Balming Tiger Reimagines Haruomi Hosono's 'Nettaiya', Bridging Generations with Sound

Alternative K-pop group Balming Tiger is set to release a re-imagined version of Japanese music legend Haruomi Hosono's iconic track 'Nettaiya' (Tropical Night), fostering musical dialogue across generations and borders.

On the 11th at 6 PM, Balming Tiger will unveil their remake of 'Nettaiya' on major global music platforms. This release marks the first pre-release single for an official remake project celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hosono's 1975 album 'Tropical Dandy,' embodying respect for the original work and a musical conversation spanning time.

The heart of this rendition lies with Balming Tiger member bj wnjn. He shared that upon the project's inception, he and the group members listened to the entirety of 'Tropical Dandy,' exchanging energies and ideas. 'Nettaiya' particularly resonated with him, naturally leading him to take on the track. "From the very first moment, various ideas flooded my mind," he stated. While revitalizing the original groove for a contemporary audience, bj wnjn focused on preserving the track's unique texture by prioritizing analog equipment and minimizing digital processing.

bj wnjn cited the globally acclaimed artist D'Angelo as a primary source of inspiration for this project. "D'Angelo's music is fundamental to my musical journey, and 'Voodoo' is like a bible to me," he expressed. "This remake allowed me to re-explore and study his music." Although he felt a profound sense of loss upon hearing of D'Angelo's passing near the completion of the mix, he added, "It was fortunate that I could revisit his music before he left us."

Balming Tiger also drew attention to the original 'Nettaiya's' underlying message. Created by Haruomi Hosono in a small room in the early 1970s, the song used the term 'Nettaiya,' which had just emerged in Japanese society, as a motif. Beyond a simple summer night's ambiance, it served as a reflection on environmental changes. Hosono, also known as a co-founder of the legendary Japanese rock band Happy End and the electronic group YMO (Yellow Magic Orchestra), has forged a distinctive musical world by transcending genre boundaries for over half a century.

Balming Tiger reinterprets the original 'Nettaiya's' era-specific sentiment and social message with today's sound. The cover artwork is a witty homage to the original, while the music video was directed by member Jan' Qui. Based on bj wnjn's character and the song's narrative, the video was filmed in a small city and port in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. In the video, bj wnjn portrays a taxi driver living a mundane life, grappling with the conflict between his inner burning desires and suppressed dreams, visually embodying the essence of 'Nettaiya.'

This remake, blending the warm texture of analog sound with Balming Tiger's experimental approach, is being hailed as an ideal homage born from the meeting of two artists across different eras. Balming Tiger conveyed their deep gratitude to Haruomi Hosono for creating this opportunity for inspiration, wishing him continued health and a long career.

Korean netizens have reacted positively to the news of Balming Tiger's remake, with comments like, "Is bj wnjn a genius? As expected from Balming Tiger," and "A remake of Haruomi Hosono-sensei! I'm looking forward to it," and "The original is great, and the remake seems like it will be great too."