Photo Cr. Melanie Muñoz // KpopWise
Fans were treated to her commanding stage presence and remarkable vocal range. Opening with her self-titled track 'HWASA' immediately established the evening's tone—bold, unapologetic, and thoroughly entertaining.
The crowd erupted as she navigated through an expertly curated setlist that balanced her solo works with cover songs of other iconic singers dubbed the Mother medley of Beyoncé, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears.
What made the concert particularly special was HWASA's genuine connection with her Chicago fans. Between songs, she shared personal anecdotes and expressed gratitude in both Korean and English, creating intimate moments in an otherwise high-energy show.
The production values complemented her performance perfectly—the lighting design emphasized her powerful choreography while the dancers were the epitome of professionalism.
Standout moments included an emotional 'LMM' that got many fans teary-eyed, and a show-stopping performance of 'NA' that had the entire venue dancing along. Her encore performance of 'LUNCH' by Billie Ellish served as the perfect high-note conclusion to an unforgettable evening.
For both longtime MOOMOO fans and newcomers to her music, HWASA's Chicago concert confirmed her status as one of K-pop's most compelling solo performers—an artist who continues to defy expectations while remaining authentically herself.
HWASA will continue the tour in Europe later in this year.
All photography by Melanie Muñoz @visualbymel
Special thanks to P Nation and Livenation for the opportunity!