ADG7: Tiny Desk Concert

Bob Boilen, August 19, 2022 How do you fit a gayageum and an ajaeng behind the Tiny Desk Thats the question I whispered into the ear of our Tiny Desk audio engineer, Josh Rogosin, when we first saw ADG7 playing those fivefoot long string instruments at globalFEST in New York City at the top of 2020. The Tiny Desk team solved the puzzle and the ninepiece Korean band filled the room with joy and a sound thats unique in Tiny Desk history. ADG7 mixes traditional, shamanistic ritual sounds with Korean folk songs from Hwanghae Province. The groups full name is Ak Dan Gwang Chil: Ak Dan translates as band, while Gwang Chil is in honor of the band having formed during the 70th anniversary of Gwangbokjeol, the National Liberation Day of Korea. The music is from the bands 2020 album, Such is Life, and its selftitled 2017 album. The three singers, Hong Ok, Myeong Wol and Yoo Wol, immediately capture my eyes and ears but my attention begins to sway toward Lee Man Wol, who appears to be blowing into