hanbee has drifted back into the music scene.
The Korean-Kiwi indie pop artist has released a sun-soaked double single, “always summer” and “koi”, two warm, dreamy tracks filled with the feeling of summer memories.
The video for “always summer” fits the song perfectly, mixing nostalgic moments with seasonal scenes from her hometown, Tāmaki Makaurau.
“Every summer returns bringing memories infused with us, like a distant recurring dream,” says hanbee. “Our footprints in the sand, the trees whispering in our ears, the hot summer breeze clinging tight to our skin, and the summer rain that washes all our troubles away – memories of our summer will always come around. ‘always summer’ is a double single of two summer stories; whether it be one of past love or one of peaceful solitude – summer will always be here again for you.”
The release follows hanbee’s 2023 debut album small love, which included the track “strange”, named one of Apple Music Korea’s 100 Best Songs of 2024. She was also recognised as an Up Next artist by the platform, with her viral single “Strawberry” helping to propel her to a nomination for Best New Artist at the Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards in 2023.
She’s since taken the stage at Laneway Festival, SXSW Sydney, and supported acts like Men I Trust, Fazerdaze, and Telenova.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ caught up with hanbee last year to unpack her creative process.
When asked about her “small music” style, she reflected: “Honestly, when I started, I didn’t have expectations about how well my music would do. I thought of it on a scale of being personal and intimate, like something created in a bedroom. In that sense, I thought of it as ‘small music.’ But still, I want to make music that feels personal to listeners.”
She also shared her musical goals for the year ahead: “I want to continue making music that feels like daydreaming or music that somehow helps people get through the day — just music that people can relate to.”
hanbee’s “always summer”/ “koi” is out now.
