Say Sue Me

Damnably

The indie rock quartet from Busan, South Korea return with new album The Last Thing Left. This is their first new album release since 2018’s critically acclaimed Where We Were Together.

After a flurry of international activity culminating with a debut North American tour at the end of 2019, like everyone else in the world, the band were forced to take a touring hiatus in 2020, and quietly began work on a new album. ‘The Last Thing Left’ was self-recorded and self-produced during lockdown at the band’s own Busan studio. Mastered by Matthew Barnhart at Chicago Mastering Services and released by Damnably Records and Beach Town Music.

2018’s Where We Were Together largely dealt with the emotional fallout from the absence of dear friend and the band’s original drummer Semin Kang. In October 2019, Semin passed away. Then, the pandemic. Needless to say, these events left their marks on the band, and the new album leans heavily on themes of loss, loneliness, grief and healing, and love.

Opening instrumental track “The Memory of The Time” signals a passage of time while serving as a continuation to the sonic ending of the last track on Where We Were Together. “Still Here” furthers evokes the isolated mood we’ve all felt, especially in the early days of the pandemic. Lead single “Around You” is signature Say Sue Me, upbeat melancholy with a 60’s surf guitar twang and 90’s indie rock influences. “We Look Alike’s” playful basslines and 16th note guitar rhythms showcase a funkier side to the band’s stylings. The driving beat of “No Real Place” illustrates the desire in the lyrics to move forward and keep on keeping on. “To Dream” is the sole Korean language track of the album, angelic vocals paint notes on to a walking beat, liquidic duel guitar solos shimmer and mesmerise. “Photo of You” begins slow paced with a riff reminiscent of Malkmus that crescendos into a soaring ballad that Roy Orbision could be proud of. Title track “The Last Thing Left” can be interpreted as an ode to Semin and his lasting legacy on the band. “Now I Say” is stripped back to haunting vocals and acoustic guitar and a sprinkling of keyboard lines. “George & Janice” was wrtten at the beginning of 2019 as a wedding gift for the co-heads of Damnably (“full of the hopeful brightness of bands like the Concretes” – The Guardian). The band had intended for this song to provide the overall atmosphere and beginning point for a new album, but instead, the making of the album became about finding their way back to it.

“This album has the theme of some realization, eventually the realization of love. Love in relationships, love for oneself, and the ultimate love gained after realizing those two things!” Sumi Choi (vocalist, guitarist)

Cited as one of 2018’s ‘break-out bands’, Say Sue Me are a Surf inspired indie rock band from Busan, South Korea. Members consist of Byungkyu Kim on lead guitar, Sumi Choi on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jaeyoung Kim on Bass and Sungwan Lim on Drums.

A self-titled compilation was released by Damnably Records in 2017, marking the band’s first release outside of Korea, which served as an introduction to International audiences. The band then released their sophomore album Where We Were Together, winning praise from the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, Billboard, i-D, The Independent, Stereogum, Paste & more. BBC 6Music have championed the band as well as Elton John on Beats1, NPR and KEXP. The band embarked on tours in Europe and Japan and appeared as part of the line up at the first DMZ Peace Train Music Festival in Korea’s Demilitarized Zone. They count Yo La Tengo, Japanese Breakfast, Snail Mail, The Ravonettes, Speedy Ortiz, The Beths, and The Notwist as fans.

In 2019, Say Sue Me were nominated for five Korean Music Awards (ultimately winning 2), going up against the almighty BTS in three major categories. They showcased at SXSW for a second time, recorded a live session in the shoe box at Vans HQ in Los Angeles, played Les Eurockeennes Festival, Greenman Festival, Reeperbahn Festival, Maho Rasop Festival, and embark on their first North American tour in late 2019.

In 2021, they again showcased at the online edition of SXSW, and wrote opening theme songs ‘So Tender’ for Netflix Korean drama Nevertheless, and ‘My Heart’ for hit Korean drama Yumi’s Cells.