl group[2] who travel back to the times of barbershop music[3] and harmonizing girl groups.[4] The group is composed of Shinae An Wheeler (Hangul: 안신애), Seon (or Sunnie) Lee Kyeong (Hangul: 이경선)[5] and So Hee Park (Hangul: 박소희).[6][7][8]

Background

The group started singing, as a trio, for fun in October 2012,[9][6]when Wheeler had the idea of creating a retro-inspired girl group. Wheeler and Kim were already singing solo for the same jazz band, and Park began taking vocal lessons from Wheeler.[10]They performed at a number of places, including the indie music venues in the Hongdae area near Hongik University in Seoul,[11] and for audiences of the older Korean generation,[12][13] releasing their first album on May 27, 2014.[14][15]

The name "Barberettes" was chosen because they wanted to name themselves after the a cappella barbershop music style, hoping to use a name like "Barbershop Quartet", but lacking a fourth member, they added the suffix "ettes", like many girl groups of the 50's and 60's.[16]

They often use one microphone for performances,[3] initially to imitate that era's girl groups, but later realizing the advantage when they found they could hear each other better, which helped them control the harmony balance.[16] They also use costumes, make-up and choreography to re-create the effect.[13]

Musical style

March 2015, Toronto Centre for the Arts

They described their music as "Korean doo-wop done in the 21st century".[12]They were inspired by doo-wop, Motown, barbershop, and pop music that was created prior to the 1960s, and also by groups like The Andrews Sisters, The Chordettes, and The Ronettes,[10] to whom they have been compared.[2]

They gave credit to the 60's Korean girl group Korean Kittens, and especially The Kim Sisters,[1][17] whom they discovered on YouTube, as having a large effect on them, and call them their "biggest idols". They said they were stunned by the performances of the Kim Sisters, who did not receive a lot of recognition in Korea until recently, but were signed with Motown, and performed on The Ed Sullivan Show many times.[10]

Because of the group's performances in indie venues they are often referred to as an indie pop group.[13][18] Their musical style has been described as "giving a glimpse into what K-pop might have been like in the 1950s with their styling and song choice".[19]

Members

Original three

Shinae An Wheeler, the group's creator, producer, leader, guitarist, main composer and writer[13] was born July 30, 1986 in Seongnam.[8]She graduated from the Seoul Institute of the Arts and started her professional music career at age fifteen as a backing vocalist for some of the S.M. Entertainment artists, including BoA and Fly to the Sky,[20] and as a lyricist, including "Romance" on BoA's Hurricane Venus. She is listed as a vocal participant on 110 released records registered in the Federation of Korean Music Performers (FKMP), since 2002;[3] and started vocal training in 2006. Between 2009 - 2012, she was a radio panelist, introducing Korean indie bands, on English language program "K-popular" on TBSeFM. She teaches at Kwangwoon Conservatory of Music[21] and has taught free music classes and worked with charities for disadvantaged teenagers in Seoul.[8]As one of the group's vocalists, she trades out vocal harmonies with the other two members, sometimes singing lead.[12]

Grace (Eun Hye, in Korean) Kim, was born on April 11, 1987 in Seoul.[8]She trained on classical piano, violin and flute,[20] and from 2011-2014 studied at Chung-Ang University. She was active in the indie-jazz scene as a lead vocalist in a 12-piece Korean jazz band called JHG (Just Hip'n Groovy), whose band leader was Jung Jung Hwa, a professor of Seoul Institute of the Arts.[8] She was the group's vocalist usually singing the higher notes in the harmonies, and said of herself, "I am the playful one with a big smile."[10]

So Hee Park was born on April 10, 1991 in Suwon[8]She played piano since a very young age[20]and started studying modern contemporary music in 2011 at Sungshin Women's University. She usually sings the low harmony, except when singing the lead, as on the group's single release, their cover of Be My Baby.[8]She practices Yoga,[20]and as the youngest of the group, calls herself the "baby Barberette."[10]

The group's instrumentalists are Sae Ha Lee - piano, Hyun Park - bass, and B. A. Wheeler - drums (sound engineer and co-producer who replaced the original drummer, Ji Yong Kim).[8]

Member change

In early November 2015, member Grace Kim left the group and was replaced by Seon or (Sunnie) Lee, a backup vocalist of musical groups, including Brown Eyed Soul, Dynamic Duo, and Lena Park.[5][22]

Career

March 2015, Lee's Palace, Toronto

On January 29, 2014 "Sweet Lies", their first OST, on the album soundtrack for the Korean drama Prime Minister and I, was released.[14][15]

On May 27, 2014 they released their first album The Barberettes Volume 1.[9] Their work was nominated for three 2015 Korean Music Awards,[23] "Rookie of the Year",[24]"Best Pop Album",[25] and the first track "Little Gals", for "Best Pop Song".[25]

In October 2014, at the Seoul International Music Fair or MU:CON SEOUL 2014, they were one of five groups selected for an invitation to perform at the 2015 SXSW Music Festival in Austin Texas[18][19][26]

On December 4, 2014 The Barberettes Carol: Hun Hun Christmas was released.[14][15]

By the beginning of 2015, the group had performed a number of Korean concerts, and been musical guests on several radio and television appearances, including shows on KBS2,[27] You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook;[28] and live performances in Japan,[29] and on Japanese radio with Marty Friedman.[11] At a tribute concert for Han Dae-soo, he admitted he is a fan and supporter.[16] And they have also been featured on works of other artists, including Yang Hee Eun.[30]

On January 16, 2015, they released a cover of Be My Baby of The Ronettes,[31] which charted at number 38 on the Gaon Music Chart[32] and received attention when it was used by Shinhan Card for a commercial, also in January.[33][34] Prior to the release of the cover, it received over 5 million views to win an online video contest, at the site "vube.com".[6][3][9]

In March, 2015, at their three appearances at the SXSW festival,[1] a showcase at the Austin Convention Center on March 17 (where they performed in traditional hanbok),[35][36] at K-Pop Night Out at SXSW on March 19,[37][38] and at the closing for SXSW on March 22,[35][37][39] they received media recognition as the best of SXSW bands to hear and see, and placed on four "best" lists, NPR's All Songs Considered,[40]two women's magazines, Marie Claire,[41] and Bitch,[42] and a newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News.[43] The Austin Chronicle wrote, "The Barberettes are what would've happened if the Brill Building had been built in Seoul".[44]

They combined their western trip with concerts in Toronto Canada, performing on March 14, 2015 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts and on March 15 at Lee's Palace.[17][28][45]

On March 27, 2015, they performed at the 5th Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival (HKAMF 2015) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Hong Kong[46][47]where they placed second in the "Asian Super Nova Award", a competition among eight new artists.[48][49]

In April 2015, they were selected by KOCCA as one of twelve musical teams, artists of various genres, to "introduce talented, passionate, young Korean musicians to overseas audiences,"[50]and performed at the K-Pop Night Out concert at Midem on June 6.[51][52][53][54]

On August 13, 2015, the group performed at the opening ceremony of the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival with Mia Kim of The Kim Sisters and her husband Tommy Vig.[55][56][57] The Kim Sisters' commemorative documentary, "Try to Remember", by Director Kim Dae-hyun opened the festival.[58][59] In celebration of the event, the group also held a "Kim Sisters Tribute Concert" on August 16, in Hongdae.[58]

On September 4, 2015 they performed in London for the K-Music Festival 2015, two nights at the venue The Forge in Camden; on radio BBC London 94.9's Jo Good show and on TV, The One Show.[60][61][62]

With new member

On November 24, 2015, they released their second Christmas mini-album, Lonesome Christmas, with new member Kyeong joining Wheeler and Park.[14][5]

On December 2, 2015, they performed at the "Mapping Melbourne" showcase in Australia[63] and on radio stations.[64][65]

In March 2016, they were announced as part of the line-up of the Korean Music Festival to be held on May 7,[66] and added it to part of their North American Tour 2016, including May 10 at the American Beauty NYC, May 13-14 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, and May 15 at the The Casbah in Hamilton, Ontario.[67] Also, in March 2016, they were again selected as one of the musical groups to act as hallyu representatives by KOCCA, and scheduled to perform at the The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and Hove, England which takes place on May 19-21.[68]

Discography

The Barberettes discography
Studio albums 1
Music videos 6
EPs 2
Singles 1

Studio albums

Title Album details Track listing
The Barberettes Volume 1[14][15]

Extended plays

Title Album details Track listing
The Barberettes Carol: Hun Hun Christmas[14][15]
  • Released: December 4, 2014
Lonesome Christmas[14][5]
  • Released: November 24, 2015
  • Label: Bugs

Singles

Title Details Peak chart positions Track listing
KOR
Be My Baby (cover)[14][15]

38[32]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Date Single Album
November 19, 2014 "나영이네 냉장고 Na Young Refrigerator" Yang Hee Eun (feat. Kim Na Young, The Barberettes) MV[30] 2014 Yang Hee Eun
January 3, 2015 "아빠의 청춘 Youth Of Daddy", "오기택 Oh Ki Taek" (cover)[14] Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend: New Year's Special
January 24, 2015 "자정이 훨씬 넘었네 Way Past Midnight", "이장희 Lee Jang Hee (cover), from KBS2TV Show[14] Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend: Lee Jang Hee Ep.1
March 18, 2015 "데칼코마니 Decalcomanie" Fana (feat. The Barberettes) MV[69] -
March 20, 2015 "돈키호테2 Don Quixote 2" P-Type (feat. The Barberettes) MV[70] Street Poetry
March 26, 2015 "봄처녀 Spring Girls" Sunwoo Jung-A (feat. The Barberettes) MV[71] -

Soundtracks

TV Series

Song Title Album details Track listing
"Sweet Lies (다정한 거짓말)"[14][15]

Music videos

This is an incomplete listing of music videos promoting The Barberettes' songs.

Year Song title Length Director Album Notes
2014 "Little Gals" 4:59 The Barberettes & 부귀영화 The Barberettes Volume 1
"Jingle Bells" 3:50 Kwon Chul, Bugui Film The Barberettes Carol: Hun Hun Christmas Jingle Bells Christmas song
"Hun Hun Christmas" 4:55 Kwon Chul, Bugui Film The Barberettes Carol: Hun Hun Christmas
"Winter Wonderland" 5:23 Kwon Chul, Bugui Film The Barberettes Carol: Hun Hun Christmas Winter Wonderland Christmas song
2015 Be My Baby cover 3:20 The Barberettes Non-album single
"Lonesome Christmas" 5:32 The Barberettes Lonesome Christmas

Concerts and tours

2014
  • The Barberettes Recital, solo[72]
  • MU:CON SEOUL 2014[18]
  • 7th Annual Korea-America Friendship Holiday Concert[73]
2015

Awards and nominations

Korean Music Awards

Year Category Recipient Result
2015 Best Pop Album The Barberettes Volume. 1[25][23] Nominated
Best Pop Song "Little Gals"[25][23] Nominated
Rookie of the Year The Barberettes[24][23] Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 St. Michel, Patrick (April 3, 2015). "The Barberettes: Korea's One and Only Doo-Wop Trio". MTV Iggy. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "The Barberettes". SXSW. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kwon, Suk-Chung (July 5, 2014). 이제 사계절 바버렛츠 들려줘요 (인터뷰) (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ Lee, Jae-IK (November 28, 2014). 노래하는 조그만 가시내들 ‘바버렛츠’ (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Jung, Jin Young (November 23, 2015). 바버렛츠, 싱글 ‘론섬 크리스마스’ 24일 발표 (in Korean). The Korea Herald. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "'바버렛츠' 세상에 이런 걸그룹이, 이 정도일줄이야…". Newsis. June 8, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ "The Barberettes". Last.fm. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
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  9. 1 2 3 Cho, Sung-Hoon (May 27, 2014). 인디 걸그룹 바버렛츠, 27일 첫 정규 앨범 발매 (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
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  13. 1 2 3 4 Lim, Hee-Yun (June 10, 2014). 걸그룹 공식 깬 ‘바버렛츠’… 인디發 대박 날까 (in Korean). The Dong-A Ilbo. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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  17. 1 2 Kwon, Suk-Chung (March 20, 2015). 권석정의 SXSW리포트, 걸그룹 바버렛츠의 북미공략기 (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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  19. 1 2 Brennan, Elliott (February 11, 2015). "Ready to rock". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Cho, Irene (March 25, 2015). "SXSW: Episode Eight from The Daily Buzz". NPR The Daily Buzz. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  21. ↑ 교수진 (in Korean). Kwangwoon Conservatory. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Girl group The Barberettes releases single album 'Lonesome Christmas'". InnoLife. November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 4 김사월X김해원, 제12회 한국대중음악상 최다 부문 후보 (in Korean). The Korea Herald. February 2, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  24. 1 2 종합분야,올해의 신인 (in Korean). Korean Music Awards. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 장르분야 (in Korean). Korean Music Awards. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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  27. ↑ '불후' 바버렛츠, 흥겨운 컨트리 무대 '복고 감성 물씬' (in Korean). News One. January 24, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  28. 1 2 한국의 인디 걸그룹 ‘바버렛츠’ 토론토 공연 (in Korean). Canadian News Journal. February 13, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Japan Content Showcase 2014". Japan Content Showcase. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  30. 1 2 "양희은 (Yang Hee Eun) - 나영이네 냉장고 (Feat. 김나영‚ 바버렛츠) MV". CJE&M Music. November 18, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  31. ↑ 음악 바버렛츠, 신한카드 CM송 ‘비 마이 베이비’ 싱글 발표 (in Korean). The Korea Herald. January 16, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  32. 1 2 2015년 01월 BGM Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  33. ↑ Yan, Jian (January 9, 2015). 신한카드 '특별한 고객사랑법' 코드나인 새광고 네티즌 인기 (in Korean). The Financial News. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  34. ↑ 바버렛츠, 신한카드 CM송 ‘비 마이 베이비’ 싱글 발표 (in Korean). The Korea Herald. January 16, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  35. 1 2 Lim, Hee-Yun (March 24, 2015). 바버렛츠, 케이팝 스타로 날다 (in Korean). Dong-A Ilbo. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  36. ↑ "SXSW Schedule, The Barberettes". SXSW. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  37. 1 2 3 Lim, Hee-Yun (March 23, 2015). 美 SXSW 뮤직 페스티벌 달군 케이팝 관객과 하나된 ‘용광로 무대’ (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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  39. ↑ "SXSW Schedule Closing Party, The Barberettes". SXSW. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  40. ↑ NPR Music Staff (March 18, 2015). "NPR Music At SXSW 2015: Tuesday". NPR All Songs Considered. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  41. ↑ Valenti, Lauren (March 19, 2015). "The 30 Best Songs We Heard at SXSW". Marie Claire. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  42. ↑ Presley, Katie (March 18, 2015). "15 Female-Fronted Bands to Love at SXSW". Bitch. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  43. ↑ Dufrene, Mark (March 25, 2015). "Photos: SXSW bands which totally killed it in Austin and are coming to the Bay area this year". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  44. ↑ Winkie, Luke (March 20, 2015). "Korea Night 1: K-Pop Night Out". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  45. 1 2 3 Zimmer, Cindy (March 17, 2015). "Review: The Barberettes in Toronto". ATK Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  46. 1 2 Jeong, Jin-Yeong (March 10, 2015). 바버렛츠, 북미 투어 나서…14~15일 캐나타 토론토서 시작 (in Korean). The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
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  49. ↑ Hon, Jing Yi (March 14, 2015). "Derrick Hoh, Reuby to represent Singapore at the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival". Today. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
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  52. ↑ "MIDEM FESTIVAL : "K-POP Night Out" 21 : 45 - 00 :30". Midem. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  53. ↑ Hache, Valery (June 5, 2015). "People visit the Barberettes stand...". Getty Images. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
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  57. ↑ "JIMFF Opening Ceremony". Jecheon International Music & Film Festival. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  58. 1 2 3 Yang, Seung-Jun (August 12, 2015). ""62년전엔 먹고살려고 걸그룹 했지" 한국 걸그룹 1호 '김시스터즈' 멤버 김민자". Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Jecheon to Host Int'l Music Film Fest in August". The Chosun Ilbo. July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  60. 1 2 바버렛츠, 英 BBC TVㆍ라디오 생방송 출연 (in Korean). The Korea Herald. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  61. ↑ "Jo Good With Harvey Goldsmith and The Baberettes". BBC Local Radio. September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  62. ↑ "The One Show 04/09/2015". BBC One. September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  63. 1 2 Blatchford, Emily (November 29, 2015). "Mapping Melbourne Set To Bring Asian Art Alive At City's Landmarks". The Huffington Post Australia. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  64. ↑ "The Barberettes live show + interview". 3RRR. December 1, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  65. ↑ "Show #836, The Barberettes". PBS 106.7FM. December 2, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
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  69. ↑ "Fana Releases "Décalcomanie" ft the Barberettes". Japako Music. March 23, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  70. ↑ "P-Type releases 'Street Poetry' along with two music videos!". Japako Music. March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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  74. ↑ Won, Ho-jung (April 10, 2015). "Folk legend looks back on 40 years in music". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
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