Dasom Baek - Mirror City (2023)

Dasom Baek is a Seoul based composer and performer of traditional Korean instruments, specialising in the Daegeum and Sogeum, types of ancient Korean bamboo flute that have a deep historic and cultural significance.

‘’I think the charm of wind instruments is that their sound is based on how you breathe. The stories I’ve kept in my mind I breathe into the instrument - they become music’’

On her latest album Mirror City, Dasom explores ideas of solitude and community within cities and the effects this has on inhabitants. Wishing to hold a mirror up to modern life, she uses music to express the emotions of the people living in the city.

“People have plenty of choices and the convergence of all these choices create infinite possibilities in the city. What impact have I left on my city through my choices?”

Dasom’s contemporary expression of these ancient instruments bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary sonic experimentation. Sparse and spacious, Mirror City layers textured ambient sounds and chopped dusty vocal patterns, all set to the rasping and rich timbres of the Daegeum and Sogeum.

Mirror City also features the incredible work of Minseon Choi who plays Ajeang on the album; a zither with twisted silk strings that is played with a slender stick. Collectively the Sogeum, Daegeum and Ajeang represent a part of Korean musical culture that is starting to regain more attention. With Mirror City, Dasom Baek hopes to showcase the power these heritage instruments can have in contemporary music.

As an accomplished soloist, Dasom has performed all over the world with esteemed orchestras, played international music festivals including SXSW and has received academic recognition from prominent Korean arts institutions as well as a PhD at Seoul National University.

Mirror City is her second solo album and will be released on Métron Records on October 18th.