IVE arrived on the Ok-pop scene in December 2021 and rapidly grew to become the trade’s subsequent dependable hitmaker with three addictive but distinctly distinctive singles: the exotically intriguing pop of “Eleven,” the snappy, runway-ready throbber “Love Dive,” and the Gloria Gaynor–sampling disco replace “After Like.” However by the differing sounds, the lady group’s identification linked with Ok-pop followers due to simple cohesion and confidence to tug off no matter style or idea that got here subsequent. That spirit stays robust of their first full-length album, the multidimensional I’ve IVE, which sees the Ok-pop stars to observe taking the subsequent huge step of their profession alongside a brand new U.S. label companion in tow.
Even earlier than IVE’s official debut, anticipation was already excessive for the six-piece led by Yujin and Wonyoung, two of the preferred members from the sensational-but-temporary lady group IZ*ONE (who earned three entries on the World Albums chart and 6 on World Digital Track Gross sales throughout their two-and-a-half years collectively), in addition to contemporary faces in eldest member Gaeul, Japan-born Rei, energy vocalist Liz, and youngest member Leeseo. From excessive kicks off the bottom to concurrently spinning and singing, the group developed beneath Korean super-label Starship Leisure stood out for shifting equally as one, even with various levels of authentic star energy between members.
The identical substantial stability comes by in I’ve IVE as the women previewed their LP with the enjoyable and rowdy chant-a-long buzz observe “Kitsch” earlier than dropping the power-pop bomb lead single “I Am.”
Throughout the LP, IVE is eager to current themselves as no matter form of lady group the listener could take pleasure in however with their very own added chunk of self-assurance. The primary pay attention of the sunny “Not Your Woman” recollects any flirty, feel-good ditty till the lyrics make it clear they’re not staying except there’s a dedication and intention from the love curiosity. Plus, the opening observe, “Blue Blood,” takes a typical perception in South Korea that one’s blood sort predicts their persona for IVE to declare themselves pure-hearted and distinctive over a darkish, marching beat. Different standouts embody the bossa nova influences by a plead for honesty on “Lips,” whereas “Heroine” is an invocation of self-assurance written by Yujin advised by quirky electro-pop manufacturing, and “Mine” explains cute infatuation by angelic harmonies and sweet metaphors penned by Wonyoung.
Yujin, Wonyoung, Gaeul and Rei all boast writing credit by the LP that IVE says spotlights their perception in self and each other above any type or sound.
“Energy and confidence are, outright, probably the most key idea,” Wonyoung says throughout a night Zoom interview with Billboard. The member most snug with English, Wonyoung’s warmness is palpable by the display as she’s keen to talk about the group’s desires and her views on fame. As untouchable as IVE seem on stage, there’s an simple relatability from sitting down to speak with them. Liz has a hilarious, no-bars-held candidness to her responses. On the similar time, Gaeul makes use of her perspective because the oldest to fill in any lacking particulars from her members and ensures everybody will get due credit score, together with shouting out their chief’s talents when Yujin prearranged schedule didn’t permit her to hitch this chat.
“We’re very excited to indicate such a wide range of music kinds in IVE’s first album,” Yujin says in an announcement to Billboard after the interview. “This album is tremendous significant to me because it’s our first full-length album and in addition as a result of I participated in writing the lyrics for the primary time. This album is sort of a bundle of various variations of IVE, and it has the distinctive shade of IVE. I hope you stay up for our album and lots of different plans.”
Be taught extra about IVE’s colours, plans and extra under.
Congratulations on this spectacular full album, IVe. What’s everybody’s favourite track on the album?
Wonyoung: Mine is “Mine,” I wrote the lyrics too, so, I adore it.
Liz: My favourite track is our title observe [single], “I Am.”
Gaeul: I just like the track “Hypnosis” as a result of me and Rei wrote the lyrics to it, and it was probably the most enjoyable to put in writing the lyrics for that track.
Leeseo: “Shine With Me” is my favourite track as a result of Wonyoung wrote the lyrics to it to hyperlink us to our followers, DIVE. It’s a message to their followers and the melody is particularly very emotional to me.
Rei: “Cherish” as a result of once we first listened to the demo, I might think about how the members would have the ability to sing the track. After which as soon as I listened to the finished track, I actually beloved the best way it turned out.
We’re solely with the 5 of you as we speak. Does anybody know Yujin’s favourite track?
Wonyoung: “Heroine” or “Kitsch,” possibly?
As you talked about, you have been very concerned in loads of the songwriting on this album, a few of you even the only real lyricist. What are your songwriting processes like?
Wonyoung: At first, I simply hearken to the track, simply to get the sensation and set my thoughts proper, normally at my house or in my room. If I get a sure feeling, I simply write the entire track first after which simply make little mixes, little adjustments. I like the method and I actually love writing lyrics.
Rei: As soon as I obtain the track, it’ll may have a clean portion with out the rap, so I simply form of think about a narrative and write lyrics in keeping with that.
IVE has been profitable with simply three singles, however now it’s a full-length album with many extra songs. Why was now the fitting time to make a studio album with “Kitsch” and “I Am” for singles?
Wonyoung: We’ve all the time had the need to indicate a full album and our full energy. For “Love Dive,” “After Like” and “Eleven,” I believe we simply made steps and strides with little-but-strong power between us and DIVE. Now, we simply thought that is the time to indicate our full-length and full power to them. We actually ready quite a bit for this season and, now, we’re prepared.
Gaeul: We selected “Kitsch” because the pre-release single as a result of we need to present a aspect of IVE that we haven’t proven earlier than and form of break away from the picture that we’ve all the time had as a gaggle. We wished to problem ourselves. And I really feel like “I Am” is the lead single as a result of our album title is I’ve IVE, and we thought that “I Am,” as a observe by itself, would match probably the most to the idea of the album.
I’ve heard debates about this however, in your individual phrases, what’s IVE’s idea or essential message?
Wonyoung: I believe a very powerful idea of us is of self-loving and self-love. However not only for us, we all the time need to say, “Please love your self” to the entire listeners too. The facility and confidence is, outright, probably the most key idea for us.
There are nice messages within the “Kitsch” video too: The “You’re so bizarre, don’t change” neon signal. Or your jackets with “Books, not gun. Tradition, not violence” patches. Are you able to speak about different messages you’re embracing?
Wonyoung: Primarily, we wished to say, not only for us, however that you would be able to change like us and may do every part and something like us. The primary [point] was, it’s not nearly us—be part of us, be part of our tradition and take part on every part. We simply wished to offer listeners the facility of believing in themselves. If we’re trustworthy, the sentence and mottos have been a bit in cooperation with our director and the director’s concepts too however we labored on all of it collectively.
I need to additionally congratulate you as a result of IVE simply signed with Columbia Data. What can we stay up for with this partnership?
Wonyoung: We’re actually honored for that. First, we’re actually excited to work with one other label and with different locations like Columbia. We’re, proper now, actually excited, and we’re actually trying ahead to that proper now. For the beginning with Columbia, we actually need to attain out to international followers all around the world. We’re, proper now, making ready quite a bit for our international followers.
Are there any plans you may share proper now? Any deliberate visits to the U.S.?
Wonyoung: First, our “Promenade Queens” fan-meeting tour will begin with the Asia tour, and, hopefully, sooner or later, we actually need to attain out In America, and in every single place else abroad. And never only for fan concert events, however we actually need to go to the world to carry out our personal concert events. So, simply preserve cheering for us and hopefully you all can be part of us quickly.
I’ve IVE is your first document eligible for the album charts on Billboard. Do you’ve any chart desires?
Wonyoung: Even from our first track, we’re actually honored to have our title on the Billboard chart and actually grateful for that. Hopefully, sooner or later, we actually need to go to Billboard in America with the six of us. We’ll put together quite a bit in preparation for that day.
You might be all very robust and charismatic personalities by yourself but in addition very cohesive as a staff—your choreography is seamless even if you spin and kick. What’s your teamwork secret?
Wonyoung: I believe it’s the facility of believing in one another; we simply have a powerful sense of perception between us. I allow them to do every part they need and so they let me do every part I would like. I believe that makes the perfect cooperation between us; the idea.
Rei: Throughout dance practices, we’ll use counting to match one another. For a extremely necessary half, we’ll cease and repeat that half and preserve repeating it in order that throughout the precise performances, we’ll consider the follow in our minds. That’s additionally how we keep so in sync with one another.
Wonyoung: Dance practices are fairly intense. For a very long time, we might make and work on the choreographies day-after-day for six hours or one thing. I believe it’s fairly intense, however we’re all the time enthusiastic to indicate our followers and DIVEs the performances so I believe that’s the motivation for us.
Gaeul: Additionally, Yujin actually helps with the main points throughout dance practices and is prepared to show particular person members totally different elements. She actually does her half because the chief of the group.
Equally, how do you keep effectively? Followers can see you so busy however may fear about your bodily, emotional, and psychological well being. How do you keep robust?
Wonyoung: If there’s nothing scheduled for the day, I spend time all on my own, simply recovering on the skin and, after all, on the within. Really, I like to work out and do loads of totally different workouts. On an off day, I’ll consider my inside by listening to music; simply hanging out on my own and figuring out helps me too. It appears like I’m therapeutic myself.
Leeseo: I make sure that I’m sleeping quite a bit, ensuring I’m taking my nutritional vitamins, and caring for my physique bodily.
Liz: I consider that it’s a must to be mentally robust, or internally robust, so as so that you can be bodily or outwardly robust. For me, I actually deal with believing in myself and believing in my selections.
You do present such energy and confidence in yourselves. Wonyoung, you’ve spoken about this prior to now, however what would IVE’s recommendation be for individuals needing that additional confidence?
Wonyoung: I need to say, you’ve extra of the great occasions than robust occasions. Robust occasions and unhealthy feedback don’t take away every part that’s good: simply consider the great, know you’re a great individual, and simply consider your self, your constructive relationships and the great occasions. I believe that’s the necessary factor—simply don’t thoughts them.
Liz: I like to simply deal with the good people who find themselves saying good issues quite than giving consideration to the haters or negativity. I believe that it’s a must to make sure in your self so that you just don’t get sidetracked by any hate.
Do you’ve every other messages? Perhaps to the worldwide followers hoping to see you quickly?
Gaeul: We’re working actually arduous to achieve our international followers, so I want they’ll simply wait a bit bit longer for us.
