Bridging Cultures Through Metal With PK From PROMPTS

Interview by Angela Croudace HEAVY sat down with PK, the passionate frontman of Japanese heavy metal band Prompts. His journey from Korea to Japan, fueled by a love for metal, has become an inspiring tale of perseverance and friendship. PK shared his experiences growing up in Korea, where the overwhelming popularity of K-Pop shaped the music landscape. “Most kids were into K-Pop, but my small group of friends were metalheads. We would gather and play Metallica’s Master of Puppets over and over,” he recalled with a smile. This early passion for heavy metal, however, came with its challenges. “There’s very little money and promotion for artists in Korea outside of the pop genre,” he lamented. Many high school bands followed the K-Pop trend, but PK and his friends remained committed to their metal roots. Determined to break into the metal scene, PK made the pivotal decision to move to Japan. He spoke about the stark contrast between the Korean live music scene and Japan’s vibrant touring and promotional ecosystem. “In Korea, it’s tough to get noticed unless you’re in the pop realm. In Japan, the opportunities are endless,” he explained. His aspirations extended beyond Japan; he even considered moving to Australia to kickstart his career, admiring the local metal scene and citing bands like Parkway Drive, Make Them Suffer, and Void of Vision as major influences. PK’s journey took a significant turn when he connected with Kaito Nagai of Paledusk, who noticed his vocal cover of their song on X (formerly Twitter). “Kaito always inspired me and really helped me on my journey,” PK said. “He showed me how to navigate the Japanese metal scene and invited me to tour with them and Cold Rain. Thanks to my friends, everything with Grayscale Records went so smoothly.” Joining Grayscale Records marked a major milestone for Prompts, solidifying their place in the industry. Despite his metal roots, PK confessed to a surprising guilty pleasure: K-Pop. “I hated it when K-Pop took over the Korean music scene, but after listening to BTS and Blackpink, I realized maybe I was wrong. How can we not respect them? They do so much training before they even debut; it’s the same passion for music,” he admitted, reflecting on the dedication shared across genres. With half of Prompts being Korean and currently living in Japan, PK expressed a strong desire to make an impact back home. “I’m proud I’m Korean because there are not many Koreans in the metal scene. There’s no hardcore heroes right now, so maybe I can’t be the first one, but I want to bring Prompts to Korea one day and do something for the Korean metal scene.” As we wrapped up the interview and talk turned to Prompt's current Australian tour with Diamond Construct, PK’s excitement was palpable. “We’re really happy to join another Australian tour after our fantastic trip in January. I can feel your guys’ energy. I dreamed about that type of energy for years,” he said. With Prompts, he’s not just chasing dreams; he’s forging a path for others in the metal scene, creating a bridge between cultures and inspiring the next generation of musicians.