[Concert Review] WOOSUNG in London
A phenomenal night of non-stop jumping and partying was had by all with one-of-a-kind artist WOOSUNG at the Troxy in East London, a concert they’ll never forget.
Image: WOOSUNG Official Instagram (WOOSUNG (@iwoosung) • Instagram photos and videos).
Fans of The Rose frontman and accomplished soloist, Kim Woosung, got a brilliant surprise a couple of months ago when he suddenly announced that he was going on a solo world tour this autumn. Although it was only to be a relatively short tour, European fans were ecstatic to see that stops in Paris and London were included.
This announcement came right after the launch of his single, “Day That I Died” and just prior to the full release of his highly anticipated new album, 4444. The album, which was released on October 4th, has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response, garnering the artist extensive praise and recognition from fans new and old. With this new album, WOOSUNG has solidified himself as a one-of-a-kind artist, who is constantly evolving and always finding ways to push the boundaries of his creativity.
It was later also revealed that his bandmate and close friend, Park Doojoon (also known as PARCLASSIC) would be accompanying him on the journey, taking on the role of DJ for the concert tour. UK Black Roses – fans of The Rose – were over the moon to be seeing half of the band out on the road again, only a few months after The Rose’s own concert in London earlier this year.
Going solo
On Wednesday 30 October, around 3,000 gathered at the Troxy in East London for WOOSUNG’s solo gig. There was a definite buzz in the air as ticket holders queued all the way around the building whilst waiting for doors to open. Once allowed in, fans were overjoyed to see what an intimate venue it was.
The night began with an extraordinary DJ set from PARCLASSIC, featuring songs such as David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)”, Becky Hill’s “Disconnect”, and Zedd’s “Clarity (feat. Foxes)”. Doojoon proved himself to not only be an incredible multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, but also an absolute genius and whizz on the decks. The energy in the venue was completely off the charts with the entire front standing section jumping and singing along throughout his set. It was already clear from this point of the evening that it was going to be an amazing night.
Image: Helena Sim for Cherry Chu Magazine.
The buzz in the audience grew exponentially as the set smoothly transitioned into WOOSUNG’s entrance. A simple black and white number count sprung up on the screen, fans instantly recognising the number that it was counting up to. The tension was palpable, as his fans avidly awaited the entrance of their beloved artist.
As the opening notes of “Paper Cuts (feat. New Vaticans)” began, the crowd became frozen in anticipation waiting for the moment that WOOSUNG would appear on stage. When he finally entered, he was met by a cacophony of screams and cheers, jumping straight into interacting with the crowd, running up and down the front of the stage, smiling and waving out to his adoring fans. He then sang two more tracks off the new album: “Before We Die” and “Never Let Go”. His stage presence was completely captivating from the moment he set foot in front of his fans.
Next up, much to the delight of his long-term fans, he launched into his popular 2019 track, “FACE”, followed by other old favourite “Lazy”. He briefly checked in with the crowd to make sure they were wearing comfortable shoes and clothes, remarking that there would be a lot of jumping up and down and dancing tonight — he was, of course, correct.
He then followed these iconic tracks up with a whole segment dedicated to his fantastic 2022 EP, MOTH. He started with “ComE dOWn”, which proved to be a crowd favourite, before sliding into “Side Effects (feat. SATICA)”, featuring a sudden special guitar solo from Doojoon. He then performed the album’s title track, “Phase Me”, before ending on one of his most memorable and meaningful tracks, “Modern Life”. He had the whole audience singing along with him, a complete air of freedom rife across the room.
Image: Helena Sim for Cherry Chu Magazine.
It was at this point that WOOSUNG took a lengthy pause to talk with the audience. Introducing himself took longer than expected as a rapturous and seemingly endless applause broke out. The soloist affectionately beamed out at the unstoppable sea of noise, telling fans this was why he always loved coming back to London.
He took a moment to talk about the meaning behind his album title, 4444. He explained that the number four has followed him around throughout his life for many years and always been significant to him. However, in many Asian cultures, especially within Korea, it is seen as an unlucky and scary number due to being linked to death.
He candidly speaks about how he feels that many misunderstand the concept of death. He does not think that death should be considered scary, stating that it in fact can be beautiful and that there is something wonderful in the essence of the world moving forward.
His ability to see beauty in the darkest of places has been a common, comforting theme throughout his solo music so far, and his rendition of “Day That I Died” on this night really represented the pinnacle of that. After this emotional philosophical moment, he jumped into a lighter song, performing the cheerful bop off 4444, “Happy Alone (feat. B.I.)”.
Image: Helena Sim for Cherry Chu Magazine.
All of a sudden, WOOSUNG moved to the back of the stage to join PARCLASSIC at the decks. Black Roses in the crowd got the biggest shock of the night, as the pair launched into some epic EDM remixes of popular The Rose tracks.
Together again
First up was “Lifeline” off their most recent album, DUAL, featuring a guitar solo by the multi-talented WOOSUNG. This was followed by their exceptionally popular and much loved track “Back To Me”. Both band members sang their verses live, and the audience was singing along at the top of their lungs throughout the whole song. The pair were clearly having the time of their lives, and that energy fed directly into the crowd. They finished up this section with the band’s 2022 favourite, “Sour”.
Far too soon, WOOSUNG led the concert into its final quadrant, as he returned to sing the final few tracks off 4444. In a loving rendition of “Found You”, he dedicated his performance adoringly to his fans. He then sang the powerful, uplifting track “Let There Be Light (feat. BOL4)”, before closing up the night on the beautifully vulnerable track, “44 (Forget Forever)”. The concert went by in a flash, but fans left on an indisputable high, exhausted from all the energy and emotions that were shared throughout the night.
Image: Helena Sim for Cherry Chu Magazine.
WOOSUNG has the most incomparable stage presence, and connects with every member of the crowd in such an intimate way. His overwhelmingly charming and down-to-earth aura draws audiences into every word he utters, whilst his introspection and ability to reach such emotional depths makes him a comforting and inspiring individual. He has the most beautiful way of creating such a safe, honest and optimistic space during his concerts; there is truly nothing quite like it.
This night proved just what a remarkable artist and person WOOSUNG is. His exquisite voice is unwavering every single time he performs live and his vibrant energy is never-ending. His unique artistry and creativity as a musician is utterly unmatched, whilst his diversification of multiple music genres is incredibly special. He really has made a name for himself as a talented, multifaceted artist within the global music scene.
Edited by Isabel Miller.
