“We intend to challenge the stereotype that non-smokers are boring”: Meet Musical Duo NON SMOKERS CLUB!

NON SMOKERS CLUB tell the stories behind their formation, band name, and singles.

For those who have never heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? 

We make fun, healthy music. We like to mix world music and K-pop, so if you are an adventurer, you will like us.

How would you finish the sentence “NON SMOKERS CLUB is ___” or “NON SMOKERS CLUB’s music is ___”? 

Herr: “NSC is for both smokers and non-smokers.”

Zuo: “NSC is like Brighton [the football club]: We are the rising underdogs.”

What is the story behind how you first decided to become a band?

Herr: It goes back to seven years ago, when our first encounter was somewhat hilarious. A dude hit me up in my DMs, and he knew about my music since we were both in this Korean online community for singer-songwriters. That gentleman happened to miss the hangout and sent Zuo instead. There we met, and the rest is history. [Someone] told us that we [have] different but similar vibes, so we met up and just started making music together. 

How did you choose your band name? 

If you read it closely, it’s not “NON SMOKER CLUB,” but rather “NON SMOKERS CLUB,” which emphasizes the fact that we are non-smokers, but you don’t need to be to join the club! Naming was simple; we are both non-smokers and pursue a healthy lifestyle. We intend to challenge the stereotype that non-smokers are boring and less attractive, especially in the entertainment industry. We want to show the world we are as equally compelling and talented as our counterparts. 

What strengths do you each bring to the group? Is one of you better at certain things than the other one is? 

When one shares ideas, the other tries to make it happen with music. Trust us, we have loads of meetings before anything happens. We both discuss how we'll present it and [if] the fans will like it. 

Please describe your newest single, “MMATT,” and why people should go listen to it! 

“MMATT’ is an acronym for “Meet Me At The Top.” It is about our lives as independent musicians trying to make it in the industry while fighting obstacles like haters, anxiety, money [problems], and so on. People might have heard “K-pop” and “K-hip-hop,” but they have never heard of “K-hip-hop with a Flamenco flair.” Not only [does] it sound objectively superb, but it’s different from mainstream K-pop. Also, there is a contrast in vibes we put in this double single, so check [out] track two, “LA VERDAD.” 

Please share some information about each of these songs:

“LA VERDAD”: We wrapped it up just one week before we sent it to our distributor. Also, this is the first NON SMOKERS CLUB R&B [song]. 

“FUEGO”: This song’s from 2021, before we even decided to form the band. We thought the song was still good enough to be our first single even [a] year [later]. 

“BANDONIN’”: This song was and still is a dark horse [in] our discography. [Herr] persuaded Zuo to make this track the title song until the last minute. 

Do you plan to keep releasing one or two songs at a time, or do you plan to release longer projects in the future? 

We like contrasts, so we will try our best to give different vibes in one [release], but we also love twists, which means at some point we might have [to] change our plans, so stay tuned. 

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

Our short-term career goal is to have our first show this year, whether we do it or others [set it up] for us. Our long-term career goal is to be known as the young giants of K-pop and world music, and to inspire people to feel [like] it’s okay to be different. 

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

Thank you, 17 Carat K-Pop and subscribers. We had [a lot of] fun answering these questions. Our double single, “MMATT,” is out, and it’s hot. Please check it [out] and spread the word to your friends and family. We will continue to be different and give you new sounds. Stay tuned, and please go follow us on socials! Thank you.

Check out NON SMOKERS CLUB’s newest single here, and keep up with them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.