THE MINDSTATE

Taine Knox

Award-winning South Korean DJ Peggy Gou stands at the forefront of  pop-house evolution. Her debut album, I Hear You, is another showcase of  her retro-inspired euro-house style and its way of invoking her signature  blend of energy, psychedelia, and nostalgia into the ears of listeners.  After a decade of crafting her sound and style through multiple singles on  multiple different record labels, she looked to firmly establish her place in  the modern House circuit in June 2024, releasing the flashy and flavourful I  Hear You. 

THE BREAKDOWN - 서울시페기구 

On the surface, Peggy Gou seems like the embodiment of what a modern  artist is—both through the art she produces and the carefully curated image of  the person behind it. Instagram stories show luxury private jets, exuberant  outfits, and raving crowds of hundreds of thousands. Following her shows  you the life most believe a modern celebrity to live. But it isn’t the bougie,  materialistic glamour of her lifestyle where she gets her inspiration.  

Born and partially raised in South Korea; her teenage years spent in London; now based in Germany as a pro DJ, touring from Stockholm to São Paulo, and Texas to Tokyo. Peggy Gou has seen a lot of the world—and kept her ears open along the way; absorbing the many people, places and cultures she has seen and heard and embodying them in her music.  

“Every weekend, I feel like I’ve learned a lot from not only the tours, [but  also] by meeting people, by going to the countries … [and the] cities.” 

- Peggy Gou 

She reportedly spent her youth rebelling, raving, and partying, and at 18 was  accepted into the London College of Fashion. Her career in fashion has  additionally shaped her image and style as an artist, drawing scrutiny from  critics who use it to subvert her ability as a musician, with the criticism made  louder and much harder to avoid in the modern age of social media. So how  does a modern artist deal with a barrage of online hate?  

In Gou’s case, the importance is having “thick skin”: 

“Of course I read comments… …life is too short. I choose who I take the  advice and criticism from.” 

• Peggy Gou

This attitude of rising above hate, her experiences living across the globe, and the motivation for consistent hard work have all shaped Gou’s music. The result? A bright, eclectic, multicultural blend of language and genre. Gou describes I  Hear You as the culmination of years of travel, hard work, and her many influences in one succinct package. And it makes for very fun listening.

One of the project’s main themes is togetherness—most of the songs have an intoxicating feel-good vibe, perfect for large festival crowds. The lead  single “(It Goes Like) Nanana” is Gou’s most popular track, becoming a viral hit upon its 2023 release. 

Peggy Gou performing live c. 2024 

I Hear You features two collaboration tracks, one with Puerto Rican artist  Villano Antillano and the other with American R&B legend Lenny Kravitz.  The album features songs in English, Spanish, Korean, and some that are completely instrumental. It feels like a randomly put-together compilation of her work, and the lack of coherence can sometimes be a little off-putting. But then again, for a house album, it does its job perfectly. 

The standout track for me is her duet with Lenny Kravitz “I Believe In love  Again”. Kravitz fits in perfectly on one of Peggy’s best beats, creating a  melodic house experience that can be either haunting, upbeat, or relaxing,  depending on what you prefer. The track however, like almost every other  one of her efforts, failed to chart on anything other than the US Dance chart,  where it reached 50.

The album really is just a fun time. It’s a nice break from more serious or  hardcore (or emocore, whatever you’re into) music and I’d thoroughly  recommend using this album to spice up your usual rotation. It’s great for  getting people together and I’ve found that her music speaks to a wide range  of people—from my Grandma in her 70s to my 3-year-old nephew, it seems anyone can get down to Peggy Gou. 

Almost two years after the project, she continues to release new music, even  featuring on the soundtrack for F1: The Movie with her song “D.A.N.C.E”—her standout release of 2025. Despite her limited success on the charts, Peggy Gou still boasts 6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, over a billion total streams, and is on her 9^th year of touring across the world. DJ magazine now rightly ranks her at #12 in their Top 100 DJs Ranking, a testament to her years of hard work. 

THE TRACKS - PEGGY-GOODS 

“Your Art” - 6 

A psychedelic intro with some spoken-word messaging. A good album intro  but a bad song. 

“Back to One” - 8.5 

Groove. Drums. Vocals. Melodies. All the ingredients for a great upbeat  house track done well, with the signature Peggy Gou twist. 

“I Believe in Love Again” (With Lenny Kravitz) - 9 

My personal favourite on the album. A genre-transcending track that fits  perfectly with Kravitz’s vocals. 

“All That (Featuring Villano Antillano)” - 7.5 

A decent beat. Antillano’s style fits snugly with Gou’s, and their vocal  harmonies on the chorus are brilliant.

“(It Goes Like) Nanana” - Edit - 9 

The viral lead single. Catchy and atmospheric, it’s a modern house classic. “

Lobster Telephone” - 7 

An upbeat mix of ethereal and robotic. 

“Seoulsi Peggygou” (서울시페기구) - 7 

A fast breakbeat instrumental. Cool if you’re into old-school D’n’B.

“I Go” - 7 

A song about perseverance, drawing from her own experiences. A tribute to  UK rave culture in her style. 

“Purple Horizon” - 6.5 

Fairly standard. Not bad but not the same quality as the rest of the project.

“1+1=11” - 7 

Standard. The album’s third single—an instrumental song about perception, reflected in the music video’s extensive featuring of lights, mirrors, and visual illusions. 

OVERALL RATING - 8.5/10 

An exciting showcase of the up-and-coming artist’s talents that leaves you  eagerly awaiting the next.