Korea's Hidden Gems: Offonoff
Welcome back to this month’s music discovery. Last time, we covered upcoming artist Wooks. This month’s underrated artist is the incredible duo, offonoff. With incredibly amazing sounds and influential lyrics, offonoff is a duo that’s a must listen. Don’t worry, there will be a few recommended songs attached below for you to give a listen.
Members
Offonoff consists of two members, singer-songwriter Colde and producer 0Channel. Colde was born on May 10, 1994 as Kim Heesu. 0Channel was born on April 16, 1994 as Seo Jiho. Offonoff is currently under YG Entertainment’s sub-label HIGHGRND. They are also a part of Club Eskimo, a crew consisting of DEAN, Crush, millic, Punchnello, Jusen, Chek Parren, 2xxx, Miso, Rad Museum, and Camper. Together, this duo creates amazing pieces of music that put you in your inner mind. Colde has also released an EP recently, which adds to the aspect of falling deep in your inner thoughts.
Albums
Currently, offonoff has one full album titled boy., an EP titled Photograph, and their project debut single, bath. In this disc, you’ll be able to find art in the form of soft melodies. The blend of Colde’s soft and husky voice mixes well with 0Channel’s mixes. Not only does offonoff create songs performed by the duo, but some of their most popular hits include artists like Tablo, Miso, and DEAN. Below is one of my personal favorite tracks, Cigarette.
Poetic Lyrics
This duo not only focuses on their art form of music, but they also work hard to create meaningful lyrics for their audience. For example, Cigarette refers to a love between two people that starts off as a simple act of lighting a cigarette. Soon enough, that simple act turns to an addiction to a lover; you can never get enough from each other and you hope you’ll be their last stick of nicotine. “‘Come to think of it, love is like a cigarette/ burning at the tip of it, but quick to burn out/ like a cigarette, it may get you sick/ but you’ll never get sick of it/ so light one up now/.’” This specific part of the song is a direct metaphor that points out the theme of the track. It’s a deep and meaningful verse rapped by Tablo.
Cigarette is just one example of the depth in Colde’s lyrics. Offonoff’s single, homeless door, is another song that ties in lyrical poetry and an incredible delivery through a wonderful singer like Colde. This song, along with the music video, is a song that ties into the feeling of not knowing where you belong or who you are. The music video itself portrays everything as black and white, no colors due to not having any emotions left. It ties in the feelings of being empty and looking for something or someone to fill a void in your heart. The need to be loved and the need for someone to help you through a difficult time is all touched by this track. “‘I’m looking for a place where I can take a deep breath/ I’ve been here alone for a few days/ in this place where there isn't anybody I lie down/ I even feel small vibrations/ your heart moves and it’s deep/ it burns and lights a fire/ I just want to have even your heart/ I want to know everything.’” The opening verse explains the light you may receive from someone you love and want to keep in your life. It’s as if you’re in an abyss of hopelessness, but a rope was thrown to your rescue.
Offonoff is one of the most underappreciated artists to this day and to all my lo-fi music lovers, you won’t regret giving this a listen. They provide good background music to trigger your late night thoughts as you snack on Korean treats, straight from Korea. Listen to offonoff while you snack on this month’s box, your ears and mouth will be in paradise. Happy listening and snacking!
Written by Rebeca A.
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