Up-and-coming local indie duo Dead Buttons has signed on with U.K. record label Baltic Records to release its first full-studio album, “Some Kind of Youth,” in both Korea and the U.K., the Love Rock Company announced Tuesday.

The upcoming debut album, which was produced by iconic rocker Kim In-su of Crying Nut, will drop in Korea Thursday, while its U.K. release date is scheduled for some time later this May.  

The young Korean rockers Hong Ji-hyun (guitar and lead vocals) and Lee Kang-hee (drums) unveiled their first EP, “Whoever You Are,” two years ago and have since been slowly establishing themselves as an act with international potential as the musician-songwriters produce their songs with all-English lyrics.

Dead Buttons first garnered local attention after appearing on the popular reality TV competition program, “Top Band” season 3 last year, as well as participating in a number concerts and festivals including the 2015 Zandari Festa -- Korea’s largest music showcase festival. 

Despite having only one EP release to their credit, the Dead Buttons members and their English tunes still managed to get themselves invited to a handful of overseas music events. For the past two years, the band has performed across the U.K., Russia’s V-ROX music festival, the Korea-Japan Punk Festival in Japan and the 2015 Expo Milano 2015.

Following the release of their 11-track “Some Kind of Youth,” the members are scheduled to once again take their promotions overseas, tentatively slated to return to the U.K. and perform at this year’s Liverpool Sound City Music Festival in May. The band is also slated to perform at this year’s 36th annual CMJ Music Marathon in New York City.

It was also announced that the band plans on touring across Europe for three months later this year, playing at festivals and live club shows in the U.K., Germany and France, among others. 

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)