Biography
Parannoul (파란노을, meaning blue sunset) is the solo project of an anonymous musician from Seoul, South Korea. By their own account almost no one in their real life knows they make music, and they have described themself as just a student writing music in their bedroom.[1][2]
Before adopting the name they released several albums under the alias laststar between 2017 and 2019, followed by their debut as Parannoul, Let's Walk on the Path of a Blue Cat, in 2020.[1] Their second album, To See the Next Part of the Dream, was self-released on Bandcamp in February 2021 and became a cult favorite after climbing Rate Your Music's charts, even though Parannoul felt the attention was overblown and has said being known for it felt like having their flaws exposed.[1]
Working with a single old computer, virtual instruments and a phone microphone, Parannoul builds fuzzed-out shoegaze and emo shaped by Japanese media such as All About Lily Chou-Chou, and by artists including Weatherday, Nouns and Car Seat Headrest.[1][3] They have said their main audience is teenagers, and that the 2021 album was a slice of their life at a dark time. Later releases include White Ceiling / Black Dots Wandering Around (2022), a B-side EP, and After the Magic, which they intended as a break from the self-destructive image of the earlier record.[3][4]
References
- To See the Next Part of the Dream (Wikipedia) — Background on Parannoul's anonymity, early aliases and album production.
- Consequence: Parannoul's To See the Next Part of the Dream Is a Masterful Bandcamp Gem — Review citing the artist's Bandcamp self-description.
- Jellybones: Parannoul interview — Interview on influences, intent and After the Magic.
- Stereogum: Parannoul's White Ceiling / Black Dots Wandering Around EP — Coverage of the 2022 B-side EP.