Korean Rock Star MEMI Journeys into the World of Electric Guitar with EP Paranoia//Nostalgia

South Korean rock star MEMI returns with her second EP Paranoia//Nostalgia, a sonic diary of her musical roots and an exploration of inner conflict where unrest and yearning constantly intersect. 

Journeying into the world of electric guitar, MEMI blends the sharp edge of anxiety and rebellion (Paranoia) with deep longing for the music of childhood (Nostalgia). Patanoia//Nostalgia consists of “Get da Faka,” “Miracle,” “LOVE SONG,” and “imissyourbody.”

Listen to MEMI’s Paranoia//Nostalgia here

With a foundation in rock, each track in Paranoia//Nostalgia traces the emotional landscape that shaped MEMI’s identity as a guitarist and songwriter. 

“Get da Faka” is the most visceral track on the EP. Featuring heavy riffs and unapologetic lyrics reflecting MEMI’s lifelong obsession with rock music, it channels the raw, instinctive appeal of Nu-metal—the genre that first pulled MEMI into guitar playing.

“Miracle” pays homage to late-2000s garage rock. Mocking the absurdities of life while simultaneously yearning for a miracle to break through the chaos, it is an energetic, danceable track laced with biting sarcasm.

“LOVE SONG” is MEMI’s take on an emo track. Stepped in contradiction and rejecting the clichés of love songs sung by alternative rock stars, the track embraces the very sentiment it tries to resist— delivering a self-aware, paradoxical message. 

“Imissyourbody” takes inspiration from the pop-punk and pop-rock tunes that first sparked MEMI’s interest in playing guitar in the early 2000s. Tracing the memories of a lover’s physical presence, the track reflects how the emotions unfold chronologically and reveals longing through sensory and temporal detail. 

MEMI is a singer-songwriter based in Seoul, South Korea, who is known for her previous single releases such as “Guitar Pick” and “Thin Lips Club,” as well as her role as guitarist on Korean indie rock band 24HOURS. 

With over 463,000 followers on Instagram and over 477,300 followers on TikTok, MEMI has captured the attention of many fans and audiences across the world since 2022 through her guitar content on social media, gaining attention from some of the biggest acts in the world such as Fred Durst and Phoenix, who have all previously engaged with her content. 

She released her debut EP M3MI in December 2023, which was quickly followed by her first solo show in South Korea, held at CJ azit in Seoul. Last year, MEMI took her first steps out of the Korean market, playing at prestigious festivals across the world including SXSW in Austin, Texas; Incheon Pentaport Music Festival in South Korea; Big Sound Festival and Sydney Fringe Festival in Australia, Clockenflap in Hong Kong, and Fireball Festival in Taiwan.