wave to earth Talk Returning To Manila And The Meaning Of Success

Only a few bands have managed to capture the hearts of millions like wave to earth have.

With their distinct sound that blends rich, atmospheric melodies and introspective and optimistic lyrics, the trio — comprising Daniel Kim (vocals, guitar), John Cha (bass), and Dong Q (drums) — has become one of the most exciting acts to emerge out of South Korea’s vibrant indie rock scene.

Since first making waves in 2020 with tracks like “light” and “seasons,” wave to earth have gone viral time and time again with their mellow tunes reminiscent of serene summers and breezy afternoons, even selling out shows across the globe.

As they returned to Manila last February for yet another sold-out concert, Billboard Philippines caught up with wave to earth to talk about their connection with their Filipino fans, their growth as artists, and what success means to them.

Billboard Philippines: Welcome back to Manila! Every Manila show you do are sold out all the time. What does it feel to have your music resonate with so many Filipino fans?

Daniel: I really appreciate their love and support, and I really hope to come here as often as possible so that I can feel it even more.

Dong Q: We filmed the “sunny days” music video in the Philippines. And I think when Filipino people or listeners watched the music video and saw their neighborhood in the video, I think they could feel that we are there together with them.

You guys tour a lot. How do you maintain your peace and creativity amidst the chaos of touring, and what keeps you grounded even when you’re so far from home?

Daniel: I think we rely on each other’s support the most. Also, whenever we go to new places, we see the energy from the fans and their love, and I think that’s a big motivation to keep us grounded.

With your live shows, there’s a lot of emphasis in the musicality, which is apparent with all of the musical solos. What is the usual process when planning your live shows, and how do you ensure that it’s a unique experience for all of your fans, regardless if they’ve seen you multiple times?

Daniel: We really like to focus on the flow of the concert and the performance, and we try to implement points where we can grab the listeners’ [and] the viewers’ attention right away. There’s a lot of those points within our performance, and that’s how we create the set list. 

Within the set list as well, we’re pretty free. We like to improvise so we make room for that, and that’s why every concert of ours is very different and fresh.

Let’s talk about your latest album. In your own words, how does the album compare to your previous releases? How do you feel like your growth and evolution as a band and as artists translated into play with earth! 0.03?

John: I think one of the differences was the speed that we made it. We only had two months for the production time [for play with earth! 0.03], but because we kind of grew up in music, we were still to work on the album quite quickly but still make sure it was profound musically. But the speed was the main difference with this album. 

Daniel: And I think the biggest evolution and change from previous albums is that each member really expressed their distinct characteristics. We really try to put that forward in this album, so that’s a big difference. 

The most popular song from the album is “annie.” The song talks about rejecting success, or rather the typical notions of success. As a band like wave to earth, with sold out shows everywhere and a lot of viral songs, how would you guys define success in your own terms?

Daniel: I think for us, the biggest success is defined by us as a group doing music for a very long time. It’s not just about the longevity of our career, but also during that time, us loving each other, supporting each other, and being happy doing music together.

As a last question, what do you guys love most about being a part of wave to earth?

Daniel: The members. 

Dong Q: For us, even though the set list is the same from performance to performance, it always feels like it’s the first time again when we go up on stage. I feel the happiest when we feel that the fans all love our music so much.

_{Photographed by Mayks Go. Art direction by Nicole Almero.}