Han Seok-hyun (Korean: 한석현; born February 6, 1987), known professionally as Raiden, is a South Korean DJ and record producer signed under SM Entertainment.
Life and career
1987–2018: Early life, education, and career beginnings
Han Seok-hyun bought a guitar when he was still in middle school. Since he liked music, he decided to pursue it as his career and play with the guitar. Han's parents disapproved of the idea of pursuing it but gave permission when he became a high school student. During a high school festival, he established a band and presented on stage. Because there was no band club at Sehwa High School where he graduated, he made one with his senior students and performed on stage.[1]
In an interview with the Korea Times, Raiden wanted to study in Japan since he was a child; hence he got into Shobi University in 2005 studying guitar while being a rocker and lived there for six years. In 2011, he returned to South Korea and started his band, but realized that living there while being a rocker was hard. Through a high school colleague who studied music with Han, he learned to use turntables and altered his career to a DJ. He revealed that he got "loss in the beginning" as he did not professionally learn to play a turntable and just listened to music from numerous DJs. In three months, he learned to handle the turntable at the Double Eight Club in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, embarking on his music festival debut and as the main DJ at the Ultra Music Festival (UMF) in 2013.[2]
The single "Heart of Steel", inspired by Raiden's 2014 European tour while watching the sunrise in Spain, was released after two years of transformation from progressive house to future bass.[3] Formerly, the song debuted at Ultra Korea 2015 and was re-released as Raiden's new song on January 13, 2017, featuring Bright Lights.[4]
On January 26, 2018, Raiden released collaboration single with Girls' Generation's Yuri titled "Always Find You" through SM Station.[5][6]
In February 2018, Raiden performed as Korea's representative DJ and producer on the closing ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.[7]
In March 2018, Raiden, along with Yuri, was confirmed to perform "Always Find You" on the main stage at Ultra Miami 2018 held in Miami, Florida, USA on March 23.[8]
2019–present: Signing with SM Entertainment, Love Right Back
On June 14, 2019, Raiden, along with Thomas Gold, released a progressive house single, "Someone New", delivering a "mint combination of soulful vocals, bouncy basslines, and uplifting melodies".[9] Upon signing a contract with SM Entertainment, he released his new single, "The Only", on August 2, 2019.[10] It was described as an electronic pop song produced by himself, featuring Red Velvet member Irene.[11]
On May 12, 2020, Raiden's bright synth-pop, "Yours", was released along with EXO member, Chanyeol featuring Lee Hi and Changmo.[12] Raiden says the song's release was relevant in the current time of COVID-19 concerns and social distancing; therefore, he "wanted to present the feeling of love and care for each other" as a message.[13] Through SM Station, a pop genre song, "Think About Me", the collaboration single with Girls' Generation member, Hyo featuring Coogie, was released on October 30.[14] The music video featured the three artists attending the Protocol Labelnight performance during the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) in the Netherlands in 2019.[15]DJ Mag indexed Raiden on its DJ Mag Top 100 DJs: The Next 50 list in 2019 in which 50 artists who failed to place on the main DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll were included, ranking in the 44th place and 144th overall.[16]
On January 1, 2021, Raiden and other SM Entertainment artists performed at the SMTOWN Live Culture Humanity concert.[17] Along with Ginjo and Imlay, he presented EDM performances with a remix setlist of songs by various SM artists as they completed the stage of a "true" music festival.[18] "Runner" was composed for the League of Legends 2021 and T1's theme song, also for the team's entry song on the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK).[19] The single with a combination of rock, trap, and EDM genres was released on January 26, with the production of Raiden, EXO's Baekhyun, and Changmo.[20] On July 6, "In Ruin", an alternative rock genre song composed by Raiden for the original soundtrack of You Are My Spring, sung by American singer-songwriter Nino Lucarelli was released.[21]
On October 11, Raiden released his first EP, Love Right Back, which contains five tracks including the lead single of the same name.[22]
On October 27, 2023, Raiden featuring singer-songwriter and producer August Rigo released single, "Take Me Back", through Protocol Recordings.[23]
Discography
Extended plays
List of extended plays, showing selected details and selected chart positions
^"Love Right Back" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 83 on the component Download Chart.[28]
^"Home" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 141 on the component Download Chart.[29]
References
^Jung, Joon-hwa (April 13, 2018). [단독인터뷰①] 레이든 "평창올림픽 디제잉...EDM 알리는 계기였길" [[Single Interview ①] Raiden "DJing at the Pyeongchang Olympics...I hope the EDM Announcement was a Trigger"]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
^Jang, Woo-chul, ed. (April 28, 2017). 프로토콜 레코딩스 + 디제이 레이든 [Protocol Recordings + DJ Raiden]. GQ Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
^Yoon, Joong-hyun (January 13, 2017). 국내 TOP DJ 레이든, 신곡 '하트 오브 스틸' 정식 발매 [Top Korean DJ Raiden, To Officially Release New Song 'Heart of Steel']. E News Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
^Lee, Deok-haeng (July 25, 2019). 레이든, SM과 전속계약→8월 2일 싱글 'The Only' 공개…아이린 피처링 참여 [Raiden, Signs an Exclusive Contract with SM→To Release Single 'The Only' on August 2…Featuring Irene Participation]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Lee, Min-ji (July 25, 2019). 레이든, SM과 전속계약…8월2일 새 싱글 공개(Ft.아이린) [Raiden, Has an Exclusive contract with SM...New Single to be Release on August 2 (Ft. Irene)]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Jeong, Ga-young (October 28, 2020). 레이든·HYO(효연), 30일 싱글 'Think About Me' 공개 [Raiden·HYO (Hyoyeon), To Release Single 'Think About Me' on the 30th]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Choi, Jung-ah (October 30, 2020). 레이든 X HYO(효연) 콜라보, 'Think About Me' 오늘(30일) 공개 [Raiden X HYO (Hyoyeon) Collaboration, 'Think About Me' Today (30th)]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Park, Jung-sun (January 2, 2021). 'SMTOWN LIVE', 음악으로 전한 희망…전 세계 186개국·총 3583만 스트리밍 ['SMTOWN LIVE', The Hope Delivered by Music…186 Countries Worldwide·A Total of 35.83 Million Streams]. Dailian (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Yong, Won-jung (January 2, 2021). SM타운 라이브, 새해 첫날 전세계 안방점령...186개국·3583만 스트리밍 [SMTOWN Live, Occupying Home Screens Around the World on New Year's Day...186 Countries·35.83 Million Streaming]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Mo, Kyung-min (January 19, 2021). T1 엑소 백현, 래퍼 창모와 함께한 테마곡 '러너' 티저 공개 [T1 EXO Baekhyun, Rapper Changmo Releases the Teaser for the Theme Song 'Runner']. Fomos (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Kim, Byung-ho (January 19, 2021). 백현, 창모 참여한 T1 테마곡 'Runner' 티저 공개 [Baekhyun, Changmo Participated in T1 Theme Song 'Runner' Teaser Release]. Inven (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Kim, Ye-na (July 6, 2021). 레이든, '너는 나의 봄' OST 참여…오늘(6일) 공개 [Raiden, Joins the OST for 'You Are My Spring'…Released Today (6th)]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^2021년 42주차 Download Chart [2021, Week 42 Download Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. October 10–16, 2021. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
^2021년 46주차 Download Chart [2021, Week 46 Download Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. November 7–13, 2021. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
^Jung, Sang-rae (January 13, 2017). 국내 TOP DJ '레이든(Raiden)'의 화려한 세계 무대 데뷔! [Korean TOP DJ 'Raiden' Splendid World Stage Debut!]. Gukje News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Park, Young-jin (October 23, 2017). 레이든, 플래시핑거 이어 암스테르담 댄스 이벤트 초청! 심포니 리믹스 음원 무료 공개 [Raiden, Flash Finger Invitation to Amsterdam Dance Event! Symphony Remix Music Free Release]. Sports Q (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^앨범 정보 - Punjo [Album Information - Punjo] (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (May 7, 2020). 엑소 찬열XDJ 레이든, 12일 콜라보 싱글 'Yours' 발매 [EXO's Chanyeol X DJ Raiden, To Release a Collaboration Single 'Yours' on the 12th]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Choi, Hyun-jung (April 28, 2017). 레이든X플로리안 피카소 신곡 '하나비' 28일 공개 [Raiden X Florian Picasso's New Song 'Hanabi' will be Released on the 28th]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Oh, Sang-won (January 16, 2018). 파퓰러사이언스 X DJ레이든, 사이버 펑크 컨셉 콜라보레이션 진행 [Popular Science X DJ Raiden, Collaborates on Cyberpunk Concept]. Munhwa News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Lee, Bok-jin (March 5, 2018). DJ 레이든, 덥비전과 함께 한 신곡 '킵 마이 라이트 온' 공개 [DJ Raiden, To Release a New Song 'Keep My Light On' with DubVision]. Segye Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Lee, Ji-seok (July 6, 2018). DJ 레이든, 페데 르 그랑과 콜라보 음원 및 알렌 워커 리믹스 트랙 발표 [DJ Raiden, Releases Collaboration Remix Tracks with Fedde Le Grand and Allen Walker]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^Jeong, Gayoung (October 28, 2020). 레이든·HYO(효연), 30일 싱글 'Think About Me' 공개 [Raiden·HYO (Hyoyeon), To Release 'Think About Me' Single on the 30th]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
^Kang, Bo-ra (July 6, 2021). 레이든, '너는 나의 봄' OST 'In ruin' 오늘(6일) 발매 [Raiden, 'You Are My Spring' OST 'In ruin' to be Released Today (6th)]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
^ 나는 망돌이다 [I am a Failed Idol Singer]. Idol: The Coup. Episode 1 (in Korean). JTBC.
^Park, Dong-sun (January 1, 2021). '글로벌 대중과 함께 하는 SM팝 호흡' SMTOWN LIVE-컬쳐휴머니티 ['SM-Pop Breathing with the Global Public' SMTOWN LIVE-Culture Humanity]. RPM9 (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.