As a music enthusiast who has been following the Asian music scene for years, I must say that the collaboration between Hyukoh and Sunset Rollercoaster, titled AAA, is nothing short of spectacular. The way these two bands have managed to transcend language barriers through their shared passion for music is truly inspiring.
After over a year and a half, the collaborative album by HYUKOH and Sunset Rollercoaster has finally arrived, accompanied by an AAA tour and an impressive AAA merchandise collection which is now accessible at HBX. The creative bond between these artists, stretching across South Korea and Taiwan, led seamlessly to their venture into the fashion world following their joint album.
According to Kuo-Hung Tseng, the lead singer of Sunset Rollercoaster, we spend a lot of time together. This frequent interaction seems to have fostered an environment where creative ideas effortlessly emerge during our hangouts. Moreover, regarding fashion and streetwear, Oh possesses a clear vision. Often I wear whatever suits me, but since Oh has been deeply involved in this realm for quite some time, I find myself adopting his innovative concepts more often than not. Similarly, all members of [HYUKOH] have unique perspectives, which makes it natural for such ideas to materialize.
Prior to the capsule’s arrival at HBX, we had a chat with lead vocalists Kuo-Hung Tseng and Oh Hyuk about their multilingual band ethos. We delved into how music and fashion, two universal languages, encapsulate the essence of Hyukoh and Sunset Rollercoaster.
A Capsule For Performers
In Kuo’s words, “Oh’s style leans towards the avant-garde, but he still maintains a relaxed and casual vibe.” Throughout their collaboration, you can sense an affinity for minimalistic design with subtle AAA branding. It’s during their retail-exclusive stage outfits where the unique collaborative appeal truly shines. Kuo elaborates, “On stage, we embrace this cool style. Typically, Sunset Rollercoaster just stays true to ourselves. However, for this collaboration, since the concept is like a group of alien musicians traveling the world, it’s almost like taking on a character. So when I perform, I feel like I can tap into another side of myself, allowing me to break free from my usual self.
The collaboration between the groups exhibits a liberated approach to fashion, as demonstrated in their design aesthetic. Oh remembers, “I believe it was around 2018 while we were working in Berlin to finalize some mixing tasks, when we visited some military surplus stores and purchased vintage clothing from there. We found these pieces quite appealing, so I decided to incorporate military patterns into various designs.” Oh additionally shares, with remarkable speed and excitement, a unique aspect about the film, “I’m No Longer Here,” which significantly impacted his design process. “There is a particular genre known as Cumbia music, and those who listen to this type of music typically have a specific style – I think it’s generally referred to as the Cumbia style. This movie and its associated fashion influenced me greatly.
As a gaming enthusiast, I can say that what initially bonded this dynamic duo was their shared passion for music production – but let’s not forget the potential role fashion played in strengthening their alliance! If you hear them talk about it, you’ll see that labeling their AAA capsule as mere merchandise would be a gross understatement of their creative bond and history.
Kuo prefers the roomy cargo pants most among his collection. As he’s grown older and developed a larger beer belly, he appreciates their concealing qualities. He chuckles, ‘They do the job well!’ But these pants have an intriguing pattern in their folds, giving him a sense of support similar to a belt, yet feeling more organic. This added support, Kuo notes, helps him sustain notes for longer when performing on stage.
Perhaps these cargo pants might be the secret recipe to Sunset Rollercoaster’s unique vocal tones.
At this point, Kuo jumps out of his chair and leaves the room, returning moments later with a coat.
He mentions that he’ll present the jacket too, as he’s wearing it right now. It has a distinctive pattern around the sleeve area, which he illustrates by inserting his hand into the jacket, showcasing its fingerless glove detailing. “You can wear it in different ways,” he explains, showing off the various styles while bending his fingers for the camera: like this, like that, or like this.
It’s obvious that the band’s method in music is reflected in their fashion choices; just as various musical instruments are combined to produce a full sound, the details of their collaboration and some guidance from HYUKOH’s stylist, Ye Young, have resulted in this carefully planned concept.
“I appreciate a unique design element in our clothing line – the size tags. Instead of using numbers or letters, we label them with our brand names. This is because customers often ask about the size worn by our models. So, if someone prefers the same size as me, they can opt for the size tagged with my name.
Notably, Chanhee Hong’s AAA capsule concludes with a collection of 10 Asian Young Men, an art book showcasing 100 AI-generated images that emerged during the creation of the album artwork. In conversation with HBX, Oh explained, “Chanhee and I began creating images last year. The number grew to around 150. We found the concept appealing and the process enjoyable, so we decided to compile these into a book as a way to preserve our work.
During their tour, a special ping pong event popped up in Seoul as a celebration of the latest collaboration between Hyukoh and Sunset Rollercoaster. This event highlighted their genuine bond with their fans and laidback personalities. Scroll down for additional photos.
The Meaning of AAA
Oh and Kuo’s energy is undeniable, even though English isn’t their first language. They communicate with a blend of Chinese, English, Korean, and Google Translate, showing their excitement and passion. Similarly, graphic designer Na Kim designed the AAA logo with a similar multifaceted approach. The goal was to make it appear like an alien word, with hints of Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese characters. Essentially, all the symbols represent AAA, but the design aims to suggest that it’s from an unknown origin, yet still recognizable as AAA.
In terms of all possible interpretations of AAA, it essentially signifies “excellence,” as Kuo explains. “Our aim is to craft multifaceted concepts that allow individuals to incorporate their personal experiences when engaging with the creations we produce.
The Future for HYUKOH and Sunset Rollercoaster
Yet, in spite of their differences, music serves as an extraordinary medium for both HYUKOH and Sunset Rollercoaster to express themselves profoundly, surpassing the boundaries of language.
Kuo humorously noted that Oh often comes up with excellent but somewhat grandiose ideas. Initially, their collaboration began by creating music together, and over time, it evolved into a full-fledged clothing brand. He finds the journey remarkable, as he jokes that from its humble beginnings, everything has grown exponentially.
HYUKOH x Sunset Rollercoaster [AAA] is available now on HBX.
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2024-11-04 13:26