British/Korean duo WOOZE (named after a phonetic translation of ‘space’ in Korean – 우주) were formed in 2017 by Jamie She and Theo Spark at Brixton’s Muddy Yard (an artist collective based in a disused builder’s yard). Debut EP ‘what’s on your mind?’ and follow up ‘Get Me To A Nunnery’ (produced by The Horrors’ Tom Furse) firmly established WOOZE as one of the most original and exciting new acts in the UK, identifiable by their unique visuals as much as their genre-blending and enigmatic brand of avant-garde pop.
Combining Bowie-esque eccentricity with psychotropic instrumentation, their music is at once anthemic and absurdist. Citing an encyclopaedic range of influences from traditional Korean music through to Primus, Japanese funk, ABBA and Led Zeppelin, WOOZE have created a borderless and distinctive sound that is uniquely theirs. The band have received plaudits internationally from the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, NME, Mixmag, Dork, HERO, The Line Of Best Fit, CLASH, Dork, Loud & Quiet and DIY. They have also been consistently championed by BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, KEXP, Triple J and Guy Garvey, featured in their own video game, supported Metronomy on tour and sold out shows across the UK and South Korea.
The new EP “The Magnificent Eleven” sees WOOZE continue to push the envelope of their unique bizarro sound, mixing dark surrealism with exuberant wonky pop, and heavy distorted riffing. The songs were written in the band’s studio called “the WC” and were all finished in a day, with the duo wanting to capture a sense of immediacy. The record captures that sense of urgency but does so in a way that conjures ebullience rather haste, which is testament to the duo’s songwriting abilities.
With the band set to play new live dates this summer, “The Magnificent Eleven” is just a taster of what WOOZE are concocting behind the scenes. For long-term fans this EP will give reason to be very excited, and for those who have yet to hear them, there is no better time to get on board.
The band will appear at the following festivals this year:
WOOZE Live:
July 8th – Pohoda Festival, Slovakia
July 17th – Welcome to the Village Festival, Leeuwarden
August 5th – Wilderness Festival, Oxford
August 7th – Distortions, Birmingham
October 1st – Cro Cro Fest, Croydon
“The Magnificent Eleven” is out 9th September via Young Poet – Pre-order HERE
