Looking at everything they have achieved, it's easy to forget that IVE debuted just a little over two years ago. In that short period, the K-pop sextet has struck gold with multiple number-one songs, coveted awards, and more than one viral moment. Still, a notable notch was missing from their belt: a major artist collaboration, which they are now ticking off their list.
Gaeul, Yujin, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo have joined forces with American rapper Saweetie to release "All Night," a remake of Icona Pop's 2013 hit track of the same name. As infectious and danceable as its predecessor, IVE's "All Night" stays faithful to the group's "girl crush" aesthetic while delivering a couple of firsts for the group. Not only is "All Night" IVE's first major collaboration, but it's also their first full-English song, a feat that's become a milestone for K-pop groups in recent years.
One week before the release of "All Night," the members of IVE gathered around a table as the clocks struck midnight in Seoul to talk about their experience working with Saweetie, their upcoming world tour, and what fans, known as DIVEs, can expect from them in 2024. (Spoiler alert: it's preeetty close to world domination.)
Teen Vogue: I want to start by chatting about your new collaboration. Can you tell me a bit about the timeline of how things progressed? When did you start working on the song, and how do you feel about the experience as a whole?
Wonyoung: We [have been working] on this new song since [last year], and we're finally so excited to release it this new year. The first time I heard about the collaboration with Saweetie, I [freaked out.] I really love her songs, so I was so excited and so thrilled to work with her. We're really looking forward to the release.
TV: How does it feel to work with someone else instead of just on your own for a release?
Wonyoung: Nice! It's really [our] first time ever doing a collaboration with another artist [so everything feels new]. We were so happy to hear that it was Saweetie because we all love Saweetie, her songs and everything. We were so enthusiastic [about] working with her.
TV: The song is not an original song but a reimagination of Icona Pop's "All Night" from 2013. Most of you were super young in 2013, but were you familiar with the song at all? Had you heard of it before, uh, before you started working on your own version of it?
Yujin: I actually didn't know the exact original song, but when I first listened to it, I felt like it was kind of familiar. When I first listened to the original, I thought, "Oh, I've heard this song once or twice before," but I couldn't remember exactly where. It's that kind of song. [Laughs.]
TV: The song is produced by Grammy winner Cirkut, who has worked with Rihanna, Becky G, FKA twigs, etc. How was it working with someone who has collaborated with such big names in the industry when you're objectively still so young in your career?
Wonyoung: Like you said, Cirkut [has worked with] all the big, big [names], but he really did help us a lot, so we were so honored to work with him. We recorded the track in the US, too, [which was amazing]. That moment… That memory is so, so valuable to me. I'll never forget the moment. And once again, I really want to thank [everyone who worked on this track.]
TV: I assume you have your safe space in Korea with your own studio at Starship. Did it feel different recording in the US? Did you feel anxious at all, like nervous? Or was it a piece of cake?
Yujin: It was really free, so it was really fun. [Laughs.] Like when we were recording, Cirkut just gave us a chance to make up ad-libs [and] some melody lines. It was really fun. I think that was the [biggest] difference between working with someone in Korea and the US.
TV: The song was recorded in the US, and it looks like so was the video. You actually filmed it with Saweetie, right?
Wonyoung: Yes.
TV: What was that experience like — meeting her, taking fun pictures with her for the video and all?
Wonyoung: I was really a big fan of Saweetie, so the first time I heard that we were going to do a collaboration with her, my heart was beating so fast. When we met her, I was really so happy to see her, and we got individual photo selfies after the shoot.
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TV: You wear a lot of '90s and 2000s-inspired looks in the "All Night" music video. Lots of mini skirts, lots of fluffy silhouettes. Can you each share your favorite look from the music video that you wear? It can be one of the ones you personally wore or one that another member wore.
Wonyoung: For me, I wear a pink mini top with a mini skirt. I love that look. I got a ponytail with my hairstylist. Like, we just suggested it, and I did a pony hairstyle, which I think really matches my looks. It kind of makes me think about some previous movies that were released in America, like Clueless, so I love this look.
TV: Leeseo's fluffy ball pen, with the yellow checkered top, that's very Clueless as well.
Wonyoung: Oh, yes. That's right — the puffy pen.
Gaeul: I'll choose my first outfit, the one with the white top, red skirt, and pink boots. It felt like a more glamorous kind of outfit for me, and that's not as common for me in our Korean music videos, so it was something very different. I also styled my hair differently than usual, so it was a fun experience.
Leeseo: I also like my first outfit the most, the yellow plaid top with the orange skirt. I like it because it has a lot of vibrant colors. There are a lot of highlights in the outfit so it really does stand out.
Liz: I also like my first outfit the most, the black top with the neon green skirt. It might look a bit more casual, but because the video was shot in the US, I wanted to try my hand and follow a more American pop star look. [Laughs.]
Yujin: For me, I love the second one, the red top and mini skirt, because it's not often that I get to wear red for stage looks, so I loved it. I also did a cute hairstyle, which I don't usually do, so I loved the second one.
Rei: I also like my second outfit, because it's a little more sporty and I also really like my hairstyle with that outfit. Personally, I also liked that the other members who usually have chicer hairstyles in Korea, like Gaeul and Yujin, tried out more cute styles in this video.
TV: Going back to the actual song, this is the first time that you sing in English for an entire track. What were some of the challenges and lessons that you learned from the experience?
Leeseo: The hardest part was definitely the pronunciation of the words. We had a coach, and the way they pronounced the words was very different from how I did it, so [it was a bit frustrating]. I feel like I couldn't do it as well as I wanted to a lot of the time, but the more we prepped the track, the better it came out, so I feel like we grew a lot and learned a lot from this experience.
TV: You guys killed the pronunciation on this one.
All: Thank you!
TV: You're starting the year super strong with "All Night," but I also wanted you to look back a little bit. Can you tell me about your highlights from last year? Something that you're super proud of having achieved, or just your personal highlights from 2023.
Wonyoung: In 2023, we first announced that we were going to have a world tour next year, which is this year. So, individually, too, I was really proud of ourselves because it's only been two years since we debuted. That was [probably the most] memorable scene in 2023.
Rei: For me, one of the highlights of 2023 was going to LA for the first time. We went for KCON LA, so it was a very memorable experience. It still is. We got to make a lot of new memories and try a lot of new things. I want to go back again soon.
TV: 2023 was obviously amazing for you, but 2024 will be even more amazing. As we look into the future, do you have any bucket list items or resolutions, things that you want to achieve for sure in the next year? Small or big!
Yujin: Well, I didn't mean it, but recently, I've been waking up early in the morning, so I just want to continue this routine in 2024. [Laughs.]
TV: Me too.
All: [Laugh.]
TV: It's so hard…
Gaeul: I actually started a new diary for this year, so I'd love to have written a lot of new memories together by the end of the year so I can remember them forever.
TV: That's such an excellent way to save your memories. Okay, now, to make it more sassy, can you each pick a song of yours to describe the energy that you're bringing into 2024?
Gaeul: "I AM."
Yujin: "I AM."
Leeseo: "I AM."
Rei: "I AM."
Yujin: [Laughs.]
Leeseo: Wow.
Liz: If it's energy, it's "I AM."
Yujin: Yes, we think it's "I AM." Should we say the reason?
Wonyoung: Because it includes very, very big energy, and in the lyrics, we keep saying: "Big, big stage." So, 2024 will be our big, big stage.
TV: It's a consensus, then.
TV: You started your tour, the Show What I Have world tour, late last year, and you're going to be on the road until August. You were also traveling a bunch before that; like Rei said, you went to LA for KCON, Madrid as well for Kpop Lux, Paris, New York… What are some of the most memorable experiences you have from already performing in front of fans?
Leeseo: I found it fascinating that fans from each country have very different energies. Experiencing that has been so cool.
TV: When I last talked to you, Rei said she really wanted to perform in Japan. From the stops that you have planned, is there one that you're particularly excited about, or a venue that you're like, "I cannot believe we're playing this"?
Rei: [It's not part of the tour, but] I still really want to go and perform in Nagoya, Japan, because it's my hometown, and there's a really big dome there. I really want to stand on that stage with my IVE members.
Wonyoung: I really want to go to the US, and we're planning to go to the US, especially because we're releasing our new album for the US and globally, so I'm really looking forward to going to America. And, of course, Europe.
TV: It's world domination for you guys this year.
Wonyoung: Yes. [Laughs.]
TV: Do you have any essentials that you need to bring with you while you're on the road?
Gaeul: Sunscreen! Sunscreen is definitely an essential. Last year, when we were traveling to a lot of other countries, the weather was really good, which meant the sun was also really strong, so wearing a lot of sunscreen was key.
TV: Yes. That's great advice for everyone. On the other hand, are there any must-haves that you feel that DIVEs should bring to your concerts? What do you want them to bring?
Wonyoung: Oh! I would say our own [merch]. We have big fans and lightsticks and pretty and cutie things waiting for them. We have some toys, [called MINi'VE], which are produced by ourselves. I'm a rabbit. She [pointing to Gaeul] is a squirrel. We have really cute toys, so our DIVEs should take a look at our goods!
TV: Are you going to be keeping an eye out to see who's sporting which animal?
Leeseo, Gaeul, Yujin: [Nod.]
Wonyoung: Exactly.
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TV: How are you preparing for the rest of the tour? How are you feeling about it all?
Yujin: Well, I'm actually really looking forward to it. We are practicing and preparing [every day] for our world tour, and [all I can say is] there will be some special stages for the world tour, so…
Wonyoung: …please keep an eye out for it!
TV: As you mentioned, it's been two years since you debuted. What are some of the biggest changes you have noticed about yourself in this period of time? I know confidence is such a big theme for you as a group. Do you feel more confident?
Yujin: Yes, I think that's it. I think I got a lot more confident. I think all of our members are all the same.
Leeseo: Mm-hmm.
TV: You have made a reputation for yourself for releasing hit after hit, and "All Night" sounds like another hit. Does it put any pressure on you when you're working on new music or new stages to live up to a certain standard now that you have such a big track record? Or do you try not to think about it?
Wonyoung: Sometimes we do feel some pressure after a song has done well, but more than [focusing on] the pressure, we just think and believe in ourselves and try to perform and prepare a better song for our DIVEs. We really think of our fans during the project schedules so if DIVEs keep supporting us, we have a big, big energy for it. We're always so enthusiastic and excited to release these albums.
TV: You've done a lot of pop and dance songs. If you were given the chance to do something completely different from your style, what genre would you want to try out?
Yujin: Well, I think it is not going to happen, but jazz. [Laughs.]
Liz, Gaeul, Wonyoung, Rei, Leeseo: [Laugh.]
Yujin: But wait, there's a reason. It's because I really love Christmas, and I really love to listen to Christmas jazz. [Laughs.] So I kind of got interested in jazz in general, but I think that's not going to happen.
TV: Never say never.
Yujin: True. Some day. [Laughs.]
Wonyoung: I think it is not a genre, but individually, I want to try rapping someday. [Keeping with the] girl crush and girl crush theme.
TV: That'd be great. I can also see you guys doing a glam rock track. The fashion would be fabulous.
Wonyoung: Yes, that would be good too.
TV: To wrap things up, when we last talked, Yujin, you said that all your songs can be described as "IVE style." If you had to pick only one word to describe that IVE style, what would it be? Just one word each.
Yujin: One word… Ah! Ah! Slay.
Leeseo, Gaeul, Wonyoung: [Laugh.]
TV: What about the other members? Try to outdo her…
Leeseo: Free!
Yujin: Slay, free. [Laughs.]
Wonyoung: Um... I would go for love because our songs, like "Mine," include [a lot of references to] love and loving our DIVEs, so I will go with love.
TV: Good reasoning.
Rei: Gorgeous. Because we are always gorgeous.
Liz: IVE is…princess!
Rei: Prince-... [Laughs.]
Leeseo: [Laughs.]
Gaeul: Narcissistic!
Wonyoung: Narcissistic, yeah.
TV: I love the self-references to your lyrics. I would have said confident. I'm surprised none of you said confident.
Yujin: Oh my god, yes.
Wonyoung: I love it. [Laughs.]
TV: I'll add it as an extra member. I'll be IVE's seventh member for a minute.
Wonyoung: Okay. [Laughs.]
TV: I know it's super late for you, so thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us, and I'll look forward to seeing you on stage.
Wonyoung: Yes, see you on tour!
