What happens when four musicians decide to bottle up the intoxicating rush of young love and serve it with a side of genre-defying rebellion? You get Tasty Shop – a Korean quartet that’s been turning heads and moving hearts across continents with their blend of country, punk, and rock. In an era where musical boundaries are increasingly blurred, this band has mastered the art of emotional storytelling, channelling the euphoria and chaos of youth into melodies that feel both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary. Their sound doesn’t just cross genres; it demolishes the walls between them entirely.
Comprised of bassist Jwo, vocalist ZeZe, drummer Hazel, and guitarist Rex, Tasty Shop has evolved from local darlings to international sensations, gracing stages from Seoul Music Week to Mexico’s K-magazine Hallyu Fest. Fresh off their electrifying performances at Singapore’s Music Matters Live over the weekend, the band is poised to make an even bigger splash on the global music scene.
We caught up with the band while they were in town to find out more about their process, adventures, and what fans can expect in the future. (Spoiler: the band will be releasing something new next month)
How did Tasty Shop come together as a band, and what’s the story behind your name?
Rex: We all studied the same major in college back in 2020 and just clicked musically, so we decided to start a band together. That’s basically how it all began.
Hazel: As for the meaning behind our band’s name, we chose this because we hope that our songs can cater to all kinds of (music) tastes.
Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations—both from Korea and internationally—and how have they shaped your sound?
ZeZe: Coldplay
Jwo: Jannabi (잔나비)
Hazel: Maroon 5
Your music blends different genres with a K-pop appeal, how do you balance this, and what makes your sound uniquely “Tasty Shop”?
ZeZe: I think what sets us apart from typical K-pop bands is that most of them work with dedicated producers who create their songs. Since we self-produce everything, we have complete creative freedom to shape our sound however we want. We get to decide what style feels right for us and make each song uniquely ours.
What has been the most memorable moment with your fans so far?
ZeZe: Something unexpected from our fans would be that the first fan account made for the group was actually dedicated to our bassist, Jwo.
Rex: Typically, the main vocalist would be more popular in the band, so we had expected the first fan account would be for ZeZe but now we know who’s the popular member in our group.
How do you feel about international fans discovering your music, and what’s your message to them?
Tasty Shop: We think our music is gaining international traction because we offer a fresh take on K-pop. The genre itself is evolving so much compared to what it was 15 years ago, and we’re seeing more Korean bands emerge with their own unique styles. Playing at several overseas music festivals this past year has really helped us reach new audiences around the world. To our international fans – we can’t wait to bring Tasty Shop to more countries, so stay tuned!
If you could only recommend 3 songs from your band to someone that’s new to Tasty Shop, what would they be?
Hazel: I’d start with ‘Summer Symphony’, it’s this really fun track we released last summer. Next, I’d recommend ‘Run,’ which has become a huge fan favourite. And definitely check out ‘Come to me’ when it drops on October 3 alongside our debut full-length album ‘Edges of Twenty’!
What can international fans expect from Tasty Shop in the near future?
Tasty Shop: Beyond our debut album dropping this year, we’re planning a European tour for next year and hopefully making it back to Singapore for another show. As a band, we’re really excited to keep growing and reaching new audiences!
