INTERVIEW: VERIVERY Shares Heartfelt Moments Ahead of their 2024 U.S. “GO ON” FANMEETING TOUR
VERRERS missing VERIVERY won’t have to wait long to see them live again, as they are making their way back stateside for their 2024 VERIVERY U.S. “GO ON” FANMEETING TOUR! Last seen touring the U.S. in 2022, followed by an appearance at KCON last year, the seven member group under Jellyfish Entertainment consisting of Dongheon, Hoyoung, Minchan, Gyehyeon, Yeonho, Yongseung, and Kangmin will be touring as four this time around. Members Gyehyeon, Yeonho, Yongseung, and Kangmin will kick off the U.S. leg of their tour on June 14 in New York before making their way through Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and Los Angeles.
The group known for their knife-sharp synchronized choreography, amazing OST’s such as “With Us” from Itaewon Class, and catchy songs such as “Crazy Like That,” from their most recent Liminality - EP.DREAM album. VERIVERY has had such a great range of songs and performances over their five plus years together. Therefore, it was a pleasure to ask the touring quartet questions, with our fellow media colleagues, to find out about their favorite VERIVERY songs, the challenges faced with a truncated team, and the moments that have touched them. We look forward to seeing what VERIVERY has in store for us, as we’re sure there’s bound to be some surprises, and we really hope that Yeonho gets beyond the gates of Universal Studios!
*Q: VERIVERY is typically a seven-member group. What has it been like to prepare for the tour with only four members? Have you needed to adjust any choreography or song parts?
Yongseung: While touring as a four-member group might lack the synergy we had as a seven-member group, we're dedicated to maximizing our stage presence. We're proud of our efforts that we have put in to deliver a complete performance despite the smaller lineup, striving to meet the expectations of our fans and the audience eagerly anticipating this tour.
*Q: What experiences and knowledge from your last tour will you take into this upcoming tour?
Yeonho: On our previous tour, we firsthand experienced the passion of our audience and honed our performance skills. This time, even though it's a fan meeting, we plan to channel the energy and passion from our fans and deliver a performance filled with the same intensity as any of our concerts.
Kangmin: I was a minor during our last tour, but now I'm looking forward to having some fun and maybe enjoying a drink or two.
*Q: If you could pick a song from your discography to perform that you haven’t performed before, which would it be?
YS: In our full-length album, there's a song called "Wish U were here" that I particularly enjoy for its energetic vibe. I'm excited to perform it with our fans during our upcoming fan meeting.
Q: VERIVERY has such a broad discography. What are each of your favorite VERIVERY songs?
KM: Yongseung brought up "Wish U were here," which happens to be my favorite song.
YH: My favorite is "Candle."
YS: My favorite song is "Get Away."
Gyehyeon: Me too. I also love "Get Away."
Q: We’re excited to see that you’ll be on tour again soon. Are there any surprises in store?
GH: We like to create stages that are not only entertaining for the audience but also enjoyable for us. So for sure, we've prepared several surprises, and I'm excited for our fans to look forward to them.
*Q: What is the meaning of the tour title “GO ON?” Are there any particular themes or messages that you hope to convey to your VERRER through the tours’ performances and interactions?
YH: The title of our fan-meet tour, "GO ON," symbolizes VERIVERY's continuous journey forward. It represents the seven-member VERIVERY as well as the four-member VERIVERY moving closer to our fans.
*Q: We had the pleasure of witnessing VERIVERY’s electrifying performance at KCON, where you received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from fans. How does the energy and excitement from events like KCON influence your preparations for the “GO ON” tour, and what do you hope to bring to fans who attend your live shows?
GH: Performing at KCON as a five-member group, especially with Hoyoung acting as leader in place of Dongheon, was a new experience for us. We were initially concerned about this change, as it's something we're not used to. However, the opportunity to perform at KCON was a major motivation for the four of us to utilize that experience to prepare well for this tour. We're incredibly excited to deliver an outstanding show for our fans.
*Q: What has been the most difficult thing in preparing for this tour?
KM: Personally, as two rappers of the group were not able to join us for the tour, there have been some difficulties in planning for their absence. To overcome this, I sought advice and assistance from the other members.
*Q: How does it feel going on tour as the four youngest members, without your leader, and how have you prepared for it?
GH: Preparing for this tour without the older members of our group was a collaborative effort, relying on each other's strengths. The thought of going on the tour fills us with excitement. While we usually lean on the older members, there are times when they also rely on us, and it gave us a deeper insight into their perspectives. It's a mix of emotions, really.
*Q: What inspired you to change your music style from the hard-hitting sounding title track like “G.B.T.B,” “TRIGGER,” and “Undercover” to “Tap Tap” and “Crazy Like That?”
YS: VERIVERY is known for our strong performance skills, and it was our aim to deliver intense and captivating stages to our fans. Additionally, we wanted to offer songs that are easy to listen to and ones that people would want to add to their playlists. This led us to focus on softer songs after releasing intense tracks, marking a transition in our music style.
*Q: Being part of a group like VERIVERY means growing together both professionally and personally. Could you share a moment or experience that you feel has significantly contributed to your growth as artists and individuals?
KM: The first time we won first place on a music show was during the promotion of "Tap Tap." It was a milestone that made me realize the importance of responsibility and pushed me to strive for excellence on stage. This period of promoting "Tap Tap" was truly transformative for me.
YH: Meeting our fans for the first time after the end of COVID-19 and embarking on a tour were immensely inspiring for me. It marked a period of significant personal and group growth, with both myself and the group undergoing profound changes.
*Q: Is there something that you didn’t do on your last U.S. tour that you want to try this time?
YH: During our last tour in the U.S., we only had time to glimpse Universal Studios from the gate. This time, we'd love to step inside and fully enjoy all the attractions it has to offer.
*Q: VERIVERY is known for having a strong connection with VERRER, and you guys are going to make more fun memories in your upcoming U.S. tour. Is there a particular moment or message from VERRERS that has left a lasting impression on you?
YS: During a period of worry over our extended hiatus, a message that resonated deeply with us was, "I will always be by your side and I'll always be your fan." This message came from an international fan, and the warmth and support it conveyed were incredibly impressive. It was more empowering than any other message we received during that time.
*Q: Touring around the world gives you unique experiences and makes you get in touch with different cultures. Now that you are holding a fan meeting, which is very different from a concert because of the different interactions with the audience, what are you all more excited to do that is going to make your fans excited and happy anywhere you go?
YH: We put a great deal of effort into preparing for this fan meeting event. While performances are a staple, we've added special elements that we and our fans can enjoy together. I hope they're excited to see what we have in store.
In Conclusion
GH: Thank you for joining us in this interview session. I know for some of you this is happening in the early morning. With the excitement surrounding the tour, we are dedicated to preparing diligently. Stay tuned for what's in store!
*Questions asked by other media outlets.
Tickets are on sale now at kpoptickets.com with various tiers and benefits. Get them and join in!
June 14: New York | Brooklyn Steel
June 16: Chicago | Copernicus Center
June 18: Minneapolis | Lyric @ Skyway Theatre
June 20: Atlanta | Center Stage
June 21: Fort Worth | Ridglea Theater
June 23: Los Angeles | Vermont Hollywood
Thank you to Jellyfish Entertainment, Helix Publicity, fellow media colleagues and most of all to VERIVERY for such candid answers. We look forward to seeing you on tour soon!