Peppertones, Jo Hye-ryun and Yoo Jae-suk Join Forces for Retro-Funky Debut as ‘Mechanism’

A surprising musical collaboration born from the popular Korean web variety show ‘핑계고’—hosted by the beloved entertainer Yoo Jae-suk—has resulted in the creation of a retro-inspired project group: Mechanism. This dynamic fusion unites veteran entertainer Jo Hye-ryun and indie electronica duo Peppertones in a joyful musical experiment that recently led to the release of their debut single, ‘Broken Time Machine’.

The trio first connected during the ‘2nd Excuse Go Awards,’ and their chemistry quickly blossomed into full-fledged musical synergy. The debut single comprises two songs that combine uplifting energy with heartfelt comfort: the title track ‘Broken Time Machine’ and a playful B-side titled ‘I Became Pi Lately (π)’.

‘Broken Time Machine’ delivers a medium-tempo, sentimental tune with a crystal-clear melody steeped in nostalgia. Through poetic metaphors, it expresses the longing to return to simpler childhood days—a desire that, like a broken time machine, remains unfulfilled, yet beautiful in its sentiment.

In contrast, ‘I Became Pi Lately (π)’ bursts with funk-inspired grooves and witty wordplay centered around the mathematical symbol π. Jo Hye-ryun’s charismatic vocals and Peppertones’ vibrant instrumentation create a quirky blend of humor and rhythm, inviting listeners to dance, smile, and think at the same time.

Both tracks are intimate works, with lyrics written by Jo Hye-ryun and all music composed and arranged by Peppertones (Shin Jae-pyung and Lee Jang-won), highlighting an exuberant blend of musical craft and comedic charm.

Notably, the music video for ‘I Became Pi Lately (π)’ was personally filmed by Yoo Jae-suk—affectionately dubbed the ‘team leader’ of ‘핑계고’—adding an extra layer of enthusiast-driven collaboration to the entire project.

During the launch, Jo Hye-ryun shared her emotions: “Dreams do come true. Collaborating with Peppertones as Mechanism is one of the happiest moments in my 33-year entertainment career. I hope the audience truly embraces our music.”

Shin Jae-pyung reflected, “This unexpected union allowed us to explore uncharted creative territory. Our seemingly mismatched voices came together in excitingly new colors.” Lee Jang-won added, “Jo’s ever-persistent energy captured us for months. We’re honored to be part of this whimsical yet sincere project. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!”

Mechanism presents a unique showcase of music-meets-comedy, nostalgia-meets-novelty, all sparked by Yoo Jae-suk’s endlessly experimental pouch of variety content. Watch this space, as variety television continues pushing boundaries—one funky π at a time.