New Duo “Dodri” Debuts on the 21st, Pioneering a Genre That Merges Traditional Korean Music with K-Pop

The innovative duo “Dodri,” formed by a professional in traditional Korean music and one in Korean dance, will make their official debut on the 21st by integrating traditional music into K-Pop. Under I-NIT Entertainment, a subsidiary of JYP Entertainment, Dodri aims to explore the “cross-over pop” genre centered on the fusion of traditional Korean music and K-Pop in order to open up markets both domestically and internationally.

Dodri is a female duo composed of Na Young-ju, born in 2001 and specializing in pansori, and Lee Song-hyun, born in 2004 and specializing in Korean dance. Last year, the two members caught the attention of viewers by finishing in 5th and 4th place respectively on KBS’s audition program “The Dandara,” which concluded at that time. Na Young-ju introduced herself as a “mutant from a family where three generations have dedicated themselves to traditional Korean music” and performed a stage that incorporated pansori singing techniques and ogumu instrumentation into BABYMONSTER’s “SHEESH.” Lee Song-hyun received praise for her performance of Kim Su-cheol’s “A Single Unbloomed Flower,” which combined her strong vocal skills with movements from Korean dance.

The group name “Dodri” is a combination of the Dodri rhythm in traditional Korean music and the English word “free,” reflecting their ambition to transcend genre boundaries and reach the world. Their debut single, “It Was All a Dream,” released on the 21st, includes two tracks: the title track of the same name and “Bon.”

The title track “It Was All a Dream” features a pop melody combined with singing styles from traditional Korean music and choreography that incorporates elements of Korean dance. While it includes a Korean-style expression like “Please leave me behind as you go,” its sound is based on modern pop with a guitar focus, expressing feelings of longing for someone who passed by like a dream. The included track “Bon” fuses cinematic pop sounds with traditional Korean musical elements to convey a dual meaning related to Dodri’s origins and birth.

The choreography also blends the line-like movements of Korean dance with modern movements, including choreography that makes use of the long, flowing skirts used in Korean dance. Lee Song-hyun explained, “I worked hard to create choreography that feels Korean yet does not lean too heavily on tradition.”

Na Young-ju said, “I realized that pansori alone could not showcase a new genre, so I learned popular music vocals to find a balance between traditional Korean music and more mainstream singing styles. Although learning new vocal techniques was difficult, I found the desired feel.” She mentioned that when she first expressed her intention to pursue a cross-over genre, she faced opposition from her family, but now she seeks advice from her mother while maintaining Korean musical elements.

During the album production process, the two members complemented each other’s weaknesses. Lee Song-hyun said, “When I self-studied traditional Korean music on YouTube, my range of sounds was limited, but after learning pansori from Na Young-ju, my capabilities expanded. I learned everything from bending techniques to producing harmonies.” Na Young-ju responded by saying, “I had no experience in Korean dance and struggled to maintain proper foot angles and balance, but Song-hyun helped me establish solid fundamentals, allowing me to improve.”

Dodri expressed confidence that they can present a genre that feels fresh to the public and stated their ambition to become artists who resonate with audiences not only in Korea but also overseas through music that incorporates Korean elements. Lee Song-hyun added, “Going forward, we will continue to deliver music that is both popular and fresh, aiming to be artists who remain beloved for a long time.”