The globe-trotting electro-rock duo Love X Stereo consisting of Annie Ko and Toby Hwang has been extremely busy and increasingly in demand over the past couple of years. Touring and making festival appearances in five countries on two continents, as well as recording and releasing the seven track EP We Love We Leave, Part 1 last year. Love X Stereo is, without doubt, one of the most buzz-worthy acts on the Korean indie music scene right now.
Soon Love X Stereo will be making their second appearance at world renowned South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas and will then be sticking around to tour the US and Canada. Prior to their trek West in March, Love X Stereo has kicked off a PledgeMusic project to release their We Love We Leave, Part 2 EP.
We had a chance to ask them a few questions about Love X Stereo’s recent and upcoming activities. Annie Ko kindly took some time to give us some insider info on We Love We Leave, Pt. 2, as well as their upcoming North American tour.
Rock ‘N Seoul: You two have been very busy the past few years touring internationally as well as gigging in Korea and somehow you have still managed to find the time to record and release the first album of this set, the 7 track We Love We Leave, Part 1 last February, now you are on the cusp of releasing We Love We Leave, Part 2. Why did you decide to do a two part album and how does We Love We Leave, Part 2 compliment its predecessor?
Annie Ko: We actually wanted to make a full LP with 12 tracks, but the timing wasn’t right. But, the songs were so different anyway, in terms of style and themes. Part 1 was all about “Love”. Part 2 focuses on “Leave” – in other words, how we deal with parting and especially, death.
Rock ‘N Seoul: What can you share with us about composing and recording We Love We Leave Part 2? Did anything unexpected happen along the way?
Annie Ko: We recorded the album in November 2014 at KT&G Sangsang Madang Chuncheon. We got selected for this program called “Art Of Recording” by KT&G, which was a program that connects a prestigious recording engineer and Korean artists. We got to work with British producer Adrian Hall, who previously worked with Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp and more. He actually was more than just a recording engineer, he mixed our songs, and co-produced arrangements with us. So he was very much involved in the project, and we’re very satisfied with the overall outcome.
Rock ‘N Seoul: You have decided to make We Love We Leave Part 2 available on vinyl. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who is really excited about this. Do you and Toby have a record collection? What’s your current favorite LP?
Annie Ko: We don’t have a collection, YET. But we do have New Order’s Bizarre Love Triangle in vinyl. We wanted to produce vinyl just because we thought it was time. Plus, think our fans would love it.
Rock ‘N Seoul: You are about to embark on your “Hide and Seek” tour in the USA and Canada. You’ve hit quite a few North American cities in the past few years. You have asked for fan input in letting you know where they’d like to see you for this tour. Are there any cities that you and Toby would like to play in that you haven’t been to yet?
Annie Ko: Of course! We’d like to perform in anywhere, actually. The city that we haven’t performed but yet had a lot of votes was Minneapolis. We definitely want to go there!
Rock ‘N Seoul: You’ve played at music festivals in Canada, Singapore, Korea, the US, and you’ve just returned from playing at a music festival in India. Do you enjoy the festival circuit and atmosphere? Are there any festivals that you have not yet played at that you would like to play in the future?
Annie Ko: There are so many festivals we’d love to play. So many… Glastonbury, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Great Escape, Pop Montreal… We’ll be honored to perform anywhere!
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We here at Rock ’N Seoul look forward to getting our hands on We Love We Leave, Part 2, as well as having the chance to catch a live set here in North America again very soon.
In the meantime, you can pre-order We Love We Leave, Part 2 during their PledgeMusic project here and you can let Love X Stereo know where you would like to see them during their “Hide and Seek” tour in the US and Canada here.
Go check out Love X Stereo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as US iTunes and Bandcamp.
Also, there has been an adorable new addition to the Love X Stereo family, DeeJay the dog, and you can watch him grow up here on his very own Instagram account.
Rock 'N Seoul 