Salamanda (band)

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Salamanda is a South Korean leftfield ambient duo composed of Uman Therma and Yetsuby who met in 2018.

Contents

Background

Jimin Sung and Yejin Jang are known professionally as Uman Therma and Yetsuby respectively. As part of the Salamanda duo, Sung uses the psuedonym Sala while Jang uses the psuedonym Manda.

Yetsuby started playing piano at 4 years old and studied composition at university. Uman Therma did not have any musical education. The two met in 2018 and began working together as Salamanda. [1] Yetsuby is based out of Seoul and Uman Therma is based out of Gyeonggi. [2] Manda grew up in a Christian family. [3]

Salamanda draws inspiration from the spirits in Studio Ghibli animations and use field recordings throughout their music. [4] They also draw inspiration from old video games and NASA space videos. [2]

In 2020, they released their first EP under the record label Tonal Unity. At the time, both of them lived in Mullae-dong, a very industrial neighborhood, which influenced the sound of the EP. [5]

In 2022, Salamanda released their album ashbalkum, which was produced by Human Pitch. The title of the album is a Korean phrase that means reality is a dream. The album was inspired by Uman's artwork of a bathtub. [1]

Sala cites Japanese artist WaqWaq Kingdom's album Shinsekai as a major inspiration. Manda cites 7th Issue by K-Pop artist Seo Taiji as a major inspiration. [3]

Ashbalkum was nominated for best electronic album in the 20th Korean Music Awards. [6]

Salamanda was featured on a compilation album produced by the Ilmin Museum of Art. [7]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended Plays

Singles

Guest appearances

Compilation appearances

References

  1. 1 2 Lawson, Michael (4 July 2022). "Get To Know: Salamanda". DJ Magazine . Thrust Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 Kim, Michelle Hyun (15 February 2022). "Salamanda create imagined worlds that feel both familiar and strange". Crack Magazine . Crack Industries Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 Doherty, Kelly (7 July 2022). "Permanent Rotation: Salamanda". The Vinyl Factory . The Vinyl Factory Limited. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  4. Kim, Na-rang (29 August 2022). "주목받는 일렉트로닉 듀오, 살라만다" [Salamanda, an electronic duo that attracts attention]. Vogue Korea (in Korean). Doosan Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  5. Hwang, Seonwoong (10 December 2019). "Electric Youth #2 Salamanda". Visla Magazine (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  6. "Salamanda(살라만다) [ashbalkum]". Korean Music Awards (in Korean). 5 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. Yang, Hyeong-mo (25 March 2020). "미술관이 음반 제작에 나선 까닭은? 일민미술관 컴필레이션 앨범 출시" [Why did the art museum start producing albums? Ilmin Museum of Art compilation album released]. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). Dong-a Ilbo, Co. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  8. Middleton, Ryan (30 September 2021). "Album Liner Notes Track-By-Track Breakdown: Salamanda – Sphere". Magnetic Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  9. Sherburne, Philip (9 June 2022). "Albums: Ashbalkum - Salamanda". Pitchfork . Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  10. Joyce, Colin (9 January 2024). "Albums: In Parallel - Salamanda". Pitchfork . Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  11. Jo, Ji-Hwan (22 November 2019). "Salamanda, 『Our Lair』". Tonplein (in Korean). Archived from the original on 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  12. Hwang, Seonwoong (1 May 2020). "로컬 전자음악 그룹 Salamanda의 새 EP, [Glass Cage]" [Local electronic music group Salamanda's new EP, [Glass Cage]]. Visla Magazine (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.