A tight unit with a riotous party spirit, K-pop collective are bringing their culture to the masses
Balming Tiger are a many-headed beast. Formed in 2018, this 11-strong K-pop collective boasts a rotating cast of rappers, vocalists, writers, producers and cinematographers. Despite the mass of personalities involved, they’re a tight unit. In interviews they deliver neat slogans about their mission to bring Korean culture to the masses, like executives readying themselves for a product launch.
But there’s a riotous spirit underpinning that professionalism. Last year’s debut album, January Never Dies, is a collection of blissfully tongue-in-cheek songs that examine day-to-day life in Seoul, harnessing the rough edges of heavy metal with a pop sheen and exuberantly rapped verses. Kamehameha is a homage to chaotic drinking sessions, its video starring office workers who loosen their ties to get sloshed on soju, only to endure hungover hell at the next day’s meetings. Perhaps the band’s ethos is most neatly summarised by Sexy Nukim (Sexy Feeling). Featuring BTS frontman and Balming Tiger fan RM, it’s a call for listeners to ditch materialism and harness their inner self-confidence.
January Never Dies is out now. Balming Tiger play Heaven, London WC2 on 2 July
