Soundcloud Gems: Alisha
International fans experience K-Pop differently than Korean fans. With the oversaturation of artists in the industry, it can be difficult to find up-and-coming underground artists who have yet to break into the mainstream. Western music streaming services like iTunes and Spotify are doing a good job at incorporating extensive K-Pop catalogs, but for these lesser known artists, a site like Soundcloud helps to better connect them with their potential audience. There are so many talented artists swimming around this platform, so we’re highlighting artists that deserve your attention.
Alisha
Unfortunately, there is little public information about the talented artist under the mononym Alisha, but that doesn’t diminish the impression she can leave on new listeners. Unlike a majority of mainstream Korean music, all five tracks on her Soundcloud revolve around drinking, love-making, and even sexting. Her sultry husky voice is a rich deep tone that, when paired with her singing style, sounds like she’s drunkenly slurring in each song. Alisha effortlessly weaves between English and Korean, painting pictures of intensely intimate snapshots of life. Her R&B tracks seem to stem from darker personal experiences—a refreshingly blunt honesty that can be hard to find on the surface of Korea’s music scene.
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“Drunk Texting” feat. Jimmy Brown
Her most recent has amassed over 20,000 plays on Soundcloud. The track describes exactly what the title says. Her drowsy delivery flashes back to those late nights hitting your ex-flame up for a little loving when under the influence. It’s a regretful reminder for anyone who has been in the situation, but the song captures those heightened feelings in those early hours.
“Last” feat. FR:EDN
“Last” is actually Alisha’s most popular track at over 75,000 plays, which makes sense when you hear the beat drop in the chorus. “Say you love me now but how long is it gon’ last? I hope that you could really be my last,” she questions before the electronic beat hits. This genre is a different avenue for the singer’s voice, but she gracefully glosses over the thumping tempo, which fades out until it’s simply her voice and the piano. It’s the perfect recipe for a sentimental banger you can still groove to.
“Sober”
The artist strips it back to old school R&B with “Sober.” The simple beat allows for the potent lyrics to grab the spotlight. She sings of not experiencing happiness before the relationship, finding refuge during, and then losing herself right now, after the relationship shows signs of ending. Alisha clearly sings from the heart, hoping to mend what’s left of this love while finding herself again.
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