[CONCERT RECAP] U-Know Sets the Scene: Inside U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE #1 in Singapore

U-Know’s first solo concert in Singapore unfolded across 25 songs, taking fans from high-energy performances to playful fan favourites and more intimate moments at The Theatre at Mediacorp.

Fifteen years is a long time to wait for a concert.

For Singapore fans of U-Know, that wait finally came to an end on August 15, 2026, when he returned to the city for U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE #1, his first solo concert in Singapore. At 5PM, The Theatre at Mediacorp became the setting for an evening that was equal parts performance, storytelling and connection — and, fittingly for a concert titled SCENE #1, felt more like a production unfolding in chapters than a straightforward run through a setlist.

Across 25 songs, U-Know moved from sleek and powerful performances to playful fan-favourite moments, emotional stories and glimpses into the person behind the performer. For a night that marked his long-awaited return to Singapore, he made sure there was plenty to remember.

Setting the Scene

U-Know wasted no time making an entrance.

The concert opened with “Time Machine,” with U-Know appearing in sunglasses and immediately commanding the stage. A light-up wristband displaying the official event name added another visual touch to the opening, reinforcing the feeling that the audience was stepping into the world of SCENE #1 from the very first moment. From there, “Drop” and “Follow” kept the momentum firmly in performance mode.

Three songs in, there was already little doubt about what kind of night this would be. The choreography was demanding, the delivery was sharp and U-Know appeared completely at home in the spotlight.

“Set in Stone” followed before the atmosphere took a playful turn with “Honey Funny Bunny.” The contrast was part of the fun. One moment, U-Know was delivering the kind of precision-driven performance that has become synonymous with him; the next, he was leaning into the cheekier, lighter personality of one of his most beloved solo tracks.

The Q&A that followed offered another glimpse of that personality. When a fan asked about the evolution of the Honey Funny Bunny choreography — particularly its shift from a more mature concept to something more playful — U-Know explained his thinking with the younger generation of fans in mind, even joking about how fans still look like kids to him. It was a small moment, but one that captured the easy humour that ran throughout the evening.

The show then moved into the “Komplikated + Swing + Jam” mashup, bringing three tracks together in one energetic sequence, before “Need You Right Now” carried the first stretch of the concert forward.

More Than a Performance

For all the choreography and spectacle, U-Know made it clear that SCENE #1 wasn’t designed to be experienced purely from a distance. He repeatedly opened up the conversation with the audience, including a Q&A about performing in a theatre of this size.

For U-Know, a smaller venue was not something to apologise for. Instead, he saw it as another kind of opportunity — a chance for an artist to adapt and connect, whether the audience consists of dozens of people or tens of thousands. That sentiment felt particularly fitting in Singapore. The Theatre at Mediacorp gave the evening an intimacy that a much larger arena might not have offered, allowing the distance between performer and audience to feel noticeably smaller.

And perhaps that was part of why the return mattered so much. After years without a Singapore stop, U-Know had specifically wanted the city to be part of this project, responding to the many fans who had been asking for his return. For regional fans, Singapore also offered an accessible meeting point — making the evening feel like more than another stop on a tour.

It was a return that had clearly been wanted on both sides.

When the Pace Slows

After the opening run of performances, the concert found a different rhythm with “La Rosa,” “An Ordinary Story” and “Waterfalls.”

The change was welcome. With the focus pulled back from choreography, U-Know’s vocals had more room to breathe, particularly during “An Ordinary Story.” The performance proved to be one of the night’s vocal highlights, with U-Know delivering the song with a level of control that culminated in soaring high notes. It was a reminder that beneath the elaborate staging and dance performances is a vocalist capable of holding the room’s attention with little more than his voice.

Then came “Spotlight,” bringing the energy back into sharper focus. The concert continued through “Tarantino,” “Why” and “City Lights,” each adding another colour to the night’s increasingly varied palette.

And somewhere between the performances, the audience chants and U-Know’s conversations with fans, SCENE #1 began to feel less like a showcase and more like an exchange.

A Story Worth Telling

That feeling became particularly strong during “Thank U.” The song arrived at a point in the concert where the relationship between U-Know and his audience had already been established, making its message feel especially fitting. But the evening’s most personal moment came with the time-capsule segment.

Fans had submitted memories and stories to be shared with U-Know, and one selected fan opened up about her recovery from spine reconstruction surgery — a difficult period that required her to relearn basic movements. She shared how U-Know’s own experiences and perseverance had given her motivation during her recovery. U-Know took the time to read her letter aloud in English and promised to write her a handwritten response. Then he sang “Curtain” for her.

It was a strikingly intimate moment within a concert otherwise filled with movement and spectacle. Suddenly, a song that might otherwise have simply been another point in the setlist became something personal: a message from performer to fan, and a quiet acknowledgement of how an artist’s story can reach someone far beyond the stage. It was perhaps the clearest example of what made the concert feel like more than a performance.

Looking Back to Move Forward

By the time U-Know reached the latter part of the show, he had already spent close to an hour and a half performing before taking another extended moment to speak about the thinking behind the stage arrangements. That conversation led into “Time’s Tickin’,” bringing the concert straight back into high-energy territory.

But the next scene offered something entirely different. Before another performance of “Spotlight,” the audience was shown footage of U-Know during his teenage training years. The image of the young performer practising was followed by U-Know returning to the stage alongside young Siho.

The effect was quietly powerful.

Here was U-Know as he is now, sharing the stage with a young performer while footage reminded the audience of the teenager he once was. It created a visual link between his beginnings and his present — a reminder of how much has changed, while suggesting that the ambition that drove him then has remained with him. Young Siho also held his own on stage, displaying an impressive sense of presence for his age, with U-Know offering encouragement and praise for what lies ahead.

It was one of the moments that made the title SCENE #1 feel especially appropriate. This wasn’t simply a concert about where U-Know is now. It was also a look at where he came from.

Turning Up the Heat

From there, the concert entered its final stretch with very little intention of slowing down. “Vuja De” and “Time’s Tickin’” brought the performance intensity back, before “Loco (House Party)” and “Eeny Meeny” shifted the atmosphere into full-on celebration.

The crowd energy was palpable, with fan chants adding another layer to the performances. The evening also made room for nods to U-Know’s wider musical history, with TVXQ tracks playing during the dancers’ segment and fans responding enthusiastically.

Then came “Body Language” and “Stretch,” keeping the focus firmly on U-Know’s performance strength. By now, there was a sense that the concert was building towards a final release of energy. And then came “26 Take-Off.” The title felt almost tailor-made for the moment.

After taking the audience through so many different moods and memories, U-Know appeared ready to send SCENE #1 into its final act — not as an ending, but as a launch.

The Final Scene

“Hit Me Up” kept the momentum going before U-Know returned to “Spotlight” for the closing performance. It was a fitting choice. Earlier in the concert, “Spotlight” had marked one of the transitions back into performance mode. Now, at the very end, it brought everything full circle.

The lights, the choreography, the music and the audience all converged around the same idea: this was U-Know’s stage. And then the final notes faded.

After 25 songs, SCENE #1 had reached its end. But the evening never really felt like a conclusion.

The First Scene of Something More

What made U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE #1 particularly memorable was the range of experiences packed into a single evening. There was the performer who could command the stage through “Drop,” “Follow,” “Vuja De” and “26 Take-Off.” There was the playful U-Know who emerged through “Honey Funny Bunny,” “Loco (House Party)” and “Eeny Meeny.” There was the vocalist who took centre stage during “An Ordinary Story” and “La Rosa.” And there was the U-Know who sat with a fan’s story, read her words aloud and answered them through “Curtain.”

Perhaps most importantly, there was the U-Know who looked back at his younger self and showed that, despite everything that has happened since those early training days, the person who first stepped into that scene is still somewhere within him. After 15 years away, U-Know didn’t simply return to Singapore. He returned with a story to tell.

And with U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE #1, he finally had a stage of his own on which to tell it. The first scene has played out. Now, everyone is waiting to see what comes next.

U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE#1 in Singapore is brought to the fans by FriedRice Entertainment. Team HelloKpop would like to extend gratitude to FriedRice Entertainment for the media invite.

Words by Yolande Goh

Image Souce: FriedRice Entertainment