'First sellout in Korea': HONNE returns for 10th anniversary at classical music hall

"Korea was the first country where a HONNE show sold out. On top of that, it's a place with a special emotional weight for us — it gave us the once-in-a-lifetime experience of 'ttechang,'" said James Hatcher.

For British alternative pop duo HONNE, Korea holds a particular place. The country has been present at every turning point in their global career.

HONNE lead vocalist Andy Clutterbuck looked back on the journey, saying that when the duo first started making music in London 10 years ago, he never imagined they would find an audience overseas.

Now marking their 10th anniversary, HONNE returned to Korea ahead of their upcoming concerts. On Tuesday, at a press listening party and news conference held at Tilt in Dongyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their 10th-anniversary compilation album "HONNE - 10," the duo reflected on a decade of music-making and expressed deep affection for their Korean fans.

Clutterbuck recalled how Korean fans had constantly left comments on social media pleading for a visit, and said that outpouring of support gave them the courage to pursue their first Korean concert.

Memories of that first show — at YES24 Live Hall — remain vivid. Hatcher said he still cannot forget the moment the lyrics appeared on screen and the venue transformed into what felt like a giant noraebang, with the crowd's overwhelming mass sing-along washing over them.

This time, the duo is setting aside the electronic sounds and heading to a classical music hall. The most intriguing aspect of HONNE's Korea visit is their choice of venue.

HONNE will perform four shows over three days — Thursday through Saturday — at Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. A Saturday afternoon showing was added due to overwhelming ticket demand, bringing the total to four performances. All shows are already sold out.

HONNE's music instinctively calls to mind sleek, dreamy synthesizer sounds and polished electronic beats. Yet for their 10th-anniversary stage, the duo chose Lotte Concert Hall — a dedicated classical music venue.

Renowned as one of Korea's premier classical music destinations, the hall features vineyard-style seating that wraps around the stage and rich natural reverberation. Those same qualities have also earned it a reputation as an ideal space for minimal acoustic sound.

Concert promoter Private Curve said that when deciding on a venue, factors such as capacity, location, condition and scheduling are typically weighed, but HONNE expressed a particular preference for Lotte Concert Hall's calm atmosphere over other options.

The venue choice also aligns with the musical direction of the 10th-anniversary compilation album "HONNE - 10." The album reimagines 12 of the duo's signature tracks in acoustic arrangements — including their debut single "Warm On A Cold Night," which is also widely known in Korea as the soundtrack to a mattress brand advertisement.

Hatcher said the duo had received a flood of personal messages from fans asking whether they could send an acoustic version to use at their weddings, and that sometimes they would send rough, unmixed versions. "That's what made us decide to properly make an acoustic album," he said.

Clutterbuck added that fan reactions to acoustic sessions at live shows had always been immediately positive. "You'll feel a warmth and intimacy that's different from our usual big sound," he said.

Narrowing the tracklist down to 12 songs was no easy task. "It was genuinely difficult," Clutterbuck said, explaining that they chose songs the members loved and tracks tied to special experiences. Of the tracks included, each member named a personal favorite — Clutterbuck picked "Good Together" and Hatcher chose "Warm On A Cold Night."

Any discussion of HONNE's musical world would be incomplete without their collaborations with K-pop artists.

Particularly significant was their work producing "seoul," a solo track by RM, the leader of BTS — an experience that left a deep creative impression.

Hatcher admitted that early in the collaboration, he had no idea BTS was such a massive global act. The connection began when RM shouted out HONNE's music on Twitter, now known as X. The two sides first met backstage at a Wembley show in London, then got talking again backstage at a Seoul concert, and the conversation naturally led to working on a song together. "Even now, it feels almost unbelievable — it was a wonderful experience," Hatcher said.

As they step into their 10th year, the duo already has a K-pop partner in mind. HONNE named NewJeans — who have been on an extended hiatus — as the act they have their eye on.

Hatcher said that when he heard NewJeans' music, he felt their distinctive sonic atmosphere and melodic sensibility matched what HONNE pursues. "If the opportunity comes, I think we could make something really special together," he said.

Over the past decade, HONNE has accumulated more than 3 billion streams, cementing their place as trendsetters in the global pop scene. Now, having come through those years, they have chosen to ease off — setting aside elaborate electronic instruments to fill a space with only piano, voice and the air of a classical hall. One member has since become a father, and the pace of life has shifted.

Clutterbuck said there had been changes in their personal lives and that things had been fairly busy. Once the 10th-anniversary Korea tour wraps up, he said, the duo plans to head straight back into the studio to focus on writing entirely new material.