#SHOWBIZ: Big Ocean finds success as K-pop's first deaf group

New Straits Times

2 days ago

SEOUL: Big Ocean, a three-member K-pop group made up entirely of artistes with hearing disabilities, is redefining what's possible in music and performance – one beat at a time.
When Big Ocean performs live, they seamlessly weave sign language into their routines.
However, their polished shows are the result of extensive preparation, relying on high-tech tools developed out of necessity.
These include vibrating smartwatches that pulse with musical beats and LED visual metronomes that flash timing cues during rehearsals.
This technological approach marks significant progress in South Korea's entertainment industry, where career opportunities for people with disabilities have historically been limited.
The trio – PJ, Jiseok, and Chanyeon – debuted in April 2024.
They recently completed their first European solo tour, celebrating their first anniversary.
The band performed in four countries, including France and the UK, while promoting their second mini-album, Underwater, which was released on April 20.
PJ first gained recognition as a YouTuber who educated viewers about hearing disabilities.
Chanyeon previously worked as an audiologist, and Jiseok was a professional ski racer.
To achieve the precision crucial in K-pop's demanding choreography and music, Big Ocean uses technologies rarely seen in the genre.
Members wear modified vibrating smartwatches that send rhythmic cues to their wrists, and they practise with visual metronomes – flashing light guides displayed on monitors – to help them stay in sync.
Chanyeon uses a hybrid hearing device with Bluetooth that streams music directly from mobile devices.
The group also uses a pitch-checking app and AI voice conversion technology to support vocal training and improve audio output after recordings.
"We each felt rhythm differently when dancing," PJ told The Associated Press.
"So when we'd play the same song and dance in front of the mirror, one of us would move faster while another would move slower. To solve this timing issue, we decided to memorise everything together and create our own cues with each other."
"When we performed in France, our fans were cheering so loudly we lost the beat," said Jiseok.
"But we looked at each other and quickly handled the situation – just like we'd practised."
Stage effects and certain musical styles present additional hurdles.
"When a lot of smoke appears, sometimes we temporarily can't see the stage movements in front of us," PJ said.
"Our concentration gets disrupted instantly in those moments."
Despite these challenges, Big Ocean's commitment to accessibility and inclusion has inspired their global fanbase.
Big Ocean's global fanbase, known as PADO, has responded with similar dedication.
"While communicating with PADO, we've heard that they're actually learning Korean sign language for us, or learning various sign languages to communicate with us," Jiseok said.
"When we see how much effort they're putting in, we feel so grateful."
Jiseok credits BTS leader RM with inspiring his musical journey.
He mentioned that RM's donation to his former school – a private institution for deaf and hard-of-hearing students – gave him access to music and dance for the first time.
"Without those learning opportunities, I probably never would have dreamed of becoming a K-pop idol," he said.
"We recently saw Justin Bieber's Instagram post asking for music collaborators, so we sent him a DM," PJ said.