Photo Courtesy of Granada
For the season finale of City Stories: Band Edition, we are honored to feature South Korea’s rising fusion gugak band, GRANADA.
Known for blending the beauty of traditional Korean music with modern sounds and performances, GRANADA continues to introduce the richness of Korean culture to global audiences in a fresh and captivating way. With each member bringing their own artistry and musical background, the group creates a unique sound that bridges tradition and contemporary music.
In this exclusive interview, GRANADA shares their journey as artists, their passion for gugak music, memorable experiences as a band, and their message to fans around the world.
Join us as we close this season with a special conversation celebrating music, culture, and creativity with GRANADA.
Please introduce GRANADA to our readers and tell us how the team was formed.
Hello! We are GRANADA, a Korean band creating music in the crossover genre of “Guk-Pop,” which blends traditional Korean music with modern pop sounds.
All of our members majored in traditional Korean music and naturally came together through our shared passion. We formed GRANADA with the goal of presenting traditional music in a more modern and accessible way for wider audiences.
What inspired you to combine traditional Korean music with modern genres?
Traditional Korean music can sometimes feel unfamiliar or difficult for younger generations and mainstream audiences to approach. Because of this, we began experimenting with blending it with modern sounds such as hip-hop and EDM, making it easier and more enjoyable for people to connect with.
While preserving the essence and authenticity of traditional music, we continue to express it through fresh and contemporary styles.
If you could describe GRANADA’s musical identity in one sentence, what would it be?
“We sing with the voice of tradition while embracing the future of music.”
What is the meaning behind the name “GRANADA”?
“GRANADA” is named after the Spanish city, which symbolizes the harmony and coexistence of different cultures.
In the same way, we wanted our music to blend traditional Korean music with modern sounds to create something entirely new. That vision is what inspired us to choose the name GRANADA.
Which member first became interested in traditional Korean music?
Rather than one specific member, every member of GRANADA studied traditional Korean music and developed a deep appreciation and confidence in the genre.
Because of this shared passion, we naturally came together to introduce the beauty of Korean traditional music to more people around the world.
What is the most challenging part of blending traditional Korean sounds with modern sounds?
The biggest challenge is finding the right balance between two very different musical worlds. Traditional Korean music has a strong identity and highly detailed methods of expression, so combining it naturally with modern rhythms and sounds requires a great deal of experimentation and thought.
We constantly study different genres to preserve the essence of tradition while enhancing its modern appeal. Recently, we have also been actively incorporating digital sounds and exploring new musical directions.
We’re curious about your songwriting and production process when creating new music.
When creating a new song, we first decide on the genre and discuss as a team how traditional Korean musical elements can best fit within it. We then continue refining ideas together throughout the production process.
At the same time, we carefully design the vocals, performance style, and overall atmosphere to highlight the unique tones and emotional depth of traditional Korean music.
Instead of following conventional structures, we often experiment with unconventional rhythms and arrangements to create GRANADA’s signature sound.
Among the songs you’ve released so far, which one are you most attached to and why?
We are especially attached to our fifth digital single, “City Hunter.” It was the first song where we participated in every part of the production process, from songwriting and composition to performance.
We believe it perfectly showcases GRANADA’s musical identity by harmoniously blending modern rhythms with traditional elements.
In addition, with the recent release of the Chinese version of “City Hunter,” the song has become even more meaningful to us as it marks a new beginning for GRANADA.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners feel through your music?
We hope our music gives listeners a unique yet captivating experience.
Even for those who may not be familiar with traditional Korean music, we want them to naturally discover a sense of curiosity, enjoyment, and appreciation for Korean culture through our songs.
How has the Korean public responded to GRANADA’s fusion sttyle?
Many Korean listeners have responded positively, often saying, “We never imagined traditional Korean music could feel this trendy and fun.”
Hearing younger audiences enjoy and connect with traditional music through our performances has been one of the most rewarding experiences for us.
How have international fans reacted to your music?
Since many international fans are experiencing traditional Korean music for the first time through GRANADA, they are often fascinated not only by the music itself, but also by the traditional instruments and performances we present on stage.
Since your debut, what performance has remained the most memorable to you?
One of our most unforgettable performances was our concert in the United States. Because traditional Korean music may still feel unfamiliar to some audiences overseas, we were deeply touched to see the crowd genuinely enjoying and connecting with our performance.
After the show, one audience member told us with tears in their eyes that they were deeply moved by “the beauty of Korean music.” That moment made us truly realize the emotional power of music and the significance of introducing Korean culture to the world. Even now, it continues to inspire and motivate us as artists.
How do you prepare for live performances and stages?
We focus heavily on creating a complete and immersive experience where traditional Korean music and modern performance elements come together naturally.
Because live stages require both musical precision and strong stage presence, we spend a great deal of time practicing choreography, live performance techniques, and stage coordination. We also carefully prepare the styling and visual aspects of each performance to match the overall concept.
Is there an artist or musician you would like to collaborate with someday?
We would love to collaborate with someday. Beyond simply crossing genre boundaries, he is an artist who transforms music, fashion, and performance into a complete form of art.
Since traditional Korean music itself is also a deeply artistic and experimental genre, we believe combining it with G-Dragon’s unique creativity and sensibility could create an entirely new kind of crossover performance that audiences have never seen before.
Are there any new musical genres you would like to explore in the future?
We would love to explore electronic music inspired by world music influences. Rather than simply creating EDM tracks, we want to develop a completely new musical style by combining the rhythmic structures and melodic elements of traditional Korean music with modern electronic sounds.
By blending the emotional depth of tradition with powerful electronic energy, we believe we can present performances and music on an entirely new scale.
What do you think makes GRANADA unique in the Korean music scene today?
We believe our biggest strength is being a “performance-based Korean traditional music band” that combines live instrumental performances with dynamic stage production.
Rather than simply playing instruments, we incorporate movement, choreography, and visual storytelling into our performances. The harmony between music, performance, and stage visuals is what makes GRANADA stand out.
How important do you think it is to preserve and share traditional Korean music through your work?
We believe traditional culture can continue to thrive only when it naturally connects with modern audiences and everyday life.
Through our music, we hope to introduce traditional Korean culture in a more approachable and contemporary way while also helping connect it to future generations.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned while working together as a team?
The greatest lesson we’ve learned is the importance of harmony and communication.
Each member has a different personality and artistic style, but through understanding and respecting one another, we have realized how powerful teamwork can be when creating music and performances together.
What goals does GRANADA hope to achieve in the future?
We are aware that interest in traditional Korean music is gradually decreasing and that the genre is often seen as something limited to specialists or niche audiences.
Our goal is to show that traditional Korean music can naturally become part of people’s everyday lives and connect with a wider global audience. We want listeners to discover the limitless possibilities and beauty of Korean traditional music while also helping create more opportunities for younger artists in the genre.
Moving forward, we hope to continue introducing the charm of Korean traditional music to international audiences through collaborations across various genres. Rather than preserving tradition only as history, we want to keep it alive as a culture that continues to evolve andsociety communicate with modern society.
Lastly, do you have a message for your fans around the world?
To everyone around the world who supports and loves GRANADA’s music, thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts.
We will continue challenging ourselves beyond genres and boundaries through our music and performances, and we hope to meet fans from many different countries and stages in the future.
This is only the beginning of our journey, and we look forward to connecting with all of you through music that goes beyond language and culture. We promise to continue creating meaningful music and unforgettable performances that can naturally become part of your everyday lives.
Thank you so much for your love and support.
Don’t forget to follow Granada on their official social media accounts for more music, updates, and exciting content coming soon!
Welcome to City Writer 
Leave a comment