WOOSUNG ON THE WINGS OF A MOTH

TWO TOURS AND AN EXTRAORDINARY EP, AND THAT'S JUST A FEW FACETS FROM THE FIRST HALF OF WOOSUNG'S YEAR. THERE'S A LOT MORE IN STORE FROM THIS EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTE, INCLUDING NEW MUSIC FROM EVERYONE'S FAVOURITE BAND THE ROSE.

- AMBIKA MUTTOO

You've just come home on a hot summer day, and a rush of cold air flows over you when you open your fridge, ice cubes rattling as you pour a drink. You allow yourself to relax, your skin now pleasantly humming from the heat as your body cools down. That's what Woosung's voice makes you feel like. As a soloist, and frontman-guitarist of the K-pop quartet The Rose, it's a voice that etches itself in your memory, because of his unique inflection and raspy texture. While speaking, in this instance, on audio from Seoul, it radiates a warmth that's both soothing and hypnotic. When told, he laughs, saying, "ASMR! Nice!" Apt for a man whose music is a sensory experience.

That voice also created Moth, one of Woosung's finest EPs yet, which was released in May earlier this year. It's a compelling narrative told over four tracks that hit you in the solar plexus, heart, head, or all three - the beauty of his music often is in the discovery of all the little stories that tie into the larger whole. He's also coming off two tours. The first was with the trailblazing South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High, as he opened for them across cities in North America. The second was a big run of dates across Europe and the US, for his very own Moth EP showcase. It's natural to wonder how he's holding up. "Oh my God, thank you for asking!" he responds. "I'm very good. You know, it has been hectic this year. I've been travelling a lot. I don't think I came home for a while. And, even when I was home, I was just in and out basically. But, honestly, it's exciting. I was doing many things."