Kim Woojin, a 25-year-old South Korean K-pop singer, is well known for his great vocals. Whilst he began his career as a member of an idol group, he later chose a different path in life and began a successful solo career. In August of 2021, Woojin released his first mini-album, The Moment: 未成年, a Minor, which included two lead singles: Still Dream and Ready Now. 

Woojin’s vocals can enchant the crowd, causing goosebumps just by singing a verse or two. And if you recently attended the artist’s concert in London, you surely experienced the phenomenal power of his vocals.

Prior to coming to the UK, Woojin had already played in many other European countries, including Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the Netherlands. On August 3^rd, Woojin performed a sold-out show at the O2 Academy Islington as a part of his Still Dream Tour.

Woojin, dressed in white, entered the stage with four dancers dressed in black. The singer began his show with Ready Now and, although the venue’s stage was small, Woojin and his dancers worked their magic and managed to pull off the entire dance routine. Woojin seamlessly combined his talent in singing and dancing to show everyone what he was capable of. The song itself is a representation of all the pain he went through before he became a soloist. Whilst he faced dark times in his past, he is now ready to face the world. 

“Hi London, I am Woojin. I really wanted to perform [in London], and now I am here – it’s so surreal”, said Woojin after finishing Ready Now. He then moved on to perform My Growing Pains, saying that: “Now that I am with you guys, I feel energised”.

The song itself depicts Woojin’s personal journey, a journey full of hardships, ambitions, and dreams for the future. He also pointed out his wish to shake off his anxiety. Throughout the performance, there was so much emotion that it was hard not to feel Woojin’s passion. Also, let’s not forget that the lyrics were partially written by the singer himself, as well as other artists, such as lyssa Ayaka Ichinose, Sqvare, Jin Kwon Choi, Valeria Del Prete, Sean Michael Alexander, and Jin Kim. And while performing the song, the crowd quickly joined in and sang along to the Korean lyrics, including the youngest fan in the audience, a 9-year-old girl who came to see Woojin with her mom and grandma. 

Just as Woojin started singing his rendition of Falling, a song written by Harry Styles and Kid Harpoon, I knew that his incredible vocal control will be pitch-perfect. Woojin’s voice remained stable and he never wandered off-key. This was probably one of the most outstanding covers I’ve heard in a while. Having a good voice means that one must remain consistent throughout a song, and throughout the set! Indeed, Woojin’s vocals had a steady volume, tone, pitch, support, and superb style at all times. 

His next cover was Adele’s Easy on Me, a song that explores themes such as regret, forgiveness, and nostalgia. And, yet again, the singer’s execution was perfect. Can we all just appreciate Woojin’s vocal greatness? 

After performing six songs, it was time for the artist to take a break by doing a live Q&A session. Woojin answered a few questions and moved on to a giveaway event where two lucky fans could win a T-shirt and a picture. In addition, Woojin also performed BTS’ Dynamite, Lewis Capaldi’s Before You Go, Ed Sheeran’s Shivers, and Seventeen’s Rock With You.

Still Dream was the fourteenth song he presented to his fans, followed by It’s You, an OST from Let Me Be Your Knight. When it was time to conclude the show, Woojin gifted the audience with a performance of Purple Sky, the last song from his debut mini-album.

The artist sang sixteen songs altogether. During his performance, Woojin’s enunciation was sublime and it gave a better understanding of his lyrical message. Although his voice suits slow music, he can easily find his way into more rhythmical songs. And, without a doubt, his voice is one of the most expressive instruments he has to offer. His concert in London was one to remember, and we can only hope that he will perform in the capital again. Until then, we will have to wait patiently for new music.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, arts, and fashion, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}