TEN brought his U.S. Showcase Tour to The Novo in Los Angeles on Oct. 24. The Thai artist, known for his work with WayV, NCT and SuperM, is now building a solo career under his own label, ILLIMNT. Onstage, he looked every bit the pop star, with expressive choreography and charismatic presence.
The show opened with a run of dance-forward performances that put TEN’s showmanship front and center. He began with the sultry hip-hop R&B track “STUNNER,” followed by the dramatic electronic sound of “Nightwalker.” The first section focused on choreography, flair and theatrics. At times, the pre-recorded audio threatened to overwhelm the performances, but TEN’s vocals came through in the strongest moments. “Shadow,” for example, showed off his high, breathy vocals and bright high notes.
TEN kept things entertaining between songs. He joked that a friend had told him Los Angeles could be “pretty nonchalant,” then challenged the crowd to bring more energy. Later, he riffed on Gen Z slang and his status as a 30-year-old. He was quick with a joke and clearly enjoyed thinking on his feet.
The pace shifted in the second half as TEN slowed things down with acoustic arrangements of some of his songs. “New Heroes” took on a piano arrangement, giving his vocals room to shine. Touches of reverb added texture to the stripped-back sound. On “Water,” he held notes with striking control, then drew the audience into the chorus. Spontaneous ad-libs made the performance feel especially powerful.
A new ballad, “Can I Be Honest,” offered an early preview of TEN’s next album. Its melodic R&B sound explores doubts, demons and emotional turmoil, adding a more vulnerable note to the set.
The energy rose again with the live debut of “Waves.” TEN then invited the audience to treat the show like “a karaoke night with friends” before performing “IRL.” Its upbeat melody and playful choreography had the crowd singing along. “Enough for Me” kept the pop-star momentum going with a catchy chorus, while “BAMBOLA” stood out for its electro sound and fun dance style.
Before the final song, TEN gave his four dancers the floor to introduce themselves. He also recalled that Los Angeles was the first city he visited in the U.S. The set concluded with his latest ear-worm single, “OUTWEST.” But TEN wasn’t ready to call it a night as he returned for an encore remix of “OUTWEST,” turning the venue into a party and inviting his dancers to freestyle to the electronic beat.
