Seoul-based collective Balming Tiger has released its new single “Kamehameha” and announced its debut album January Never Dies, scheduled for release on 19 October.
A diverse music collective taking its name from the famous Asian ointment Tiger Balm, Balming Tiger describes itself as a “multinational alternative K-pop band” with a desire to create an impact globally and carve a uniquely captivating lane for K-pop.
The main creative vision of Balming Tiger is to reflect and represent the younger generation of today’s society, aiming to further popularize hyper-expressive Asian youth culture throughout the world while drawing inspiration from a wider spectrum of global influences.
Bouncy and playful, “Kamehameha’s” experimental soundscape pays homage to the Korean drinking game of the same name, simulating the light-headed, overconfident experience of being heavily intoxicated. The track is produced by bj wjwn and features vocals and melodies by sogumm.
The track’s stripped-back composition varies from previous singles, providing another stylishly diverse addition to the collective’s expansive discography. The AI-inspired single artwork and surreal, cinematic music video were created by Balming Tiger’s visual artist Chanhee Hong.
This is the fourth single to be unveiled from its forthcoming album, following the widescreen “SOS” in April, the radiant “Trust Yourself” in January and “SEXY NUKIM” in September of 2022 featuring RM of legendary K-pop band BTS, which achieved record-breaking results including reaching #1 on Billboard’s ‘World Digital Song Sales’ chart. The music video for “SEXY NUKIM (feat. RM of BTS)” has surpassed 16 million views.
Balming Tiger consists of performers Omega Sapien, sogumm, bj wnjn and Mudd the student (who recently appeared on South Korea’s most popular music TV show SMTM, garnering millions of views), producers San Yawn and Unsinkable, video directors Jan’ Qui and Leesuho, DJ Abyss, visual artist Chanhee Hong and writer Henson Hwang. Each artist in this ensemble expresses a different artistic identity and energy, as well as a wide range of versatility in crafting the group’s distinct visual world.
This year, Balming Tiger will cap off its world tour in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Maho Rasop Festival on 2 December.