Dal:um: Korea, Strung Differently

Two Korean string instruments, two very different ways of shaping a sound. Dal:um’s Ha Suyean and Hwang Hyeyoung join me after their concert in Finland to explore the gayageum and geomungo, from delicate silk-string sounds to surprisingly powerful, percussive playing.

We get close to the instruments: a bamboo playing stick, frets, pitch bends and movable bridges called “goose feet”. They explain how their modern instruments differ from traditional versions, and demonstrate a way of feeling Korean rhythm through breath and dance movement.

There’s music from the concert, demonstrations from both players, and a performance recorded especially for the conversation. The video edition lets you see how their hands shape the sounds.

Later, I share “Basildon Made Me Baby”, a collaboration with spoken-word artist Emy P, through a project with filmmaker and poet Aaron Shrimpton. My music takes a hip-hop direction, with a few nods to Basildon’s electropop heritage; Emy’s words explore place, identity and finding her people.

Plus: Sound / Visuals / Spoken at the Towngate Theatre on 12th November 2026, and Origin live with Beardyman at Wilton’s Music Hall on 10th March 2027.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Dal:um in concert and conversation
• Korean rhythm, breathing and dance
• Inside the geomungo and gayageum
• Silk strings, bamboo, frets and “goose feet”
• A performance by the duo
• Emy P, Basildon and a new spoken-word track
• Live dates with Steve Pretty

WATCH / EXPLORE

Origin of the Pieces — video editions, transcripts and more

https://www.originofthepieces.com/

Dal:um at Glitterbeat / tak:til

https://glitterbeat.com/artists/dalum/

Sound / Visuals / Spoken — 12th November 2026

https://towngatetheatre.co.uk/estuary-sound-visuals-spoken/

Origin live with Beardyman — 10th March 2027

https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/steve-pretty-and-friends-on-the-origin-of-the-pieces-3/

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE

Dal:um: Ha Suyean (gayageum), Hwang Hyeyoung (geomungo).

“Basildon Made Me Baby”: spoken word by Emy P; music and audio production by Steve Pretty, for a project with Aaron Shrimpton.

CLARIFICATION

Basildon is shortlisted for UK Town of Culture 2028; my tentative reference to it holding the title this year is mistaken.

MORE FROM ORIGIN OF THE PIECES

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