Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Say Sue Me
Many musicologists have tried and failed to gain an understanding of the ‘nostalgia chord’. The first place they seem to be going wrong is thinking that the wistful reverie some songs achieve can be traced back to their chord progressions. In my estimation, they’d be better off studying Say Sue Me, because no matter what shapes the Korean indie four-piece strum, everything comes out as sepia-toned and soothing.
Blending shoegaze and slacker rock, the band from Busan have honed their sound over 13 years, bringing the learned boon of 2000s indie forward in a progressive new way. Their latest EP, Time is Not Yours, may well be their best collection yet. Speaking about the release, the band explained, “Lately, time’s been on our minds—how it slips away, how we chase it, how it stresses us out.”
They demurringly added, “Instead of letting it weigh us down, we turned it into songs. After years of non-stop hustle, we took our first real break in early 2024. That space gave us room to breathe, reflect, and create. It’s a snapshot of us figuring things out, one riff at a time.” That is reflected in an album of ambient flows. It takes you places with its contemplative tones—waltzing surf-rock into city vistas and thoughts of cycling through sun-kissed suburbs. It’s a masterful little offering.
So, before the group takes one of the most introspective EPs of the decade out on the road, we caught up with them to discuss their thoughts on The Beatles, ghosts, believable conspiracy theories and the 30-year-old album that is somehow their favourite release from 2025. This is our ten minutes with Say Sue Me.
Quick-fire Questions with Say Sue Me:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong”.
2. Can you recommend a great Korean album that we probably haven’t heard?
“A Pretty And Clear Soul by Kim Il Du [from 2013]”.
3. Where is the weirdest place you have played so far?
“Christiania in Denmark. I never knew a place like that existed. It felt like a small but perfectly complete nation of its own—an intentional community and anarchist commune. Pretty weird, but kind of cool.”
4. Do you believe in ghosts?
“I guess it depends on how you define a ghost. I don’t think they exist in the way we usually see them in the media, but I’m open to different interpretations.”
5. What is your favourite Korean film?
“It’s really hard to choose. Should it be something meaningful, beautiful, or fun? I’m not sure. This is just what came to mind, so I’m sharing it: Tazza: The High Rollers [from 2006]. It’s very Korean and fun.”
6. Who is the current era’s most overlooked guitarist?
“Kim Byungkyu. More people should pay attention to his guitar work.”
7. How would you define your sound in a sentence or two?
“It’s cute yet lonely, and though we always look back, we keep moving forward.”
8. What has been your favourite album of 2025 so far?
“Finding new music is really tough now. Even albums from 2020 feel fresh to us. So, we’re going with Wowee Zowee by Pavement, which came out 30 years ago.”
9. What is one conspiracy theory that you kind of believe in?
“There’s a conspiracy theory that the lottery numbers are rigged. Sometimes, when I look at the drawn numbers and regions, it feels like it could be true.”
10. What is one weird food quirk that you would recommend?
“A cake with Kimchi. Have you tried it? You can finish a whole cake so easily.”
11. Which music icon would you like to go on a week’s holiday with?
“Honestly, I suddenly thought of Mac DeMarco. I’m looking for a relaxed yet fun experience, and I feel like he would be great at making that happen.”
12. What Say Sue Me song would you recommend people start with?
“Start with ‘Old Town’. It’s a classic tune from Say Sue Me.”
13. What is one ‘classic album’ you would happily delete from history?
“This is a tough question, but if I had to choose… ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran. Maybe just the album it’s on.”
14. Where is the best restaurant in the world?
“I love eating outdoors on a clear, soft breezy spring day. In Busan, there are many mountains, and I love eating at a restaurant hidden in the hills. It’s always such a peaceful vibe.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“Not at all. They are one of humanity’s greatest achievements.”
You can catch Say Sue Me on tour in the UK at the following times and venues:
- May 6th, Bristol, UK, Strange Brew
- May 7th, Manchester, UK, Academy 3
- May 8th, Hebden Bridge, UK, Trades Club
- May 9th, Glasgow, UK, CCA
- May 14th–17th, Brighton, UK, The Great Escape Festival
- May 19th, London, UK, 100 Club
