Mark Webber, Guitarist of British Britpop Band Pulp Formed in 1978
Written Interview Ahead of First Visit to Korea
Pulp to Perform at Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival on August 2
Mark Webber, the guitarist of the British Britpop band Pulp, will meet Korean fans for the first time at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival stage on August 2. This will be the first time Pulp, formed in 1978, has performed in Korea.
In a written interview with Asia Economy on July 29, Webber said, "This is an opportunity we've been waiting for a very long time," adding, "I'm really looking forward to seeing how we will be received in Korea."
Pulp officially disbanded in 2002, but held reunion tours in 2011 and 2023, and released their new studio album 'MORE' in June. This is their first new album in 24 years since 'We Love Life' in 2001. Webber explained, "After the enthusiastic response to our 2023 shows, it naturally led to the conversation, 'How about making music together again?'" He added that although there were doubts about songwriting after such a long hiatus, once they started working, he rediscovered the joy of creating music.
The new album 'MORE' has been praised for maintaining Pulp's distinctive sound while showing greater maturity. Webber said, "We didn't intentionally try to make different music," and added, "The fact that we are at a different point in our lives is reflected in the music." He continued, "In the past, the band was everything to us, but now the insights we've gained from our individual lives naturally flow into our music."
The album was produced by James Ford, who has worked with Arctic Monkeys and Foals. Webber revealed, "In the past, recording an album took a long time, but this time we were able to finish it in just three weeks." Among the tracks, he picked 'Slow Jam' as his personal favorite, saying, "The spontaneous flow of the song makes performing it on stage even more enjoyable."
Pulp is expected to perform their signature songs such as 'Common People' and 'Disco 2000', as well as tracks from the new album, at Pentaport. Webber said, "For audiences who are encountering Pulp's music for the first time, I hope we can show what kind of emotions we are sharing through our music now."
Regarding the driving force behind his creativity, he said, "Encountering new instruments or equipment can often be the starting point for creating," adding, "I love the period when everything exists only as a possibility. In that uncertainty and experimentation, those unexpected moments bring the greatest joy in creating."
When asked about K-pop, which is gaining popularity worldwide, he said, "I'm not very familiar with it yet." He added, "It's a world I have yet to explore," and expressed hope that this visit to Korea would be an opportunity to experience Korean music firsthand. He continued, "Pulp doesn't collaborate very often, but at this point, nothing would be surprising," and added, "Something interesting might happen at Pentaport."
Throughout their career, Pulp has valued experimentation and a non-mainstream sensibility. Webber said, "We've always tried to stay true to the present moment," and explained, "No matter what other bands are doing, if we create our sound in our own way, Pulp's unique music will naturally emerge."
Regarding the possibility of collaborating with Korean artists, he said, "In the past, we didn't collaborate very often, but at this point, nothing would be surprising," and added, "Something interesting might happen at Pentaport."
Webber, a fan of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, also expressed his affection for player Son Heungmin. "I wanted to invite him to the show, but coincidentally, there is a friendly match scheduled in Seoul the next day," he said, adding, "If possible, I would like to go see that match as well."
Pulp left a strong mark on British pop music history with their 1995 album 'Different Class.' Webber recalled that this album was "the first work I officially participated in recording, and working with the legendary producer Chris Thomas still remains a special memory." As for his favorite song, he picked 'The Fear,' the opening track of the 1998 album 'This is Hardcore.' He said, "The texture of the sound is vivid, and I'm still proud of the raw resonance of the guitar."
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