What distinguishes K-R&B from its Western counterpart is its multilingual fluidity and wordplay. Singers effortlessly switch between languages, allowing them to be candid with their lyrics. The K-R&B scene is filled with a roster of talented artists like Samuel Seo, DEAN, Crush, GSoul, and up-and-coming stars like Yonko, Jimmy Brown, and ROVV, just to name a few. Despite its international fan following, K-R&B remains somewhat underground. While major Korean labels promote their artists intensively (mainly K-pop), K-R&B artists prefer to work at their own pace, often taking long creative breaks to avoid distractions. As K-R&B continues to gain acknowledgment worldwide, we can expect more reinvented discographies and hybrid music. 

Kang Juwon, a.k.a. Oceanfromtheblue, is one of those immensely talented artists who deserve global recognition. Inspired by old-school R&B, Soul, and Chris Brown’s artistry, Oceanfromtheblue has also brought his own flavour to the genres. Recently, the singer, supported by a live band and DJ Laune, ventured on a long European tour, including a London show that took place on September 22nd at Courtyard Theatre, where Billie Eilish had her first headline show back in 2017.  

With a setlist spanning his discography, this performance presented the power of live music and the undeniable talent of the artist. The show started off with deafening cheers as Oceanfromtheblue greeted the crowd with his first track, Ice Cream, from the 2020 EP a-side: 90s kids never get old, setting up the audience for a night of pure musical ecstasy. The funky vibes of the song, combined with Oceanfromtheblue’s clean vocals and impeccable note execution, immediately had us grooving even in the boiling hot venue. During breaks between songs, Oceanfromtheblue engaged with the audience with a heartfelt conversation. “I missed you guys. How are you doing? Did you miss me? Let me hear your screams!”, he exclaimed.

The concert continued with Icy Girl from his 2021 EP forward. The song’s mixture of D’Angelo and Brian McKnight influences, combined with a touch of Neo-Seoul, had the crowd singing along with enthusiasm. Oceanfromtheblue’s live performance presented his vocal skills, and his willingness to connect with fans while reaching out to hold their hands broke down the barriers (the invisible ones, of course) between him and the audience. The live band that accompanied the artist added a sense of richness to the R&B sounds, demonstrating that the singer could perform flawlessly without resorting to lip-syncing. I have to admit that the entire performance was erupting with life… and sweat from everyone. 

Oceanfromtheblue also treated the audience to songs like Necessary Girl and Sherlock, where he encouraged fans to sing along. The fusion of D’Angelo-inspired guitar sounds and his earnest performance left an impression on me, as I am a huge fan of the aforementioned artist. As the night continued, Oceanfromtheblue played songs from his 2023 self-titled album, including Come Back Home, which gave off Brian McKnight vibes, and Breathe and Past Live, which featured a mix of Neo-soul and R&B reminiscent of D’Angelo. I do know that Oceanfromtheblue is mostly inspired by Chris Brown, but for die-hard fans of Neo-Soul, R&B, and Soul, one can hear those familiar melodies. But then, we also have to ask ourselves: who inspired Chris Brown’s music?

The concert took an exciting turn with Automatic Remix, when DJ Laune hyped up the already-enthusiastic crowd. It is worth mentioning that DJ Laune is also a very talented singer-songwriter who possesses an extraordinary power to reach out and touch the deepest emotions of a listener. 

But back to the show. Oceanfromtheblue also performed songs from his latest 2023 release, NEWRNBERA, such as Talk to Me, which combined elements of Hip-hop and R&B. His vocal delivery was impressive yet again, even during moments of rap. The concert reached its peak with Close to You. The band returned to the stage as Oceanfromtheblue continued to deliver hits like All I Need and LUKUKO, presenting his stylistic and emotional versatility.

The artist sang a cappella, taking requests from his fans. While reflecting on his musical journey, he humbly shared, “I came from SoundCloud, living in my parents’ house. I appreciate you for everything. Look at me now, having a show in London”.

The concert concluded with one of the artist’s earliest songs, Super Mario, from his Luv-fi (2018) release, and he ended the night with Girl from a-side: 90s kids never get old, bringing the crowd to a blissful crescendo. 

Oceanfromtheblue’s London concert was first-class, reminding me of an era when artists embraced the challenge of performing alongside drummers, guitarists, and keyboardists. The blend of his live vocals with the band took me to a time when live music was truly engaging and worth losing hearing for. With a long setlist, the singer unquestionably reaffirmed to me that K-R&B remains vibrant and authentic in all its glory.

Rating:

Written by Maggie Gogler

_{We would like to thank Warner Music Korea for their kindness and support during the show.}

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, 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 / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}