Smoper
Smoper
Douglas James(DJ) Steedman (Korea) and Park In Su (Korea)
Doors @ 7:30, Gig @ 8pm
Admission: $8 members/students, $10 general
Smoper: A double translation of the word 'Smurf' into Korean and back into English.
Smoper is not only a hip experimental laptop/guitar duo featuring two media studies professors from Seoul, but also the name of a dodgy chicken delivery franchise in Korea whose mascot is a creepy sickly-looking green Papa Smurf.
The two members of Smoper are:
Douglas James (DJ) Steedman, digital laptop DJ, effects, programming, beats, vocals: A versatile artist who has played in a number of underground bands and performed as a solo musician. Steedman is also a renowned performance artist (solo and with Victoria-based group, the Hermaphrodite Brotherhood), action poet, visual artist and new media professor at Korea University. Steedman lived in Victoria in the 90s and was a well-known figure in the local arts scene, as well as calendar editor for Monday Magazine. The Smoper gig will mark his first return to the island since leaving for Korea in 1999.
Park In Su, guitar, programming, samples, effects: Born in Glasgow, raised in Australia, In Su has a background in media and cultural studies. He's now a media studies professor at Korea University, and a well-travelled and seasoned musician having performed in many underground bands and with several releases of original experimental/electronica/guitar fusion.
Smoper formed in South Korea when these two colleagues discovered their mutual backgrounds in composition and performance and decided to collaborate. The two members of Smoper bring considerable experience to the production process, using a variety of hi-tech applications to collect, process, edit and arrange samples. Smoper has performed in several cities in Korea, and held a residency at Seoul's Freebird club, which is the spawning ground for many famous Korean musicians. They also recently released a debut CD, Lobsty Nights, and are presently on a world tour throughout Europe and North America until March.
Smoper's music is strongly influenced by the two members' experience of Korean culture (particularly language), and many of Smoper's soundscapes are built around Korean vocal and ambient samples. Smoper has played with a Korean Led Zeppelin tribute band, and has had to deal with 'Smopermania' from excited Korean fans. Smoper's music takes elements from tech-savvy Korean culture, with blends of world jazz, electronica, d'n'b, dumpster funk and electrotwang. Smoper improvises during their live performances. For samples from the CD and images, visit www.smoper.info.