G.Soul, a singer rooted in R&B and soul, has travelled a long road. He trained for about 15 years before officially debuting in 2015 under JYP Entertainment, and has since evolved in sound and identity (he briefly used the name “Golden” before returning to G.Soul). His early mini-album, Coming Home (2015), beautifully combined soul, electronica, and R&B and showed the depth of what he could do. 

It has been a while since G.Soul has done a proper tour, so when he returned to London, it was wonderful to see him again. Taking place at Vauxhall Arches, the show opened with a soft glow before G.Soul took over, with support from the artist Sun’stroll. I confess: I hadn’t paid much attention to him before this evening, but he absolutely deserves recognition. He stepped on stage with minimal fuss, just his guitar and his voice, and delivered three songs, including Woman and Fake Old Band Together. There was only the artist’s voice and guitar, a stripped-down setup that showed the strength of his songwriting and voice.

Though just three songs, Sun’stroll‘s performance was enough to spotlight his talent. If he works with a live band in the future, I’d happily see that, although even in this stripped‐back form, he was very satisfying.

And then came G.Soul. The moment he appeared, the room was loud until his voice filled the space. Over the years, his style has evolved: the powerful vocals of his earlier days are still present, but no longer as polished as they once were, now carrying a subtle huskiness. At times, there was a moment of vulnerability, even nervousness, that made the performance feel different from his previous shows. That change – if you’ve followed the artist’s long journey – doesn’t diminish his work as an artist; It simply shows that no matter what happens in one’s life, you either stay or simply fade away. But G.Soul chose to stay, and while he releases music slowly, it doesn’t matter because when he does release a new song, you know you’re getting something delicious.

He opened with Tequila (originally featuring Hoody) and the crowd immediately took charge, singing along, grooving, becoming part of the flow. He moved through tracks I knew very well, 제자리, Selfish, Natural, Get Up. His single Window Pane (Pretty Lil Thing), with Sun’stroll on guitar, leaned into blues territory; as I listened more, I felt his emotions through the sound, which is what great music is about.

The track Can’t carries the warmth of a Brian McKnight-style ballad. Likewise, By My Side captures that same sense of intimacy, but every phrase remains unmistakably G.Soul. When he sang faster songs like Dirty (with EDM/house influences) or Crazy for You, you saw the breadth of his range: slow, atmospheric, blues, R&B, house-tinged, whatever the pace, his voice finds its way. His show is simple in production, but that simplicity is the point: it allows melody and his voice to shine.

At times, you could see him catch his breath, take a beat. A little nervousness – maybe the weight of expectation – but that only made the moment more compelling. Rather than a flawless machine, you got a human being with a gift, sharing his gift generously. The crowd responded at every moment: singing, grooving, and leaning in during the quieter songs.

By the end, you are left with a sense that G.Soul is a great R&B/soul artist who perhaps hasn’t always been seen at full measure in this scene. If you don’t already know his music, this show made the case: look, listen, and let it sweep you.

G.Soul delivered a good show with over 20 songs on the menu. It was warm and soulful. The support from Sun’stroll was a delightful discovery. And G.Soul himself? He’s an artist who has changed a lot and whose vocals may have changed slightly over the years, but whose heart is clearly in the music. If you enjoy R&B and soul, gentle voice-and-guitar performances, and songs that grow into something moving, G.Soul is definitely an artist to listen to.

Rating:

Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Kirsten Wah-Finn for Korean London

_{A big thanks to Korean London for bringing G.Soul to the city, and for your kindness and for accommodating all our needs.}

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the 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.}