Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones — always focused on sound, stage and substance.
I discovered molar system recently and was captivated by their unique sound, but I found little to no information about them – so I decided to change that.
Molar system made their debut earlier this year with the English song ‘GREENROOM’. This introspective song delves into the experience of being left behind whilst seeing your peers succeed, the lyrics explore hopelessness and uncertainty. The term ‘greenroom’ means waiting area in a theater, which relates back to the song’s message of feeling stuck. The track resonates deeply considering today’s competitive culture. Everyone is desperate for a purpose.
Their second release, ‘Amoeba’ is a song that talks about accepting the current version of yourself. Towards the end of the song, a narrator with a childlike voice speaks Korean into a change up, where what used to be a slow song turns chaotic, which I greatly enjoy. This release also features a second song ‘Flee’ which has a dream-like and entrancing sound.
They have amazing songs with relatable themes and powerful lyrics which more people need to hear, therefore I am excited to share this band with you!
Please introduce yourselves individually!
sannie: Hi, I’m sannie, a singer-songwriter and the leader of molar system. I usually write the lyrics and melodies, and I love throwing weird ideas back and forth with the team.
PopcornTvGulchan: Hi! I’m PopcornTvGulchan, a producer. I write songs and mainly work on post-production, like adding weird sounds, mixing, and mastering.
Jinyoung Park: Hi, I’m Jinyoung Park. I produce music and play guitar and bass for molar system.
How did you guys meet and end up forming a band?
PopcornTvGulchan: It’s already been over three years! The three of us went to the same music university. We originally got together to help Sannie with a school project, but we had so much fun that we ended up starting a band.
Tell us about your most recent release, ‘Fear Of Flying’!
PopcornTvGulchan: It’s a song about the fear of flying. (laughs)
Seriously though, it started with a sketch by Jinyoung. Then sannie added melodies and her own story to it, and I joined in on the arrangement.
sannie: “Fear of Flying” is like a diary entry for me. It’s the song I’ve spent the most time on out of everything I’ve written so far. The original track Jinyoung brought in had a strange, unfamiliar feel that inspired me to take some bold and new creative steps.
I created the song by combining inspiration from the book Fear of Flying with my own thoughts. I wanted to express themes like female sexual shame, frustration, and desire as honestly and unfiltered as possible.
I’m grateful to the members for joining me on this journey.
Jinyoung Park: Fear of Flying was a project that challenged the way I normally think. The theme of female liberation was something I had never really thought about—maybe even something I had unconsciously avoided. But the books sannie recommended, along with her gentle but clear explanations, made it impossible to ignore.
I’m grateful that I could take part in this experience and help share it with others through music.
Why did you choose ‘molar system’ as your band name?
We wrote “Mola” the way it’s pronounced in Korean. In Korean, 몰라 (mola) means “I don’t know,” and it’s something we say to each other all the time—especially when someone asks a question. It kind of became our catchphrase.
At first, we almost went with Band Molar, but then Sannie said it reminded her of solar system. After a very “serious” group discussion, we ended up combining the two into molar system—a weird but oddly fitting name for us.
And no—it doesn’t have anything to do with molars, like the tooth. We’re not a dental-themed band. (Yet.)
Who is the character we see on your album artwork?
This character was created by PopcornTvGulchan.
He often draws in his diary, and this little guy kept showing up as a recurring template. The other members loved it so much that we started featuring it regularly on our album covers.
It makes us happy to see a character that once only lived in ink on a diary page now stepping into the world through all kinds of ideas.
sannie and Jinyoung especially loved how the character looks like it’s spacing out—but still seems deep in thought at the same time.
How is the music production process for you as a team?
sannie: I usually start by making a simple loop and sketching out some vocals. If I like the vibe, we develop the song together as a team. I tend to write the lyrics at the very end.
Jinyoung Park: I start by composing the track, then record guitars and bass. I also join in on the arrangement process, especially when the others bring in ideas or start writing something new.
PopcornTvGulchan: I take the lead on sound design, mixing, and mastering, and I’m also actively involved in the songwriting process.
Who are the musical inspirations for each of you?
Jinyoung Park: I think I’m still not very good at expressing my emotions naturally.
That’s why many of the tracks I make are rooted in emotions I haven’t been able to put into words—I try to express them through sound instead.
Scenes from films or songs I happened to hear during meaningful moments often become sources of inspiration.
PopcornTvGulchan: These days, music is so easy to discover that I find myself listening to a really wide range of genres. It’s hard to pick a single artist.
I’m always searching for something new and unfamiliar—curious about how younger underground artists are reinterpreting past generations to create something fresh.
But if I had to choose one artist who really influenced my perspective as a creator when I first started making music, it would be Four Tet.
There are many more, of course—but I’ll leave it there for now. (laughs)
sannie: I’ve been influenced by a wide mix of artists—Caroline Polachek, Imogen Heap, Big Thief, The Beatles, Jockstrap, and so on.
I also love the work of Korean artists like Mid-Air Thief, So!YoON!, and Gongjoongneul.
Their music feels fragile, dreamy, and deeply human—all of which are things I try to capture in my own sound.
How was your first live performance experience?
Oh… we were so nervous.
Since we don’t have a drummer, we had to rely on a drum machine—and we were worried something might go wrong with the gear.
There were also concerns about the sound… you know, the drum sound in a live setting.
And honestly, I just hoped everything would go smoothly without mistakes.
What should your fans anticipate next?
PopcornTvGulchan: Please stay tuned for more of PopcornTvGulchan’s personal adventures. (laughs)
Jinyoung Park: We’re currently focused on releasing music with the goal of performing live.
We’re hoping to have the chance to play in front of our fans very soon.
sannie: We hope you’ll look forward to the strange, the unexpected, and the kind of songs that aren’t afraid to break the mold.
What are your goals for molar system?
Jinyoung Park: We’re working hard on releasing music with the goal of performing live.
Hopefully, we’ll get the chance to play in front of an audience very soon.
One of my dreams is to travel the world and perform everywhere we can—no matter how big or small the stage.
PopcornTvGulchan: We hope to continue making music and building a solid fanbase.
It would mean so much to know that there are people who genuinely love what we do.
And if our music could be hot enough to make someone out there feel like, “I want to make music too,” that would be amazing!
sannie: Through experimental, imperfect, and sometimes deeply personal music, I want to capture the emotions of our time.
molar system hopes to speak for people who’ve found it hard to explain themselves—for those moments when you hear a song and think, “Wait… that sounds like me.”
We’re still in the process of shaping our unique identity, so please keep watching as it unfolds.
A special thank you to Sannie for co-ordinating the band’s answers! I will be supporting molar system from now on, as I hope you guys will too.
If you’d like to follow molar system and stream their music, check out the links below.
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mymolarsystem?si=eyRjyT6M64rcdmht
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymolarsystem?igsh=a25sZ2xreDlidDdj
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wFmsdFdYcJIGNhvC8KFkH?si=LZK1-UXSR_q0vxulYkmoIw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/molar-system/1803308220
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