It hasn’t been an easy few years for LOONA members. Between legal action against and subsequent departure from their old label, to re-debuting in the Jaden Jeong project ARTMS, to a shaky first tour in 2023, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry have been through a lot.

But to fans, this tour is a triumph — a victory for Odd Eye Circle, having been through tough times yet coming out on top. It’s being able to see the group they’ve known since iconic “Girl Front” debut still stand strong on stage despite all they’ve persevered. 

Launching their first subunit U.S. tour “Volume Up” in New York City, Odd Eye Circle had Times Square’s Town Hall on their feet all night, in awe of three performers who have more than earned that fervor.

Solid as Solos

Between debuting with solos for LOONA, and being part of MODHAUS’ ARTMS strategy (a project that oversees the subunit, full group, and solo activities of members JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, HeeJin, and Choerry), the three members of Odd Eye Circle have had plenty of opportunity to grow as solo artists.

Images courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

The “Volume Up” tour allowed these solo skills to shine. Choosing to open their first U.S. tour with solo performances is bold, but the members’ star power and skill made it make perfect sense. The three solo performances established the group as three strong, individual artists and introduced each member’s personality, setting the stage for new and old fans alike to love the members’ unique colors.

Kim Lip kicked the night off with her debut “Eclipse,” bathed in moody red lighting and flanked by a troupe of backup dancers. Fans’ lightsticks shone in her signature red color and fans frantic cheers echoed off the gilded walls of the theater. A smooth R&B song with sultry floor choreography that accentuated Kim Lip’s cool and sensual aura, security had to make more than a few trips across the balcony, reminding screaming fans to not lean too far over the edge in their excitement. 

Image courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

Following Kim Lip was JinSoul, with the dramatic future bass track “Singing in the Rain.” Complemented with a baton choreo reminiscent of the song’s musical namesake, and JinSoul’s color blue glowing throughout the crowd, the performance made clear JinSoul’s position as a bold, vivid performer.

Image courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

Then was Choerry and her sparkling, bright dance-pop debut “Love Cherry Motion.” Shining brighter than the neon purple lighting surrounding her, Choerry’s infectiously bubbly song and choreography had fans in a frenzy of cheering, singing, and purple lightsticks. 

Image courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

On top of their solo music, each member treated audiences to a cover song, each further aligning their on-stage personalities. JinSoul had a honeyed take on SZA’s “Kill Bill,” while Kim Lip was very topical with her version of Tyla’s “Water” challenge, and Choerry amped the audience up again with the lively song “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa. 

Images courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

Good Things Come in Threes

As a unit, the girls are an impressive force. 2023 saw several trio subunit debuts: TWICE’s MISAMO, NCT DOJAEJUNG, SEVENTEEN’s BSS. But throughout these heavy hitters, Odd Eye Circle still made a splash.

Image courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

They’re perfectly coordinated on stage, in three-point formations that have all eyes on them. They’re hard to look away from: captivating performers that understand how to balance their presence to complement rather than overshadow the other members, creating one cohesive, alluring unit.

Images courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

Dazzling fans through old and new songs alike, members performed choreographed tracks from their latest album like “Je Ne Sais Quoi” and “Love Me Like.” They toned things down for slower ballad sets, perched on stools and serenading the audience with the likes of “Starlight” and “Lucid.” Throughout the latest release “Air Force One” and LOONA-era “LOONATIC” and “Sweet Crazy Love,” they spun effortlessly through fierce, synchronized choreography, balanced by sweet moments interacting with crowd members.

Images courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

Love Letter

Throughout the show, the members’ love for their fans was clear. From talking to audience members between songs to taking selfies during their encore, the girls spent every moment they weren’t performing making sure the fans were having the best time possible.

Images courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

As evidenced in their setlist, and in the closing performance of LOONA’s group debut “Hi High,” the concert was more than just a concert. It was a love letter to fans new and old; fans who had been there since their pre-LOONA era to the ones that were made in the crowd that night. It was also an ode to the path that brought them here, to their beginnings as Odd Eye Circle, to their LOONA days, and to everything the future holds. And based on their performance, the future has a lot of good things in store for them.

Image courtesy of Niamh Murphy.

The “Volume Up” tour continues through February, hitting stops in the U.S. and Mexico. Be sure to follow Odd Eye Circle and ARTMS across Instagram, Twitter, and Spotify for more music and updates from the tour. 

Want more Odd Eye Circle? Check out our recap of their Version Up debut here.

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