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From ‘ELEVEN’ and ‘LOVE DIVE’ to ‘After LIKE,’ the girl group IVE has continued their streak of popularity since their debut with three single albums. On April 10th, they released their first full-length album [I've IVE]. What kind of story did IVE, who always delivered ‘confident’ and ‘self-determined’ messages, come up with this time? We, M Countdown Magazine, had a chance to talk to them and find out.

Hello! First of all, congratulations on the release of your new album [I've IVE]. It's your first full-length album since your debut, how do you feel about it?

AN YUJIN : Thank you very much for the congratulations. This full-length album has a different feeling from our previous single albums. Since this is our first full-length album, we made an effort to include more diverse colors of our own. We feel proud that not only our fans but also the general public appreciate those aspects and show us a lot of love.

GAEUL : Starting with our debut song ‘ELEVEN,’ and continuing with ‘LOVE DIVE’ and ‘After LIKE,’ we have received so much love from our fans. We poured our hearts into this full-length album, hoping to repay our fans for their love with even better music. We have even more affection for this album, which contains our gratitude to everyone who has given us so much love. We are sincerely grateful for all the love that everyone has shown us for this album.
 

What is the core message of this album? Which aspects of IVE's personality did you particularly want to emphasize in the album?

JANG WONYOUNG: Through this album, the main aspect we want to emphasize is ‘self-confidence’. As you listen to the double title tracks ‘I AM’ and ‘Kitsch,’ you may feel that no matter which path we take, believing in ourselves and acknowledging our own worth is the core of IVE's identity and the values ingrained in our songs. In our previous songs, we expressed a proactive and confident self in love, but this time, we focused not only on love but also on living a proactive life based on ‘self-love,’ always carrying self-confidence and self-assurance. We filled the album with this message as its main emphasis.
 

The response to your latest album has been significant. The pre-released track 'Kitsch' quickly climbed to the top ranks of various music charts upon its release, and the following title track 'I AM' is also receiving a lot of love. What do you think is the reason for the popularity of your songs?

LIZ : The songs themselves have a slightly different feel from the music style we've shown before, but through the lyrics that convey a hopeful message and a proactive attitude, we were able to once again reveal IVE's color and gain empathy and love from those who expected IVE-style music. In particular, with ‘I AM,’ some people seemed to feel a new charm of IVE through the uplifting and refreshing melody. The narratives that connect as one within the different musical styles of our various songs seem to be a factor in gaining love from the general public and fans.
 

You made a comeback eight months after releasing the single 'After LIKE' last year. During this relatively short period, you prepared 11 tracks for the album. Is there any behind-the-scenes story that took place while preparing the album?

LEESEO : Since this is our first full-length album after our debut, we put a lot of effort into including a variety of songs, which resulted in many great tracks being part of the album. That's why it was particularly difficult to decide on the title track this time. There were a lot of opinions about the title track, to the point where both we and the staff were divided between ‘Kitsch’ and ‘I AM’. We are even more delighted now that both songs have become double title tracks and are receiving love from many people.
 

Your so-called ‘Kitsch look’ from the ‘Kitsch’ music video has also become a hot topic. The song and the ‘Kitsch look’ seem to have maximized the charm of the track. What do you think is the key point of the Kitsch look?

GAEUL : The Kitsch look that we are presenting is characterized by a style that is neither too flashy nor overly lovely, in order to further maximize the boldness and unconventionality of the song ‘Kitsch’. Through color schemes and such, we are creating a sense of unity while also giving each of us points through accessories and other elements that can highlight our individuality. On top of that, we are adding a spoonful of confidence to complete our own unique and bold Kitsch look.
 

This album has a particularly high level of your involvement. What are the songs each of you participated in, and what emotions did you experience through them?

AN YUJIN : I participated in writing the lyrics for ‘Heroine,’ one of the tracks on the album. Just like the title, I wrote the lyrics with the hope that everyone who listens to the song would become the protagonist of their lives. The phrase "I can't help it" appears quite often in the song, and with that, I wanted to convey a message that, with the mindset of ‘I'm so great that I can't help it,’ one should overcome any challenges like the main character in a movie and live a fabulous life. Being able to directly participate in the completion of the song allowed me to express myself more richly in the details while working on it, which I think was a great experience. If I have the opportunity in the future, I would like to participate in lyric writing again.

JANG WONYOUNG : I participated in writing the lyrics for two songs on this album, ‘Mine’ and ‘Shine With Me’. ‘Mine’ is a song that showcases the bold and confident attitude of a girl in love, while ‘Shine With Me’ contains our feelings towards our DIVE. As the two songs have different styles, I put a lot of effort into how I could show the diverse colors of IVE through both songs. Especially for ‘Shine With Me,’ I feel more attached to it because I wrote the lyrics with DIVE in mind. It reminded me once again that we exist thanks to our fans who always give us abundant support and love. I’m so proud that both songs that I worked hard on are being loved by our fans.

GAEUL  : I participated in the rap-making for 'Kitsch,' as well as 'Hypnosis,' 'NOT YOUR GIRL,' and 'Next Page,' together with Rei. When I make rap, I focus a lot on making the rap lively and bouncy to enhance the overall mood of the song. As rap is the part of the song that can deliver the message briefly and impactfully, I chose each word carefully while considering the theme of the song. I will continue to grow and develop to deliver rap that people can relate to and connect with in the future. Please look forward to it!
 

Your previous title songs talked about ‘identity’ within the category of ‘love,’ but this album has expanded its message beyond love and into ‘life’. Which track on this album best captures the theme of ‘self-determined life’?
LEESEO : I want to choose both double title tracks. The lyrics of ‘I AM’ with the message of ‘let's discover a different self from yesterday’ represent the same identity message we wanted to convey through our first full-length album [I've IVE], so I want to choose this song. Additionally, in the lyrics of the double title track ‘Kitsch,’ we wanted to express the theme of ‘self-determined life’ by delivering a message that we have our own unique qualities and freedom to show, rather than following the intentions hidden behind other people's actions, even though we may appear to be different from others. I think we expressed this message well through the lyrics of the song.
 

Personally, I think the lyrics of the title track 'I AM', which was written by the lyricist Kim Eana, are really attractive. What are the charm points of 'I AM' that each member has chosen?

AN YUJIN : I think the powerful high notes in ‘I AM’ are the charm points of the song. Although it's difficult to sing, I always try to deliver a good performance because fans really love it.

GAEUL : I think the lyrics of the song are the charm points. The hopeful lyrics add to the appeal of the song. This was the first time we worked with lyricist Kim Eana, and thanks to the wonderful lyrics she wrote for us, ‘I AM’ is receiving a lot of love.

JANG WONYOUNG : I think the overwhelming melody of the song is the charm point of ‘I AM’. Many people who like this song say that they feel overwhelmed when they listen to it. When I listen to this song, I feel like my confidence is charged up.

LIZ : I also think that the powerful high notes are the charm point of ‘I AM’. Don't you feel relieved of stress just by listening to it?

LEESEO : I think the choreography of this song is the charm point. You can't leave out the point choreography when it comes to IVE. ‘I AM’ also has many killing point choreography. If you watch the performance with the choreography, you can feel the charm of ‘I AM’ even more!
 

What was the part that you specially paid attention to in order to deliver powerful vocals for ‘I AM,’ which is a song with explosive high notes?

LIZ : I pay a lot of attention to taking care of my voice. Since there are a lot of high notes in the song, I make sure to warm up my voice properly before going on stage, even when I'm in the waiting room or in the car.

Following the fireworks scene in your ‘After LIKE’ music video, the scene of descending from an airplane in the ‘I AM’ music video has been a hot topic. Can you tell us about the behind-the-scenes of the shoot?

JANG WONYOUNG : When filming the music video, I personally attached wires and tried my hand at diving action to film the plane descent scene. It was my first time filming while attached to wires, but fans loved it and the scene turned out really well, so I am even more proud.
 

Among your songs on this album, ‘Shine With Me’ is known for being a track that conveys your feelings towards your fans, and Won Young participated in writing the lyrics. What message did you want to emphasize in this song? Also, if you had to pick one line in the lyrics that resonates with your heart the most, what would it be?

JANG WONYOUNG : In the song, there's a line that goes, “The night that was once dark begins to shine the moment I see you”. This is the part that resonates with me the most. I believe that IVE exists and can shine brighter thanks to our fans who always give us unwavering support and love. Through this song, I wanted to express my gratitude and let DIVE know that we love them and appreciate their support. I hope that through the lyrics, our sincerity can be conveyed to DIVE as well.
 

What is the song you would like to recommend the most from this album, except for the title track?

AN YUJIN : I would like to recommend ‘Heroine,’ which I wrote the lyrics for independently for the first time. I hope that while listening to this song, people can overcome any trial and walk their own path in their own way without worrying about anything else.

GAEUL : I would like to recommend our first fan song, ‘Shine With Me’. I think we are receiving a lot of love for this album thanks to the support of DIVE as always. I want to express my gratitude and thanks again through this song, so I recommend it!

JANG WONYOUNG : I recommend ‘Mine’! Through our previous albums, we showed a confident and assertive attitude in love, and I think you can feel the color of IVE through this song as well!

LIZ : I recommend ‘Blue Blood’. This song was first revealed as a surprise at our fan concert. The dark charm stands out, so we can show a different side of us through this song.

LEESEO : I would recommend ‘Next Page’ for you all to listen to! I really loved this song from the moment I recorded it. I think it's a song that really showcases IVE's vocals and unique sound. I hope you get a chance to listen to it!
 

Since your debut in 2021, you have been constantly active in music without rest. What is your driving force? Although you may sometimes feel physically exhausted, do you have your own ways of relieving stress?

LIZ : Our motivation comes from DIVE, of course! When we hear our fans' cheering, we feel like we gain strength that we didn't have before. Of course, there are days when we are physically exhausted, but we try to live happily every day while thinking about our fans! Sometimes, when we're apart from our vitamin DIVE and the stress builds up, I relieve it by singing songs with high notes! When I sing, it feels like my hearts that were once suffocating are suddenly opened up. This time, our title track ‘I AM’ is also a great song to sing when you’re stressed out!
 

What is one of the most memorable moments for you so far?

LEESEO : I think our fan concert is the most memorable moment for me. It was the first time we had a solo concert and met DIVE, so we were really happy. Also, the fact that the concert hall was filled with fans who love and support us was like a dream come true and a very happy moment for us.
 

What meaning do you hope this album will leave for your fans?

GAEUL : Our album this time is an effort to incorporate a variety of elements while also staying true to the unique sound of IVE, so that when someone asks our fans about IVE's first full-length album [I've IVE], they can answer, “This album is the best, with not a single bad track”. We hope that this album will continue to be one that fans want to listen to, even as time goes on.
 

On the other hand, what does this album mean to IVE?

AN YUJIN : Since our debut, we have received so much love, and we had a strong desire to repay that love with a great album. Although there was pressure since it was our first full-length album, it also gave us confidence because of the overwhelming support we received. We will continue to work hard to show IVE's unique color, so please keep an eye on us!