Going into NMIXX’s London concert as a casual listener and leaving as a fully converted fan was the clearest measure of the night’s success.
From the moment I arrived at the Eventim Apollo, the atmosphere was unmistakable. Fans held pickets of their bias, and the crowd was full of carefully styled outfits that could have fit right in on stage. The sense of occasion was heightened by the final stop of the European leg.
With no support act, the pre-show atmosphere built naturally, a departure from Western concerts where at least one opening act is expected. Even the pre-show playlist differed from typical expectations; rather than featuring a mix of artists, it consisted solely of NMIXX tracks. A “JYP in London” video highlighted artists under the same label, drawing cheers for each appearance, but unsurprisingly, NMIXX got the loudest reaction.
By the time the group took to the stage, the crowd was already electric.
Opening with “O.O”, their debut track, felt like a full-circle moment, grounding the show in their beginnings before launching into two and a half hours of pure energy.
What stood out immediately was the live band. It was a five-piece ensemble that even included a saxophone that added levels and layers to familiar tracks, giving them new depth. It’s a detail that could easily go unnoticed, but it made a significant difference to my enjoyment of the show.
Vocally, the group was exceptional. Early performances with head mics left no room for error, yet every member delivered stable and powerful vocals, even while performing demanding choreography. Later, cute pastel-coloured hand mics added a fun visual charm.
Despite the vastness of the Eventim Apollo stage, NMIXX commanded it with an energy that filled every corner. Their stage presence was matched by an audience that sang, cheered, and responded to everything. The connection between artist and crowd felt constant, and was amplified by the group’s effort to rotate positions and engage all sides of the venue.
As a first-time attendee at a K-pop girl group concert, I was struck by the hairography and sparkling makeup – something that the boy-group concerts I have seen sadly lacked.
Across five outfit changes, each look introduced a different facet of the NMIXX identity, with video segments keeping momentum high during transitions.
My highlights included RICO, KNOW ABOUT ME, and TIC TIC, which showcased the group’s strengths: intricate choreography, vocal confidence, and charisma. TIC TIC in particular stood out. It was already one of my top songs of the year, and seeing it live solidified that.
Another highlight was the dance break featuring Bae and Kyujin. It felt like a throwback to early 2000s pop, complete with dramatic wind-swept hair and diva-level intensity.
The group leaned into the London setting with humor and charm, referencing their 2024 Hyde Park appearance and peppering talk segments with British slang and jokes, including “a cup of tea,” “you’re alright, mate,” and “innit”.
The emotional peak came with Blue Valentine, the final song before the encore. Its earlier mention had triggered a huge audience reaction, and the full performance delivered everything and more. Confetti rained down during the final chorus, and created a moment that felt like the perfect culmination of everything the concert had built toward.
Ultimately, NMIXX’s London show was a deeply emotional experience, reinforcing that music transcends language through performance and connection. For a first world tour, it didn’t feel like a beginning, and for me, it marked the moment I stopped being a casual listener and became a fan.
