KMA2015: Rookie of the Year

Before leaving room for a some other type of blog posts, the series to introduce all the nominees for this year’s Korean Music Awards continues from Artist of the Year yesterday with the nominees for Rookie of the Year today.


 

Crush

Crush release his first digital single Red Dress end of 2012. Since then he’s been frequently featured on songs from fellow VV:D crew members such as Zion.T, Gray, and Loco while also releasing more singles of his own. In June 2014 Crush released his first solo album Crush On You, produced by himself with an impressive array of seniors in the scene featured on the various tracks. He’s put out a few singles more since, currently topping Gaon’s digital chart with “Just“.

In addition to a nomination for Rookie of the Year, Crush is also nominated for Best R&B & Soul Album with Crush on You and for Best R&B & Soul Song with “Hug Me”. Crush was featured on Zion.T’s “뻔한 멜로디 (Two Melodies)” that was nominated for Best R&B & Soul Song in 2014.

 

Kwon Tree

With 2 EPs behind him, modern folk musician Kwon Tree won Hello Rookie in May 2014. First full-length album 그림 (Painting) followed in November 2014 including songs previously featured on second EP 지금. Kwon Tree’s specialty is unpretentious lyrics to warm melodies with the feeling of acoustic 80’s folk sound.

In addition to a nomination for Rookie of the Year, Kwon Tree is also nominated for Song of the Year and Best Folk Song with “어릴 때” and for Best Folk Album with 그림 (Painting).

 

Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon

After being independently active as singer-songwriters around Hongdae, Kim Sawol and Kim Haewon came to working together in 2014. The duo successfully crowdfunded joint EP 비밀 (Secret) for a release in September. A month later the EP received wider distribution, also including a single version of “사막 Part 2” that was the song to inspire their collaboration.

In addition to a nomination for Rookie of the Year, Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon are also nominated for Album of the Year and Best Folk Album with 비밀 (Secret) and nominated for Song of the Year and Best Folk Song with “비밀 (Secret)”

Learn more about Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon through their mini-interview with Indieful ROK.

 

The Barberettes

Doo-wop style girl group The Barberettes started out in 2012 just for fun, but rose to fame during 2014 thanks to making popular YouTube cover videos, soundtrack contributions, the May release of first full-length album 바버렛츠 소곡집 #1, and in recent months plenty of TV appearances on all kinds of music shows. In January 2015 the trio’s The Ronettes‘ cover “Be My Baby” was featured in a Shinhan Card commercial making the single currently rank both on Gaon’s BGM chart and mobile chart.

In addition to a nomination for Rookie of the Year, The Barberettes are also nominated for Best Pop Album with 바버렛츠 소곡집 #1 and for Best Pop Song with “가시내들 (Little Gals)”

 

Akdong Musician

Akdong MusicianAKMU for short–is a brother-sister duo that grow famous while competing in and ultimately winning K-Pop Star 2, 2012-2013. They opted to sign with YG Entertainment when the audition show was over and after releasing digital single 콩떡빙수 in 2013 proceeded to release first full-length album Play in April 2014. Both album and songs placed well on Korea’s various charts and at the end of 2014 Akdong Musician won Rookie of the Year at the 2014 Bugs Awards and won Top 10 Artist as the SBS Awards Festival.

In addition to a nomination for Rookie of the Year, Akdong Musician are also nominated for Best Pop Album with Play and for Best Pop Song with “얼음들 (Melted)”

 

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