Earlier this March, South Korean rock band Rolling Quartz released the Red Hot [매워] music video on YouTube. The energetic rocker is a collaboration with acclaimed Korean composer Yoon Il-sang (Korean: 윤일상).
In regards to Yoon Il-sang, he emerged in South Korean popular music in the mid 1980s and has won numerous awards for hit songs. Now, his collaboration with Rolling Quartz adds a surprisingly fortunate turn for the young rock band. The banger track, Red Hot [매워], adds K-pop flavour to their existing rock foundation, featuring the band’s versatility and willingness to expand boundaries. On the song, they weave together an audio interpretation of hot foods. It’s like, imagine if Kimchi (a Korean side dish of fermented vegetables seasoned with spices) were given a bassline with a guitar riff!
Moreover, the track draws on Rolling Quartz’s hard-rock core while fusing Riot Grrrl energy with punk-rock attitude. It starts with a groovy bass backbone by Arem, setting up a heavy rock riff. Guitarists Iree and Choi Hyunjung join in with explosive, hard-rock style, while singer Ja Young’s vocals soar with raw emotion and bubbly energy. For me, however, it’s Yeong Eun’s blazing drumbeats that remind me of the ’90s punk era.
Rolling With “Red Hot” Heat
On top of that, there is a playful, energetic spirit continuing in the Red Hot [매워] music video. We see the Korean ladies jamming in a dingy basement. During a break, they chow down on a variety of spicy treats. An overindulgence in these hot foods eventually leads to an urgent need to use the restroom! Ultimately, the sweltering heat becomes too much, and they collapse one by one. This humorous narrative reminds us fans that these K-rock rockstars don’t take themselves too seriously and are clearly having fun.
This sense of fun and creativity also extends to their recent schedule. Which is the release of this song marks the third in a series of new tracks that have dropped about every month since the end of last year. They kicked off the new year with the headbanging, hard rock Masquerade [매스커레이드], followed by February’s lovely ballad Romantist [로맨티스트]. Soon, European fans will get to experience these songs live when Rolling Quartz tours abroad in the next couple of months.
EUROPE TOUR 2026 (Part 1)
- April 8 – Warsaw, Proxima
- April 10 – Munich, Backstage Halle
- April 12 – Cologne, CBE
- April 15 – Amsterdam, P60
- April 17 – Paris, Café de la Danse
- April 19 – London, The Garage
EUROPE TOUR 2026 (Part 2)
- May 21 – Athens, Arch Club Live Stage
- May 23 – Animefest CZ, Výstaviště Brno
- May 24 – Genève, Alhambra
In the meantime, stream this song and more of Rolling Quartz’s music on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. To sum it all up, we want to highlight how this quintet is another exceptional entry from our story, The Rock Bands of Asia You Should Be Listening To. If you’re into high-octane rock with a side of sensuality like BAND-MAID and QWER, then crank up Rolling Quartz songs as well in your daily playlist.
About Rolling Quartz
A South Korean all-female rock band formed in Seoul in 2019. They are known for their high-energy performances while blending hard rock, alternative rock, glam metal, and other genres. They gained early online attention with exciting rock covers during the pandemic. The band officially debuted in December 2020 with their single Blaze—a song featuring powerful vocals and intense musicianship. That video earned over one million views on YouTube earning them a wide fanbase.
Rolling Quartz members are Ja Young (vocalist), Iree (guitarist), Choi Hyunjung (guitarist), Arem (bassist), and Yeong Eun (drummer). Together, they have become standouts in Korean rock and represents a new wave of all-female bands outside mainstream K-pop. They are described as bringing youthful energy to rock music while maintaining a glamorous K-pop look. Also, they have performed on Korean music shows and toured North America and Europe, earning a dedicated following in South Korea and globally. Many praise their energetic, cool image, and fun stage presence.
