While Han Grin has released music since 2021, my introduction was the music video for “FARMER SONG,” from her latest EP, FARMER. When I listened to FARMER, I got a sense of calm and stillness. The audio narrative that Han Grin presents isn’t new, but the way it’s presented makes this EP an essential listen.
“Calf” is a mellow opener. It’s designed like a ballad with folk elements intertwined. The shortest of all the songs, it feels like the purpose is to welcome you to the EP. “Calf” gets you ready for the rest of the songs.
“FARMER SONG” is the main single. This track opens with a folk introduction before jumping into a simple and effective indie rock arrangement. Han Grin’s vocals are warm and smooth. They move across the instrumentals and glance at beats. They make an impact when necessary. As the first song I heard, it drew me in because the dynamics are muted, but they work to raise the song even higher.
“A Tail of Romance” keeps a little of the indie rock from “FARMER SONG,” while adding a bit of 50’s do-wop grooves and old-style R&B. It maintains Han Grin’s style while including a nostalgic tone. I can see this getting added to a lot of playlists. Then on “Snail,” Han Grin adds some country. It’s interesting how Han Grin makes small changes to her music with different genre elements, but retains a core sound that easily flows out.
She pulls back on “Build a Fire” to focus on vocals and acoustic guitar. I imagine it was arranged to feel like you’re sitting next to a campfire and listening to her perform. It’s an intimate listen. To close FARMER, “Flower Dance” sounds like a mixture of “Calf” and “A Tale of Romance.” The song’s complexity is hidden in the melodies, and Han Grin focuses your attention on missing a lot of it. So it sounds simple and requires you to listen to it again.
There’s a confidence on the EP. Han Grin presents a clear idea and vision with this varied set of songs. I think a favorite song will differ for each person listening. This is a timeless EP that may not explode across social media, but will be added to collections for years to come.
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Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.
