Tasty Shop’s Endless “Summer Symphony”

The indie band talks about their evolution and global ambitions.

Please introduce yourselves! 

Hello! We are Tasty Shop, an indie band based in Korea. We play and sing about youth with refreshing sounds based on pop music but inspired by a variety of genres, [including] country, funk, and jazz. Recently, we have been working with a lot of bright rock sounds. 

Since winning the Grand Prize [in a 2018 competition], we have been making our mark through competitions, concerts, festivals, and media appearances. [This has not just been] in Korea; we have [promoted] internationally [at] Mexico’s Hallyu Fest and the Korean Cultural Center in China. 

We connect to a wide audience with our refreshing and vibrant energy, [and] interest from foreign fans has been growing.

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

[“Tasty Shop’s music is a] refreshment”! We create iconic, refreshing, and energizing sounds. Dynamic compositions give us a strong and vivid presence in live performances. 

What is the story behind how you first became a band? 

We are friends who met at the same university. Through class, we formed a team and gradually expanded our activities [to include being] an indie band. 

How did you choose your group name, and did you consider any other names first? 

At first, our team name was “Jeong Eun Soo & Friends.” We took one character from the names of the guitarist, pianist, and drummer: "Jeong," "Eun," and "Soo." After some member changes, we decided to rename the band "Tasty Shop." The name reflects our desire to share music that represents our tastes with everyone. 

Are the sources of inspiration for your music different from each other’s or the same? 

It seems like each of us draws inspiration from different sources. Usually, we find inspiration from topics around us. For example, "Dreams, The lazy bird" was composed by our bassist Jiho, who was inspired by his habit of sleeping in. 

What are the best and worst things about being in a band? 

The best part is that we can rely on each other. When we're working on a song and feel stuck, it's great to have so many creative ideas among us to push things forward. Also, since we met in college, we [have shared] not just music but life’s ups and downs, making us as close as family. It's fun to travel together for performances, building experiences and memories along the way. 

The difficult part is when our ideas clash. Although these differences push our music in a better direction, the process of coordinating everyone’s opinions is never easy.

Please describe one of your newest singles, “Summer Symphony”! 

Although the English title is "Summer Symphony," the original title has a meaning in Sino-Korean. It’s a playful pun using the Korean pronunciation of "Symphony," "Gyo-hyang-gok." In Korean, "Gyo" means "to interact" and "Hyang" means "to head towards," so the song conveys the meaning of “My heart heading towards you in the hot summer.”

Can you share a fun fact or “TMI” story about the making of the “Summer Symphony” music video?

We wanted to create a music video that captures the fresh excitement of first love, [so] we filmed in a high school setting. Originally, we planned to shoot some scenes on the rooftop, but it was during Korea's monsoon season. Heavy rain forced us to stick to indoor shooting in the classroom. However, this allowed us to focus more on the small stories within the classroom setting! 

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

Our goal is to meet and perform for our international fans in person; we aim to do an overseas tour. Thanks to the release of "Summer Symphony," we’ve realized that we have many fans abroad who love our music. This has given us the courage to pursue opportunities overseas. 

Learn more about Tasty Shop here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo courtesy of Tasty Shop.