KIRE: A Diamond in the Making Shines at BST Hyde Park 2024

KIRE, a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and producer, is a diamond in the making. While he started his journey in the music industry by writing for other artists, his talent as a singer came to light in 2020 when he debuted with 來 (Come). Although he quickly gained recognition in his homeland, the Western world has yet to catch up with his musical genius.

When BST Hyde Park announced his appearance at this year’s festival, those familiar with his artistry screamed out loud with excitement. Not only because we knew he would deliver his repertoire, but also because we wanted to see the other side of him: the cheeky and carefree KIRE – just follow his Instagram account and you will know what I am talking about. While he played it almost safe on the Great Oak Stage, which he shared with one of the biggest K-pop idols of the 21st century, Stray Kids, he delivered a helluva show.

Dressed in a casual yet elegant black suit accessorised with some classy chains and Gentle Monster glasses, KIRE shot onto the stage like a rocket. While his collection of songs is not the largest, the artist performed a few of our favourite hits, including his 2024 single Yao, Yes No Maybe from his 2022 debut studio album IKARUS, and his newest single don’t stop.

Yao holds a special place in my heart because of its lyrics. While the Chinese part translation might not be as adequate as one would like, the English part is just first-class. When he delivered the lines, “Right now I need you, want you to stay,” you felt those emotions. Whether the song is based on KIRE’s personal experiences, only he knows, but what I always get from this song is the sense of his need and reliance on the person he sings about. And “I’m fighting demons that want me to change,” I believe, metaphorically describes internal battles or personal struggles that challenge the speaker’s, or the singer’s, identity or push them to be different. At some point, we’ve all experienced these emotions, haven’t we? I was thrilled when he performed this song!

KIRE also sang Mei and his debut single Come. Sky and Sun, from his 2022 full-length album, also found its way onto his setlist. While I give huge applause to the singer’s UK debut, one ought to praise the sign language team—they were on fire! There are still countless music events excluding deaf people or those hard of hearing, but BST Hyde Park made it truly inclusive.

KIRE made one fan’s heart beat faster when he invited her onstage. While seated, the heartthrob sang his heart out to her. I am glad paramedics weren’t called after this performance because if this had happened to me, I would have required CPR.

Technically speaking, while the staging was simple, KIRE delivered vocally very well, his voice is smooth like butter (no, not that BTS’ butter). As music fans know, open-air shows can be hit or miss: you either perform like a king or go off-tune entirely. However, KIRE falls firmly into the former category, proving himself to be an artist who delivers great live performances.

For KIRE’s UK debut, the artist brought Taiwanese spirit and talent to one of the most prestigious stages in the UK. Imagine this: the stage has hosted stars like Stray Kids, Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue, Black Sabbath, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, and now, KIRE. This is the way to bring awareness to more Taiwanese, and Asian, artists!

While KIRE’s show was less than 40 minutes, the singer brought a SUPERB performance to London. The artist also promised to be back, with the capital as one of his main destinations. Until next time…

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Written by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is an 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.}