From 'Drowning' to Rock: WOODZ Repackages Military Viral Moment into Rock Stardom
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Singer WOODZ (Cho Seung‑yeon) leveraged a viral military performance of the rock ballad "Drowning" to pivot from a long, difficult trainee history into a bona fide rock act. After enlisting in 2024, his KBS2 appearance in uniform reignited interest in the two‑year‑old song and pushed it to No.1 on streaming charts. Post‑military, WOODZ embraced a rock direction, performing at major festivals including Summer Sonic 2025 and headlining a two‑night solo concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium with a 360° stage, live band, and a mix of dance, hip‑hop and rock arrangements. He previewed unreleased tracks and teased a new full album and a related film. Critics praised his versatility but noted vocal and stylistic critiques and worried the "military WOODZ" and "Drowning" label might overshadow his new artistic identity. (Jamsil Indoor Stadium: a major Seoul venue; Summer Sonic: Japan’s large rock festival)
