Photos by Bella Lee ; Written by Bella Lee
The iconic K-Pop star, Hwasa, made her entrance into Los Angeles unforgettable. Bold red filled the stage lights and Hwasa strutted onto the stage with a silver rhinestone outfit. The image of confidence, she raised her mic and began the night.
Hwasa, a member of the popular girl group Mamamoo, launched her solo career in 2019 with the release of her first single “Twit.” The track was a commercial success, earning recognition for its bold sound and Hwasa’s unique vocal style. In 2020, she released her first solo EP, “Maria”, which included the title track of the same name. “Maria” is an empowering title track with strong roots in Hwasa’s history in the K-Pop world. Since then, Hwasa has continued to explore diverse musical styles. Her work emphasizes self-love, empowerment, and individuality, making her a role model for many fans. Hwasa’s solo career is still growing, and she has remained a prominent figure in both the K-pop scene and the broader music industry.
Hwasa stands out as a unique artist in several ways, both musically and personally. Her voice has a deep, rich, and versatile voice that allows her to seamlessly blend different genres, from pop and R&B to Latin influences. Her vocal tone is often described as soulful, and she can easily transition between powerful belts and more subdued, vulnerable moments. Hwasa embraces a confident, unapologetic persona that breaks away from traditional K-pop beauty standards. She has often spoken about body positivity, self-acceptance, and embracing one’s flaws. Her image challenges typical gender norms and societal expectations, making her a role model for fans who appreciate authenticity and self-love.
The night started off strong with a performance of “HWASA” and “Chili”. Hwasa’s affinity for sexier concepts shined on the stage. The audience was fully invested and shouted their praise for the queen of sultry. She continued to perform vocal and dance-centered songs. Her vocal ability was on full display with “Snooze” (originally by SZA) and “Lemon.” Hwasa also performed a vocal cover and dance medley to “Diva” (originally by Beyonce), “Let’s Get Loud” (originaly by Jennifer Lopez), and “Toxic” (originally by Britney Spears).
Hwasa’s live performances are where she shines. She has a strong stage presence that commands attention, often exuding confidence, sensuality, and charisma. After a feigned ending speech, Hwasa entered the stage and brought back her roots with a Mamamoo medley. She performed “Decalomanie” and “Egotistic,” two of Mamamoo’s popular title tracks. Hwasa owned the stage throughout the performance, showing L.A. what it meant to be comfortable on the stage in the City of Stars.
In the middle of the night, a video played in the theatre, taking the audience into a vlog of L.A. nightlife. She went on a nighttime adventure through the streets of Los Angeles, taking her fans with her. K-Pop concerts often have what are known as “VCR’s” to break up the show into different acts. What made Hwasa’s concert different happened at the end of the night. A live applause meter appeared in the form of a loading screen. As the audience cheered, the text would fill up with color. As the cheering grew louder, the color filled more of the text. When the meter was full, Hwasa entered the stage with an encore that had the whole audience dancing with her. She ended the night with a cover of “LUNCH” (originally by Billie Eilish) and one of her latest singles, “I Love My Body.”
To mark the end of the night, Hwasa dedicated her success to the fans in the room. She reminded fans that they are all beautiful, to love themselves as they are, and to stay sexy. Hwasa’s undeniable energy left an impact, and her words held power to all the audience. Not a single soul would leave without her encouragement to love themselves more than anything else.
