WOODZ
Polished K-pop production meets the raw edge of early 2000s rock. Versatile vocals that glide from smooth R&B to soaring, guitar-heavy anthems.
Polished K-pop production meets the raw edge of early 2000s rock. Versatile vocals that glide from smooth R&B to soaring, guitar-heavy anthems.
WOODZ sounds like the intersection of a high-budget cinematic score and a late-night basement rock show. His music is defined by a restless versatility, moving fluidly between slick, bass-heavy R&B grooves and explosive pop-punk energy. There is a consistent sense of 'blue' melancholy running through his work, even in the more upbeat tracks, anchored by a vocal performance that can shift from a delicate, breathy falsetto to a powerful, gritty belt in a single breath.
What makes him truly distinctive is his autonomy as a producer and songwriter within the K-pop ecosystem. He doesn't just perform; he constructs entire sonic worlds that feel deeply personal and slightly left-of-center. You'll hear unexpected textures like distorted guitar riffs paired with trap-influenced percussion, or lush synth pads that suddenly give way to a raw, live-drum breakdown. It is music that feels both meticulously engineered and emotionally unrefined.
For those new to his catalog, 'EQUAL' is the essential starting point to hear his range. It captures the transition from his hip-hop roots into the multi-genre auteur he has become. If you prefer a more cohesive rock sound, 'COLORFUL TRAUMA' leans heavily into nostalgic pop-punk and grunge influences that showcase his ability to command a live-band aesthetic.
Cho Seung-youn (Korean: 조승연, born August 5, 1996), known professionally as Woodz (우즈; stylized in all caps), is a South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He rose to fame as the main rapper of the South Korean-Chinese boy band Uniq, formed by Yuehua Entertainment in 2014, before co-founding the musical collectives M.O.L.A in 2015 and Drinkcolor in 2016. He co-founded his personal production team, Team HOW, in 2018. He is a former member of the South Korean boy group X1. Following an appearance on the fifth season of the South Korean rap competition show Show Me the Money, Woodz debuted as a solo artist under the stage name Luizy in July 2016, with the release of the collaborative hip-hop single "Recipe". He changed his stage name to Woodz in 2018 to accommodate shifts in musical direction. His releases as Woodz—including the singles "Pool", "Different", and "Meaningless"—delved into alternative R&B and featured heavier emphasis on vocals. In addition to his solo work, he has written and produced songs for artists in both his native South Korea and China, as well as for the shows The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project and Idol Producer. In 2019, Woodz participated in the South Korean survival show Produce X 101. Finishing in fifth place, he became a member of the show's project boy band, X1, which debuted under Swing Entertainment in August 2019. Following the group's disbandment on January 6, 2020, in the aftermath of the Mnet vote manipulation investigation, Woodz resumed his solo career by releasing his first EP Equal on June 29, 2020, with the lead single "Love Me Harder" (파랗게).
Shares pop rock, alternative rock, synth-pop (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares pop rock, indie pop, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares pop rock, indie pop, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares pop rock, synth-pop, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares pop rock, synth-pop, alternative rock (subgenres); rainy day, late night, urban night (atmosphere)
Shares pop rock, indie pop, synth-pop (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares pop rock, indie pop, alternative rock (subgenres); bittersweet, defiant, energetic (moods)
Shares pop rock, indie pop, synth-pop (subgenres); electric guitar, keys/synth, drums (instrumentation)
Shares pop rock, alternative rock, indie pop (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares pop rock, indie pop, alternative rock (subgenres); bittersweet, defiant, energetic (moods)
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