The Seoul Story had the opportunity of sitting down with VERIVERY to talk about the ins and outs of their upcoming ‘GO ON’ fanmeeting tour. Members GYEHYEON, YEONHO, YONGSEUNG, and KANGMIN shared their excitement of being on tour in the United States again starting from June 14, 2024, off the back of initial tour dates in Seoul, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Q: VERIVERY last visited the U.S. in 2022 for the ‘PAGE : O’ Tour. What are some new or different elements that you’ll be including in the shows this time?
GYEHYEON: During our 2022 tour, we showcased VERIVERY’s group charms. Now, we aim to not only emphasize our charm as a group but also highlight each member’s individual charm.
Q: We’re excited to see that you’ll be on tour again soon. Are there any surprises in store?
GYEHYEON: 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: Is there anything you’re looking forward to experiencing the most while you’ll be on tour?
YONGSEUNG: I’m thrilled about meeting fans from various countries, especially our passionate U.S. fans. Their enthusiasm left a lasting impression on us, and we’re eager to experience that energy once more.
Q: Is there something that you didn’t do on your last U.S. tour that you want to try this time?
YEONHO: 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: 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: What is the meaning of the tour title ‘GO ON’? Are there any particular themes or messages that you hope to convey to VERRER through the tour’s performances and interactions?
YEONHO: 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?
GYEHYEON: 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: 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: How does it feel going on tour as the four youngest members without your leader and how have you prepared for it?
GYEHYEON: 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: Which cities are you most excited to visit on tour?
YEONHO: I’m looking forward to visiting all the cities on our tour, and I was especially hoping to visit Orlando, where Universal Studios is located. However, it’s unfortunate that we won’t be visiting Orlando this time. On a brighter note, I’ve learned that Universal Studios is also in LA, which happens to be our last stop on the tour. I’m really excited about visiting this city.
Q: What are some of your must-have items for tour?
YEONHO: I always pack the mouth tapes that help me keep my mouth shut while sleeping. Taking care of my vocal cords is crucial, and this tape helps immensely. It’s a must-have item for me during tours.
YONGSEUNG: As long as I have our fans, I don’t need anything else.
KANGMIN: For me, it is my phone.
GYEHYEON: I always pack sandals for tours because my feet tend to suffer. It’s a relief to have something comfortable for my feet when we’re not on stage.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing in preparing for this tour?
KANGMIN: 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 do you plan on making each tour stop memorable for your fans?
GYEHYEON: As artists, we’re committed to delivering outstanding performances as a way of giving back. We’ve dedicated a lot of effort to our preparations, so we hope that many will anticipate and enjoy our stages.
KANGMIN: Since YONGSEUNG had requested more English lessons to prepare for the tour, I believe our fans will appreciate his enhanced English skills during this tour.
Q: If you could pick a song from your discography to perform that you haven’t performed before, which would it be?
YONGSEUNG: 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: Do you have any plans for new music ahead of the upcoming tour?
YONGSEUNG: Currently, our main focus is on preparing for the tour. While our plans after the tour aren’t finalized yet, one thing is certain: we will continue our musical journey by releasing new albums.
Q: Do you have a ritual that you do before going on stage?
GYEHYEON: We do have a chant that we do as a group before going on stage. We intertwine our pinky and thumb, shouting “fighting” together.
Q: What is a song that you would put on your travel playlist?
GYEHYEON: There is a song titled Velocity in our album, which I personally like. This song gives me a feeling of driving down the road or starting a journey on a sunny summer day. That’s why I’ve chosen this song.
KANGMIN: My pick is the song, What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction.
Q: What are each of your favorite VERIVERY songs?
KANGMIN: YONGSEUNG brought up Wish U were here, which happens to be my favorite song.
YEONHO: My favorite is Candle.
YONGSEUNG: My favorite song is Get Away.
GYEHYEON: Me too. I also love Get Away.
Q: If you could pick one VERIVERY song that the member next to you could do a solo stage/performance of, what would it be and why?
KANGMIN: I suggest Our Spring to YEONHO because it’s one of his favorites, and I believe he would excel as a solo performer with this song.
YEONHO: For YONGSEUNG, I recommend G.B.T.B. because he excels at delivering an intense vibe on stage and his charisma shines through.
YONGSEUNG: I believe O suits GYEHYEON perfectly. The song demands detailed expressions, which is something GYEHYEON is excellent at.
GYEHYEON: I suggest Flower to KANGMIN because the title of the song complements his visual aesthetic perfectly.
Q: What inspired you to change your music style from the hard-hitting sounding title tracks like G.B.T.B., TRIGGER, Undercover to Tap Tap and Crazy Like That?
YONGSEUNG: 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: Since debut, whether it’s title tracks or b-sides, you’ve covered just about every popular and niche genre with great success. But are there any you’d like to revisit, or is there any style or concept you’d like to take inspiration from in the current K-Pop scene?
YEONHO: While many K-pop artists are exploring various genres, we’d like to revisit the new jack swing and retro genres that we have tried before. I believe it would be fun.
Q: VERIVERY is famous for being well-synchronised, with many noting you for being one of the most synchronised groups of 4th Gen K-Pop. What are you especially proudest about, being a part of VERIVERY?
YEONHO: While we’re recognized 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.
YONGSEUNG: 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.
Q: As well as being highly synchronised, you’ve got some quite difficult dance routines with your releases. Which choreography of yours would you pick to burn up the stage in just one song?
YEONHO: I personally find G.B.T.B. to be a standout. 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.
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?
KANGMIN: 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.
YEONHO: 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: What are your long term goals as a group?
GYEHYEON: We always say this during our interview. We want to be a group that can stay active for a long time.
Q: If you could time travel back to when you first debuted, what advice or message would you give yourselves?
KANGMIN: I would tell my younger self to get some more sleep. Maybe then I would have grown a bit taller.
GYEHYEON: I would say something opposite, to practice and study more during the hours I spent sleeping.
Q: VERIVERY is known for having a strong connection with VERRER, and you guys are going to make many 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?
YONGSEUNG: 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?
YEONHO: 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.
About VERIVERY and ‘GO ON’ Tour
VERIVERY is making their way back to the United States for their 2024 U.S. TOUR ‘GO ON’. Members GYEHYEON, YEONHO, YONGSEUNG, and KANGMIN will kick off their tour on June 14 in New York and make their way through five other cities, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and Los Angeles.
This is their first tour in the United States since their 2022 VERIVERY CONCERT ‘PAGE : O’ IN US & LATIN AMERICA. This tour also comes following VERIVERY’s appearance at KCON LA last year as well as the release of their seventh mini-album, Liminality – EP.Dream.
Thank you VERIVERY and Jellyfish Entertainment for the interview opportunity!
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