A familiar voice… It turns out it's a 'famous singer' alter ego?
At the music festival 'The Glow 2025' held at KINTEX in Ilsan on the 29th of last month, the rookie band 'BABO,' which debuted with their first full-length album on the last day of last year, took the stage.
The vocalist of the band, appearing fully covered and draped in a red cloak, spread his arms and stared into the void for about a minute.
Without any common phrases, they filled the 40-minute performance, captivating the audience's eyes and ears with professionalism and skill that belied their rookie status.
Particularly, praises poured in for the vocalist donning a bird mask with a long beak. He dominated the stage with a voice that was both unique and strangely familiar.
As a result, reactions among the audience followed, such as, "Sounds like a voice I've heard somewhere," "Could it be that person?" "Who knows, they perform well," and "Are they really newcomers?"
Instagram post by BABO (@bandbabo)
Instagram post by BABO (@bandbabo)
It turned out that the skilled rookie band BABO's vocalist is Lee Chan-hyuk of the well-known sibling duo Akdong Musician.
His progression seems reminiscent of Mad Clown's activities under the name 'Mami Son' in the past.
However, unlike Chan-hyuk, who had revealed some of his identity, these newcomers continue their activities without any mention of Akdong Musician while fully covering their faces.
In contrast to Akdong Musician’s performance as the headliner at a festival last year, Chan-hyuk's band was placed early in the lineup that day.
This is why evaluations express the feeling of determination to advance solely with their skills rather than relying on their fame.
Chan-hyuk quietly began his band activities without announcing related news, but gradually it has become known to the public through word of mouth.
The first full-length album 'b' released by BABO on December 31 last year features five tracks enriched with Chan-hyuk's unique variations added to the shoegazing genre.
Shoegazing is a portmanteau of 'Shoe' and 'Gaze,' meaning to focus solely on the stage without engaging with the audience, often staring at one’s shoes or the floor.
This music genre, which flourished in the late 1980s to early 1990s in the UK, actively utilizes effects to incorporate even the noise sounds of guitars into the music.
Although shoegazing is relatively light on vocals, the occasional voices create a dreamlike atmosphere, which is characteristic of the genre, giving the impression of performing in their own world without an audience.
Those who recognized him late commented on the video of BABO's performance, saying things like, "Wow, it was Lee Chan-hyuk," "Great Chan-hyuk," "Let Lee Chan-hyuk do whatever he wants," and "His stage presence is truly impressive."
Image sources: Photo=Insight, Lee Chan-hyuk / News1, Instagram 'bandbabo'
