ADG7

Ak Dan Gwang Chil (ADG7) made their debut outside Korea at WOMEX in Finland and then played GlobalFEST in New York to much press acclaim. With the explosions of a pop rock cabaret and the grooves of funk, the group draw on the sacred shamanic and secular ritual music and folk song of the Hwanghaedo region in western North Korea, their music expressing the true meaning of liberation and the Korean people’s hope for reunification.

The nine-member group perform traditional instruments – zithers, flutes, drums and gongs – with three powerhouse singers and together they create an exuberant, contemporary interpretation of the spirit of Hwanghaedo. Band members include Won Meon Dong Maru on gayageum (zither); Grace Park on ajaeng (zither); Kim Yak Dae on daeguem (bamboo flute); Lee Man Wol on piri (bamboo oboe) and saenghwang (free reed mouth organ); Chun Gung Dal and Sunwoo Bara on percussion; and Hong Ok, Wol Seon and Meong Wol on vocals.

Their latest album Such is Life was released this year.