DAVIDE K-POP

All the way from Taiwan, KIRE kicked off the show for Stray Kids at the BST Hyde Park 2024 as the first artist of the day, and let me tell you, he set the bar incredibly high!

But let’s start from the beginning. Although I didn’t manage to get an interview with him, I was lucky enough to meet him briefly backstage at the artists’ area to snap a selfie. He approached me in a stunning black suit and white vest, but what stood out the most were his necklaces—they were really cool (and so my style). I greeted him with, “Wow, you are so handsome!” and he graciously smiled. We chatted about his excitement for being in London for the first time. When I mentioned my trip to Taiwan back in 2019, he was pleasantly surprised and asked, “Are you sure you’re not confusing it with Thailand?!” We both laughed because it’s not every day someone mentions a visit to Taiwan. I assured him it was Taiwan, recounting my trip for Taipei Pride. If you guys don’t know, Taiwan is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Asia and the first to legalise gay marriage.

I also mentioned that I could speak a little Mandarin—big mistake! He started speaking to me in Mandarin, and I had to admit I only knew a few phrases (mainly introductions). He was impressed nonetheless. Little did he know since I didn’t mention this, most of my Mandarin vocabulary consists of playful insults from my partner. But let’s keep that between us!

Then it was showtime, and let me tell you, KIRE DELIVERED. He got the festival crowd hyped and ready! His excitement was palpable as he opened for Stray Kids.
Sky Yes no maybe 來 Come Yao Sun Don’t stop 美 Beautiful

KIRE began his set with “Sky” followed by “Yes No Maybe”, “來 Come” and “Yao”. “Sun” was a perfect choice considering the gorgeous weather after weeks of rain in the UK. During “Don’t Stop”, KIRE invited a girl from the audience to join him on stage, adding a spicy yet respectful touch to the performance.
Between songs, he handed out posters to fans from the stage!
The last song was a Chinese song, “美” and gave us a quick Mandarin lesson, “美” pronounced “Mei” means beautiful and he invited the audience to sing along—what a treat!
The overall performance felt too short, but it’s understandable given the festival’s lineup. Before leaving the stage, he snapped a picture with the audience. KIRE’s set was the perfect start to the day, paving the way for Stray Kids!

But the fun didn’t stop there. KIRE met a few fans later in the afternoon at the Soju station. Despite the massive line, unfortunately he couldn’t meet everyone due to safety reasons. Feeling a bit guilty, KIRE surprised fans with a meeting at St. Paul’s Cathedral the next day. And he didn’t stop at just two fan meetings—he even hid gifts around the city and shared clues on Instagram. Fans were quick to find them, so don’t bother looking now—they’re gone!

KIRE is an amazing performer and an even more amazing human being. If you’re not familiar with his music, do check it out and follow his IG here. He’s also hinting at a possible World Tour, so subscribe to his newsletter for updates (link on his website). I’ll share more info as soon as I know something!

I look forward to see you soon KIRE!