Idiotape

Formation and members

The members are Dguru (producer and deejay), Zeze (synth) and DR (drums).

The band was initially formed in 2007, when members Dguru and Zeze met in the Seoul club scene, and started the band with a guitarist, who later left. The current band was formed in 2010, when drummer DR, formerly of the Seoul pop punk, pop rock band Sugar Donut, joined them.

Their name is a combination of the words "idiot" and "tape", which combined, minus one "t", also produced "idiot" and "ape"; and is a reflection of their nostalgia for cassettes, which they grew up with, and the use of analog equipment, which they favored.

Sound and influence

They were influenced by Korean classic rock from the 1960s and 1970s, and a wide range of bands, including The Doors, Radiohead, Metallica and Pantera. They are known for their analog sound, but still credit their rock influences. During a 2014 interview with WNUR-FM's Danny Hwang in Chicago Zeze said, "We for starters, began because we wanted to do electronic music, make an electronic band. But generally, in a way, I don't think we're too different from the average rock band. It's just that sounds we like happen to be synthesizers or other electronic instruments and I think we make the music we like using those instruments. And we try not to limit ourselves in terms of the sound or genre. It's more like we're doing whatever we want to do."

Touring and festivals

In March 2011, they were part of the first group of Seoulsonic bands, along with Vidulgi OoyoO and Galaxy Express, who performed at the Canadian Music Week in Toronto and SXSW in Austin, Texas, following up with a U.S. tour, including concerts in New York (The Knitting Factory) and Los Angeles (The Roxy). They performed at SXSW again in 2014 at K-Pop Night Out at SXSW. They have also opened for Fatboy Slim at Global Gathering Korea and performed at other festivals, including, the Pentaport Rock Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Exit Festival, Rencontres Trans Musicales, Summer Sonic Festival, Future Music Festival, Fusion Festival, Paléo Festival, Mundial Festival Netherlands, FMM Sines, Ansan Valley Rock Festival, Midem, and Ultra Korea 2016.

Studio albums

Extended plays