Big Ocean, the first deaf K-pop group to gain international fame

Big Ocean brought a breath of fresh air to K-pop music , breaking down barriers and proving that disability is not an obstacle to pursuing dreams.

The world's first deaf K-pop group - Photo: Allkpop

Big Ocean is a significant milestone in K-pop history as it became the first idol group in South Korea with all members being hearing impaired.

Debuting in April – coinciding with South Korea's Disabled Persons Day – the group consists of three members: Park Hyunjin, Lee Chanyeon, and Kim Jiseok.

Efforts to bring K-pop to an international level.

In the early days, many questioned whether a deaf music group could thrive in the music industry.

However, Big Ocean defied all skepticism, releasing the mini-album Follow , which included the title track Flow along with previously released singles such as Glow , Blow , and Slow .

The music video for "Flow" was filmed at the National Institute for Deaf Youth in Paris, the world's first school for deaf students, founded in the 1750s.

Notably, Flow is the group's first English song, produced by Mark Batson, a three-time Grammy-winning American songwriter who has collaborated with top stars such as Eminem and Beyoncé.

Sharing about the difficulties, Big Ocean said: "The three of us have different hearing abilities. When recording, keeping the rhythm was a big problem because we couldn't clearly hear the beat. To overcome this, we relied on hand signals from the crew to maintain synchronization."

Vocal tuning is also a challenge. We use an app to help match pitch, and then we have to memorize the necessary muscle tension to pronounce each note. This requires intense concentration and consistent practice."

The group is also supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, designed to learn and adapt to the unique vocal characteristics of each member.

Big Ocean performing on stage - Photo: Allkpop

During dance practice sessions, they use metronome-like devices, which provide vibration signals to sense the rhythm. Additionally, they rely on visual metronome displays that emit light signals to help maintain accurate timing.

American musician Mark Batson shared: "I am honored to have the opportunity to be involved in such an important musical work, a memorable milestone in human creativity."

From the first time I learned about the project, I was amazed by Big Ocean's performing talent and what they are capable of.

That helps me envision a future where anything is possible for all of humanity."

International media acknowledges the effort.

Notably, Big Ocean recently received international media attention when Rolling Stone published an exclusive article titled "Meet Big Ocean, the K-pop group breaking all barriers."

Big Ocean's handsome appearance - Photo: The Korea Times

Rolling Stone delves deep into the formation of Big Ocean and the team's journey of hard work throughout their training. "Our success is built on 1% talent and 99% effort," the team shared.

What makes Big Ocean unique is their use of Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign Language (ISL) in their performances.

The launch of Big Ocean also drew particular attention to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

On X, he shared: "Congratulations on your debut as the world's first hearing-impaired K-pop group. I appreciate your efforts in breaking down barriers and eliminating stigma against people with disabilities."

Big Ocean impresses with their debut mini-album - Photo: What's Kpop

Big Ocean stated, "Although we hold the title of being the world's first deaf idols, we don't want our disability to affect the group's overall identity."

Instead, we want to convey the message that no matter your disability or any obstacles you face, don't let them limit your will and efforts."

Big Ocean is currently on a promotional tour for his debut album in the international market.

In New York, the members visited iconic landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park, and met with fans across the United States.

The group also performed live at the Cool Out 2024 event, which took place from November 14 to 17 in the Cayman Islands, UK.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/big-ocean-nhom-nhac-k-pop-khiem-thinh-dau-tien-vang-danh-quoc-te-20241119111241165.htm