Angela Seo
Seo playing with Xiu Xiu in Denmark 2017
Born
Hyunhye Seo
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDuke University School of Law University of California, Berkeley
OccupationMusician
Years active2006–present
OrganizationMark Ridley-Thomas administration
Known forMember of Xiu Xiu
TitleDeputy for Public Health
Musical career
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • synthesizers
  • cymbals
  • organ
  • percussion
Years active2006–present
Labels
Websiteangelaseo.com

Hyunhye Seo, professionally known as Angela Seo, is an American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist best known for her role in American experimental band Xiu Xiu. Seo joined Xiu Xiu in 2009, and has contributed to every studio project by the band since The Air Force (which she wrote lyrics for). The first album contributed to by Seo as a member of Xiu Xiu was 2010's Dear God, I Hate Myself.[1] Seo has also played in the bands Deal$ and XXL (Xiu Xiu Larsen), amongst playing on songs by Holy Hum and Blind Cave Salamander.

Personal life

Seo grew up in San Fernando Valley, United States in the same neighborhood as Xiu Xiu frontperson and lead vocalist Jamie Stewart. Both of Seo's parents were immigrants, and she recalls both of them as sharing four to six jobs at one point in time. Seo also recalls that her parents loved music and literature, but they had the "Korean idea" of education and a hard-work ethic.[2] Seo also mentions that her grandfather was a ship captain who told her stories about wherever he traveled.[2]

During the time period in which Seo and Stewart lived in Durham, North Carolina, Seo attended the Duke University School of Law.[3] Stewart mentions that Xiu Xiu had moved to Durham to support Seo's post-graduate studies. Stewart regretted moving to Durham and grew to despise it, as did Seo.[4] Stewart has frequently called Seo their "best friend".[4]

In addition to being a member of Xiu Xiu, Seo is currently the Deputy for Public Health of the Los Angeles County Office of Cannabis Management, and is working under the Mark Ridley-Thomas administration.[5][6]

Xiu Xiu

In 2006, Seo contributed lyrics to "Bishop, CA" and "Wig Master" off of Xiu Xiu's fifth album The Air Force. Also in 2006, Seo took the cover photograph for Tu Mi Piaci. In 2008, Seo contributed lyrics to the song "You Are Pregnant You, You Are Dead" on Xiu Xiu's sixth album Women as Lovers, also under her birthname.

In May 2009, Caralee McElroy announced her permanent departure from Xiu Xiu, though no reason was given apart from her membership in Manhattan-based darkwave band Cold Cave.[7][8] With McElroy's absence and the absence of Xiu Xiu double bassist Devin Hoff who left the year prior, Jamie Stewart and Ches Smith recruited Seo to join Xiu Xiu in late 2009. After, Xiu Xiu began to work on Dear God, I Hate Myself, recording in Durham and Oakland, California.[9] Seo inspired Stewart to shift Xiu Xiu's motifs again, and Dear God, I Hate Myself included elements of chiptune and video game-based programming, Xiu Xiu using the KORG DS-10 for the Nintendo DS to write many of the songs on the album.[10]

The music video for the title track off of 2010's Dear God, I Hate Myself received polarizing response online in 2010. The video consists of Seo forcing her fingers down her throat, vomiting throughout the entire video. This music video eventually climaxes as she vomits on Stewart, who has been eating a large Escazu chocolate bar and dancing throughout the entire video. Seo and Stewart have defended the video, stating that the video illustrates the eating disorder subject of the song in an extreme fashion.[4]

Seo's vocals debuted on 2012's Always, with her vocals being featured prominently on "Honey Suckle".[11] She continued to contribute to Angel Guts: Red Classroom and played a series of live shows with Stewart and Shayna Dunkelman covering the soundtrack from Twin Peaks. These covers were later rerecorded into a Record Store Day release Plays The Music Of Twin Peaks.

Seo starred in the music video for the title track of 2017's Forget. In the music video, she portrays a stage musician playing the keyboard as a heckler yells sarcastic comments and throws banana peels at her.[12] Seo also directed the music video for "Wondering".[13] She directed the music videos for "Scisssssssors", "Pumpkin Attack On Mommy and Daddy" and "It Comes Out As A Joke" for 2019's Girl with Basket of Fruit.[14][15][16] Seo also contributes vocals on the album, and co-produced the entire album alongside Greg Saunier of Deerhoof.[17]

Seo contributes vocals to "Fuzz Gong Fight" from 2021's Oh No, and directed and starred in the music videos for "A Bottle Of Rum", "Rumpus Room" and "Sad Mezcalita".[18][19][20]

Other works

Seo's debut (and only) studio album is Strands, a two-sided album released on cassette and digitally on Lawrence English's Room40 record label on June 11, 2021. Side one of Strands is dark ambient music, while side two is Seo performing unaccompanied piano.[21][22] Strands was recorded by Jamie Stewart at Xiu Xiu's NURSE home studio and produced by Lawrence English.[22]

Discography

Solo

  • Strands (2021)
  • Eel (2023)

As part of Xiu Xiu

As part of XXL (Xiu Xiu Larsen)

  • Düde (2012)
  • Puff O'Gigio (2018)

References

  1. ↑ "Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Jamie Stewart and Angela Seo (Hyunhye Seo) in Xiu Xiu | Whatever Makes You Happy, I Will Never Feel Normal (but Love to Diaspora) |". [weiv]. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ Misir, Timothy (May 25, 2014). "Queer Artists to Share Stage in Russian Concerts". The Moscow Times. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Currin, Grayson Haver (March 14, 2012). "The travails of Xiu Xiu leader and reluctant Durham resident Jamie Stewart". INDY Week. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. ↑ "LA Public Health and Cannabis Management Meeting Summary 6/12/2019" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Meet the Staff". Mark Ridley-Thomas.
  7. ↑ "Caralee McElroy Leaves Xiu Xiu". Pitchfork. May 15, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Caralee McElroy Leaves Xiu Xiu, Jamie Stewart Writes Haikus | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Dear God, I Hate Myself, by Xiu Xiu". Xiu Xiu. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ Fallon, Patric (March 26, 2010). "Artist Tips: Xiu Xiu". XLR8R. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart Breaks Down Dark 'Always'". SPIN. February 28, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ Xiu Xiu – Forget [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  13. ↑ Xiu Xiu – Wondering [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  14. ↑ Xiu Xiu – Pumpkin Attack on Mommy and Daddy [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  15. ↑ Xiu Xiu – It Comes Out as a Joke [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  16. ↑ Xiu Xiu – Scisssssssors [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  17. ↑ "Xiu Xiu – Girl With Basket of Fruit – Album review". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  18. ↑ Xiu Xiu – A Bottle of Rum [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  19. ↑ Xiu Xiu – Rumpus Room [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  20. ↑ Xiu Xiu – Sad Mezcalita [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO], retrieved April 16, 2022
  21. ↑ Kim, Joshua Minsoo (June 21, 2021). "Hyunhye Seo of Xiu Xiu makes her cryptic solo debut with Strands". Chicago Reader. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  22. 1 2 "Strands, by Hyunhye Seo". Room40. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
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