HOHYUN Presents "DRAMA." in First Headline Show
Words + Photos by Emma Vurdien
June 22, 2024
HOHYUN at The Moroccan Lounge, Emma Vurdien/ab(CDE)
This week, singer HOHYUN performed his first solo headline show in Los Angeles, captivating an audience of friends and fans with his recent album, "DRAMA.," along with other songs in a show titled "DRAMA: The Experience." Jason Hohyun Lee, known as HOHYUN, is a Korean-American artist based in Los Angeles. The filmmaker-turned-singer began creating music around five years ago.
Before HOHYUN's set, fellow singer-songwriter Micah Yoo opened the night with a few songs. The Chicago native brought a wholesome and intimate vibe to the room. One of the songs he performed, "Arlo," felt like a letter to his younger self. He shared that it is actually a song written for his future daughter.
HOHYUN started his show with high energy, singing "Better Days" as he jumped freely across the stage, ensuring interaction with both sides of the audience. He went on to play tracks from his new album, such as "Simple Times" and "i can't escape the rain." Throughout the show, fans in the audience shouted various encouraging and funny remarks, to which HOHYUN playfully responded, demonstrating his comfort level and connection with his fans.
At one point, the band left the stage, and HOHYUN performed a solo set with only his guitar. During this segment, he performed an unreleased song titled "Stay With Me." Another intimate moment in the show was when HOHYUN explained the story behind "Those Three Words," a song he had written for his girlfriend. He initially sang this song to her and told her he loved her for the first time. After telling the audience this story, he invited her onto the stage to sing the song again for her, this time in front of a live audience.
HOHYUN, Emma Vurdien/ab(CDE)
As the show neared its end, HOHYUN introduced the song "DRAMA.," the title track of his newest album. He explained that he hopes the audience feels heard and understood through this track. He explained that this is why he creates music: because of his desire to express emotions through song. This sentiment resonated deeply with the audience. To conclude the show, he performed "Meant to Be," a song about his feelings of inadequacy. He shared with the audience that he didn't feel this way tonight, being in the presence of a full room of people there to listen to his music, which the audience enthusiastically supported.
After HOHYUN exited the stage, audience members jokingly claimed he couldn't possibly leave without performing "SUNSET BOULEVARD." This led the room to chant "Sunset" repeatedly until HOHYUN returned to perform this hit song, which currently has over 10 million streams on Spotify.
Following the show, HOHYUN took time to sign items and take photos with fans, showcasing his down-to-earth nature and deep appreciation for those who support him. While HOHYUN has been creating for quite some time, this first solo headline show will undoubtedly be one of many for an artist of his talent and compassion.
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Photos taken by Emma Vurdien (@emmafayev)