Sailor Honeymoon announce debut album "The Worst of Sailor Honeymoon" and share new single “I Wanna Leave You”

Sailor Honeymoon have announced their debut album and shared a new single, marking a major step forward for the Seoul-based trio as they continue to build momentum beyond Korea’s independent music scene. Their first full-length record, The Worst Of Sailor Honeymoon, is set for release on 14 August 2026 via Good Good 굿굿 Records and [PIAS], while the new single, I Wanna Leave You, arrived on 30 June 2026.

Produced by Luke Smith, known for his work with Foals, Shura and Depeche Mode, the album brings together a refined but still unruly sound. It was mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer, who has worked with Parquet Courts and Temples, and mastered by Katie Tavini. Across thirteen tracks, the record expands the band’s world without losing the humour, spontaneity and sense of human imperfection that has defined them since their earliest releases.

Over the past three years, Sailor Honeymoon have developed from an informal creative experiment into one of the most distinctive names in Korea’s independent music scene. Built initially through loose jam sessions in Seoul, the group formed around a spirit of openness, with musicians swapping instruments, writing without pressure and focusing on expression rather than polish. What began without any real intention of becoming a permanent band gradually took shape after they were invited to play a local festival, an opportunity that pushed them to assemble a setlist and define their sound more clearly. From there, the project evolved into a fully formed trio featuring Abi Raymaker, Zaeeun Shin and Yelim Kim.

Their growth has also been tied to the creation of Good Good 굿굿 Records, a DIY label founded with producer Luke Smith and manager Russ Crank in order to encourage collaboration between the UK and Korea. Through this platform and their relentless live schedule, the band have moved from Seoul’s underground venues to festival stages across Europe, gaining attention for a style that prioritises honesty and character over perfection.

Vocalist and drummer Abi Raymaker has described the band’s ethos as a reaction to the high level of control often associated with Korean cultural exports. She has said, “We don't need to be perfect. We just want to make something meaningful. A lot of cultural things exported from Korea to an international audience are held to an incredibly high standard. They look perfect, sound perfect and feel very carefully controlled. We wanted to make something that felt human.” That idea runs through the new album, which often feels like a space where contradictions are allowed to exist, where frustration can sit alongside humour and where everyday life becomes material for storytelling.

The record draws heavily on experiences rooted in Korea, although its themes extend far beyond geography. Songs such as “Extinction” reflect on the pressures of modern Korean society, while “Red” begins with inspiration from a traditional Korean medicinal candy, 홍삼, before expanding into broader reflections. Throughout, the band turn specific cultural moments into something more universal, using detail as a way into wider emotional truths.

The release of “I Wanna Leave You” offers a further glimpse into this approach, balancing candid lyricism with an understated but direct emotional tone. It continues the band’s interest in expressing frustration and vulnerability without losing their characteristic sense of wit.

Raymaker has also emphasised that the band are not attempting to speak for anyone beyond themselves, saying, “We're not trying to represent everyone. We're just trying to represent ourselves. We want people to see that there are different kinds of women in Korea making different kinds of music and expressing themselves in different ways.”

With The Worst of Sailor Honeymoon arriving on 14 August 2026, Sailor Honeymoon stand at a defining point in their development. What started as a loose creative idea has become a fully realised artistic identity, shaped by collaboration, independence and a willingness to embrace imperfection.