Doors Open: 7pm, Show Time: 8pm– Free with RSVP

During Art Basel Miami, The Rhythm Foundation with Emerson DorschGallery will present South Korean band SsingSsing. SsingSsing is what happens when you cross 1970’s era Talking Heads, B-52’s, and David Bowie with Korean shamanic rock. What can appear to be an homage to 1970s glam rock is, at its core, music with lyrics taken primarily from Korean shamanic rituals. And as ancient Korean shamanic tradition calls for the shaman to be dressed in a way that is not gender binary the band’s manner of dressing, though based in ancient ritual, expresses modern concepts of “genderqueer”. The group welds two totally disparate elements: rock band music and the typical authentic, somewhat oscillating vocals from Korean folk songs. SsingSsing creates something wholly unique while introducing elements of Korean traditional music, such as Gyeonggi Sori (folk songs from central province around Seoul), Seodo Sori (folk songs from northwestern provinces of North Korea), and Seoul Gut (Shamanic ritual from Seoul) in their works.

“One look at (and listen to) the cross-dressing, Asian rock band SsingSsing 씽씽 and you would hardly think they’re singing music inspired by traditional Korean folk. But SsingSsing isn’t like any other band I’ve ever seen or heard.” – NPR

This performance is co-presented by the Rhythm Foundation, Emerson Dorsch Gallery, and the Korean Cultural Center NY as part of KCCNY’s Korean Culture Day 2018 Program, and it is supported by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange as part of Traveling Korean Arts Program

This concert is a part of Rhythm Foundation’s Vanguard Concert Series