Wave to Earth (left to right: Kim Daniel, John Cha, and Dong Q). Photo: courtesy of the artist.
Wave to Earth, for me, is a synonym for “Seasons,” one of my favorites from its discography. A bittersweet song, its delicate melody and lyrics make it perfect for moments of solace and emotional resonance. “Seasons” was the first to introduce me to Wave to Earth—this phenomenal Korean indie rock act, and as luck would have it, I got to speak with its founding members—Kim Daniel (frontman), John Cha (bass), and Dong Q (drums)—in the lead-up to their performance at Lollapalooza India 2025.
The event marks Wave to Earth’s India debut, so the excitement and expectation of connecting with a live Indian audience is understandable. Interestingly, for Kim Daniel, his connection to Indian culture isn’t new and is perhaps a wellspring of inspiration in shaping the emotive and evocative qualities of Wave to Earth’s music. Reflecting on his affinity for Indian cinema, he reminisced about how, growing up, he would often lose himself in the narratives and visual splendor of Indian cinema, saying, “I consider it an honor to perform in India, home to so many good films.”
Concerning their approach to the performance, he said that they are going for a more stripped-down, “natural and raw” sound this time, something they hope will resonate profoundly with the crowd and help create a more personal connection with the band.
I could sense this distinct synergy between the members as we spoke; it surely fuels their expressive sound and musical displays. While Kim Daniel took the lead in answering my questions, John Cha translated to ensure that their ideas and experiences were conveyed clearly, and Dong Q, for his part, shared his insightful thoughts, resulting in an engaging discussion. Excerpts:
Leading up to Lollapalooza India 2025, how are you feeling, and what are your expectations?
Kim Daniel: This is our first time performing in India, so we’ll prepare well and put in more energy. We look forward to meeting everyone.
Could you tell us a bit about how your set will look? How do you perceive this cultural exchange between your music and the Indian audience?
Kim Daniel: For Lollapalooza, only three of us—the founding members—are going to perform, with no guest members. So, you can expect a natural and raw sound from us, which is different from when we perform with the five-member setup. And, having grown up watching a lot of Indian movies, I consider it an honor to perform in India, home to so many good films.
Have any of you had experiences with Indian culture or music before? Any Indian artist you’d like to collaborate with?
John Cha: For me, especially, studying music exposed me to traditional Indian music as well as Indian beats and stuff, so I’m really into it. As for collaborating with an Indian artist, I believe he’s Indian, but based in America; his name is Dhruv, and he’s quite popular on Spotify. His songs are good, and maybe we could meet him someday and do something together.
What do you believe sets Wave to Earth apart from other bands in the genre?
Kim Daniel: We strived to create a sound that we could make the best out of. And in terms of my voice, I sought out music that complemented it, which evolved into Wave to Earth’s music.
With a blend of genres and influences like soft indie rock and jazz, what shaped your distinctive sound?
Kim Daniel: I tried blending my soft voice with different genres, resulting in a soft jazz and soft indie rock sound, along with a continuous thought process that goes into the creative process, which all contributed to the Wave to Earth sound.
You mentioned in one of your previous interviews that Wave to Earth aimed to make music that made “a new wave.” How has your music evolved?
Kim Daniel: I think we are working harder to create a more solid sound; we have our sights set on creating a bigger and better sound that continues to leave a lasting impression. Perhaps the fact that we keep touring around the world also helps us grow musically and individually.
Given the growing global interest in Korean popular culture, what are your future aspirations?
Kim Daniel: Firstly, it’s a huge honor, and I’d like to say that before being acknowledged as K-pop artists, our top priority lies in continuing to grow and become great artists.
What would you like fans to remember about you if they encountered your music for the first time?
Dong Q: I hope the fans understand how much Wave to Earth loves music.
Wave to Earth will play at Lollapalooza India 2025 on March 9. Get tickets to Lollapalooza India 2025 here.
Source:https://rollingstoneindia.com/catching-up-with-wave-to-earth-ahead-of-lollapalooza-india-2025/