Photo Cr. Megan Kan // KpopWise
Monday evenings often come with a lull after the freedom of the weekend. But this particular Monday in San Francisco felt different—because Junny was in town.
The Korean singer-songwriter and R&B artist brought his third North American tour to The Independent on March 2 for the third-to-last stop of the Null Tour. The intimate venue quickly filled to capacity, with fans packing the standing-only space for a sold-out show. Despite it being the start of the week, the crowd arrived ready to celebrate Junny’s music and the many songs he has released—and written for others—since his last tour.
Born in South Korea and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Junny returned to Korea in 2018 to pursue his music career. Now signed to Mauve Company, the singer, songwriter, and producer has carved out a distinctive place in the R&B, hip-hop, and pop landscape. Many listeners may know him for his own hits such as “By My Side,” but Junny has also made a name for himself as a songwriter, contributing to tracks like NCT Dream’s “Hot Sauce,” IU’s “Troll,” and Baekhyun’s “Bambi,” among others.
The evening began with a DJ warming up the crowd, setting the tone with groove-heavy tracks before Junny took the stage. When he finally appeared, the room erupted in cheers. He launched straight into the set with “Passion, Pain, and Pleasure,” “Energy,” and “Sour,” immediately establishing the show’s smooth yet high-energy atmosphere. From the start, Junny’s charisma and stage presence drew the crowd in.
Throughout the night, the setlist highlighted the diversity of Junny’s musical style. Collaborative tracks such as “Aura” (featuring pH-1), “Color Me” (featuring Chungha), and “Rush” (featuring Bobby) brought a lively energy to the performance.
At the same time, Junny balanced the upbeat moments with slower songs that showcased his vocals. Tracks like “Movie” and the fan-favorite “By My Side” created a more intimate atmosphere, giving the audience space to sing along.
Before performing “Thank You,” Junny shared a heartfelt message with the crowd:
“This song has been one of my top-played songs in my career, and it wouldn’t make sense not to perform it for you guys,” he said as fans cheered. “But I didn’t want to just play it the usual way. I wanted to make it special, so I prepared something different—an acoustic version for you guys. This is called ‘Thank You.’”
Originally released in 2018, “Thank You” remains one of Junny’s most beloved songs. Stripped down to an acoustic arrangement, the performance revealed a softer side of the singer as fans sang along while he pointed the microphone toward the crowd. It became one of the most memorable moments of the night.
Junny also took time between songs to reflect on his journey as a songwriter and the people who have influenced his career.
“I was blessed enough to feature in this song—shout out to Colde,” Junny said, prompting excited cheers from the audience. “He’s been like an older brother and mentor to me. He taught me how to approach music as an artist, and he once told me how proud he was to see me flourish and share my music with you guys on tour. Hearing that from someone like him meant so much to me. This is ‘Limbo.’”
Junny and Colde released “Limbo” on Junny’s 2025 album Null.
Highlights from the Night
By My Side
The guitar-driven ballad produced one of the biggest reactions of the night. As soon as Junny hinted that the song was coming next, fans erupted in cheers and began singing along almost instantly, waving their hands in the air.
Rush
The energy shifted dramatically when “Rush” began. The hip-hop-influenced track brought out Junny’s playful charisma, with fans chanting the lyrics while he danced across the stage. The song features Bobby of iKON, and Junny even took on Bobby’s rap verse himself—much to the crowd’s excitement.
Optimist
With its upbeat R&B-pop groove, “Optimist” brought another shift in the set. Junny moved to a mic stand as fans clapped along to the rhythm. The song features rapper BLASÉ, and Junny performed the rap verse himself after the smooth chorus, adding a fresh dynamic to the performance.
Invitation
Alongside “By My Side,” “Invitation (feat. Gaeko)” received the loudest reaction of the night. The moment the recognizable “tick, tick, tick” intro played, the entire room erupted. Junny later admitted he was surprised by the explosive response, noting that from the stage he could see fans’ faces light up the instant the song began. The track’s smooth R&B groove quickly transitions into a faster tempo during the pre-chorus, sending fans jumping, raising their arms, and chanting the lyrics.
Weight of Time
One of the most unique moments of the show came with “Weight of Time.” Before performing it, Junny explained the ambitious concept behind the nearly eight-minute track.
“This song took me weeks and weeks to finish,” he told the audience. “It’s actually a hybrid of four different songs combined into one. Writing something like a rhapsody has always been on my wishlist, so we created this song called ‘Weight of Time.’”
He continued by crediting his DJ and collaborator.
“Both of us spent so much time on it. When preparing for the tour, we even thought about changing it—but we decided we couldn’t. The way it was made is the way it should be performed.”
The song’s shifting tempos and layered structure showcased Junny’s creative ambition, highlighting his growth not only as a performer but also as a composer.
As the night came to a close, Junny reflected on his journey with a heartfelt message to the crowd.
“I’m from British Columbia, Canada, and I was able to pursue my dreams and make music,” he said. “It’s all thanks to you guys—because you listen to my music, support me, and come to my shows. Now this is my life.”
The sentiment captured the spirit of the evening: a night driven by connection between artist and audience, fueled by groove-heavy music and genuine appreciation.
If the sold-out San Francisco stop was any indication, Junny’s blend of R&B, hip-hop, and pop—and the sincerity behind it—continues to resonate deeply with fans.
Special thanks to Mauve Company and Junny for having us at the show.
