Imagine you are at the beach. The sun is beaming down on you gently as you lay on the warm, glimmering sand. The ocean is crashing blissfully in your ears, followed by a soft sea breeze. You cannot help but feel relaxed. That same level of peace and comfort is what it feels like to attend a wave to earth concert. 

It’s feel-good music. I take it in like oxygen. 

Immediately when I entered The Variety Playhouse, I was overwhelmed by a sense of calm. A kaleidoscope of colors pulsed across the stage, shifting between a cool palette of blues, pinks, and purples. It seemed as though I was about to be transported to another world. 

Then, someone appeared as their opener: slchld (Seoul Child). I had never listened to his music prior to the show, but I already knew I would enjoy it just by his stage presence. The smile on his face was misleading as he began to sing about the complex themes of experiencing heartbreak. Streams of violet cascaded over his silhouette as he crooned through “pieces,” which is now my favorite song of his. Among others, I thoroughly enjoyed “she likes spring, I prefer winter,” “you won’t be there for me,” and “obsidian.” slchld’s smooth, melodic voice is one I look forward to hearing more of, and I can’t wait to see how he grows as an artist. 

Finally, it was the moment everyone was waiting for. The lights lowered and anticipation built, followed by a shocking glow of yellow. Wave to earth stood there before me, looking as though they were basking in a glorious ray of sunlight. Daniel Kim (lead vocalist and songwriter), Dong Kyu Shin (drummer), and Jon Cha (bassist) each took their positions on stage, ready to perform. 

They opened with one of my favorite songs, “bad,” and I felt like I was floating. The band has this unexplainable ability to put anyone in a good mood. I don’t know if it’s their heavenly harmonies, positive energy, or soothing instrumentation, but I could listen to them forever. The set only got better from there as they moved on to songs such as “sunny days” and “peach eyes” which left the audience swaying where they stood. 

I think my dearest memory from the show was being able to witness the song “seasons” live. It is the first wave to earth song I ever listened to, and it made me fall in love with the band and their artistry as a whole. Upon hearing it live, I took notice of how the piano throughout the song almost sounded like tears or rain falling. The song itself is a ballad, soft and full of yearning, with lyrics containing rich metaphors and imagery. They tell the tale of a person who has developed deep feelings for someone they know they cannot have. Its bittersweetness is something I find genuinely quite beautiful. 

Another moment that stood out would have to be hearing “Calla,” followed by a killer drum break by Dong Kyu. The versatility of the band’s skills is exceptional, having the ability to both lull its audience into a spellbinding trance while also exuding rockstar-level talent. I was extremely impressed by their performance. 

Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, I think it is really cool that the band chooses to sing in Korean for a few of their songs, paying homage to their roots and culture. Daniel’s voice transcends the language barrier, as you can feel the weight of his emotions through his velvety vocals. The song that I think captures this best is definitely “love.” with its swoon-worthy tone and dreamy electric guitar accompaniment. 

By the end of the night, I had come to the conclusion that this was the best show I’ve ever been to. Keeping this in mind, it is safe to say I will be listening to wave to earth for “all my life, my seasons”.

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Read more about wave to earth with our review of their album, flaws and all.