Korean American singer, songwriter, and producer, Mindy, is an electronic dance music artist that draws from her classical music training in Orange County, CA and her teenage visits to house music clubs in Seoul, Korea.
She has built a reputation for kinetic and unexpected performance art with her LA-based indie rock band, Wam Dingis, and luminous vocals for electronic rock band Night Dreamer. Her voice has been compared to the likes of Santigold, Sia, and Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead.
Getting to know Mindy
What is the most useless talent you have?
I’m quite skilled at drawing and painting. It can feel pretty useless when in the 21st century one can take photos and photoshop the shit out of things.
Which fictional character do you wish was real?
Lady Jessica of Atreides from the book Dune. She’s just such a badass woman with a level of mental awareness and intuition I wish I had.
What would you bring along to an idyllic picnic?
A good book, a cozy blanket, and 5-10 snacks from Hmart.
If you could ask your future to see one question, what would it be?
How does it feel to live your dream of writing and recording music every day? 🙂
If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn’t have TMJ!
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Matcha with a side of vanilla and chocolate.
What led you to become a music artist?
I obsessed over music videos when I was a teen and eventually decided that music was what I needed to do. Seeing the distinct lack of Asian American singer/songwriters also gave me motivation to create space for someone like myself.
I truly loved the permanence and impermanence of music, how a performance slipped away in real time. I loved how recorded songs created iterations of a singular idea while recording and speaker technology redefined what that idea is. To me, that space is incredibly beautiful.
I grew up immersed in music and art, playing piano before I could read. I played violin for the Orange County Junior Orchestra and Orange County School of Arts Chamber Orchestra. At some point the stiff culture of the classical world discouraged me. So I started oil painting and taking courses on video art since my mom was a painter. Going from an artform in which sound meets silence as soon as you stop moving, to the permanence of canvas, paint, and video, I found great liberation. But then at some point I was frustrated with all the physical waste painting creates. It all became TOO permanent. I then figured out I could make my own music outside of the classical world. In the end, my years in the visual arts informed my musical process and ability to communicate with others in addition to building sonics.
Who are your main musical influences?
I conjure the spiritual wisdom of Erykah Badu, Genesis P-Orridge, and Thom Yorke on a daily basis. Their work feels completely themselves, which to me, is most inspiring.
Does your music fit into your local scene? If so, how do you take advantage of that?
Yes and no. LA has a diverse music scene so there are pockets in which my music fits in. However, I’ve heard from a lot of others that they think my music would do well in Russia, France, and the UK. I’m definitely going to start doing some more live shows online so I can reach a more global audience.
Would you like to collaborate with anyone? If so who and why?
I would love to collaborate with Thom Yorke. His sensibilities in beat patterns and lyricism resonates with me so much.
How would you describe your music?
My music is electronic goth dance with elements of industrial, pop, rock, and hip hop. Essentially, everything that shouldn’t go together is joined in holy matrimony.
Mindy (Mindy Song) have released an immersive 3D music video for “Poolside” from her debut EP Version 1.27, out now.
“The Smashing Pumpkins guitarist’s other life is in a dreamy duo [Night Dreamer] with the singer Mindy Song. ‘Another Life’ is a chiming, moody taste of its debut EP” – The New York Times
“Song’s vocals, carefully veering between airy and strained textures, that center
the equilibrium as she sings” – Consequence
“A vibrant sound that is neither rock nor pure pop, but a sound all their own” – Earmilk
“Mindy, an engine of creativity propelling good works past obstacles, irrepressible as her
charismatic voice…” – Ones To Watch
“Together, these elements coalesce into a downtempo experimental pop ballad, punctuating her magnetic vocal performance with trippy electronic percussion and spacious synth-laden soundscapes.” – Under the Radar
“Mindy is an act that brings the heat, the depth, the noise, and the visuals
are in service to this.” – Gas Mask Magazine