Mowg

Biography

Lee Sung-hyun ( born in 1972), also known as Mowg, is a bassist and composer of primarily film scores. He was named Mowg because of his similar appearance to Mowgli in The Jungle Book when he was in his 20s in New York.

Mowg has won multiple awards for his works in various films, such as I Saw the Devil (2010), Masquerade (2012), Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016), The Age of Shadows (2016) and Burning (2018).

 In addition to his work in film, Mowg has produced albums by other artists, including the debut album by Korean star Jang Yoon-ju Dream, and the Jazz album of vocalist Malo.

Mowg's early exposure to music was not due to a special occasion. Instead, his parent's decision to enroll him in a piano academy, due to their busy work schedules, made him develop a liking for music. 

He also enjoyed watching movies on "Saturday Myunghwa" which left him lasting impression. The "Aranjuez Concerto" by Joaquin Rodrigo, which was the signal music of "The Masterpiece of Saturday," and "Exodus," which was regarded as the "masterpiece of the weekend", were two pieces of music he still remembers vividly.

 Mowg's love for movies and music extended to radio programs as well, and he loves various genres, including jazz, blues, pop, rock, new country, and new wave music.

 He recorded all of them on blank tapes. The movies and music he encountered during his sensitive adolescence provided him with the strength to endure life as a musician.

New York represented freedom for Mowg, who enrolled in school to legally stay in the US, although he was not interested in studying. 

He had a wild life and longed for freedom, and his inability to communicate may have contributed to his difficulty adjusting to school. 

Music in New York was not just a dream but a matter of survival for him, and he played with various artists, including jazz, Krasmer, and Broadway shows. 

He played multiple instruments, including bass, guitar, keyboard, and drums. Living in Harlem exposed him to a multinational culture that influenced his music.