Korean singer Young Tak on resurgence of trot, working with Pinoy artists

Young Tak

Trot, the century-old music genre that dominated South Korean airwaves in the 1970s, is often seen as old-fashioned—the kind of music people would expect to hear blaring from their grandparents’ stereos.

But that has been changing in recent years. With the rise of social media and talent contests that cater to the younger generation of trot performers, the genre is inching its way back to the mainstream spotlight.

For singer-songwriter Young Tak, the notion that trot is for old people is slowly going away. “Trot music is enjoyed by old people in Korea. But despite that, I think that distinction has been slowly deteriorating. That’s why through social media platforms like TikTok, my songs like ‘Jjiniya’ were able to trend and gain popularity. And they’re enjoyed by people, from the smallest kids to older people,” Young Tak said through an interpreter at a recent press conference in Manila.

Trot incorporates a distinct style of singing that makes use of repetitive rhythms and vocal inflections: low tones are delivered with a vibrato; the high tones, with a technique called “kkeokk-ki,” which resembles a vocal break. If we were to compare it to a Filipino style or genre of pop, jukebox or novelty arguably come closest in terms of sound and vibe.

‘Fresh and innovative’

“People are disregarding the age range [typically associated with trot]. That’s why I believe that trot is slowly becoming a universal genre that everyone can enjoy,” added Young Tak, who, in 2020, placed second in “Mr. Trot”—the hit reality singing contest that gave him and other younger trot singers a platform to showcase their love for their craft.

“Since trot was associated with old people, there weren’t a lot of chances for young trot singers to go onstage and perform. So this is a fresh and innovative concept for a show. It gave many opportunities for trot singers… It’s one of the reasons I’m here with you now,” said Young Tak, who was recently brought to the country by Live Nation Philippines for a series of promotional activities. And with the genre’s recent resurgence, he believes that the line between trot and K-Pop is “vanishing.” “Trot is also K-Pop in a sense that, these days, the same instruments are used for performances and productions. Through collaboration among different artists that add their sense of detail and efforts to create wonderful performance, we can say that trot is part of K-pop,” he said.

Young Tak

“It’s a genre of music in which we aim to create songs and music that know no boundaries when it comes to age and generations,” the 39-year-old recording artist said.

Last year, Young Tak released his first full-length album, “MMM.” It features 12 tracks that focus not only on trot, but also genres like rock and jazz. “I have done original soundtracks for K-Dramas before, but not a proper album like this one. And through this meaningful album, I hope to share with you my experiences or emotions. The storytelling is personal, down to the very last song,” he said.

To make his brand of trot more relatable to younger audiences, Young Tak, who writes and produces his own material, makes use of popular expressions. “I would like to believe that I make trot music that represents this generation. The words or the expressions I use are widely used in Korea at the moment,” he said.

Collaborations

“I research about how I can incorporate old, present and future styles and trends into my music. And I try to find a middle ground to create songs that can be enjoyed by anyone at any time,” he said.

Fans outside Korea are also starting to take notice. “I flew to Indonesia for an event and about 3,000 people came. Hearing them sing my songs together was shocking and heartwarming,” he said.

Young Tak, who started out as a balladeer in 2007, almost gave up on show biz sometime in 2014. That he’s now able to travel the world and talk about his craft is nothing short of surreal.“I never imagined I would be able to go outside my country and share my music. Being in the Philippines is something I’m thankful for. I felt the warmth and kindness of the Filipino people during my short stay here,” he said. Young Tak hopes to return to the Philippines in the future, not for vacation, but also for possible collaborations with local artists. “In Korea, when you talk about going on vacations, the Philippines is one of the first places that come to mind—its beautiful beaches and sceneries,” he said. “I’m one of the people who wanted to come here.” “Filipinos are known around the world for their musicality and talent. I’m looking forward to collaborating with some of the Philippines’ best artists,” added Young Tak, who hopes that Filipinos could also get into trot music.

“I want to be relatable everywhere I go. Even if the people don’t know the language, I want to give them the impression that the songs I’m singing are happy,” he said.