{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Short description|American musician}} {{Infobox person | name = Angela Seo | image = Xiu-xiu angela-seo DSC07560 crop.jpg | caption = Seo playing with Xiu Xiu in Denmark, 2017 | birth_name = Hyunhye Seo | alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Duke University School of Law]]| [[University of California, Berkeley]]}} | occupation = Musician | years_active = 2006–present | organization = [[Mark Ridley-Thomas]] administration | title = Deputy for Public Health | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes <!-- | background = solo_singer --> | genre = {{flatlist| *[[Avant-pop]] *[[Noise music|noise]] *[[experimental music|experimental]] *[[electronic music|electronic]]}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|multi-instrumentalist}} | instrument = {{flatlist| *Vocals *keyboards * harmonium *percussion * drum machine * sampler * vocoder }} | years_active = 2006–present | label = {{flatlist| *[[Polyvinyl Records|Polyvinyl]] *[[Kill Rock Stars]] *[[Bella Union]] }} | current_member_of = {{flat list| * [[Xiu Xiu]] * XXL * Deal$}} | website = {{url|angelaseo.com}} }} }}
'''Hyunhye Seo''', professionally known as '''Angela Seo''', is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist best known for her role in American [[Experimental music|experimental]] band [[Xiu Xiu]].
Seo has contributed to every Xiu Xiu studio project since 2006's ''[[The Air Force (album)|The Air Force]],'' for which she contributed lyrics. She formally joined the band in 2009, and contributed to their next album, 2010's ''[[Dear God, I Hate Myself]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself Review|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13933-dear-god-i-hate-myself/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US|author-last1=Howe|author-first1=Brian|date=2010-02-26}}</ref>
Seo has also played in the bands Deal$ and XXL (Xiu Xiu Larsen) and played on songs by Holy Hum and Blind Cave Salamander.
== Personal life == Seo grew up in Southern California's [[San Fernando Valley]], in the same neighborhood as Xiu Xiu frontperson and lead vocalist [[Jamie Stewart (American musician)|Jamie Stewart]]. Seo's parents were immigrants; she recalls both of them working four to six jobs at once. Seo has said her parents loved music and literature, but had the "[[Education in South Korea|Korean idea]]" of education and a [[Work ethic|hard-work ethic]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Jamie Stewart and Angela Seo (Hyunhye Seo) in Xiu Xiu {{!}} Whatever Makes You Happy, I Will Never Feel Normal (but Love to Diaspora) {{!}} |url=https://www.weiv.co.kr/archives/7146 |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=[weiv]|date=February 19, 2014 }}</ref>
Seo and Stewart lived in [[Durham, North Carolina]], while she attended the [[Duke University School of Law]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Misir |first=Timothy |date=May 25, 2014 |title=Queer Artists to Share Stage in Russian Concerts |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/05/25/queer-artists-to-share-stage-in-russian-concerts-a35774 |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref> Stewart has said that Xiu Xiu had moved to Durham to support Seo's post-graduate studies. Stewart regretted moving to Durham and grew to despise it, as did Seo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Currin |first=Grayson Haver |date=March 14, 2012 |title=The travails of Xiu Xiu leader and reluctant Durham resident Jamie Stewart |url=https://indyweek.com/news/culture/music/travails-xiu-xiu-leader-reluctant-durham-resident-jamie-stewart/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=INDY Week |language=en-us}}</ref> Stewart has frequently called Seo their "best friend".<ref name=":0" />
In addition to being a member of Xiu Xiu, Seo was the Deputy for Public Health of the [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] Office of [[Cannabis]] Management. She worked under the [[Mark Ridley-Thomas]] administration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LA Public Health and Cannabis Management Meeting Summary 6/12/2019 |url=http://lapublichealth.org/sapc/coa/081419/CAODMtgMinutes061219.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Staff |url=https://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/index.php/meet-the-staff/ |website=Mark Ridley-Thomas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004131943/https://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/index.php/meet-the-staff/ |archive-date=2022-10-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Xiu Xiu == In 2006, Seo contributed lyrics to "Bishop, CA" and "Wig Master" off of Xiu Xiu's fifth album [[The Air Force (album)|''The Air Force'']].{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} Also in 2006, Seo took the cover photograph for ''[[Tu mi piaci]].'' In 2008, Seo contributed lyrics to the song "You Are Pregnant You, You Are Dead" on Xiu Xiu's sixth album ''[[Women as Lovers (album)|Women as Lovers]]'', also under her birthname.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}
In May 2009, [[Caralee McElroy]] announced her departure from Xiu Xiu, though no reason was given apart from her membership in Manhattan-based [[Dark wave|darkwave]] band [[Cold Cave]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2009 |title=Caralee McElroy Leaves Xiu Xiu |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/35351-caralee-mcelroy-leaves-xiu-xiu/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caralee McElroy Leaves Xiu Xiu, Jamie Stewart Writes Haikus {{!}} Exclaim! |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/caralee_mcelroy_leaves_xiu_xiu_jamie_stewart_writes_haikus |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=exclaim.ca |language=en-ca}}</ref> With McElroy's absence and the absence of Xiu Xiu double bassist [[Devra Hoff]] who left the year prior, Jamie Stewart and [[Ches Smith]] recruited Seo to join Xiu Xiu in late 2009. After, Xiu Xiu began to work on ''[[Dear God, I Hate Myself]]'', recording in Durham and [[Oakland, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dear God, I Hate Myself, by Xiu Xiu |url=https://xiuxiu.bandcamp.com/album/dear-god-i-hate-myself |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Xiu Xiu |language=en}}</ref> Seo inspired Stewart to shift Xiu Xiu's motifs again, and ''Dear God, I Hate Myself'' included elements of [[chiptune]] and video game-based programming, Xiu Xiu using the [[KORG DS-10]] for the [[Nintendo DS]] to write many of the songs on the album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fallon |first=Patric |date=March 26, 2010 |title=Artist Tips: Xiu Xiu |url=https://xlr8r.com/gear/artist-tips-xiu-xiu/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=XLR8R |language=en-US}}</ref>
The music video for the title track off of 2010's ''Dear God, I Hate Myself'' received polarizing response online in 2010. The video consists of Seo forcing her fingers down her throat, vomiting throughout the entire video. This music video eventually climaxes as she vomits on Stewart, who has been eating a large Escazu [[chocolate bar]] and dancing throughout the entire video. Seo and Stewart have defended the video, stating that the video illustrates the [[eating disorder]] subject of the song in an extreme fashion.<ref name=":0" />
Seo's vocals debuted on 2012's [[Always (Xiu Xiu album)|''Always'']], with her vocals being featured prominently on "Honey Suckle".<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2012 |title=Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart Breaks Down Dark 'Always' |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/02/xiu-xius-jamie-stewart-breaks-down-dark-always/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=SPIN |language=en-US}}</ref> She continued to contribute to [[Angel Guts: Red Classroom (album)|''Angel Guts: Red Classroom'']] and played a series of live shows with Stewart and Shayna Dunkelman covering [[Soundtrack from Twin Peaks|the soundtrack]] from ''[[Twin Peaks]]''. These covers were later rerecorded into a [[Record Store Day]] release [[Plays the Music of Twin Peaks|''Plays The Music Of Twin Peaks'']].
Seo starred in the music video for the title track of 2017's ''[[Forget (Xiu Xiu album)|Forget]].'' In the music video, she portrays a stage musician playing the keyboard as a [[heckler]] yells sarcastic comments and throws banana peels at her.<ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – Forget [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=September 21, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83EjtF5N5Hg |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref> Seo also directed the music video for "Wondering".<ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – Wondering [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=March 9, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH9PKIZEoqU |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref> She directed the music videos for "Scisssssssors", "Pumpkin Attack On Mommy and Daddy" and "It Comes Out As A Joke" for 2019's ''[[Girl with Basket of Fruit]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – Pumpkin Attack on Mommy and Daddy [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=January 15, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEf9pmrRo9E |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – It Comes Out as a Joke [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=April 5, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI2-6U1_HzA |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – Scisssssssors [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=December 6, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkK6GT4pkbU |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref> Seo also contributes vocals on the album, and co-produced the entire album alongside [[Greg Saunier]] of [[Deerhoof]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xiu Xiu – Girl With Basket of Fruit – Album review |url=https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/xiu-xiu-girl-with-basket-of-fruit/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=Loud And Quiet |language=en-US}}</ref>
Seo contributes vocals to "Fuzz Gong Fight" from 2021's ''[[Oh No (Xiu Xiu album)|Oh No]]'', and directed and starred in the music videos for "A Bottle Of Rum", "Rumpus Room" and "Sad Mezcalita".<ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – A Bottle of Rum [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=January 27, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yialek4fUUg |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – Rumpus Room [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=March 4, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jspV_JajAhk |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Xiu Xiu – Sad Mezcalita [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] | date=March 26, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpjvpFqof2w |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref>
== Other works == Seo's debut studio album is ''Strands,'' a two-sided album released on cassette and digitally on [[Lawrence English]]'s [[Room40]] record label on June 11, 2021. Side one of ''Strands'' is [[dark ambient]] music, while side two is Seo performing unaccompanied piano.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Joshua Minsoo |date=June 21, 2021 |title=Hyunhye Seo of Xiu Xiu makes her cryptic solo debut with Strands |url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/hyunhye-seo-of-xiu-xiu-makes-her-cryptic-solo-debut-with-strands/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Strands, by Hyunhye Seo |url=https://room40.bandcamp.com/album/strands |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Room40 |language=en}}</ref> ''Strands'' was recorded by Jamie Stewart at Xiu Xiu's NURSE [[home studio]] and produced by Lawrence English.<ref name=":2" />
== Discography == {{See|Xiu Xiu discography}} '''Solo'''
* ''Strands'' (2021) * ''Eel'' (2023)
'''As part of [[Xiu Xiu]]'''
* ''[[Dear God, I Hate Myself]]'' (2010) * ''[[Always (Xiu Xiu album)|Always]]'' (2012) * ''[[Angel Guts: Red Classroom (album)|Angel Guts: Red Classroom]] (2014)'' * ''[[Plays the Music of Twin Peaks]] (2016)'' * ''[[Forget (Xiu Xiu album)|Forget]]'' (2017) * ''[[Girl with Basket of Fruit]]'' (2019) * ''[[Oh No (Xiu Xiu album)|Oh No]]'' (2021) * ''[[Ignore Grief]]'' (2023) * ''[[13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips]]'' (2024) '''As part of XXL (Xiu Xiu Larsen)'''
* ''Düde'' (2012) * ''Puff O'Gigio'' (2018)
== References == <references />{{Xiu Xiu}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seo, Angela}} [[Category:American musicians]] [[Category:Experimental musicians]] [[Category:Duke University School of Law alumni]] [[Category:American women singers]] [[Category:American songwriters]] [[Category:American women songwriters]] [[Category:American singer-songwriters]] [[Category:American musicians of Korean descent]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]] [[Category:Xiu Xiu members]]