Busker Busker

South Korean indie trio Busker Busker rose to national success in 2011 as participants on the popular television talent show Superstar K3, where they ultimately finished in second place. Following their initial television fame, the group's melodic, easygoing folk-pop earned a widespread audience thanks to the 2012 hit single "Cherry Blossom Ending" and two subsequent albums. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2013. Formed in Cheonan by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jang Beom-jun, Busker Busker indeed got their start busking on the streets of Cheonan, home of Sangmyung University. Jang's idea was to create a kind of multidisciplinary art collective, mostly of college students, who would perform around the city, often creating small street festivals. Eventually a group of core regulars evolved including bassist Kim Hyung-tae and drummer Brad Moore, the latter an American living in South Korea. Although the band consisted of several other members, when they auditioned for the third season of Superstar K, Busker Busker slimmed down to a trio. After being eliminated early in the contest, Busker Busker earned a second chance when one of the original Top 10 bands dropped out. Making the most of the opportunity, they became one of Superstar K3's most popular acts, competing in the final episode against Ulala Session who ultimately won the season. After taking part in a Superstar promotional tour, the band entered the studio to record their debut album. Led by the romantic single, "Cherry Blossom Ending," Busker Busker 1: Finish was a major success, topping the Gaon Album Chart and landing every one of its tracks on the K-Pop Hot 100 and Gaon Digital Chart. Three months later, it was accompanied by the EP Busker Busker 1st Wrap-Up Album, which contained additional songs from the same sessions, all of which, like the full-length, were written by Jang. When their contract with CJ E&M Music ended, the band signed a deal with Chungchun Music and recorded their follow-up, Busker Busker 2nd Album, which was released in September 2013. Though not as successful as their debut, the album nonetheless reached number one on the Gaon chart and yielded the hit single "Love, At First." Within a few months of its release, Busker Busker announced that they would be going on hiatus while the bandmembers focused on their own projects. In the years since, Jang has released a trio of popular solo albums.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo