After a long pandemic-induced break, we're back today with Hansol Seung, a Korean-German musician, to hear how he transformed an aggression on the street into a punkrock song.
The single tells the story of anti-Asian racism from the perspective of Hansol (he/him), who is of Korean descent. SHORELINE teamed up with Asian-American Singer-Songwriter KOJI (they/them) to work on the song.
KOJI was born in Peixtin (Paxton) (or Harrisburg) PA and just recently came back from a long hiatus, releasing their most recent single “To Carry (On and On)”- a song about their experience as a member of the Asian diaspora, facing white supremacy and the movements to eradicate the conditions that create violence.
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SHOWNOTES
Konichiwa Lyrics:
Start another conversation about the place where I was born
(but where are you really from?)
I don’t really understand why you want to be in control
Tell another joke that I’ve heard about a thousand times before
your fingers stretch your eyes to mock mine
you think like a dinosaur
I don’t know how your head’s so old but you’re still young
not in a good way, it’s all wrong
your excuse and words mean nothing
your ideas were broken by the test of time
shout “konichiwa” and I swear one more time
and I will lose my shit and fuck you up
Okay I know, you’ve been asking out of interest
low expectations, you compliment my language
maybe at some point you should reflect on your choice
to fetishize my skin
(you speak so well)
you’re just a clone of an older species
you will go on and praise tradition
I don’t know how your head’s so old but you’re still young
not in a good way, it’s all wrong
your excuse and words mean nothing
your ideas were broken by the test of time
shout “konichiwa” and I swear one more time
and I will lose my shit and fuck you up
stray for more, stray for love
I know you’re smart at heart
shed the skin, it’s embarrassing
decenter, dismantle, abolish
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SHORELINE’s website: shorelineband.com
Instagrams: Band: @shoreline_band
Hansol: @meatfreeyouth
KOJI: @kojisaysaloha
Label Shoreline: @end_hits_records
Label KOJI: @getbetterrecords
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