Leenalchi have announced their Luaka Bop debut, a new EP titled Here Comes That Crow, out June 12th. The Seoul-based seven-piece have also shared a video for the title track and lead single.
Formed in 2019 and led by bassist and producer Jang Young Gyu, Leenalchi (pronounced EEE-nal-chi) draw their material from pansori — a traditional Korean form of musical storytelling often compared to opera. Rooted in shamanism and developed during the 17th-century Joseon Dynasty, pansori recounts epic tales of love, virtue, sorrow, and dragon kings. The band’s line-up is as singular as its sound: two bassists, drums, keys, no guitar, and four singers — Park Soo Bum, Ahn Yi Ho, Ra Seo Jin, and Choi Su In — alongside drummer Oh Hyung Suk.
Jang’s work with pansori began in 2007, composing for choreographer Ahn Eun-me’s piece Bari. Musicians from that project went on to form groups including SsingSsing — whose NPR Tiny Desk concert racked up 9.9 million views — and eventually Leenalchi. Jang is also a prestigious film composer whose credits include Train to Busan, The Wailing, and The Good, the Bad, the Weird.
Here Comes That Crow is adapted from a pansori tale about the Chinese warlord Cao Cao’s most decisive battle, and stands as an allegory about life’s precariousness. Ahn and his bandmates wrote a short poem to help listeners interpret the song: “Doyung doyung goes the small boat seen floating down the river. Whether the chased or the chaser, no one can stop—just beneath the boards lies the underworld!”
The band’s admirers include Brian Eno, Robyn, Japanese Breakfast, and Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus. Leenalchi’s first-ever North American tour runs through summer, followed by European dates this autumn taking in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Denmark.
Pre-Order/Save https://luakabop.lnk.to/leenalchi
Leenalchi 2026 Tour Dates
Fri 29 May — Incheon, SK @ Asian Pop Festival, Paradise City
Sun 21 Jun — Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Jazz
Thu 25 Jun — Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
Fri 26 Jun — Montreal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Festival
Sat 27 Jun — Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver Jazz Festival
Sun 28 Jun — San Francisco, CA @ Stern Grove Festival (w/ Japanese Breakfast)
Wed 8 Jul — Seattle, WA @ Vera Project (presented by KEXP)
Sat 11 Jul — Los Angeles, CA @ The Getty (presented by KCRW)
Thu 12 Nov — Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Fri 13 Nov — Rotterdam, NL @ Grounds
Sun 15 Nov — Berlin, DE @ Gretchen
Tue 17 Nov — Hamburg, DE @ Knust
Wed 18 Nov — Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA Musikkens Hus
Fri 20 Nov — Aarhus, DK @ Turkis
Sat 21 Nov — Groningen, NL @ VERA
Tue 24 Nov — Dublin, IE @ Whelan’s
Thu 26 Nov — London, UK @ Jazz Cafe
Fri 27 Nov — Bristol, UK @ The Jam Jar
Sat 28 Nov — Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Sun 29 Nov — Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall