The Rise of sogumm
Chances are if you’re a fan of the K-Hip-Hop or K-R&B space, you’ve at least heard sogumm’s voice. She has been active since 2015, but came into the spotlight after winning the survival show Signhere in 2019, which won her a spot among the coveted artists of AOMG. This made her only the second female artist to join the label after Hoody. Prior to joining AOMG, sogumm debuted as an independent artist in 2015, gaining attention on SoundCloud for her unique vocal tone. In addition to being a singer, she also is a renowned producer and has worked with big mainstream artists in the genre. And of course, we can’t forget that she is also a member of the group Balming Tiger.
Some of her first mainstream appearances were in 2018 on DJ Wegun’s album Band Wegun Effect, where she featured on the track “Teach Me” with punchnello. Fans of B.A.P who took a listen to Bang Yongguk’s solo album may have noticed her featured on track “Hot and Cold.” She also featured on punchnello’s first mini-album ordinary.
2019 proved to be an extremely fruitful year for her, with the release of both her own solo album and a full album project with producer dress, a mysterious and yet extremely influential producer in the K-R&B world. dress may keep a low profile, but he has worked with big names such as Zion.T, Teddy Park, and Hyukoh and has proved both his talent and longevity in the industry. The collaboration album Not my fault included collaborations with Omega Sapien (a fellow Balming Tiger member), Jay Park, and penomeco and thus drew a ton of attention. Even upon first listen it’s clear that Not my fault is an extremely well-produced album with peak R&B vibes, regardless of the big names featured. Many of the tracks have the lovely lo-fi quality that so many listeners love and there’s guaranteed to be a favorite among the 13 total tracks.
On top of that album, sogumm also released her own full-length solo album in the same year. The best way to describe sogumm’s music is a mix between underground mystery MISO and unconventional songwriter SUMIN. There is a beautiful mix of chill lo-fi beats and experimental electronic melodies, all accompanied by sogumm’s unforgettable vocals. Words cannot really do justice to the music, so be sure to check out Sobrightttttttt yourself.
So far in 2020 she has featured on Woo Wonjae’s first album Black Out, collaborated with dress on a single album featuring ZICO, and most recently released single “yayou hoi'' with Oh Hyuk. The collaboration is a funky and fresh track that adds a more upbeat and poppy side to sogumm’s discography, giving a new depth to her vocals.
sogumm’s style is definitely unique, and her vocal tone may not be mainstream or particularly popular, but there’s no doubt that it is so uniquely her. Her artistic expression is trickled throughout her work, unapologetically herself in a music industry that often does the most it can to create the perfect idol. Take a listen and you’re sure to find something you love within her discography.
Find sogumm on her socials below.