Saving the loudest for last: HolyBear plays 'Kidult' on a playground of yellow slides

HolyBear is a band built around singer-songwriter Lee Sungjin. According to the video description, it has an identity that's both a "team" and a "solo act," and it wants to be remembered not as a cool artist but as a "tasty" one. As the 41st musician on NONOL Live, HolyBear played around lunchtime in warm sunshine on a green playground wrapped in yellow tube slides. There are five: vocals and acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums and keys. The description says everyone swayed along, from passing older folks to a child out for a walk with a dog. The first three songs all come from the EP '꿀단지 No.01' ('Honey jar No.01'), released January 8, 2023.

0:00 For Real

Lee Sungjin wrote that this song came from a time of the lowest self-esteem and depression. After repeating days of sleeping late and waking late, Lee Sungjin stepped out of the room one day, met Mom's eyes, and suddenly felt, "I can't go on living like this." It's a song for people losing confidence because they want to do well but can't.

4:37 흩어져 (You wave into me)

Introduced as a song born from always wanting to write about the sea. It came from watching feelings written in the sand vanish without a trace once a wave passes. On Apple Music, the English title is 'You wave into me', which puts in a "wave" that the Korean title (meaning "scattered") doesn't have.

8:51 Butterfly on my mind

The title track of '꿀단지 No.01', a song Lee Sungjin said is especially dear. The description explains that "butterfly" can mean the insect but can also describe a wavering heart. It's about a relationship where both feel the same but it doesn't get across, and about the words you want to hand over with a heart that's certain. Apple Music

14:44 어른 애 (Kidult)

The closer, picked to show "a slightly more rocking side." HolyBear said this song won a fair number of prizes. It's a self-portrait of a song: past 20 and in college, with plenty of grown-up duties, yet still finding a kid inside who's happiest hanging out with friends. Measured, it's the loudest of the four. It's about 4 dB (decibels) louder than the first three songs; a 10 dB difference sounds roughly twice as loud, so this is enough to clearly feel the jump. It was officially released on May 15, 2024, as 'NONOL VOL 37', and its English title is 'Kidult'. Apple Music

If the chilly weather has you wanting to move, start with '어른 애'.