Big Ocean: “Our Christmas gift is our concert at the Bataclan!”

If you’re a regular Asia Artist Info follower, then you already know this: we really like Big Ocean. And we’ve probably seen them more this year than our own families! That should tell you just how much they love France too, since they’ll be coming back once again on Sunday, December 7th for their winter concert at the Bataclan in Paris.

They’ll be performing “RED-DY SET GO” live for the very first time, their Christmas single released on November 23rd. It’s a joyful, rhythm-driven track full of energy and festive vibes… but, as always with Big Ocean, it also carries a message that celebrates difference.We asked the group a few questions about the song, what fans can expect from their winter concert in Paris, and what we should be wishing them for the year ahead!

Hi Big Ocean and happy holidays! What’s the story behind your upcoming Christmas single, Red-dy Set Go?

Chanyeon: The idea started with Rudolph (editor’s note: the red nosed reindeer). We all grew up hearing that story and somehow always felt a little connected to the reindeer that was laughed at for being different. One day in the studio we asked ourselves: what if we made a Christmas song that sounds fun and festive on the surface, but actually talks about turning the thing you’re most insecure about into your superpower? That’s how “RED-DY SET GO” was born. It’s bright, it’s upbeat, but the lyrics are basically us telling our younger selves: “Your red nose is the reason you’ll light up the sky one day.”

What can we expect from your Christmas concert at the Bataclan?

PJ: A very warm 90 minutes. We’re calling it “HEARTSIGN” because we want everyone to feel the music through their eyes and chests, not just ears. Of course we’ll perform “RED-DY SET GO” live for the first time, plus re-arranged versions of our older songs with more sign-language storytelling and winter vibes. The stage will have a lot of soft lights and falling “snow,” and the Bataclan’s history makes the whole night feel even more meaningful, like we’re all healing and glowing together. Just come ready to feel cozy and leave feeling a little braver.

Since Christmas spirit is in the air. Will you give each other some presents?

Jiseok: (laughs) Haha, no, we don’t exchange gifts at all. We’re all quite practical (and honestly a bit shy) for that, so we just skip it every year. A good meal together and getting to perform is already more than enough for us. The real gift is going to be on December 7th at Bataclan — sharing the live stage of “RED-DY SET GO” with PADOS right there with us. That moment is going to feel warmer than any present we could ever buy.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? And what would you like to offer to Pados this Christmas?

PJ: The best gift I ever got was probably the vibrating smartwatch the company developed for us during trainee days; it literally changed how we feel the beat. This Christmas, the only thing we want to give Pados is the live debut of “RED-DY SET GO” at the concert and the feeling that they’re not spending winter alone. If our song can be someone’s background music while they wrap presents or walk home in the cold, that’s the gift we hope to give.

Looking back, what were your favorite moments from 2025? What do you wish for next year?

Chanyeon: 2025 really felt like the year everything started to feel bigger than we ever imagined: 30 Under 30 Asia, our first full Europe tour, and every single time PADOS travelled across oceans just to sing the chorus back to us with their own hands. Those moments still make my heart skip. But if I have to choose one, it’s definitely our sold-out Paris show this April: the entire venue glowing with phone lights and singing “Glow” together in perfect silence. I still get emotional thinking about it.

For 2026, we want to keep growing without losing who we are: more songs where our real voices shine through, bigger and fully accessible stages, and most importantly — meeting PADOS in way more cities, proving over and over that being different isn’t a flaw, it’s the light that leads the way. 

Thank you to Chanyeon, Jiseok, and PJ for their time, and to the teams at Parastar Entertainment for making this interview possible!

Interview conducted remotely. Quotes translated from English into French by Gabin Fontaine

Gabin Fontaine