IVE on Their New Single, First World Tour and How They’re ‘Focused on the Future’ (Exclusive)

When IVE enters the office, he immediately gets down to work.

But unlike regular 9-to-5 corporate workers, you won’t see these six girls dressed in business attire or hunched over their desks, waiting for the hours to fly by.

Of course, they have a to-do list, just like any other worker. But inside the Pop Star Division of Saweetie, Inc., the girls are part of a special task force that works according to its own methods.

IVE.

Sebastian Gollnow/image alliance via Getty

In the middle of a summer day in Los Angeles, the girls – Gaeul, 21, Yujin, 20, Wonyoung, 19, Rei, 19, Jiwon, 19, and Leeseo, 16 – stride confidently past a crowd of day laborers, ready to own the night. Their mission, according to rapper Saweetie? To increase the “FUN quota.”

And on IVE’s first all-English single, “All Night,” that’s exactly what they set out to do with the help of Saweetie, 30, in their first major collaboration. With a lively rhythm, the girls become the life of the party and turn a gray office into an energetic, Barbie-esque nightclub. Their carefree confidence becomes even more apparent as they sing the same lyrics from Swedish duo Icona Pop’s 2013 song of the same name.

“With a love this deep / We don’t need no sleep / And it feels like / We could do this all night / Yeah, it’s all right,” the girls collectively sing the chorus.

True to their nocturnal nature, the girls are also wide awake at 10pm in Seoul when they sit down with PEOPLE to discuss their latest milestone.

“Our previous songs were about loving myself and being who I am, but I think it’s a little different with our single because it’s about encouraging listeners,” reflects Wonyoung.

With an emphasis on the word “we,” the single seems to share a different message than the group’s two previous title tracks: “Baddie” and “I AM.” Not only does it allude to the sisterly bond the girls share as a group, but also the reassurance they have for their fans, nicknamed DIVES.

However, the similarities between the single and the Icon Pop song end in the lyrics and beat.

In IVE’s reimagining of the nostalgic track, the girls make the best of their messy office, surrounded by tall stacks of folders strewn everywhere. Instead of complaining, they just add to the playful chaos by bursting their own colorful confetti, balloons and streamers that they can’t help but “throw” around.

IVE and Saweetie.

AYSIA MAROTTA

The “Icy Grl” rapper also made a spectacular entrance of her own, showing off her hazy vocals while sitting at a conference table. Just moments later, she launches into her signature explosive rap, as the IVE girls rock right behind her.

When Yujin thinks about the unforgettable moment with Saweetie off camera, her thoughts immediately go to the artistic look of “Best Friend” on set.

“I really love her style, like her makeup,” he says. “I was really curious — how long it takes [for her] get ready? It was quite a long time and I was really shocked.”

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IVE and Saweetie.

AYSIA MAROTTA

Learning English for the single was also a time-consuming process, but it was also rewarding, as it gave Yujin his favorite English word to say.

“Kill,” she says triumphantly after placing her hands on her temples, deep in thought. “I love the word kill.”

Maybe that’s the word that comes to mind when Wonyoung talks about the “unique vibe” that singing in English allows her to express.

Luckily, it’s a vibe they’ll be able to share with the world in person as the girls embark on their first world tour, “Show What I Have,” across Asia, North and South America, and Australia this year.

Of all the stops, Yujin says she’s especially excited to visit Australia, and at the mention of animals on that continent, the girls’ faces immediately light up with shouts of “Kangaroos!”

When Liz brings up her own travel list, Wonyoung quickly jumps into her role as de facto interpreter for the interview.

“Liz says she wants to go to the Eiffel Tower, but within the US, maybe to go shopping,” Wonyoung says as he looks towards Liz, who is sitting in the middle. “She will be happy to see another world and another atmosphere, and she will like it.”

It’s clear that Wonyoung also has his own agenda. When asked to think about the item she would take if she could only take one with her on tour, a light bulb went off in the singer’s head.

“I will bring a large carrier because I [don’t want] bring something from Korea, I want to buy something in the US,” he says cleverly. “Very, very much. I would just take a big carrier with me.”

However, before all the fun happens, Leeseo says her plan is to learn new languages ​​for the tour so she can better communicate with their DIVES at each stop.

At some point, the constant travel and jet lag from touring can get tiring, but Gaeul says she knows how to rest. Just before a good night’s sleep, a bath for her lower body always helps to de-stress her muscles. Knowing that her cheering members are with her also gives her the motivation to “work harder”.

As daunting as the world tour is, it comes just in time as the girls are heading into their third year as a group, having just celebrated their second anniversary at the end of December. As they prepare their career and genre-diverse set for the tour, a few songs naturally rise to the top as favorites.

For Wonyoung, “Love Dive” from their second single album of the same name stands out the most.

“I really love that song because I think it shows the most unique part of us, and it’s not too fast, not too slow,” he explains. “I think that kind of tempo suits us really well, and also the lyrics.”

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Singing about self-love as much as the IVE members also taught them more about their influence as role models. For example, Liz believes that she must first fully love herself before she can convince her fans to do the same. It is this authenticity with which the girls sing that allows their music to reach their fans on a deeper level.

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In that spirit, we hope that “All Night” will be the first of many English singles that the group will release, according to Wonyoung. The same can be said for their potential future collaborations with other major artists, and Rei has a dream collaboration that comes to mind.

“Sabrina Carpenter,” he says before Yujin cried out as well, “I really love her too.”

While a collaboration with Carpenter, 24, is on their wish list, fans won’t have to wait long before they get another taste of IVE’s music later in the year.

“We’re working on it,” Gaeul says with a smile.

“It’s better than before,” Wonyoung adds, building anticipation. “And again, [it will have] our style of music saying it’s best to be who I am, and we put a very encouraging message in it, so look forward to that!”

While rehearsing past songs while working on new music can sometimes be nostalgic now, this juxtaposition also represents another milestone for the girls to look forward to. When faced with this mix of past, present and future, members say they are willing to focus on the latter.

“I think I kind of miss it,” Gaeul says of the past. “But I want to enjoy the moment now and focus on the future ahead.”

“All Night” is currently available for purchase and streaming.

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Source: HIS Education