- South Korea's electronic wunderkind in session.
- Mogwaa is a Seoul-based DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist who can seemingly do no wrong. Since his debut EP in 2017, he's developed a stellar track record of releases and live performances that have made him an in-demand name across East Asia and beyond. And he's only just getting started.
Mogwaa's multi-genre palette and hardware expertise have earned him the description of boy wonder from peers and collaborators. His work is awash with bright textures and dreamy moods, whether it's electro-fused techno for Peggy Gou's Gudu Records, lithe jungle for Klasse Wrecks or dubby dancehall for Sound Metaphors. At Wonderfruit festival in December, he played a thrilling live set of spacey techno and loopy acid. His stamina and love of music is tangible—you get the sense he could play all night long and still be raring to go.
After learning classical piano, guitar and trumpet in his early years, he taught himself to compose and produce. He's now determined to work with South Korean producers through Walls And Pals, a label he runs alongside Jesse You.
Mogwaa's RA Podcast offers a glimpse into his multi-faceted sound. It's full of club-ready heaters, from trippy house to breakbeat, that pack a serious punch.
What have you been up to recently?
It's been a pretty hectic six months due to travelling, setting up my own label and working on the releases. Finally, I'm peacefully back to my daily routine. Brewing my coffee in the morning, being at the studio and taking a walk. Refilling energy and inspirations.
How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it?
This mix was recorded at one of my favourite clubs in Seoul, Modeci, using a Pioneer DJM900 mixer and two 2000NXS2 CDJs. And it's mostly about what I'm up to when I DJ at the club these days. Most people don't know but it feels so good when you absorb sunlight and listen to music at Modeci during the daytime.
What's one club or party that had a major impact on you as an artist?
It was a party at Modeci. Last year, I covered the entire night, DJing and playing live for seven hours. Usually when I DJ or play live, I only get to showcase a limited amount. So, it was a unique experience to reveal different sides of my musical self to the audience.
You're incredibly versatile as a producer and your releases explore everything from boogie to rave to ambient. Are you interested in developing a particular sound?
I feel that I'm in the process of finding myself in music, and it's not genre oriented at all. However, there's a certain aesthetic that runs through my production—a set of elements that inspire and move me. So, I always strive to develop them into my own sound.
How has Seoul's electronic music landscape changed since the pandemic?
I feel like it has expanded a lot since the pandemic. There are more clubs, DJs, and producers now. Moreover, there are more new labels, which were really needed in the scene. Although there are many great producers in Seoul, it wasn't easy to introduce them to the scene. With labels like Walls And Pals, run by Jesse You and me, people started launching new labels during and after the pandemic. It's truly gratifying to see people starting labels and making creative movements.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
Climate change has complex and diverse impacts on society and the environment beyond simple weather changes. However, people often consume more energy and generate more waste without realising how these phenomena are affecting our lives. I hope people consider how their attitudes toward the environment around us may come back to us.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
I just started working on a few collaborations this year, which is distinct from the electronic music I used to produce. So, I’m really excited about these projects. Additionally, we're in the process of releasing a split EP with Jesse You via Walls And Pals. And it's not related to my career, but with the weather getting warmer in Seoul, I'm really looking forward to going for morning walks.
TracklistFear-E - Colonel
Eddie Richards - I like that
Mogwaa - Unreleased
BufoBufo - Sargassum
CYRK - Acid Rave
Acidulant - Who's The Gangster In You
Milion & Job de Jong - Untitled 01
Madvilla - FM Trippin
Mr.Ho - OOO Baby (Om Unit remix)
Laars & Cosmic G - Flotation Agent
Marma - Yesterday
Lamediscos - Matraca
Krywald & Farrer - Seize The Source
Daisy Dee - Open Sesame (Time Writers One Step Beyond Remix)