It’s no easy task to become a K-pop idol. Now imagine doing that while being hard of hearing. Sounds near impossible? Not for Big Ocean, the world’s first hard-of-hearing K-pop group, who just floored London with a concert full of great choreography and more charisma than Soho on a Saturday night.

Comprised of Lee Chan-yeon, PJ, and Kim Ji-seok, the trio inspires many. Big Ocean continues to show what’s possible through dedication and love for music, from tireless training and memorising choreography without hearing the music much, to learning how to enunciate lyrics they might not fully hear. And yet, on stage, you’d never know the struggles; they shine with joy, humour, and a level of professionalism many rookie acts could learn from.

The night opened with FLOW, a superb start to the show. During the first break, the trio chatted candidly about their journey. Chan-yeon, who has profound hearing loss among the members, amazed everyone by speaking to the crowd with clarity and confidence. “Today is a special day,” he said, smiling. “Are you enjoying today?” Yes, Chan-yeon. Yes, we are.

Ji-seok, who may or may not now be officially crowned the Bagel Prince of London, had the audience in stitches: “It’s our first time in London. My routine time is to eat a bagel. My old nickname used to be Bagel Boy – I didn’t realise the bagel was the real thing here!” Honestly, get this man a merch line with bagels.

“Let’s make history today!” PJ declared, as they moved to BLOW. Watching them perform is like watching stars burst into motion; their movements are sharp, joyful, and overflowing with heart.

BrighT, a funky, fast-paced number, lit up the venue. The energy they reflected back to the crowd was powerful; proof of their endless hours of training, laser focus, and absolute love for what they do. They also radiated the kind of spirit that makes you believe in good things again.

“We’ll now sing our very first song,” PJ announced before GLOW, asking fans to turn on their phone torches. As the room lit up like a galaxy, Ji-seok exclaimed after performing the song, “Looking at your flashlights, I felt like I was looking at the stars.” You could hear everyone’s aww from the crowd louder than the speakers.

They moved into songs from their new mini-album, Underwater, which explores deeper emotional waters. PJ shared, “We wanted to show you our emotions with this album.” Ji-seok added that he helped choreograph the new tracks, spending time contemplating how to translate feelings into movement. And it shows – the result is as thoughtful as it is beautiful.

In between songs, they laughed, joked, and taught the crowd sign language. When a mic stopped working mid-sentence, they didn’t panic; they made a joke of it. And that’s Big Ocean for you: turning every moment, even a technical failure, into magic. (Also, can we talk about how cool it would be if learning sign language became mandatory in schools? These young men make a strong case for it.)

Attention? They delivered. Period. A short break brought out a chair, and PJ sang SINKING. He might have left more than a few people quietly weeping in the back. Performed in English with gentle signing, the song was tender, emotional, and stunning. Back together, they sang FADE OUT, keeping everyone on their feet. It still blows my mind how they manage to keep such complex timing without missing a beat; it shows just how much hard work goes on behind the scenes.

As the night neared its end, they performed End of Time, a bright pop tune during which they signed as well. They brought two fans with birthdays on stage, gifting them little presents; a gesture that made the room feel like one big family. Fan banners waved proudly during the surprise fan project, adding to the lovefest. And finally, they performed SLOW, a sweet, emotional goodbye that felt like a promise that Big Ocean isn’t going anywhere and that we’re lucky to be riding the wave with them.

In a sea of K-pop acts, Big Ocean stands out; not just because of who they are, but because of how deeply they make you feel. Their presence, their humour, their sincerity, it all adds up to a live show you won’t forget. I walked in curious and walked out a full-on stan.

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Featured image courtesy of Wai Yee for View of the Arts

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}