Enter the technicolour world of Wah Wah Wah.
Image by Maclay-Heriot
Seoul-based band Wah Wah Wah are all about the process. Experimental and guitar-driven with a global mindset, their sound feels like it’s constantly evolving built on loops, stacked ideas, and instinct.
Their creative approach is loose and open-ended. “I just try to make as many demos as possible,” they say. “Even if it’s just a one-bar loop, I keep making and stacking them.” Later, they revisit the chaos and build something cohesive from the noise. It’s how entire albums come together — not from one big idea, but from a bunch of small sparks that start to make sense.
Their influences are broad but loud. Think King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, both sonically and in spirit, experimental, fearless, and always pushing into new territory. That mindset bleeds into everything they do. “We just keep discovering new sounds and new music, and that really inspires us.”
Growing up in Korea, the band didn’t have many chances to see their favourite artists live, so they traveled. They hit festivals, played around with their own sound, and let those early live shows become the foundation for what they do now. “Those experiences become assets,” they say. “They’re part of your arsenal.”
They also play with language in a way that’s pretty unique. Switching between Korean and English on stage changes the entire energy of their set. “Speaking Korean feels more formal and polite,” they say. “English feels more chilled and friendly. When we play here, it feels like people understand it better — and that gives us energy too.”
Let’s get to know Wah Wah Wah:
You mentioned you make tons of demos — what’s your process like when you’re writing?
Wah Wah Wah: I just try to create as many loops or ideas as possible. Then I’ll go back and listen later. If something catches my ear, I’ll pick it and build it out into a full song or use it as part of an album. That’s been my creative process so far.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations?
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, for sure. Not just their music, but their mindset. They’re always exploring, always trying something new. We really connect with that.
What was it like coming up in Korea with limited access to live music?
There weren’t a lot of chances to see the kind of bands we love. So we’d go overseas, to festivals, gigs - and those experiences shaped us a lot. They gave us a real foundation.
You mentioned that the language you use on stage changes how you feel. What’s that like?
It’s interesting. When we speak Korean on stage, it sounds very formal - polite, even. But English feels way more relaxed and casual. When we play outside of Korea, people seem to get it more, and that really fuels us.
