I’m glad Korean Indie gets more direct emails from artists in 2025. Before we’d get maybe one or two emails every six months among the hundreds of unrelated, spam, or marketing lists we didn’t join. Now there’s a healthy amount that comes in monthly.
glumroll is one of those artists and she sent an email about her latest release, “PINK MATTER.” And after listening to the single, I thought it’d be good if she introduced herself to our audience.
Can you introduce yourself? What does glumroll mean?
Hi! I’m glumroll – a Korea-born, internationally-raised artist exploring the world and myself through music.
The name came from reading A Series of Unfortunate Events, where I first saw the word “glum.” I loved how it sounded – kind of like a tongue twister – and it stuck with me. Later, I added “roll” to reflect my deep love for rock music. To me, glumroll means rolling forward even through glum moments – it gives me hope.
What genre would you consider yourself an artist of?
I’m drawn to genre-bending. I began with UFO to honor my rock roots, but with 1004 and Boston, I leaned more into electronic and experimental R&B.
Now in 2025, my sound has evolved again – as I change, my music changes too. My goal is to capture new emotions and perspectives with each release.
Is “PINK MATTER” a one-off or a direction you’re pursuing?
It’s definitely not a one-off. I’ve grown to love electronic music – especially D&B, UKG, breakcore, and trance. Producing “PINK MATTER” was fun, and I’ve got more tracks lined up in this direction.
Where did the inspiration for “PINK MATTER” come from?
I wanted a track that could hype me up – not in a delusional way, but a grounded one. I remembered being five and manifesting pink fairy wings with full conviction. “PINK MATTER” is a grown-up version of that energy – trusting your dreams and showing up for yourself.
What’s the biggest difference between “UFO”-era glumroll and now?
“PINK MATTER”-era glumroll is more grounded, present, and bold. You can hear it in the vocals and production – there’s clarity and drive. “UFO“-era felt more internal, chaotic, and divided. The shift reflects how much my mindset has changed.
What challenges have you faced? Any EP plans?
The biggest challenge is always working within limitations, like budget. But I’m stubborn in a good way – I trust my creative instincts.
As for an EP or album, I once told someone I’d release one after 10 singles. I still want to – but only when I feel fully ready to commit to that larger canvas.
Who influences you? Any dream collaborations?
Artists like Björk, yeule, The Marías, Mid-Air Thief, Salyu, Radiohead, and Frank Ocean – they’re all unmistakably themselves.
Dream collab? Maybe something unexpected: Polyphia x Ichiko Aoba x glumroll. That’d be wild.
How do you create your music?
Each track starts differently – a riff, a sound design, a mood. I usually build the foundation solo, but I also work closely with people I trust. Sometimes that turns into co-producing or having them play a part in the music. My mastering engineer and visual collaborators are all people I admire deeply.
What’s your next career challenge?
I’ve been expanding into producing for others – including indie artists and K-pop. It’s new territory, but I love it. It challenges me to be sharper and more collaborative while staying grounded in my own artistic voice.
Anything to say to readers?
The world needs more creators. Keep adding your colour – it matters, and I appreciate you.
Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Chris P
Korean Indie owner and Editor at Large. Constantly looking for new music and working on library parity on Spotify and YouTube Music.