Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Korean alternative rock band The Rose appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show. This quartet, though Korean, sings most of their songs in English. It’s a natural choice, as their lead vocalist grew up in the United States and another member spent his youth in New Zealand.
The first time I heard them, their sound swept me back to the early 2000s, evoking memories of British alternative bands like Keane, my favorite from two decades ago, and the early days of Coldplay.
The lead singer’s voice is hauntingly beautiful, and unlike other Korean rock bands performing in English, The Rose’s lyrics feel effortlessly natural. If you didn’t know all four members were Korean, you might easily mistake them for an American band.
While Korea has other remarkable groups—Jannabi and SURL come to mind—The Rose is, I believe, the only band poised to make it big in the United States and Europe. They haven’t released many studio albums, but not a single track falls short; every song is solid, much like BTS’s catalogue.
They are regretfully underrated, and I hope their appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show helps bring them into the Western mainstream. If you’re craving good alternative rock—not just “Korean rock,” but true rock—I urge you to listen to “Nebula,” which they performed live on the show with dazzling brilliance, as well as my personal favorite, “Back to Me.” There’s something about the chorus of this song that always brings to mind the chorus of Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things.”
Their tracks “You’re Beautiful” and “Childhood” are like poems set to soothing melody, achingly lovely and deeply moving.
I’ve seen them live, and they sound just as flawless as their recordings. Their musicianship is top-notch. They’re touring the U.S. and Europe, so if they pass through your corner of the world, don’t miss them. If you’re in Minneapolis or Chicago, The Rose will be performing in Minneapolis on July 6 and in Chicago on July 8.