On August 1, 2021, Korean soloist Ahn Ye Eun released her new horror pop single, “Changgwi.” Known for her unique drawl and traditional R&B style, the singer and songwriter began her horror story project in 2020 by releasing “Trumpet Creeper,” and continues to unsettle her audiences with “Changgwi.” Titled after an evil spirit from the Joseon dynasty, this track is an eerie homage to horror folk tales in both visuals and sound. The sound capitalizes on Ahn’s vivid and piercing vocals to truly highlight the “siren song” of the changgwi seeking to seduce its victims, while the lyric video and promotional material uses heavy red and white visuals—bare hands, carved masks, and eerie silhouettes, which are all staples of Asian horror— to complement the story.

This track features very little melodic instrumentals, instead using the ambience of a twilit forest, a percussive piano note, and the banging of Buddhist wooden drums to highlight Ahn’s vocals further. When asked to describe this track, Ahn stated that she thought of it as a “horror play,” as it features rise and falling action, like a narrative. The track begins slowly and seductively with Ahn’s crooning and escalates in both pitch and rhythm until the song’s denouement, where Ahn shrieks with delight as the demon finally claims another victim. It’s a very cathartic and deeply horrific ending all at once, which is proof of Ahn’s pioneering efforts in the horror pop genre. Her contributions to this side of the musical field are few and far in-between, but they pack such a punch that you can’t help but play them over and over again.

Listen for yourself! Stream “Trumpet Creeper” and “Changgwi” before the summer is out.

• Author Details

Claire Hsu Author

Claire is a professional writer, author, and journalist hailing from the PNW. A recent graduate from George Fox University, where, she studied English and Communication Arts, Claire boasts both career and volunteer experience in a variety of writing professions including teaching, self-publishing, developmental writing, script-writing/screenwriting, and journalism.

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Claire Hsu Author

Claire is a professional writer, author, and journalist hailing from the PNW. A recent graduate from George Fox University, where, she studied English and Communication Arts, Claire boasts both career and volunteer experience in a variety of writing professions including teaching, self-publishing, developmental writing, script-writing/screenwriting, and journalism.