With the cosy fits and bright-eyed smiles of a young boyband, and the grace of stars who’ve been around long enough to earn their own recognised brand, VERIVERY, who debuted five years ago, have still got the blazing fervour of artists who’ve not reached the end of their journey just yet. After announcing their “GO ON” Fanmeeting tour taking place in Asia and the US, Gyehyeon, Yeonho, Yongseung and Kangmin sat down to chat with the press recently about all their exciting plans, and what being part of the seven-member ensemble means to them. 

Even though they’ve not released new music for a year now — an aeon in the world of K-Pop — their mark has not faded. To this day their hits are still covered, with arguably their most famous G.B.T.B. being performed on the popular survival show Boys Planet just last year. Back in 2020, they truly did go beyond the barrier of what could be achieved by groups from smaller to mid-sized companies, rivalling the big bosses and making waves in the industry. Dedicated fans have thus been eagerly awaiting their return as patiently as ever.

If you know a thing about VERIVERY, you’ll know they’re basically the gods of synchronicity. In K-Pop, dancing in sync becomes more important the more members you’ve got in a group, and it’s evident in their performances that these boys didn’t skip dance class. 

“While we’re recognised for our impeccable dance synchronisation, I want to highlight our group’s strong vocal abilities and live singing skills. It’s an aspect of our performance that I hope more people will come to appreciate,” Main vocalist Yeonho shared when we prompted them to reveal what they’re proudest about being in the group. 

“Additionally, we’re a versatile team that delves into various genres, making it challenging to predict our next comeback song. I believe this unpredictability adds to the charm of VERIVERY, something to watch out for.” Yongseung added. The boys also made it clear their famed dance skills aren’t the only glowing charms of the group.

Some of that versatile genre-hopping Yongseung mentioned can be seen in their music releases that follow one another. There’s plenty of evidence that the boys can ace a silky smooth song, but during the times they’ve dared an upbeat heroic banger, they never missed. “I personally find “G.B.T.B.” to be a standout,” Yeonho admitted then added, “It combines intense elements with softer nuances in the song, and the intensity of the performance is even more strong. The preparation process was demanding, particularly mastering the complex choreography for flawless synchronisation. Overcoming these challenges was a significant achievement for us.” 

That wasn’t the only time the boys mentioned the hit as they gleefully spilled to the press. Yeonho even paired the song with bandmate Yongseung when asked what song suits each member best. Other answers gave us Gyehyeon as the perfect fit for “O”, Yeonho handling the gentle ballad “Our Spring”, and Kangmin representing “Flower”, as it suits his delicate aesthetic. 

Whether or not the group’s fans, VERRERS, will see any of these songs performed on their tour they’ll just have to wait and see. With such a good discography of tunes elevated with the boys’ abilities on a stage, they can be sure that whatever setlist is written up will be a good one. In fact, the boys were so excited to gush about their upcoming venture that they struggled to hold back from giving out spoilers. If anything, it just proves there’s much to be excited about.

As the buzzing conversation about their long-awaited return started to wither, the boys felt compelled to look back on the past five years of their careers. They found success, achieved what few of their backgrounds can dream of, and gained a loyal crowd of fans in the process. To the idea of going back in time to sharing wisdom with their younger selves, Kangmin uttered words we can only agree with: “I would tell my younger self to get some more sleep. Maybe then I would have grown a bit taller!” The boys laughed at the youngest’s comment, which was countered by Gyehyeon, who reckoned his trainee self should’ve practised and studied more during the hours he spent sleeping.

Whatever the boys might’ve done differently were they given another shot, the reality they’re living in is undoubtedly a favourable one. It’s quite poetic then, that their leap back into activity is named “GO ON”, as they continue moving forward with heart-eyed fans cheering on in the sidelines. 

Written and interviewed by Maddie Armstrong

Featured image courtesy of Jellyfish Entertainment

_{View of the Arts is an online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}