34 Local Entrepreneurs
Diving into Deep Ocean
Gwangju News, August 2022
gwangjunewsgic.com
COMMUNITY
Inter view by Melline Galani
H
ouse music is an influential genre of dance music that has become a global phenomenon and changed clubbing forever. It has been keeping people dancing for decades, spawned subcultures, influenced technology, united people, and propelled music innovation. Our beloved City of Light is the host of one underground subculture hotspot called Deep Ocean (Simhae, 심해). Run by young enthusiasts who transformed their hobbies and passions into a lifestyle, the place is a must-see for music lovers of this genre. It is the place you have been searching for! I was in awe when I discovered it, not knowing that Gwangju had such a precious hidden gem.
studying while doing work related to culture, arts, and community. GGAX2: Hello. My name is Gado-gyun (가도균). I am from Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, and I have been living in Gwangju for four years. I work as a stage director at the Asia Culture Center’s Arts Theater and oversee the cultural community of Deep Ocean. (MG: They are the brains, hearts, and spirits behind the Deep Ocean phenomenon.)
Melline Galani (MG): Hello and thank you for taking time to do this interview. Please introduce yourselves to the readers of the Gwangju News. MORO: Hello. I grew up in Gwangju, but I lived abroad for a while. So, you may call me MORO (
MG: Could you tell me how and when your passion for music started? MORO: When I was in middle school, I learned how to play drums and became passionate about music from the time I was in the school band. Though I am not a professional musician, I am happily living a life close to music even now. DADA: I grew up listening to a lot of band music. I was shocked to see people playing at the Busan Rock Festival, which I happened to visit when I was 18 years old. Since then, beside only listening, I became interested in rave festivals and clubs with DJs. GGAX2: I have been interested in hip-hop music since I was fifteen. I would write the lyrics and record them. I was really impressed when I saw a performance by the band Oasis. I knew their music, but seeing so many people focusing on one stage performance in a large arena was a life-changing event for me.
DADA: Hi. Call me Dada (다다). Originally from Gwangju, I majored in visual design, and now I am
MG: When did you start DJing and how would you describe your own development as artists?
The interview below with the main founding members of Deep Ocean presents a different perspective on how passion for music can lead to a business and lifestyle. They are an inspiration for the young generation – interesting, joyful individuals that I got to know through the space they created for us: the Deep Ocean.
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