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www.groovekorea.com / February 2014 66 Love X STereo IS annie ko — Lead vocals, keyboards, synthesizers toby hwang — Guitar, back- ing vocals, production sol han — Bass, backing vocals Edited by Elaine Ramirez (elaine@groovekorea.com) MUsIC & ARTs ROCK n ROLL sEOUL Interview by Sophie Boladeras Photos courtesy of Love X Stereo, Studio N Photography US love X stereo bright, mesmerizing, upbeat and danceable W ith her bright red hair and suspenders, Annie Ko, the lead singer of Love X Ste- reo, is a sight and sound to behold. Even in a barely lit venue, her clear, feminine voice is an unmistakable compliment to the band’s strong demeanor and electro-punk sound. Ko and her two bandmates recently arrived back in Seoul after a successful overseas tour that had the group performing at a number of venues across the U.S. and Canada. Like any self-re- specting rock band, they all instantly quit their jobs here as soon as they got the go-ahead on the tour, since none of their employers would wait for them. The trio has returned to the peninsula super broke, but ecstatic about their successes in the States. Though definitely still poor, they have scored a coveted spot in the lineup for South by Southwest (SXSW), the world’s leading music in- dustry event in Austin, Texas, coming up in March. Love X Stereo has played hard and fast to get to where they are now. The group was known as Skrew Attack back in the ’90s, and was Korea’s very first skate rock band. Back then, Hwang did the lead vocals on top of being the bass player. Ko joined the band in 2005 when Hwang was look- ing for a female vocalist and Ko was looking for a band. Fortunately for us they were introduced and, with the addition of Han in 2008, the three have been playing together ever since. In 2011 they de- cided to change their name to Love X Stereo. The band’s sound has developed since those early days and they have come into their own as musicians. They are currently inspired by ’90s alternative, ’80s synth pop and ’70s psychedelic music. more info Website: lovexstereo.com