Sanawon

Although Sanawon means “brutal” in Korean, the Chicago-based duo’s music leans relatively towards the twee side of indie pop, thanks partly to leader Jenny Choi’s lighter-than-air voice, highly similar to the Sundays’ Harriet Wheeler and Saint Etienne’s Sarah Cracknell. Choi’s vocals, keyboards, and cello are in the guts of Sanawon’s audio, backed by drummer Philip Rock (also Choi’s hubby) and visitor music artists on bass and electric guitar. Although Sanawon was just produced in 2004, Choi and Rock had worked jointly and separately in a variety of elements of the Chicago indie rock and roll scene within the preceding years. Choi, a classically educated multi-instrumentalist, initial gained attention because the head of Jenny Choi and the 3rd Change, which debuted with 1998’s Bittersweet. After 2001’s Grand and Ashland, the group disbanded and Choi released a single record, 2003’s Postcard Tales, with help from Rock. That same 12 months, Choi founded the Asians in Rock and roll Tour, a touring event of indie rock and roll rings led by Asian-Americans, designed to, as Choi’s objective statement place it, “provide voice towards the frequently silent ‘model’ minority by broadening the cookie cutter stereotypes frequently relegated to Asian People in america, also to inspire Asian youngsters in order to avoid assimilating to mainstream tendencies within their artistry by getting original methods to articulate their own cultural framework and identities.” Choi and Rock also briefly experienced a trio task with Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel popularity called Sweet Dark and Blue, and both are guest music artists on several other albums. The duo’s 1st recording as Sanawon, Tiny Aircraft, premiered in 2005 in the Suburban House label.