Connecting with ONEW in Detroit

Photos: Ciara Glagola

On a cool April evening, the historic Fillmore Detroit was illuminated with the blue glow of 샤팅 스타 (SHINee’s lightstick). As night fell, ONEW took to the stage for the second date of his ONEW The Live: Connection Tour. 

Over the course of the next two hours, the singer captivated attendees with a setlist of nearly twenty songs, including his first all-English track, “MAD.” Regardless of whether the song was high energy, such as “DICE” and “만세,” or a more emotion-heavy track like “Illusion” and “Always,” the crowd was highly engaged. From the floor to the balconies, the theater was full of fans enthusiastically dancing, swaying, and singing along, making sure that ONEW’s wish to connect with the audience was well granted. 

Though filling up the stage as just one person could be a burden for some, ONEW did so as easily as breathing. His voice, like a warm cup of tea, felt like a comforting embrace, and his presence followed suit. Even in his talking segments, he had an effortless charisma, shown well in the way he playfully joked around with the audience like an old friend. 

Perhaps it is his candidness that makes ONEW so charming, not only in his lighthearted moments, but in the heavier ones, too. As the night drew nearer to its close, he took a moment to express how much he hoped that the concert could serve as a happy memory when fans are having a hard time in their lives. “Whatever you’re feeling or experiencing, for that one night, I want to be on your side.”