Fan Chant is our weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies, and this week we welcome back rising girl group IVE. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to subscribe to my companion newsletter!
In 2022, girl groups in K-pop were dominating. When it came time to round up ten of the acts that defined the year, one essential inclusion was IVE, the six-member team out of Starship Entertainment who reached new heights with their breakout single “After Like.”
At the time, IVE member Leeseo was already looking ahead to the coming year, acknowledging their quickly growing fan base and telling Consequence, “In 2023, I wish for us to get more chances to meet DIVEs in person. Being with our fans is a phenomenal experience.”
Now, as we are somehow already approaching the end of the year, all the members of IVE (An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo) have had plenty of chances to do just that. A few weeks ahead of their latest release, an EP titled I’VE MINE, the girls jumped on Zoom to reflect on the many milestones they’ve hit in 2023.
“We want to revisit LA as soon as possible!” Wonyoung says, recalling how much fun all they had during KCON LA and while filming one of the music videos for their latest project. “When we met our global fans on the stage, their power was amazing,” she says. “We can never forget that. All our fans have great energy, but we’re really cheerful when we’re there — the LA vibe, maybe.”
As the group approaches only their second anniversary and the members continue to explore just what makes up IVE’s sound, they’ve allowed themselves room to try something different with I’VE MINE, expanding beyond the (undeniably catchy) samples and glittery pop that have defined their musical identity so far. “Baddie,” in particular, pushes them into flirtatious hip-hop territory. “I’m happy to show our fans a new side; the song is really hip and cool,” says Gaeul. “I’m excited to do something different.”
