Introducing The ATIC!

The band shares where and when their love of music started, the stories behind their songs, and their short- and long-term goals.

Please introduce yourselves! 

The ATIC is a band composed of producer Ahn Seo-hyun, Moon Yeong-seong, Shim Hyeong-seok, Yoon Byeong-jun, and Park Jung-hyeon. Formed in 2020, [we] worked on DIY content production. [We] debuted with the single “Lose yourself” in June 2022 and have released two EPs and seven singles. The ATIC's music is expanding its contradictory yet harmonious worldview, by mixing electronic genres, such as trap, synthwave, future bass, and moombahton, with band sounds.

How did you each get interested in playing and/or making music?

Mun Yeong-seong: At the age of 17, there was no male vocalist in the school band, so I joined. I started playing music that changed dramatically depending on the arrangement, [and] I enjoyed it. 

Ahn Seo-hyun: I started making music after feeling the joy of performing the songs that I had composed live while playing in a middle school band.  

Yoon Byeong-jun: I started when I was young because there was no one to play bass at church. After I was lucky enough to stand on a big stage, I couldn't forget that feeling. I wanted to stand on that stage again, so I continued to do music. 

Park Jung-hyeon: I became interested in guitar while watching idol bands when I was in high school. I started playing guitar with other rock bands' music, and [it] was fun. 

Shim Hyeong-seok: After hearing “Carnival” by The Cardigans, I thought, “I want to play drums!” So I enrolled in a local drum school. However, my teacher said, “You have no talent,” and, “You're slow, so you'll never be good at rock music.” So I thought, "Even if I quit, I'll do better than this teacher before I [do].” With that rebellious spirit, I decided to become a musician. 

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “The ATIC is ___” or “The ATIC’s music is ___”? 

“The ATIC is artificial reality.” “The ATIC” was shortened from “Artificial,” to express that [we] artificially mix various fictional elements with the strong emotions we face in reality. 

Please describe your newest single, “Ocean Wave”! 

The single “Ocean Wave” delivers a message of deep comfort and support to those who are moving towards their goals amidst the constantly swaying waves. Starting with the phrase "Open the door where light leaks out," the synth sound reminiscent of cold wind and rough waves and the groovy band sound unique to [us] harmonize to lead the listener [on] a grand voyage. The [lyric] “I can sail on the stars” expresses a strong will to move forward, infusing positive energy into the entire song. “Ocean Wave” symbolizes the challenges and uncertainties encountered [on] life's voyages, and the story of moving towards one's dreams provides great inspiration to listeners. 

Are The Beginning and The Chroma part of an ongoing series, or are they just a two-part story? 

Each EP is tied together. The first EP was created with the theme of [the] past, present, and future. [We] wanted to convey the message that we are thrown into a harsh world and want to stay in the past and wander in the present, but in the end, we must move forward. The second EP expressed three themes: loss, recovery, [and] self-esteem. The anxiety from low self-esteem, the process of recovering from it, and the desire to convey the recovered self-esteem to those around [us] were defined [by] “Lucid,” “Hide inside,” and “Like a star.” 

Please talk about each of these songs: fun facts, sources of inspiration, behind-the-scenes stories, descriptions… whatever you want to say about each one! 

“Lose yourself”: “Lose yourself” was originally a dance song with the topline written by vocalist Yeong-seong during the [days in the band] YEWTH. PD Seo Hyun thought, “It would be fun to mix this with the band's live sound and use it for a performance,” so after going through [two or three] versions, we completed it in its current form. 

“Stay”: “Stay” is a song that [was] made lightly in the early morning to relieve stress from working too hard. 

“Insomnia”: “Insomnia” was produced by mixing J-rock and synth-pop elements, because bassist Byeong-jun kept asking for exciting music for live performances. We filmed the music video [on] a rooftop studio and vividly remember carrying the equipment up to the fifth floor without an elevator!

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

Short-term, the goal is to win [a] contest and create a single to be released in January of [next] year. Long-term, we want to make our own shows, make a living with music, and [have] our own studio and performance hall.

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music? 

[We] hope that we can have many friends who experience the world we are creating together.

Check out The ATIC’s newest single here, and learn more about the group here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photos courtesy of Localhigh Records.