Friends And Fans Lend Itta A Helping Hand
Posted by: Shawn ˑ June 11, 2010 – 3:28 amBy Shawn Despres
On Saturday (June 12), a benefit concert is being held in Seoul at Hongade’s Yogiga Expression Gallery for Itta.
One of South Korea’s most eclectic performers, the avant-garde pop musician began to feel pain in her arm during 10’s (a very cool experimental electro duo comprised of her and Japanese noise artist Marqido) recent American tour. After getting checked out by a doctor, she learned that she had torn ligaments in her right shoulder and would have to have an operation to repair them.
“I feel pain when I play my keyboard,” Itta says. “Actually, my arm hurts doing normal things too, so I can’t sleep well nowadays. I went to the hospital and the doctor said that I can’t use my right arm for at least two-and-a-half months after the surgery, so I can’t play as 10 during that time.”
Saturday’s concert will help raise funds for Itta’s surgery. 10 had already scheduled a three-week summer tour in China before learning about her injury, but Itta hopes to have the operation when she returns back to South Korea in mid-July.
Since she won’t be able to make music while recovering from the surgery, Itta is working on new 10 and solo material now. 10’s next full-length should surface later this year, while Itta’s album will come out before autumn on Canadian cassette label, Scotch Tapes.
“Scotch Tapes sent me a message through MySpace,” Itta explains. “The release will be limited to 100 tapes and there will be no CD or digital version of it. I decided to release it like this to do something that went against our digital society.”
10 formed on October 10, 2005. To mark the anniversary of their band, every year since their inception Itta and Marqido have held a concert on 10/10. This October’s birthday gig promises to be an extra special affair.
“Marqido and I will get married this year on October 10,” she shares. “There will be a concert event to celebrate. I hope my right shoulder will be well by then.”
Here is Itta’s ” Iyagi” music video from her 2005 “11” disc.
Saturday’s fundraiser at Yogiga will start at 4:00 p.m. and will include performances from 10, Hi, Mr. Memory, Sato Yukie, Han Joo Lee, Lauren E. Walker, 3rd Line Butterfly’s Nam Sang Ah, Michael Joseph Oakley, Jo Young Min, Atombook’s Choi Sae Bom, and belly dancer Eshe and her Navah troupe. Tickets are 10,000 won at the door. There’s a really basic English map to Yogiga here.
