Under the Lazer in the Hazer: Studio Namsan

10 Minute Read

Art & Culture

Spotlighting the Seoul based Studio which has become a hub for local musicians and DJ’s to collaborate and broadcast.

There isn’t good music everywhere. That’s why Studio Namsan’s motto is ‘good music everywhere’. The goal being to offer a creative space and an outlet to the community in the South Korean city. Most recently Ransom Note popped by as part of a tour across Asia to see what the space is all about.

Rooted in supporting artists the space also operates with a key focus on those who are keen to learn and develop as artists, teaching and inspiring DJ’s in an innovative, dynamic environment which will allow for them to foster and better their skills.

Live streams are broadcast online from the dimly lit studio whilst beyond this they have also worked alongside a number of collaborators on events and projects designed to help boost the global reputation of both the studio and wider Seoul electronic music community.

We caught up with the team behind the space to understand and assess the value Studio Namsan plays in Seoul.

What made you think Seoul needed another studio, and how wrong or right were you?

ffan had quietly been running DJ classes since 2015. DJs from all over the country would ask him questions, and a few who learned from him are now playing around the world.

Then COVID hit — suddenly, we had no place to play, and all income disappeared. That’s when our studio was born.

We started lessons, but we also made playlists for shops that couldn’t operate during lockdown, connecting brands and customers through music.
It was actually a pretty successful beginning!

The radio station, the booth, the studio, the shop – which bit came first, and how did it all snowball?

During COVID, we found a big space for a surprisingly affordable price. That gave us six DJ booths and a radio station capable of streaming live sets.

The shop came only a few months ago. But after visiting more than 20 cities this year, I found myself drawn to shops other than record stores. On a recent trip to Japan, I got a bunch of Pakistani jewelry from a shop next to a record store.

And as everyone knows, it’s hard for us to make much profit from touring. I often take a lunchtime flight back to Seoul after playing all night just to save money on accommodation… It got exhausting, and honestly, i experienced a hearling loss sometimes.

So part of it was to make a little more income, but more importantly, I thought the “Pro Gypsy” direction could be a way for us to express ourselves and share our taste — not just through music, that’s why we started.

Who’s been through your doors that you never expected, and what did they leave behind?

About 10 years ago, probably the most famous DJ in Korea came by.
And just as expected… they left absolutely nothing.
No good memory, no inspiration — nothing.

You’re curating a curio’s shop now – what’s the weirdest thing on the shelf, and where did you find it?

We’ve got plenty of odd things — a Kazakh wooden stamp, Indian paan necklaces…
But the most unbelievable item is the book “Mountain Ecstasy – Dragon’s Dream” (1978).
As i know, it’s from the UK — and I still can’t understand how something that provocative and stylish existed in that era.
You should definitely look it up.

If someone walks in off the street with zero connections, what’s the move?

Everyone’s welcome.
We’d probably ask, “So, where’s fun these days?” first.

Does the Seoul underground sound different from 2015, and is that your fault?

Back in 2015, Seoul’s scene was way smaller than now — fewer parties, fewer things going on. There were DJ movements for sure, but compared to today, it all felt tiny.

We’ve met a ton of new friends along the way, and the energy they’re bringing to the scene now is way bigger than before.

What’s the worst DJ set that’s happened in your booth, was it ffan, and did you let him finish?

Haha, honestly, there’s never really been a “worst” set.
We actually love disaster sets — we’re the ones screaming and hyping it up like it’s the best thing ever.

The radio station’s live right now – what’s playing and why should anyone care?

Eric Kupper – Planet K

I don’t know why, but this song popped into my head. I first heard it in Chida’s Cocktail d’Amore mix about 10 years ago — definitely one of the tracks that changed my life.

Somewhere out there, a track like that is playing right now for someone else — maybe not on our station, but still. So keep your ears open.

You’ve done Porsche collabs and brand partnerships – how do you keep it authentic when the money shows up?

The thing is, it’s actually hard for us to lose authentic.
Sometimes brands want to use music in ways that make no sense to us, but their customers have their own version of authenticity.

I didn’t start out loving the music I love now, either.
So we try to focus on the moment where they truly need music. That way, we can stay honest while still helping people outside our own culture.

If Studio Namsan were a record, what would the A-side and B-side be?

The A-side would be all our “business” — selling ridiculous objects, getting teased for being too commercial with our lessons and studio.

But flip to the B-side — a 20-minute psychedelic party — and you’ll definitely rethink our A-side’s integrity and our scale.

What’s gathering dust in the studio that you’re convinced will have its moment?

We believe a future is coming where not only us, but almost every DJ will curate music for every shop in the world.

Even if that doesn’t happen — we’ll keep pouring energy into it.
We call it “The Return of the Musical minstrels.”

There are still too many places playing music that make no sense for the space…
Meanwhile, those of us who dedicate our lives to music still have really light pockets.

Fixing that absurd imbalance — that’s our dream, and maybe the biggest thing we’ll ever achieve.