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

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

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

Big Ocean is a milestone in K-pop history as they become the first idol group in Korea to have all members who are deaf.

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

Efforts to bring K-pop to international level

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

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

The MV 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 3-time Grammy-winning American musician who has collaborated with top stars such as Eminem, Beyoncé...

Sharing about the difficulties, Big Ocean said: "The three of us have different hearing abilities. When recording, keeping the beat is a big problem because we can't hear the rhythm clearly. To overcome this, we rely on hand signals from the support staff to keep in sync.

Vocal tuning is also a challenge. We use an app to help us match our pitch, then have to memorize the amount of muscle tension needed to produce each note. This requires a lot of concentration and constant practice."

The group is also powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, designed to learn and adapt to each member's unique voice characteristics.

Big Ocean performs on stage - Photo: Allkpop

During dance rehearsals, they use a smartwatch-like metronome that provides vibrations to sense the beat. They also rely on a visual on-screen metronome that emits light signals to help them maintain accurate rhythm.

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

From the first time I heard about the project, I was amazed by Big Ocean's performing talent and what they were able to do.

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

International media recognizes efforts

Notably, Big Ocean has recently been recognized by international media when Rolling Stone published an exclusive article titled "Meet Big Ocean, the K-pop group that is breaking all barriers".

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

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

Big Ocean's unique feature is that they use Korean Sign Language (KSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign Language (ISL) in their performances.

Big Ocean's debut also drew special attention from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

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

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

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

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

Big Ocean is currently on an international tour promoting their debut album.

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

The group also performed live at the Cool Out 2024 event, taking 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