#yuchan indie

[smokends]

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE RUTHLESS ROCKSTARS — The discography of South Korean idol band Moth Signals consists of four studio albums, eight extended plays, and twenty-six singles. Over the course of the career, the band has sold over 10 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling music artists in South Korea and internationally. Since their 2016 debut, the members of Moth Signals have written and produced every single song they have released, thought it would not be until 2021 they were completely "self-produce".

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀TRIGGER / CONTENT WARNINGS. Death of a parent, descriptive mention of eating disorders + treatment ( 2021 section ). If this piece is too triggering, please DM and I can give you a summary of what happens!

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2016 — Moth Signals debuts with the physical single album SCARED to test the waters. Despite the popularity Loop 2002 gained, the same audience was not willing to tune into Salem's attempt at a cash grab. Scared would sell less than 20 copies in total and went out of print in 2017 because of how poorly it was selling. In 2024, getting an original copy of the album is near impossible and fakes often sell for $500 easily. This would be the first and only year to feature the line-up of SALEM, JUDE, DOHUN, and OLIVER. It would later be revealed that in order to make their appearances at The Lure and other live bar performances, Superbloom Media forged documents that stated Oliver was born in 1999, instead of the true 2001. Due to their inability to sell enough records, Moth Signals would be placed on an indefinite hiatus as Superbloom Media "restructured the group" to ensure the next generation would bring more success for the company as a whole. Yang Irang aka Jude would move to Mystic Story and debut as a soloist under her birth name and continue with an indie sound. On the other hand, there have been no public spottings of Jeong Dohun since 2017 with a police report filed by his parents not long after his contract was terminated with Superbloom Media. As of 2024, this era of Moth Signals is considered "lost media" as very primary sources of year survives.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀SCARED was written by park jueun and produced by kim yuchan and park jueun in spring 2016, performed by park jueun. in her mainstream debut, salem explores themes of fear and insecurity with the lyrics suggesting a hesitance to approach someone and freely express themselves. many fans interpret this song to be about salem's original band, LOOP 2002, which she left in favor of moth signals the year before. the phrase " why are you scared ? " repeats throughout the song and highlights a sense of frustration with the fear and reluctance in this relationship, despite many attempts to change. the narrator yearns for reassurance and validation, seeking comfort in the hope that their uncertainties will fade away having this person beside them. ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE LONG SILENCE was written by park jueun and produced by kim yuchan and park jueun, performed by park jueun. this song is often compared to their later released b-side brand new city from their 2023 album ohio impromptu and shows how similar salem and serin are. both songs discuss the sense of dread from being in one's prime and what comes later. the long silence is described as what happened after the narrator of brand new city moves and realizes that they need to find a way to survive. simply moving away from their problems was not enough to change their feelings and create a new sense of happiness. the narrator vows to " find love / and find a way to survive here ", giving them a new sense of purpose and hope to move on.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 6.7 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2017 — The band would return on what is now celebrated as their debut anniversary, SEPTEMBER 17TH, and include three new members: JUNYEONG, MINJAE, and SERIN. Instead of following the traditional band path, the members were picked from Superbloom's most promising trainees. They were desperate to get these three out into the world so that they did not lose their talents, mostly seen with Junyeong. The band would be promoted on various idol television programs including AFTER SCHOOL CLUB and KNOWING BROS, to get their names out there. They would also promote their only title track for the year, GREAT CAESAR, on the different idol performance shows, including INKIGAYO and MUSIC BANK. Despite their attempts, Moth Signals would continue to sell poorly due to their status as a co-ed group and lack of interest in bands. Despite their busy idol schedules, the band would be given a permanent residency at The Lure in Gangnam, Seoul and lasted until their second hiatus in 2021. They would perform every Friday and Saturday night just before the bar closed as the most exciting act and would slowly gain more fans as they performed more.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀GREAT CAESAR was written by park jueun and produced by kim yuchan and park jueun, performed by park jueun and lee jiyeon. this song explores themes of identity, longing for recognition, and the desire for power and validation. the narrator knows that they are lacking in confidence when they are not wearing a suit, which symbolizes a facade or role the speaker feels they must play to be respected. the references to the city of leningrad is a metaphor for feeling lost and helpless, like leaves lost to the wind, alluding siege of leningrad during world war ii and the bleakness of the city. they want to be recognized as someone great, even if it's just for a moment. the speaker reflects on their childhood and feeling in control, though they would quickly lose that confidence, and now long for stability or connection to feel grounded.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 7.1 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2018 — Unlike the previous two years, nothing about Moth Signals would change as they came into 2018. Their music was still in the hands of Jueun and Kim Yuchan, the most successful artist under Superbloom at the time, and the rest would be delegated to lowly b-sides. It was beginning to feel like Salem did not care about the creative input of the other members, especially when it was not getting her any results. This year would cement Moth Signals promotional style taking place during the SPRING and FALL, with the fall album almost always dealing with darker themes and concepts than the one released in spring. This release continued their momentum forward and there was nothing out of the ordinary during this era. They were slowly being included in more variety shows, as seen by their joint appearance with Day6 on Weekly Idol and their first invitations to a major award show with the Golden Disc Awards and Seoul Music Awards. They were not nominated or even performed, but their photos from the red carpet got people talking about the unknown group.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀EAT THIS NIGHT was written by park jueun, produced by kim yuchan and park jueun, performed by park jueun. eat the night returns to their original sound with themes of liberation and desire to break from societal constraints. the song opens with lyrics expressing uncertainty about what to sing about, as if overwhelmed by the abundance of refrain in the world, and emphasizes their lack of understanding of the path chosen. the narrator proclaims that they have finally found their own way and the metaphor of cutting the moon and devouring the night suggests that rebellious mindset, chosing to defy expectations and live freely. eat the night encourages fans to let go of their norm and find their own path, breaking from exceptions to create their own meaning of happiness. ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀BIRTHDAYS was written by park jueun and produced by kim yuchan and park jueun, performed by park jueun. birthdays revolves around the themes of heartbreak, disappointment, and the realization that a once-special relationship has come to an end. the lyrics depict the emotions of someone who believed their relationship was unique and meaningful, only to discover that their partner does not feel the same. This is famously thought to be about one of her former bandmates from LOOP 2002. Throughout high school and much of their career together, they dated and broke up around the same time Salem left to join Superbloom Media. Through this song, she is coming to terms with the relationship being over after asking “why don’t you adore me?” over and over again. She uses the concept of sleep and going to be bed to bury the past and move on from the relationship, showing that she would be ready to move on once she wakes up.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 11.4 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 0.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2019 — Moth Signals would release HYPOCREEP in March 2019, right before OLIVER was set to appear on the new survival talent competition show SUPERBAND, produced by JTBC. Despite the sound change, Hypocreep was met with positive reaction from fans and is their first mini-album to sell over 1,000 copies in the first month. It is often seen as a turning point for the band as their releases following would follow a similar sound and is the first song to credit another band member besides SALEM, that being OLIVER. This would be the first of a long partnership between the two that would eventually fizzle out during their 2022 hiatus. Hypocreep is also one of the most popular songs for other idols and bands to cover given the technical requirements of each instrument. While Hypocreep opened the door for the other members, MY ANGEL would be the first title track sung by another member. Oliver's My Angel would go onto break and double every single Moth Signals record as he rode the Superband high. MY ANGEL still remains a fan favorite song and would give the band their first award show nomination on Show! Music Core, much to the band’s surprise. Most of the members recall this era as the first time they actually felt loved by the audience and could see people singing along.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀HYPOCREEP was written by park jueun, produced by park jueun, and performed by park jueun. the song expresses frustration towards people who are hypocritical and fake, particularly those who are thirsty for drama and attention on the internet. the narrator identifies as a “hypocreep,” which is a term they use to describe themselves as a different breed of person who is hyper and freaky. they acknowledge that they may be seen as strange or abnormal to others, but they do not care because those same people secretly wish they could be like them. hypocreep, since it's release, has always been a fan favorite and is almost always the opener on their tours because it never fails to get the audience hyped up. it's a favorite to perform for almost all of the members as well. ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀MY ANGEL was written by oliver song and park jueun, produced by park jueun, kim yuchan, and dallas linwood, and performed by oliver song. my angel is a song about a tumultuous romantic relationship with someone that is both heavenly and devilish at the same time. this would be the first song that connected bandmates salem and oliver together romantically and their relationship would be confirmed later in 2020 by superbloom media and dispatch. he enjoys the sensation of having her in his teeth, representing his inability to let go of her and his knuckles being battered and bruised suggests that he is desperate to win her over, even if it takes everything from him. the relationship is described as a forbidden one and the two are constantly meeting in secret despite the risks. she may seen like an angel, but the narrator knows that she has that "devilish" side as well.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 10.2 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 1.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2020 — Fans of Moth Signals fall into two camps for their 2020 releases: either loving it or hating everything it stands for. Tragically, due to the popularity of Lion's Den, Pinktop is often forgotten by all fans of Moth Signals. Despite this, it remains one of Jiyeon's favorites and will always have a place on their set-lists because of this. Due to it’s “inappropriate lyrics” LION'S DEN was banned by all the major South Korean music shows and would be promoted in a series of live concerts instead. They would instead promote READY TO FLY as their title track for this era, saving the performances of Lion's Den for their smaller performances. Due to the show going semi-viral on TWITTER thanks to a tweet by a lumi asking “what business Plastic Flowers had releasing” the song, LOVESICKNESS sold over 10,000 copies by the end of the year. This would also be the final time they were promote prior to their 16 month hiatus, making it special to their fans. LION'S DEN would later become a sleeper hit by going viral once again and entering the top 10 on the Circle Chart after being used on an OST.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀PINKTOP was written by park jueun and lee jiyeon and produced by kim yuchan and park jueun, performed by park jueun and lee jiyeon. pinktop was inspired by a regular at the bar that they perform at, the lure, and serves as a symbol of liberation and acceptance. salem describes the song as a love song to someone that cares so little about what the world thinks about them, something that both girls struggle with. someone that wears the pinktop is someone that stands out of the crowd and embraces their unique style and personality rather than hiding from the spotlight. the guy is a fan of moth signals and admires their music, showing their mutual appreciation for each other and this strong understanding. the lyrics convey the importance of staying true to oneself and walking their own path regardless of what other people think. ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀LION'S DEN was written by oliver song and produced by kim yuchan and oliver song, performed by oliver song. the major themes of lion's den relate to toxic and tumultuous relationships, with the lyrics depicting the ups and downs of being with someone that can be both loving and hurtful. written completely alone by OLIVER SONG, many fans have begun to debate the real meaning of the song as it relates to his relationship with salem. in lion's den, he realizes that the person they are in love with is full of contradictions as they compare their lover to a pair of teeth. the lover's heart is described as having teeth as well, meaning that while they may talk sweetly, they often hurt and bite him. the relationship is very complicated, in which both parties are hurting each other but can't let go of them. the narrator realizes that they are losing themself by the end of the song and hopefully, ends the relationship before it can get worse.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 229.6 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 3.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2021 — The GOODNIGHT era was spent dreading what would come next for Moth Signals. It was obvious that the members were losing steam as shown by their smaller performances and the constant cancellation of their performances at their bar, The lure The release of THE FOURTH FLOOR only made that worse as they went back to the melancholic sound and promotions outside of music shows were cut short. In fear of losing the band, Lumis made sure that it sold well, achieving a record-breaking 14,000 copies in the first month alone and securing them more music show nominations. However, it seemed that nothing they were doing was enough as Moth Signals slowly slipped away from the public eye. Despite GOODNIGHT selling well, Moth Signals were put on an unofficial hiatus two months after it’s initial release. Superbloom would be intentionally vague about the details behind the scenes to keep everything under wraps, however, sasaengs exposed the truth. Not only were they on hiatus to “fight burnout”, but Oliver had returned to his hometown of Boston after the death of his father and Jiyeon had been checked into an eating disorder treatment by their manager, Cheon Garam. During this time, Salem and Oliver would also BREAK UP, creating a new tension within the band. The band’s social media—both company owned and personal—would go completely dormant from March 2021 to April 2022, leaving many to believe that the group would never return and would be lost just before they achieved stardom. During this period, SALEM would debut as a solo artist with THE CURSE OF CAPULET and SERIN not long after with PRINCESS DIARIES. JUNYEONG'S debut was confirmed in late 2021, but nothing was ever released due to OLIVER'S return to South Korea.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE FOURTH FLOOR was written by park jueun and produced by kim yuchan and park jueun, performed by oliver song the fourth floor explores themes of obsession and dependency in a relationship. the lyrics depict a protagonist who is deeply infatuated with someone to the point of being obsessed, as represented by the repeated phrase “i can’t stop thinking about you.” the protagonist seeks answers and validation from a doctor, indicating a desperation for a solution to their intense emotions. they recognize their own exaggerated behavior, acknowledging that they may appear crazy or “psycho” to others. the chorus reinforces the protagonist’s obsession, stating that they cannot live a day without thinking about this person. the fourth floor conveys a sense of dependency and the idea that the protagonist’s life revolves entirely around the object of their affection.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 122.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 3.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 0

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2022 — Just when most fans began to lose hope for Moth Signals to comeback, Superbloom did the unthinkable: dropping a new set of teasers for a full album called INTERNET BLUES. During this time, it was also revealed that MINJAE had left the band and was replaced by Timefighter contestant OH DEURIM, who had failed to make it into the debut line-up by one place. According to Minghui, he left on good terms with the members but could no longer handle the idol life anymore. Despite how protective poppies are, they surprisingly welcomed Deurim with open arms and wanted to see what she could bring to the table. INTERNET BLUES would be released on May 5, 2022 with the title track I’M ALIVE, which secured them their FIRST WIN and first NOMINATION at a major award show after selling 100,000 copies. Moth Signals would return to their original promotional schedule with the release of I DON'T CARE, the title track for their first studio album, CALL ME CRAZY that November. The studio album was celebrated by all fans as it finally meant that Plastic Flowers were confirming that they were here to stay despite their earlier issues. The members looked so much more alive this era and they even held their first FAN SIGN, which went as well as expected. The members had fun with their fans, but hated the constant requests for cuteness or prying into their personal relationships. They would hold their own formal CONCERT, with over three thousand people in attendance.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀I'M ALIVE was written, produced, and performed by oliver song. i'm alive is an uplifting song that talks about the feeling of overcoming challenges and persevering through tough times. they promise that even in the midst of uncertainty and darkness, the singer declares that they will keep themselves alive. the chorus serves as a mantra of sorts as the singer repeatedly affirms that they are alive and won’t give up. the idea of a “highlight” suggests that even in the bleakest moments of life, one can find something beautiful to hold onto. the bridge encourages listeners to keep searching, keep breathing, and keep alive. It’s a call to action to hold onto life and never give up. ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀I DON'T CARE was written by oliver song and oh deurim and produced by kim yuchan, performed by oliver song. this would be oliver's first attempt at a song that criticizes the world him and similar to his bandmates, he aims to show a sense of confidence that cannot be broken. i don't care is about not being afraid of showing who you are and not carinf about what other people think about you. it suggests that self-love is more important than trying to fit in and please other people, and that it's possible to find happiness in difficult situations. the song would be lauded as ironic because it was released just after oliver song went on hiatus for mental health issues and has never seemed to actually recover.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 392.9 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 8.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 2.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2023 — Coming into 2023, Lumis were promised many exciting things from the band. In March, Oliver’s solo DISHONESTY with the lead single MY HONEST FACT would be released to overwhelming success, cementing his popularity with the general public and showing everyone that he was here to stay. Though fans were happy for him, the same could not be said for his bandmates as SALEM and JUNYEONG began a smear campaign that lasted throughout the entire promotional period. Oliver would ignore any questions about the situation and chose to move on from it instead, celebrating his own achievements rather than focusing on those around him. In June, the band would come back as five to release LOVE AND WAR with the lead single of the same name, which became their best selling record at that point at just under 1 million copies. Later that year, Moth Signals would return with I Disagree and a new title track from Salem. The era and album was very well received despite initial worries about the darker sound alienating their original fanbase. Salem already went through that once, she wasn't going to do it again.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀SOLD MY LOVE was written, produced, and performed by oliver song. this song captures the complexities of love, longing, and emotional confrontation. the lyrics express a sense of vulnerability intertwined with defiance as the narrator seems to grapple with past experiences and a feeling of being stuck in a cycle of love that feels both passionate and painful. the recurring idea of "going to your hour" symbolizes a readiness to confront the emotional turmoil head-on despite the ricks involved. there is a sense of raw and unfiltered emotions, hinting at a history of physical connections but also deeper disappointments. the narrator feels that they have wasted their affection on things that didn't matter, selling their love for lost youth and reckless romances. ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀I DISAGREE was written, produced and performed by park jueun. i disagree is an anthem of nonconformity and speaks to anyone that is challenging the status quo, rejecting societal pressures, and has their own opinions. it emphasizes the importance of standing up for what you believe in, suggesting that nothing but freedom and peace will come from it. the chorus features the phrase for i disagree in korean repeating in the background to ensure that their domestic fans get the hint despite all the lyrics being written in english.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS

MV VIEWS: 748.3 million.

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 10.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 7.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀THE YEAR IS 2024 — Despite being on track to become one of the biggest bands in the world, Moth Signals would NOT continue their contract with Superbloom Media. While Oliver remained under the main label and Deurim went to Rove Records, the rest of the members would go their separate ways with the company and begin their HITAUS ERA. Tower of Babel is considered to be one of their final releases and because fans were unsure when Moth Signals would return, they made sure the album sold better than expecting. There were so many group orders and fans asking each other to match their albums bought. It was a good era for all the members and it seemed to be the first time they were truly happy making music together in a long time.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ARE U COMING? written and produced by oliver song and finn lee, performed by oliver song. an oliver song classic through and through, he pulls out all of his favorite themes of yearning, escapism, and longing over a romantic connection. the lyrics paint the picture of a place where hopelessness is nonexistent and creating their dreamlike reality, reflecting that of one of his favorite night clubs. the speaker is eager for their partner’s presence, symbolizing a deep emotional yearning for connection and intimacy. rather than their traditional music videos, the production for are u coming? was just a performance at the lure in seoul, confirming that the place discussed in the song is a bar or some sort of party. it was also tested at the bar prior to release to see what fans thought and they were able to vote for their favorite to become the title track of tower of babel.

ა ⠀ ♱ 　.⠀ACHIVEMENTS.

MV VIEWS: 1.2 billion

MUSIC SHOW NOMINATIONS. 20.

MUSIC SHOW WINS. 9.

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