Appearing seated on elevated steps like a princess in a glittery silver coat and white boots, IRENE opened the night with “Like A Flower”, “Best Believe”, and “MTV (My Timeless Video)” as 2026 IRENE ASIA TOUR [ I-WILL ] in Singapore kicked off at The Theatre at Mediacorp on 4 July 2026. Loud fan chants echoed throughout the venue from the very first song, setting the tone for a night that had been long awaited by Singapore ReVeluvs attending IRENE’s first solo concert in the country.
The concert eased into a softer mood with “Summer Rain”, where IRENE performed behind a transparent screen with rain visuals projected across it, creating a dreamy atmosphere. She followed it with “Face to Face”, allowing her expressive vocals to take centre stage as the emotion and longing in the song came through beautifully.
During her first talk segment with fans, IRENE reflected on how her previous visit to Singapore with SEULGI for 2025 IRENE & SEULGI Concert Tour [ BALANCE ] in SINGAPORE had also taken place on 4 July, exactly one year earlier. She also shared that Red Velvet has been working hard on their upcoming comeback and thanked fans for patiently waiting, saying the members are truly grateful for everyone’s continued love and support.
The conversation soon turned light-hearted when IRENE asked whether anyone had noticed something different about her appearance. She revealed that she had impulsively cut her fringe and joked that performing with bangs can be troublesome because sweat makes them stick to her forehead, while energetic choreography sometimes causes them to flip open “like a lid”. The unexpected comparison drew plenty of laughter from the audience, especially when she admitted that her hairstylist was not particularly happy with her decision to cut her fringe. IRENE also shared that after keeping black hair for a long time, she has been thinking about trying a brighter colour for the summer.
As the night progressed, the performances gradually shifted to a stronger and more mature concept. “Strawberry Silhouette” stood out with IRENE dancing against a vivid red backdrop while the lighting highlighted only her silhouette, creating one of the night’s most visually impactful stages. Fans responded with loud cheers throughout the performance, repeatedly chanting her real name, Bae Joohyun. The energy continued into “Calling Me Back”, which featured a confident chair dance before a short VCR break.
Returning in a black lace off shoulder top and matching shorts, IRENE immediately commanded the stage with “Black Halo” and “SPIT IT OUT”. The intricate choreography, sharp dancer formations, and stronger concept showcased a different side of IRENE from the softer opening stages. These were easily our favourite performances of the night, highlighting her confidence and stage presence as a solo artist.
Another conversation with fans that brought out IRENE’s playful side was the topic of her favourite fruit, durian! She excitedly shared that she had eaten durian and jackfruit earlier that day, adding that she was envious that the Singapore fans get to enjoy them so often. After realising it was durian season, she joked that it made sense why it tasted so good. When only a handful of fans admitted they liked jackfruit, IRENE laughed and encouraged everyone who had never tried it to give it a chance, describing it as slightly chewy but surprisingly delicious.
She also shared a few updates about Red Velvet, revealing that the group will finally be getting a brand new official lightstick for their comeback. When fans asked whether there would be a Red Velvet fan concert tour, IRENE apologetically replied that there would not. Asked about a possible encore for the Seoul concert, she playfully teased the audience by saying she would think about it, while quickly adding that she was only thinking about it and making no promises.
The final stretch of the concert featured her title tracks “Ka-Ching” and “Biggest Fan”, before transitioning into a special encore section with rearranged versions of Red Velvet songs including “Attaboy”, “Red Dress”, “Rookie”, and “Russian Roulette”. IRENE shared that hearing fans enthusiastically sing along to “Ka-Ching” always gives her strength and makes her feel incredibly thankful. She also sweetly asked fans in the front rows to share some of the scented confetti with those seated further back and on the upper floors.
For her final remarks, IRENE shared that she would carefully pack the fan banner into her luggage and bring it back to Korea. She thanked fans for helping her come this far and encouraged everyone to face the world bravely, even if they cannot always express themselves loudly. Her heartfelt words made for a touching ending before she closed the night with “Startline”, walking to every corner of the stage to wave goodbye. She expressed that she had so much fun performing in Singapore, thanked everyone for the beautiful banner event, reminded fans to get home safely, and told everyone to enjoy lots of good food.
One of the most memorable performances for us was “The Only”, where IRENE and her dancers each held Red Velvet lightsticks as they moved to different parts of the stage. The performance felt warm, comforting, and heartfelt, ending with the sweet lyrics, “You are the one for me, Wanna be with you, always.” It left us missing Red Velvet even more and looking forward to their upcoming comeback as a group.
Throughout the concert, IRENE showed many different sides of herself. There was the sweet and gentle IRENE, the confident and mature performer, and even the IRENE who enthusiastically talked about her love for durian and jackfruit. Whether it was dancing on a table during “Don’t Wanna Get Up”, performing the chair choreography in “Calling Me Back”, or delivering emotional ballads, the concert highlighted her versatility as a solo artist.
2026 IRENE ASIA TOUR [ I-WILL ] in Singapore was an enjoyable night that allowed fans to see IRENE’s charm beyond her activities with Red Velvet. It also left us even more excited for Red Velvet’s upcoming comeback, IRENE’s future solo releases, and hopefully another chance to see her perform in Singapore again.
KAvenyou would like to thank FriedRice Entertainment for the media invite to 2026 IRENE ASIA TOUR [ I-WILL ] in SINGAPORE!
Pictures by: FriedRice Entertainment
