Asian Glow Brings Their Own Version of Shoegaze to Paper Tiger
Written by Crystal Truong | June 29, 2026
While San Antonio is no stranger to international touring acts, it’s rarer for smaller, indie artists to make a stop. However, in recent years, there’s been a noticeable uptick in lesser-known, under-the-radar artists performing in the city, and for many, Paper Tiger is their chosen venue.
This past week, the beloved and self-proclaimed “most cutting-edge” music venue hosted South Korean solo artist Shin Gyeongwon, better known as Asian Glow. According to Pitchfork, the Seoul-based artist has been involved in the hardcore punk scene since they were 14, but only began gaining a cult following with the release of their 2021 album Cull Ficle, which features a cartoonish, MS Paint-reminiscent drawing of a person wearing a fish hat. Years later, after mostly performing at local joints, they announced a full-fledged U.S. tour with Toronto-based artist what is your name, often abbreviated as WIYN.
While Asian Glow’s music can be simply described as an eclectic mix between shoegaze and bedroom pop, the official genre noted in their artist bio is slacker rock, an 80s and 90s emergent subgenre of indie rock that saw a resurgence in the 2000s. What’s interesting about Asian Glow’s musicality is that it blends an authentic Korean lived experience with the familiarity of Western Indie pioneers.
Seeing Asian Glow’s live performance was like being invited to a stranger’s bedroom–intimate, yet coupled with a twinge of uncertainty about what came next. The set started with “new greet,” the 5-minute opening track off their EP, lines between the doorframe, followed by “Late Time Stroll,” which is a collaboration with Swedish artist Weatherday. Both songs brought different energies to the crowd; the former was more mellow throughout, while the latter had bright notes to balance it out.
Asian Glow performed as if no one was watching. Keeping their head down, it felt like they were in a realm of their own making. Any moments used to address the crowd were short and sweet, which made sense. The music clearly spoke for itself without a need for introductions. One of the standout tracks of the night was “Faltering Waver,” a grungy, post-rock song that has notes of Paramore and Linkin Park. It could easily slot into a film soundtrack like Twilight’s, and none would be the wiser.
The South Korean artist set was the perfect cherry on top to finish off an eventful night of music and community. Fans who came early got to catch both local and visiting bands, including Ivory Daze, Porcelain Stars, mypilotis, Jejune Stars, and Elnuh. As shoegaze continues to grow in popularity, San Antonio is sure to have many more nights like these.
Asian Glow continues their U.S. tour through July 2nd. Check out the full dates here.
Follow the Artist:
Asian Glow:
Instagram: @audinjeee01
Spotify: Asian Glow
