Japanese rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN will meet Korean fans for the first time in 17 years through WONDERLIVET 2025.
Known for their distinctive emotional sound and lyrical lyrics that have been loved across generations, they will appear as headliners at WONDERLIVET 2025, held for three days from the 14th to the 16th at KINTEX Hall 2 in Goyang, and are expected to once again deliver a profound resonance.
WONDERLIVET 2025, which lists BUMP OF CHICKEN as a headliner, is the country's largest J-pop and iconic music festival, bringing together global artists who span genres and generations to celebrate musical diversity and connection.
This stage is expected to be a special moment where BUMP OF CHICKEN, who have sustained a long musical journey, and domestic listeners reconnect as one. As this is their first concert in Korea in 17 years, BUMP OF CHICKEN are likely to answer fans' expectations and repay the long wait with a highly polished sound and performance.
Formed in 1994 and continuing their musical path steadily, BUMP OF CHICKEN has become an emblematic presence in Japanese rock with numerous hits such as Tentai Kansoku, ray and Acacia, and has maintained steady popularity domestically thanks to its distinctive musicality and sincerity.
Ahead of their performance at WONDERLIVET 2025, BUMP OF CHICKEN, returning to the domestic stage for the first time in 17 years, directly shared candid thoughts about this visit to Korea and their music.
Below are BUMP OF CHICKEN's questions and answers
Q. How do you feel about coming to Korea for the first time in 17 years for WONDERLIVET 2025? ▶ Even at our last performance in Korea I thought I really wanted to come back, but time has flown by like this. I am truly happy to finally be able to meet Korean listeners again.
Q. If you could give Korean fans waiting for the WONDERLIVET 2025 stage one point of expectation, what would it be? ▶ Even if it's a very short time, if we can sincerely enjoy it together with a focus on music, that alone is the greatest happiness for us.
Q. Do you feel your popularity in Korea? Is there anything you particularly want to do offstage during this visit? ▶ We haven't had many opportunities to directly feel our popularity in Korea. I hope we can give our all on this stage and enjoy it together with the audience. Offstage, I definitely want to eat Korea's delicious food. And above all, I want to walk the streets of Korea.
Q. What do you think has been the driving force that allowed you to make music together for more than 20 years since your debut? ▶ I think it's the joy of these four people making sound together, and the people who receive that music and cherish it. That feeling grows stronger with each passing year.
Q. I'm curious where you mainly draw inspiration when working on songs. ▶ Most of the time I get inspiration from everyday moments. Music can come from emotions I already know, but the music we create that way can in turn teach us unknown emotions and worlds.
Q. Korean fans especially choose Tentai Kansoku, ray and Acacia as life songs. Is there a song that became a turning point in the members' lives? ▶ First, we are truly happy that our music is held so dear. Thinking of a "turning point" is a bit difficult, but for us it seems that every song from our first to our latest continues to give us energy.
Q. BUMP OF CHICKEN is sometimes called "musicians' musicians." How do you feel about being regarded as a band that inspires fellow artists, and are there musicians who influenced you or shaped your direction musically? ▶ Throughout our journey we have been influenced by everything in daily life in continuing our music. Among them, we think the Beatles were the ones from whom we learned the most musically.
Q. What are your future activity plans? Are there plans to be active in Korea as well? ▶ This year we have one joint concert and two festivals scheduled, and next year we have a tour planned. We also plan to work on new songs when possible. Of course, we want to come to Korea again. We hope next time it won't take such a long time to return.
[Photo] WONDERLIVET
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