IVE have been famous for approximately five minutes, and they already talk like a group that skipped the small talk and went straight to the thesis statement. “We don’t want to go the easy way,” they say. “We want to experiment with many new genres.” After Like, their summer rocket, “has a strong and bold message… show your actions more than your heart.” Translation: stop telling us, show us—and they proceed to do exactly that.
The name is the tell. IVE, short for “I have,” is less a moniker than a mission. “We wanted to show everyone what we have got,” they say, stressing the we. Confidence is the brand, but it’s not posturing. “We try to be really confident,” another member adds, “and in my mind, literally a confident person. I try to be like that.” In a universe that rewards hedging, the group opts for declarative sentences.
They grew up on K-pop the way some kids grow up on soccer: early and obsessive. “My older sister really liked K-pop,” one recalls. “I started at seven. At that time, Girls’ Generation was an icon.” It tracks. IVE’s own debut, “Eleven,” felt like a passing of a glittering baton—clean lines, a hook that nests in your skull, and the attitude of a group that arrived preassembled. When the hits and trophies started pouring in, they didn’t panic. “Rather than feeling pressured,” a voice says, “I was really looking forward to our next steps… I was happy to experience all the things.” Nothing about this feels temporary.
“Love Dive” widened the scope, and “After Like” blows the doors off. It’s bright, summery, and pointed. “Confident,” they repeat, almost like a mantra. “It shows our freedom.” Where many rookies chase the algorithm, IVE chase breadth—“experiment with many new genres”—and mean it. The booth controls matter, too; this is a group that thinks about sequencing, contrast, and how songs sit together like puzzle pieces. “We want to pull you in,” they say, “with the diverse genres we can pull off.” Consider the dare accepted.
The multilingual thing isn’t a marketing trick; it’s part of the craft. “Korean is better for delivering the message,” one member admits, “but in English we focus on pronunciation.” The solution is obvious: use both. “We have a lot of global fans,” they add. “It’s easier to understand than if it were a song in a single language.” Pragmatic, sure, but also the right kind of ambition—less pandering, more bridge-building.
They’re fluent in pop culture, too. Between rehearsals they binge American comfort TV like “Modern Family” and “Victorious”—the latter “really motivates” them, which is charming and on brand. Horror fans in the house gravitate toward Korean chillers; there’s a little sparkle when they bring it up. You can imagine the group chat: choreography notes, schedule logistics, and a chain of jump-scare recommendations at 2 a.m.
If you’re looking for the off-ramp to cynicism, it never appears. IVE wear role-model status without flinching, not because they asked for it but because they understand the job. “We perform with confidence and full of self-esteem,” they say, matter-of-fact. “That’s important.” It’s hard to argue when the singles keep arriving like postcards from a future they’re already inhabiting. IVE doesn’t ask for permission—they simply tell you what they have, then prove it.
Listen to the interview above and then check out the videos below.
