SHAUN ‘On The Road’ To LA
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
On Friday, April 14, South Korean singer-songwriter and record producer SHAUN performed at 1720 in Los Angeles to kick off his first North American tour, On The Road. SHAUN debuted in the indie-rock band, The Koxx, in 2010 and pursued a solo career later in 2016. You may have heard his viral hit single “Way Back Home,” which became a breakthrough moment in his solo career, topping music charts in South Korea and reaching new fans overseas. Furthermore, he’s worked with big-name artists such as BTS and EXO.
At the concert’s meet-and-greet, fans had the chance to come face to face with SHAUN and snap photos together. As fans made their way to the front of the stage to take their spots, several fans gathered to take a group photo. With posters in hand, fans posed in front of the stage, and as the camera was taking test shots, the fans let out sudden gasps and cheers. To the fans’ surprise, SHAUN ran over to jump in for a quick picture with them.
Photo Cr: Aliyah Hinckley
To start the night, RIKA and Lydia Ganada opened the show. RIKA performed some of her songs like “Cupid,” “Genie,” and “Goodbye.” Later in her set, RIKA welcomed the artist shoose who flew from Denver to perform their collaboration song “Addicted.” Following RIKA was Ganada’s performances of “Party Tonight” and her remix version of NewJeans’s “OMG” while dancing to some of the choreography. She also brought out her brother and fellow singer xeanee to perform together, livening the atmosphere with their dance moves and smiles.
After the opening acts, heavenly instrumental music permeated the crowds, and after thirty seconds, SHAUN came onto the stage to sing his 2017 release, “Lunisolar.” The song’s electric guitar solo had fans cheering him on—an indicator of an exciting night. Throughout the show, SHAUN alternated between his electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and keyboard as he performed his discography.
SHAUN surprised fans once again as he announced his next performance, the official remix of “Give Me a Kiss” by Crash Adams, which was set to release on April 21. As the song played, the crowd jumped along and vibed with it. The song continued to play until it was cut off near the peak moment, giving fans only a taste of what was to come.
Before performing “Steal The Show,” SHAUN told the crowd, if they haven’t already, to check out the music video because, at the end of the video, he’d be half naked and painted in gold. Laughter ensued from the crowd as he told them to like and subscribe to his YouTube channel after sharing those details.
In between songs, as SHAUN was tuning his guitar or trying to find the right key on the keyboard, fans would cheer as they recognized the notes of his songs. And whenever SHAUN showcased his talents by hitting higher notes and performing solos on the instruments, such as the electric guitar solos in “Swan Song,” “Dream,” and “Road,” fans went wild and animated the venue with delight. To balance things out, SHAUN slowed it down with songs like “Closed Ending” and “Nocturnal,” which he wrote for people who have shared similar experiences with him.
As the show was coming to an end, SHAUN captivated fans with a lovely keyboard performance, introducing the beats of his iconic song, “Way Back Home.” Fans instantly recognized it and started cheering. They nodded their heads side to side as he played the keyboard and even started singing before he sang the lyrics. The sound of voices filling the venue was a beautiful moment between SHAUN and his fans.
SHAUN returned to the stage with an encore performance and the crowd roared once again. Playing the acoustic guitar, he performed “My Bad” which he featured on with the DJ/producer duo, Advanced. Although SHAUN had expressed a lack of danceable tracks on his setlist earlier in the evening, he gave electrifying performances. Fans were dancing along, throwing their hands up in the air, and waving to his upbeat songs like “Traveler” and “Thinking Of (feat. OVAN & SUMIN).” The whole night was filled with the artist’s mesmerizing instrumental and vocal skills. The artist shared it was an honor to perform in front of his fans who radiated energy throughout the night. If you haven’t caught SHAUN while he’s on the road, he will make his final stops in New York City, Fort Worth, and Chicago to end his first North American tour.