Jannabi (band)


Jannabi is a South Korean indie rock band consisting of 4 members: Choi Jung-hoon, Kim Do-hyung, Jang Kyung-joon, and Yoon Kyul. The group was formed in 2012 with 3 members and extended to 5 members with Jang Kyung-joon, and Yoon Kyul. After Yoo Young-hyun left in 2019, Jannabi are composed of 4 members nowadays.
Jannabi has released one extended play, See Your Eyes, and two full-length albums, Monkey Hotel and Legend. Jang Min-Jae of 2020 Korean Music Awards critic praised “For Lovers Who Hesitate, the lead title of Legend, has broken the new ground in 2019 Korea pop music.”

History

Before 2012: School days

Choi Jung-hoon has known Jang Kyung-joon since they were in the same elementary school. After they both entered Seohyeon Middle School, they played the instruments together in club activities. Choi Jung-hoon firstly heard about guitarist Kim Do-hyung by Kim's self-composing song video. Kim Do-hyung's composing ability left a good impression on Choi Jung-hoon. Therefore, Kim Do-hyung joined with Choi Jung-hoon and Jang Kyung-joon when they were in senior high school. They performed at their neighborhood-Bundang Park for high school activities.
After graduation, Choi Jung-hoon and Jang Kyung-joon studied in different colleges while Kim Do-hyung didn't; however, they were in a hurry for looking for the contract with big entertainment companies.
Kim Do-hyung and Jang Kyung-joon joined Yanghwajin Band and disbanded in the next year. Choi Jung-hoon became the FNC trainee. Choi realized his creativity was restricted by company rules and he had different music taste from N.Flying. As a result, he voluntarily left from FNC Ent.

2012-2013:Formation and ''SuperStar K5''

Kim Do-hyung knew keyboardist Yoo Young-hyun on recommendation of his friend when they were 20. Choi Jung-hoon met Yoo Young-hyun through Kim Do-hyung's introduction.
Choi Jung-hoon, Kim Do-hyung and Yoo Young-hyun decided to from a rock band called Jannabi, which means monkey in old Korean slang.
To increase more awareness, Jannabi attended SuperStar K5 on August 16, 2013. While Kim Do-hyung and Yoo Young-hyun were knock out, they encouraged Choi Jung-hoon, who would like to be knock out together instead of retaking as a member of Plan B, to finish this show. At the end, Plan B, which included Choi Jung-hoon, were eliminated in the round of Top 7.
Fortunately, Jannabi met Sinsadong Tiger through the song production of Plan B. When Jannabi, who had agonized about the album, asked Sinsadong Tiger for advice from Kpop perspective. “Don't think that I would give you a song. Don't let me join in. ”Sinsadong Tiger's response helps Jannabi set up their styles.

2014:Debut

On April 28, Jannabi released their first debut single album Rocket, whose name was LOVE in 2013, performed in GOGO2 underground club before. They had over 80 busking performances before album released.
Rocket was originally scheduled to be released on April 18. However, two days before it's released, Sewol ferry disaster happened on April 16. Sinsadong Hyung and Jannabi, expressing deep condolences to the victims, decided to delay the release of the song. It was a highly complete song with folk rock and reggae beat, adding Queen's music color on it, and the instant-changing genre changes adds to the point of the song. In particular, it has a unique feeling by playing the brass and the piano in a jazz style.
On August 28, Jannabi released their second single album Pole Dance, which included two tracks Pole Dance and Did You Ever Love Me.
On October 29, Jannabi released their third single album November Rain. They had their second solo performance in Hongdae Club Ta.
Jannabi were awarded 'New Artist of the Year' at Pentaport Rock Festival and became Top 10 at Hongdae Gayo Festival.
On December 16, Jannabi released their first EP See Your Eyes. The lead single See Your Eyes was dedicated to a woman who is hurt by the wrong way of love. It is a song that expresses a man's regret over his irresponsible behavior. The lyrics laid it on the line, which had made the attention after a few years later.

2015: New members Kyung-joon and Yoon Kyul, dramas OST

Bassist Jang Kyung-joon and drummer Yoon Kyul joined Jannabi. Jang Kyung-joon, who has long been a cameo member in Jannabi, became an official member with Jannabi's love call. Yoon Kyul, a talented drummer majoring in drums in college, joined Jannabi through auditions, according to their interviews. The actual date was unidentifiable.
On July 4, Jannabi held their 4th mini solo concert "Fire" in Hongdae Rolling Hall.
On October 9, Jannabi released Cuckoo as Second 20s original soundtrack.
On November 25, Jannabi held their 5th mini solo concert "CHANGE" in Hyundai Card.
Jannabi were awarded 'Green Rookie Friend' at Greenplugged Festival in 2015.

2016: ''MONKEY HOTEL''

On June 1, EXID lead single L.I.E was released.
On June 18, Jannabi held 6th solo concert "MONKEY HOTEL" to celebrate the release of its first full-length album MONKEY HOTEL. On August 4, Jannabi released first full-length album MONKEY HOTEL. The album had been postponed several times because of many trials and errors during the recording in the studio for the first time.
On October 12, Jannabi appeared on MBC's special TV show DMC Festival, drawing public attention; therefore Jannabi became the top real-time search keyword in Naver. It was the first time they got the first place in real-time search.
Jannabi was nicknamed tvN civil servants for working on the OST of most tvN dramas, from Let's Eat 2 to Drinking Solo.
On December 18, Jannabi held 1st year-end and 7th solo concert "JANNABI and THE NEW WORLD".

2017: ''She'' (''Hidden Track NO. January)''

On January 5,"Yoon Jong-shin X Jannabi " was broadcast live on Naver VLIVE channel " Hidden Track NO.V , where is the project of famous artists cooperated with attractive singers they wanted to recommend to public every month. Jannabi got picked as the first month cast of "Hidden Track NO.V " in 2017. Choi Jung-hoon said the reason was because of the hard work in Naver Musician League since in spring 2014. " We just kept posting videos in the Musician League to make it work, and then we went up to top 100 and got a great chance, Hidden Track NO. V. On January 24, Jannabi held the mini concert at Hyundai Card’s Understage in Itaewon with Yoon Jong-shin with 300 audiences, which had broadcast live called "Live to unlock Yoon Jong-shin X Jannabi" on Naver VLIVE channel " Hidden Track NO.V
On June 15, Jannabi 8th solo concert "Stop, look and listen",held at the Samsung Hall of Ewha Womans University, sold out in just two minutes. It ranked the first place reservation rate in indie sector with 50.5% market shares. OSEN news reporter called Jannabi "'band idols". On July 15–16, Jannabi performed the total of 26 songs in 150 minutes in "Stop, look and listen", whose theme was "abandoned opera house". The idea was from Choi Jung-hoon.
On August 29,new single She'', first performed at "Live to unlock Yoon Jong-shin X Jannabi", was first announced to be released on September 9. They released a new song after a year.
On December 30–31, Jannabi held their 2nd year-end and 9th solo concert "FANTASTIC OLD-FASHIONED".

2018: ''Good Boy Twist'' and collaborations

Jannabi official Instagram announced that Jannabi would release compilation albums MONKEY HOTEL Special Edition in the first half of 2018. The album included undisclosed demo songs and lyrics book.
On August 13, Jannabi released the single "Good Boy Twist ".
Jannabi actively collaborated with excellent artists in 2018. The first was "Lilac" from Changmo extended plays The Moment of Contact, and the second was "As You Walk Along The Street" from Lee Moon-sae sixteen studio album Between Us.
Jannabi single "Made In Christmas",feat by AKMU Lee Su-hyun, released on December 21. It was the 1980s synth pop with female vocals. Due to Lee Su-hyun was famous and had not released new songs for a year, the collaboration attracted the public attention. "Made In Christmas" soon entered Melon real-time chart Top 100. Jannabi official Instagram said,"Jannabi finally made it into the top 100 of the Melon Charts!. Thank you very much to our fans for coming to Jannabi on this glorious day. I would like to write history with my fans."

2019: ''Legend''

Jannabi began their career in January 2019 by remaking singer Yoon Jong-shin's song, "Like When We First Meet."
On March 13, they released a "Legend" album. Its title track was "For Lovers Who Hesitate" and the song gained huge popularity, topping the Melon chart.

Artistry

Music

As an indie band, Jannabi write, compose and produce the albums by themselves. Since their inception in 2012, They have stuck to the rules. Because of it, Jannabi albums copies are limited.

Influences

Jannabi have cited Queen, Simon & Garfunkel, Sanulrim, The Beatles as their favorite musicians. Their early songs are influenced by Queen, Maroon 5 and etc.
Jannabi is the first artist among the influence in 2019 Korea Music Industry, according to Korea Pop music critic,Jang Min-jae.
On February 18, Jannabi had their first appearance on You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook. You Hee-Yeol praised,"Jannabi is my flavor among recent bands."and he said,"If I went back to my twenties, I would be a member of Jannabi.",whose words made Jannabi touched.
On February 28, Jannabi participated in the recording of Yoon Jong-shin's episode of for first time.

Band

Introduction

"Hello! We are Group Sound Jannabi".
Jannabi use the word "Group Sound" instead of band when they introduce themselves because "Group Sound" is the keyword for 1960s-1970s Korea rock band introduction.

Members

Keyboardist Yoo Young-hyun has voluntarily left the band on May 24, 2019 after he admitted to reports of him being involved in a past school violence controversy.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Soundtrack

Other charted songs

Awards and nominations

[Korean Music Awards]

YearCategoryRecipientResult
2020Song of the Year For Lovers Who Hesitate
2020Best Modern Rock SongFor Lovers Who Hesitate
2020---

[Golden Disc Awards]

[Melon Music Awards]

[Mnet Asian Music Awards]

[Seoul Music Awards]

VLive Awards