The noise pop project of Yoodoo Park, GRMLN incorporates the sunny, easygoing feel of his Southern Californian upbringing with nostalgia for his Japanese roots. Choosing the name GRMLN to highlight this feeling of disconnection, Park began writing and recording songs in 2010, fitting in their creation between surfing and attending the University of California Santa Cruz. His debut EP, the dreamy Explore, arrived in October of 2012; by the time he released his first full-length, Empire, in June 2013, Park had retooled GRMLN to accommodate a full-band lineup (which included his brother Tae San Park on bass and drummer Keith Frerichs), which was reflected in the album's punk-poppy sound. ~ Heather Phares