Thornapple has three members: bassist Shim Jaehyun, guitarist and vocalist Yoon Sunghyun, and drummer Bang Joseph. The band debuted on December 24, 2009, with its original band name Gasisagwa, which is Thornapple in English. They got the inspiration from Murakami Ryu’s novel Coin Locker Babies where a man sprays a hallucinogen called datura, also called thornapple, it the last scene.

 

The members got good vibes from the term. They also thought that an apple is a metaphor of free will, morality, and knowledge in the history of music. Yoon mentioned in a PAPER interview, “Although I am not a Christian, I think the apple in the Adam and Eve story represents something that humans are destined to eat. That is, the apple is compared to a life, which is the destiny of all humanity, and Thornapple means a painful life.” The name of the band includes a profound philosophy.

 

In addition to the band’s name, its songs and lyrics have very deep philosophical meanings. Thornapple describes psychedelic atmospheres and usually writes lyrics about life, existence, and loneliness rather than fresh feelings of love. It may be difficult to interpret these musical factors when the audience casually listens to the songs. However, when ruminating upon the lyrics, the listeners can admire the literary beauty and sympathize with their stories.

 

As well as the epic-like lyrics, the melody is dreamlike and has a damp and blue mood. Most of its songs are very unique and even possess a kind of beautiful corruption. The melody itself is well-organized, making audiences feel catharsis at the climax. The attractive vocals add to the characteristic melodies and make the songs splendid and colorful. Yoon, who is the vocalist and also the writer for Thornapple, has an amazing vocal range and a beautiful voice that sends shivers down the listener’s spine. His voice is so appealing that his critical lyrics are well conveyed to the audience.

 

The drum beat and bass guitar are balanced with vocal sounds, making a perfect harmony and touching the listeners’ hearts. In particular, in the “Livid Spring” from the second album, the strong beat of the drums and the acoustic sounds of the bass guitar are so elegantly deployed, invoking catharsis within the listeners. Lyrics, melody, vocals, and instruments are wellorganized to deliver their messages to the public.