Wellsaid Goes K-Pop?! Hong Kong Band's Shock Seoul Debut!

Hong Kong’s emo darlings, Wellsaid, are finally taking their sound global, and their first stop is South Korea. The indie quartet, fronted by the charismatic Rocky Sum, will be hitting stages in Busan and Seoul this weekend, marking their long-awaited Korean debut. I’ve been following Wellsaid’s trajectory for a while now, and this feels like a significant milestone for a band that's always been pushing boundaries.

Wellsaid Goes K-Pop?! Hong Kong Band's Shock Seoul...

“It definitely feels like a long time coming,” Sum told *The Korea Times* in a recent interview. He mentioned the band’s deep appreciation for the South Korean music scene, sparked years ago when they discovered Daegu’s math rock maestros, Mountains, while putting together an Asian music mixtape. That's the kind of organic discovery that really fuels a band's passion.

Beyond just playing shows, Sum seems genuinely excited about immersing themselves in the local DIY scene. “I most look forward to learning more about the DIY scene in South Korea, knowing that it is super vibrant and full of surprises,” he said. That's a sentiment I can certainly get behind. There's an energy and authenticity to DIY scenes that's hard to replicate.

Formed in 2017, Wellsaid has become a staple in Hong Kong's indie music landscape. However, their ambitions have always extended beyond their home city. Sum explained, "Early on, our type of music wasn’t very common in Hong Kong — it still isn’t — so it felt particularly lonely." This sense of isolation, ironically, fueled their drive to connect with a wider audience.

That initial struggle actually led them to build bridges within the larger Asian music community. "As we started playing more shows around Asia, we met so many supportive peers. We continue to be motivated by this DIY community," Sum said. Last year, they even embarked on a European tour, showcasing their music to entirely new audiences. Talk about dedication!

Wellsaid's commitment to collaboration extends beyond music, as their visual aesthetic is heavily influenced by their work with Taiwanese manga artist Ding Pao Yen. "He always nails the mood of our music," Sum noted, emphasizing that Ding Pao Yen captures the underlying tension in their music perfectly. It's a testament to the power of art transcending borders and mediums.

This support network has clearly given Wellsaid the confidence to experiment and grow. "We feel so privileged to be able to take our music to new places, and we are just grateful for anyone who comes to the show and gives our music a try," Sum said. That kind of humility is always refreshing to see.

Their latest release, "Regretopia," reflects the band's evolution, born from a period of uncertainty as the world emerged from the pandemic. Sum described it as "a disorienting time exiting the COVID period, where everything felt so possible and yet we carried the bad memories with us." It's a sentiment many can relate to, and I'm curious to see how that translates live.

After nearly a decade together, Sum credits the band's staying power to their strong friendship. "I think our friendship, including with past members, is the driving force to keep this band going. Outside of music, we hang out and we try to be a part of each other’s lives and support each other," he said. And of course, a shared passion for new music. "It never feels stale," Sum concluded. It sounds like Wellsaid is just getting started.