Young R&B star to perform first solo Seoul show

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Young R&B star to perform first solo Seoul show

A 19-year-old Craig David burst onto the U.K. pop charts in 2000 with his debut album “Born To Do It,” which mixed R&B, two step (a sub-genre of U.K. garage music) and pop. With a string of hits from the album, this native of Southampton, England, gave a fresh twist to R&B for the new millennium. In particular, with the track “Fill Me In,” he became the youngest British male solo artist to have a number one single.
As part of an Asian tour, David will perform his first solo concert in Korea next Thursday at Olympic Park in Bangi-dong. The artist has performed showcase concerts in Korea to promote his second and third albums (in 2003 and 2005) but has never fronted a solo concert.
Born in 1981, David gained a fan base when he started remixing R&B with garage music on radio stations. He gained recognition from fellow musicians and producers such as Artful Dodger's Mark Hill by putting his own edge on songs like Damage's “I'm Ready” and Human League's “Human.”
Although the singer gained commercial success and artistic credibility among people in the industry, despite nominations for six songs on “Born To Do It” at the 2000 Brit Awards held in February of the next year, he walked away empty-handed. At the time, other musicians including Elton John, Bono of U2 and Robbie Williams protested that industry politics was in action and that David should have been recognized for his musical achievements.
His second album, “Slicker Than Your Average” was released in November 2002 and showcased a tougher, more mature side of the artist. David’s debut album was composed of polished songs with sleek vocals, sophisticated garage beats and a touch of acoustic sounds, but his second album had an edgier side that infused more hip hop and R&B elements into his music.
Released last year, his third album, “The Story Goes,” shows a much softer side of the singer. With mostly ballads and satiny rhythms, some critics have called the album bland. However, the album was well received by listeners who welcomed the polish they enjoyed on David's first album.


by Cho Jae-eun

The concert will be held on April 20, at 8 p.m. in Olympic Park in Bangi-dong, southeastern Seoul. The nearest subway is Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 5. Tickets range from 77,000 to 88,000 won ($80-92). For tickets, call 1544-1555. For more information, call (02) 563-0595.
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