Who Is The Korean Artist That Unexpectedly Entered UK Official Singles Chart Top 15?
In the world of Korean music, it’s not uncommon for fans to see K-Pop idols top international charts. But have you ever heard of a South Korean DJ and record producer not only making waves among the Korean youth but also unexpectedly climbing the UK Official Singles Chart? Meet Peggy Gou, the artist behind the hit song “(It Goes Like) Nanana,” which currently sits at #14 on the UK chart, #8 on the Irish Singles Chart, and an impressive #6 on the New Zealand Hot Singles.
Born Kim Minji on July 1991 in Incheon, Peggy Gou has always had an artistic flair. Beginning classical piano lessons at age 8, she moved to London to study English and fashion at the London College of Fashion. Her passion for music was reignited when she was taught to DJ in 2009 by a friend from Korea.
Her first track, “Hungboo,” completed in 2014, signaled her entry into the world of music production. She then went on to make her recording debut in 2016 on Radio Slave‘s Rekids label with The Art of War Part 1, featuring a remix from Galcher Lustwerk.
Peggy is not just a star behind the deck, but she also has a voice to match. Her EP Once, released in 2018, was the first time she sang on a record. Gou’s song “It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)” bagged Best Track at the AIM Independent Music Awards in the same year, even making its way into EA Sports‘ “FIFA 19” soundtrack album.
No stranger to accolades, in 2019, Forbes named Gou as one of the “Asian leaders, pioneers, and entrepreneurs under age 30.” She then launched her own fashion label KIRIN (which means “giraffe” in Korean), and her independent record label, Gudu Records. She also made her first Billboard chart appearance that year with DJ-Kicks: Peggy Gou, the 69th installment of !K7’s DJ-Kicks mix compilation.
But let’s circle back to her recent chart-topper, “(It Goes Like) Nanana.” With over 774,000 views on YouTube, this track is all about capturing the indescribable joy of being surrounded by friends and loved ones. “There’s a feeling we all know but is hard to describe, that feeling of love, warmth, and excitement when you’re surrounded by friends and loved ones, and the energy speaks for itself,” as Peggy Gou put it in a recent press release.
It’s difficult to put into words but to me it goes ‘nanana!’
— Peggy Gou
From her beginnings as a fashion student in London to becoming a force to be reckoned with in the global music scene, Peggy Gou has truly made a name for herself. With her unique blend of electronic beats and a voice that captures the listener’s heart, she continues to redefine what it means to be a South Korean artist in the global music industry.
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