R&B has always thrived on emotional depth and a deep sense of intimacy. While its roots lie in African American musical traditions, the genre has found compelling voices in South Korea, where artists have beautifully incorporated its soulful sound with their own cultural and musical styles.

Artists such as Colde, Hoody, Dean, Jooyoung, Crush, Babylon, Suran, and BIBI, to name a few, have shaken up the world of K-R&B. In my opinion, what makes them so good, is their rich storytelling. In some ways, they reinterpret the genre, offering listeners a fresh yet familiar experience.

Recently, I had the chance to experience just that.

Jooyoung first introduced himself to the public with covers of George Benson’s Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You and Jeremy Passion’s Well Done. His official debut came in 2012 with the mini-album From Me to You, featuring the self-composed track 네게 난.

Over the years, Jooyoung continued to develop his sound, often mixing R&B and alternative R&B with pop. His 2018 mini-album Fountain presented his distinctive style – intimate and expressive. Whether collaborating with other artists or pursuing solo projects, Jooyoung consistently demonstrates his exceptional talent for expressing various emotions. His soulful delivery, combined with superb songwriting, has earned him a place among the finest in the industry.

Jooyoung, supported by another great artist, John OFA Rhee brought by Korean London to London’s Fire venue, was welcomed by a passionate crowd.

With its minimalist setup, John opened the show with just three songs: Mi Amor, Heaven, and Angel. Equipped with an electric guitar, Mi Amor was wonderful to listen to, followed swiftly by Heaven. The latter reminded me of Coldplay’s early music but with John’s unique touch. This beautiful slow track, with the guitar at its core and his rich, clean vocals, was soothing to the ear – performed with precision and heartfelt emotion. With a sound resembling the styles of Snow Patrol and Coldplay, the artist proved himself to be a gem. You could simply close your eyes and immerse yourself in his beautiful music and voice.

And honestly, the same goes for Jooyoung.

When Jooyoung walked onto that stage, one thing was certain – he would give me goosebumps. And sure enough, he did. He began his show with Wonder from his first full-length album, Sphere, released in January 2024. This beautifully slow-paced track displayed Jooyoung’s clean and pitch-perfect vocals. There’s no debate about how impressive Jooyoung’s voice is – he sounds just as good live as he does on his records. He delivered the song with such passion that you could feel it in your bones.

Followed by RIP and Horizon, Jooyoung continued to impress with his flawless performance. RIP is such a remarkable track, reflecting the emotional difficulties of a relationship reaching its breaking point. Performed in English, the emotions felt even more powerful. The song explores the awareness that both partners are mature enough to recognise when the pain becomes overwhelming. Despite this understanding, there’s a sense of surrender – diving into emotional turbulence willingly, even knowing it may lead to heartbreak. When Jooyoung sang the first verse, my heartbeat quickened – his vocal delivery needs no explanation; it’s simply exceptional.

While the lighting was minimal, leaving Jooyoung barely visible in the first part of his show, I somehow loved it. It created an intimate and intentionally understated atmosphere.

With simple arrangments – let’s be honest, who needs elaborate staging when you just want to listen and unwind to Jooyoung’s superb music? The crowd was so engaged that simply having him perform was enough.

Jooyoung’s vocal control, tone, and emotional delivery were sublime. His powerful notes, delicate falsetto, and soulful runs carried throughout the show. Dive, from his 2018 mini-album Fountain, with its pure Neo Soul sound and jazzy feel, left me breathless. His falsetto was spot-on, and I truly enjoyed the bridge as well.

Joking between songs, Jooyoung’s candid approach made the show even more special. While the venue’s sound left much to be desired, even with minor technical issues, Jooyoung delivered a superb performance. He later performed As I Am and Fever, drawing the audience in with his performance despite the absence of visual effects. Tracks like Fountain, and Wine also made their way onto the setlist.

Jooyoung’s music flourishes on storytelling, and with the setlist he performed that night, he created a sense of closeness. He also performed songs like Misfits’ Sunday and My Soles Worn Out.

With both old and new hits, Jooyoung’s London show was first-class! It was also great to witness the artist performing four unreleased demos back-to-back with intense energy and punk rock inspiration for the encore.

His vocal strength and emotional delivery worked perfectly together. While I do wish the show had been held at a different venue – simply for better acoustics – I was still delighted to witness such an incredible performance live.

Rating:

Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image © 2025 Maggie Zhu for View of the Arts

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. While we already offer rich content to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by exploring Asian music in greater depth. At the same time, we remain committed to present the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that shape these industries worldwide.}