Woosung, better known as the lead vocalist from Korean alternative-rock band The Rose, recently performed his solo B4 WE DIE WORLD TOUR in Australia, with devoted Black Roses in passionate attendance at his Melbourne concert.
In this new solo era, Woosung expresses clarity he had on the misconceptions surrounding the number ‘4’ and his thoughts on how this simple number had such a meaningful influence on him and his music. From the small mathematics of addition and subtraction on how the number ‘4’ follows him. A four-leaf clover is lucky, so why should the number four in other meanings (especially in Asian culture), only be only surrounded by the ideas of death? In support of Woosung’s second full-length solo album ‘4444’, B4 WE DIE showcases Woosung’s solo music and his newer music which explores themes self-discovery and reflection.
For VIP patrons, Woosung held an intimate Q&A session. Interactive and a bit shy, Woosung answered questions that were spontaneous, exchanging charmingly and playful banter with his fans. The experience felt more personal without a translator, allowing fans to connect with Woosung directly.
As more patrons poured into the iconic Forum Melbourne venue, in support of Woosung’s first solo headline show in Melbourne was Parclassic, also known as Dojoon from The Rose. Embracing the “5 to 9 after your 9 to 5” vibe, Parclassic was dressed in a crisp white shirt, black tie and specs. Throwing remixes from a blend of house, pop and EDM tracks which had attendees warmed up and ready.
What set Parclassic apart from your typical DJ performances was that as his remix of Baynk’s ‘Water‘ drew closer to an end, the counter also drew us closer to a counter, counting up to the number ‘4444’ – Woosung’s latest album, which was an audio and visual seamless transition that patrons in a hyperawareness of anticipation.
Just like a journey, the curated setlist could been seen as a narrative. Following the pursuit of life – present, afterlife and what’s next, Woosung commenced the night with tracks from his latest album ‘4444’ along with remixes and hit songs from his solo works ‘GENRE‘, ‘MOTH‘, as well remixed versions of songs with his bandmates in The Rose. With the announcement that Parclassic was joining Woosung on his solo headlining tour, no one would have anticipated that the second half of the night would feature The Rose music remixes which created an ecstatic and electrifying atmosphere.
Songs such as Woosung’s solo debut track ‘Face’, and ‘Lazy’, served as reminders of Woosung’s beginnings as a soloist when he initially embarked on his solo journey with artistic freedom. Jumping into performing the realm of ‘MOTH‘, his second album, which symbolizes change and rebirth, Woosung enchants fans with much-loved tracks from the album including ‘ComE dOWn’, ‘Side Effects’, ‘Phase Me (remixed)’ and ‘Modern Life’.
Visually, the production looked impressive with lighting that danced to the beat and screens that only enhanced each performance, perfectly accompanying Parclassic’s mixing and Woosung’s gorgeous vocals. When Woosung performed the lead track to his ‘4444’ album, ‘Day That I Died’ it sounded stunning and hauntingly beautiful. Plus, displayed in the big screen were blue flames and a rose that seemed to align with the song, the rose on screen appears to bloom into the flames. The song itself evolved feelings of love and loss, of holding on to the past and being unable to let go.
Lighting the mood, Woosung and Parclassic (Dojoon) remixed the last leg of the set. The pair happily bounced their energy off each other, appearing genuinely stoked to be performing in our city. The uplifting beats and creative blend from both, heightened the dopamine and energy in the room and sent waves of excitement through the Melbourne audience. To be able to be belt out the lyrics to ‘Back to Me’, word for word with a passionate crowd of fellow fans, felt incredibly therapeutic and powerful, and this moment made the night all the more memorable.
Since going independent, Woosung has been openly exploring and experimenting with various music genres while blending this with his emotional and eloquently penned lyrics and impressing and captivating his audiences worldwide. Naturally owning the spotlight with his unique sound and charming stage presence, Woosung has proven that he is a man of many talents, standing equally as strong as a soloist with his own colours, as much as he does when he’s the fantastic frontman of The Rose.
Whether it be new solo music from Woosung, or a comeback from The Rose, we can’t wait to hear and see what Woosung conjures up next.
Woosung performed in Melbourne at Forum Melbourne as part of his first Australian solo tour, B4 WE DIE, proudly presented by Box Live Australia, on Thursday October 24th. Although the Australian tour has now concluded, Woosung continues his 2024 B4 WE DIE WORLD TOUR internationally.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://the-boxlive.com.au
https://woosungofficial.com
https://www.instagram.com/iwoosung
Photography by Grant Alexander.
