Nell (Korean: 넬) is a South Korean alternative rock band formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist Kim Jong-wan, lead guitarist Lee Jae-kyung, bass guitarist Lee Jung-hoon and previously drummer Jung Jae-won until his departure from the group in June 2023. The group was named after the film, Nell, that starred Jodie Foster.[1] The band is known for their gloomy and psychedelic sound, and has achieved fame with hits such as "Stay" from Let It Rain [ko], "Thank You" from Walk Through Me [ko], "Good Night" and "Losing Heart" from Healing Process [ko] and "Time Walking On Memory" from Separation Anxiety [ko].[1] Their third studio album Healing Process was chosen as one of five best recordings of the year by South Korean critics.[2] Nell's fourth studio album Separation Anxiety was a hit in South Korea, ranking number one in various real-time album charts.[3]
Musical career
Early years and turning point
Nell was formed in 1999 by four students who had failed to pass the college entrance exam.[1] The group performed at clubs around the Sinchon-dong area and released two indie rock albums, Reflection of [ko] and Speechless [ko], in 2001, causing a revival of emotional rock in the country.[1]
While performing at live clubs in Hongdae, they were picked up by Seo Taiji, and soon became the first band to promote under the record label Goesoo Indigene, a subsidiary of Seo Taiji Company in 2002. In 2006, the band decided to finish their contract with Goesoo Indigene. They signed with Woollim Entertainment.
Nell has participated in both the 2006 and 2007 Pentaport Rock Festival of South Korea, where Placebo and Muse also performed each year.
2012–2013: Comeback after hiatus, Gravity mini-album series and Japanese debut
After a long hiatus due to compulsory military service,[1] they released their fifth studio album titled Slip Away [ko] on April 10, 2012, with the title track "The Day Before".[4] Its music video starred Lee Min-ki and Song Jae-rim, but none of the Nell members appeared.[4]Slip Away was a hit in South Korea, placed top rank on various real-time music charts, such as Mnet, Bugs, and Olleh Music.[4][5] Kim Jong-wan featured in G-Dragon's song "Today" in his 2012 album One of a Kind.[6]
On November 22, 2012, Nell's official homepage included a new picture signaling Nell's comeback. The picture showed a large moon that had a kind of explosion going on. Nell's new album, Holding onto Gravity was released on December 3.[7] On December 2, 2012, Woollim's YouTube official channel released the music video for "White Night" starring Im Soo-jung.[8]
In January 2013, Nell made their Japanese debut with the Japanese edition of Slip Away, released by Home Game Records, a Watanabe Music Publishing label dedicated to Korean rock.[9] In May 2013, the official Woollim YouTube channel uploaded a teaser for the upcoming mini-album which was scheduled for release in June. Nell's official homepage was updated on June 3 confirming the release date for the second part of their three-part mini-album series of Gravity, Escaping Gravity [ko].[10] The music video for the mini-album's title track, "Ocean of Light", was released on June 9.[11]
2014: participation in U.S. concert and Billboard recognition
On March 11, 2014, the band performed at the second K-Pop Night Out at SXSW in Austin, Texas along with Hyuna and Jay Park and others.[12] On December 11, their album Newton's Apple [ko] was selected as number two on "Billboard's 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2014" by Billboard K-Town with the write-up, "The strongest rock album of the year, Newton's Apple highlights Nell's vocalist/chief composer Kim Jong-wan's clever and honest songwriting skills, best heard on the single 'Four Times Around the Sun' and 'Grey Zone' ... All the lyrics are wrapped in warm, lush arrangements and instrumentals that enchant the listener simply by themselves."[13]
2016: Space Bohemian
On March 22, 2016, it was announced that Nell ended their contract with Woollim Entertainment and set up an independent record label named Space Bohemian.[14] On August 18, 2016, they released their first album with their new label, C, with the title song "Dream Catcher".[15]
