- A rising DJ from Seoul presents her production debut with starry-eyed house and Balearic techno.
- A familiar name in Seoul's DJ circuit since 2017, Hyojin Min is locally lauded for criss-crossing psychedelic disco, minimal acid and meandering '90s techno in sets. Traversing euphoric highs and hypnotic lows while largely staying below 125 BPM, her selections stand out for their gleaming, dreamy quality. After securing a residency at Seoul's BBCB: Beton Brut+Concrete Bar in 2021, she's now drawing fans further afield, including German label Giegling whose skeletal take on club music aligns with Cosmo's own controlled style.
After a successful string of Europe gigs with the label this year, the emerging South Korean artist is now making her production debut, JIN 09. The four tracks of aqueous house and techno bottles the emotional expansiveness and cruising pace of her DJ sets, full of understated acid tinges and sparkling melodies that land with impact despite their airiness. The record speaks to a broader trend of atmospheric techno around Asia-Pacific scenes. Sharing much in common with artists from the region with an affinity for layered textures, like Xiamen-based Knopha and fellow Seoul artist Mogwaa, Cosmo's originals have a loose-limbed cadence that lend her tracks an ineffable weightlessness.
JIN 09 stands out for this rare balance of mystique and adrenaline. "Misty Memories" opens the EP with pure Balearic bliss: for the first minute, it's all swirling downtempo until a stuttering bassline and hollowed-out kicks venture into chuggy techno. It's a perfectly controlled build-up that mirrors the sense of restraint in Giegling's music. Mirroring the slow-burning grooves on Sun Palace's "Rude Movements," whispery percussion and drifting synths hint at adventure ahead.
Cosmo lives for this build-up—the tease of tension. "Gentle Night" bubbles with excitement, simmering in a way that suggests a frothy peak but it never quite gets there. Synths land like water droplets, giving way to a deep bassline while shimmering keys ebb and flow like bioluminescent organisms. Even on darker cuts, Cosmo's light touch shines though. She explores techno through sleek, aerodynamic arrangements, using sequences of moody effects rather than huge drums for intensity. On "Her," fluttery synths and hushed vocals create quiet drama while mean electro stabs drive momentum–it's delicate but still commanding.
Missing from JIN 09 is the oddball charm pervasive in Cosmo's DJing–metallic pads, whizzing synths. Her Waking Life set from earlier this year, her European festival debut, was full of these kooky touches. Still, whatever JIN 09 lacks in quirk, it more than makes up for in heavenly vibe. Cosmo now joins the coveted ranks of Asia-Pacific names like Tokyo-based YUTA and Taipei's Diskonnected who have been carving out a niche in silky, slippery techno. She brings with her form, function and most importantly, vision.
トラックリスト01. Misty Memories
02. Gentle Night
03. Her
04. Kintamani