Article and interview script by Léane Cotrel
Concert report and interview conducted by Aubry Miller
On January 11th 2026, at The Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York, Junhee transformed a packed venue into his own “Ocean.” Between emotional performances, powerful vocals, and heartfelt moments shared with fans, the Korean solo artist delivered an intimate and unforgettable night.
Electrifying Energy : A Night of Sincerity in New York
That mood in New York that evening was electrifying. From the first note to the final encore, Junhee was cheered and encouraged by the enthusiastic crowd that filled the venue. Blending tracks from his first mini album The First Day & Night, A.C.E songs, and pop and R&B covers, Junhee showcased both his vocal range and remarkable stamina. One of the most striking moments came with his emotional cover of ROSÉ’s toxic till the end, where his stable, heartfelt vocals left the audience in awe. Attentive and genuinely connected to his fans, he shared personal interactions throughout the show from recognizing someone who had attended one of his earlier concerts to playfully tasting Levain cookies on stage and giving his honest review. The encore brought even more of Junhee, with several songs from his mini album performed once again, sealing a night marked by warmth, closeness, and pure musical sincerity.
Aubry : Today we’re in New York with Park Junhee, currently on his JUNHEE US TOUR <Into the Ocean>. Could you introduce yourself ?
Junhee : Hello everyone, I’m Junhee, a solo artist from Korea. After realeasing my album, I’ve started my frist US solo tour. Please look forward to what’s coming next.
Aubry : You came to New York in the middle of your tour. At this halfway point, how do you feel compared to the beginning of the tour ?
Junhee : Honestly I’m still nervous. Every time I perform, I fell nervous every moment. I’m not completely comfortable yet. But talking with the audience and interacting with them, has definitely started to feel more natural, so I think I’m getting used to it. I’ve gotten more opportunities to talk with fans on stage despite my nervousness.
Aubry : The tour name <Into the Ocean> feels very symbolic. What meaning does it hold for you ?
Junhee : Yes, that’s right. The first reason is that I really love summer. The second is that the word « Ocean » was something I originally wanted to use as my debut name back when I was active in the group A.C.E, just as a stage name or nickname. After that I promoted as Junhee, but I kept thinking the meaning of « Ocean » was really beautiful. Since I also love summer, for this tour I wanted to show everything I possibly could.
So I named it « Into the Ocean » and invited my fans into my « Sea » to enjoy it together.
Aubry : On this tour, you’re sharing not only your solo work, but also covers and songs from A.C.E. Why did you want to present all these sides of yourself on one stage ?
Junhee : During the performance, I share many stories, and I show different sides of myself through singing and performing. All of this feels like another way to show who I really am. I wanted to show what I’m good at, and also sides of me that I haven’t been able to show before. So I prepared songs that could highlight that. And not only solo tracks, but also songs that fans can sing along to and enjoy together, so I thought it could show my charm in many ways, and that’s how I prepared the album.
The Narrative Behind The First Day & Night
While celebrating his solo career and his many talents on stage, Junhee has also designed his first solo project as an immersive and chronological journey. This attention to detail is particularly reflected in the very structure of his record, where every note feels tied to a specific moment of daily life.
Aubry : The First Day & Night is structured over 24 hours, with song titles referencing different times of the day. What inspired you to use time as a concept, and how does it shape the story you wanted to tell through the album ?
Junhee : The message I wanted to deliver with this album is that when you listen to a song, I want you to think « This feel like this time of day to me. » That’s why I added time watermarks to each track. Most of all, I used the First Day and Night because I wanted to commemorate the very first day I started as a solo artist, the beginning of a new chapter.
I hope that when people listen to my album, they imagine this time and this feeling and at the same time I hope they’ll create their own time and meaning for it too. That’s the mindset I had while making this album.
Aubry : This album is also a very cinematic and personal. Beyond the time-based concept, what emotions or personal experiences did you want to convey to your listeners through this project ?
Junhee : I wanted to create an album that I could give to my fans. Many of the songs talk about relationships with others and the many different sides of those relationships. Some songs are about losing someone you love, missing someone after a breakup, and various emotions like that. I hope listeners can relate to these feelings and express themselves through these songs.
Aubry : It blends differents musical genre such as, Synthpop, Disco basslines and various sound elements. What drew you to explore these styles on one album ?
Junhee : Through this album, by using various musical genres and styles, I wanted to show that I’m an artist who can express many genres, and that I’m not afraid to challenge myself with new styles.
Since this is my first solo project, I wanted to use many different songs and express different emotions, so I had many goals with this album.
Aubry : Is there one track that you feel perfectly captures the essence of the album, both musically and emotionally ?
Junhee : I feel like Night is very special to me. This is one of the songs on this album that I wrote and composed myself. So the story and lyrics of that song reflect my personal emotions. And every time I perform it live, I feel like I can reveal a different part of that story.
Aubry : Any last words ?
Junhee : I love you guys, thank you so much.
With his journey far from over, Junhee is already set to continue his tour in Europe this March, with a stop in London scheduled for April, as previously announced. And this is only the beginning : stay tuned, because the Soul Stage adventure with Junhee is just getting started and this time, in Europe.
Thank you to Park Junhee for accepting this interview.