Korean-American duo Bird x Butterfly have released their debut album Origami Hotel.
Made up of members Frances Kang and Paul Kim, the album is a beautiful blend of cinematic indie-pop and the intimacy only singer-songwriters can create, in order to tell a deeply personal journey through loss, love, and the beautiful nature of the human experience.
The musical chemistry between Kang and Kim is palpable on this album, managing to sound both simple and stripped-back but also incredibly rich through the use of orchestral instruments, warm piano, simple percussion, and the way the duo’s voices mix with each other.
“We are very lucky to have made it here as both a musical duo and partners in life,” say Kang and Kim. “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we got here, what we’ve been through and what we’re still going through, while writing this album.”
Despite its journey through different themes — such as the duo’s wedding day, the folding of paper cranes, temptation and pressure, young summer love, and fear and vulnerability — Origami Hotel feels very consistent, and remains gentle throughout. The album is well-suited to being a summer release, feeling fresh and hopeful even in its sadder moments.
