South Korean producer and director Leesuho explores broader, experimental sonic landscapes in his official debut album, Monika, released last October 12. The 10-track album also marks a new step for the artist as a newly minted member of musical collective Balming Tiger.

The record has arrived at a pivotal moment in the artist’s career, signaling a pronounced change from his critically acclaimed 2018 EP, Entertain.

“Through the album Monika, Leesuho expresses a sense of liberation from physical limitations. Monika may be an animal, a space, a scent, or a person depending on the listener’s interpretation,” according to a press statement. True to its premise, the record digresses from the artist’s previous work, which exhausted tumultuous arrangements through its distorted synths and irregularly pieced-together electronic beats.

Monika traces Leesuho’s psychological growth over the past three years, evoking feelings of restlessness and tracing the flux of emotions that represent what can only be described as liberation. The record features a wide berth of artists making different types of music in today’s Korean music scene, including fellow Balming Tiger members Omega Sapien and sogumm, So!YoON! of indie band SE SO NEON, alternative and experimental artists Chang Kiha, Lil Cherry, Kim Ximya, Simo of Y2K92, and Kim Hanjoo of Silica Gel.

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Tracklist:

  1. Lover’s Tongue
  2. MOM ft. So!YoON!
  3. Echo ft. Omega Sapien
  4. Lights ft. Kim Hanjoo
  5. Instagram DJ
  6. Ninja Sports ft. Kim Ximya & Simo from Y2K92
  7. Idol ft. Lil Cherry & sogumm
  8. Kick Back
  9. Worship From Elsewhere ft. Chang Kiha
  10. Speak The Truth Even If Your Voice Shakes by Kim Doeon

The album’s release follows two pre-debut singles, “Lights” ft. Kim Hanjoo and “Echo” ft. Omega Sapien from earlier this year. A music video for MOM ft. So!YoON! is slated for release on October 14 via Balming Tiger’s official YouTube channel, along with another music video for “Idol” featuring Lil Cherry and sogumm set to drop later this year.

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Leesuho Goes Experimental In ‘Echo’ Ft. Omega Sapien

Stream the album below: