South Korea’s IVE is an all-girl pop outfit known for their hooky, dance-oriented sound. The group debuted to major success, topping the Gaon charts with 2021’s “Eleven” and 2022’s “Love Dive.” A third single, “After Like,” followed in 2022, with the full-length I’ve IVE appearing in 2023. The group released the Japanese EP Wave, then two Korean EPs, I’ve Mine and 2024’s IVE Switch.
Formed in 2021 by the Seoul-based Starship Entertainment, IVE features the talents of Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo. Prior to joining the group, both Wonyoung and Yujin had competed in the Produce 48 talent contest and were members of the group Iz*One until they broke up in 2021. IVE (a stylized spelling of the contraction “I’ve” or “I have”), made their debut in December 2021 with the single “Eleven,” which topped the Korean Gaon Album chart. It also reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s World Digital Songs Sales chart and cracked the Japan Hot 100. A second single, “Love Dive,” arrived in April 2022, also hitting number one in Korea. The group returned that August with their third single, “After Like.” “Kitsch” and “I Am” arrived in early 2023 and appeared on the group’s first full-length studio LP, I’ve IVE, later that year. Wave, an EP sung in Japanese and intended for the Japanese market, appeared in May and topped the country’s charts. The Korean-language EP I’ve Mine was released in October, and was another multi-national success. Their second Korean-language EP IVE Switch arrived in 2024. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi