Jung Mina is a versatile musician who not only plays the gayageum, a traditional Korean zither, but also sings, composed and even served as a producer for this album, her third.
While her critically acclaimed second album was a collection of instrumental songs - mostly an artistic jazz collaboration with Jung on gayageum and top performer Seo Young-do on bass - her new work is a vocal album that tells her story through song.
The first track, “Dizzy on a Summer Day,” which has subtly changing rhymes accompanied by a dreamy and addictive melody, reminded me of a sizzling hot summer day and made me feel like gulping down a glass of beer.
The fourth track, “Jumeokbap,” delivers an interesting yet bittersweet picture of her experience: To make a living as an indie musician, she once made and sold jumeokbap (rice ball) at a subway station exit but the small business soon went bust, she says in the lyrics.
