When a South Korean music video hits 3 million views in a couple of weeks, you’d typically expect it to be from a fairly well-known K-pop group. (Most smaller K-pop groups would struggle to reach that number so quickly.) Instead, it’s a folk singer doing something completely different, and people can’t seem to stop talking about it.
Who is Song Sohee?
Let’s start with the basics. Born in 1997, Song Sohee is a South Korean singer who’s been around for quite a while. She started as a child prodigy in traditional Korean folk music (called gugak, if you want to get technical) and won her first major contest when she was just 11.
There’s an interesting twist to this story. Song has been open about times when audience members would actually leave during her performances. Instead of giving up or switching to more commercial music, she kept experimenting until she found her own sound.
She’s now signed with an indie label called Magic Strawberry Sound, and they’re helping her explore this new direction. Her recent work includes collaborations with rock musicians and even disco-inspired tracks.
Learn more about Song Sohee at our sister publication Celebrisphere!
What’s the big deal now?
Her new and, as of yet, officially unreleased track “Not a Dream” is getting attention because it’s doing something pretty unusual. She’s taken traditional Korean singing techniques and mixed them with modern electronic music. Think of it as if someone combined ancient folk music with modern pop, but in a way that actually works.
The interesting thing is that Song isn’t just jumping on some trend. She’s been quietly working on this new sound for a while. Last April, she released her first mini-album where she started writing her own songs.
The comments section under her video is full of people trying to describe what they’re hearing. Some say it sounds like nature itself, others compare it to standing on a mountain. What’s notable is that both Korean and international listeners are connecting with it, even though most probably can’t understand the lyrics.
What’s Next?
The big question is whether this unreleased track will get an official release. Fans are flooding the comments section asking for it, and given the response, it would be surprising if it doesn’t come out soon.
Song Sohee is currently working on building two separate musical identities – one as a traditional folk singer and another as a contemporary artist. It’s a bold move, but based on the reaction to “Not a Dream,” it might just pay off.
