[Interview] 1VERSE Talk Milestones, Music, and Memories

Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage and substance.

Long-time readers may remember our article from a few months back where HallyuTones attended new boy group 1VERSE‘s debut showcase, and discussed their debut songs, the stories behind them, and the chemistry between the members.

Recently, Singing Beetle and the 1VERSE members graciously conducted an exclusive interview with HallyuTones, answering a few questions in advance of their 1st US fan-meet event! Please note that at the time of writing, member Hyuk was still on hiatus, therefore any responses are from the other members.

Interview:

Q1. Hello and welcome to HallyuTones. Please introduce yourselves to the readers.

Seok: Hi, I’m Seok, vocalist of 1VERSE. I’m honored to debut in a K-pop and I can’t wait to sing for all of you.

Kenny: I’m Kenny, a vocalist. I’m Chinese-American, born and raised in Los Angeles. I trained at a few companies before finding my home in 1VERSE. I’m excited to finally debut with my yeobo Seok and the other talented members.

Aito: Nice to meet you, I’m Aito – the main dancer of 1VERSE. I’m Japanese-Korean and I’ve been dancing since I was little. I helped choreograph our debut song “Shattered”. I’m thrilled to perform for you all!

Nathan: And I’m Nathan, a vocalist from Arkansas in the USA. I’m Lao-Thai American and I actually started by posting dance covers on YouTube. Kenny discovered my videos and that’s how I joined the group. It’s surreal to go from dancing in my room to debuting on stage. Together, our members make 1VERSE (pronounced “universe”), an international K-pop group with members from Korea, the US, and Japan. We officially debuted on July with our first single album The 1st Verse, featuring our title track “Shattered”. Thank you for having us!

Q2. You recently reached 100 days since your debut with Shattered. Congratulations on this milestone! How does it feel to know all your training and experience have led to this moment?

Seok: Debuting was surreal, and reaching 100 days is both humbling and exciting. But it’s only the beginning of our story, so I remind myself to keep a “beginner’s mindset”and continue to work hard as if we just started. All those years of training, as well as my background in professional sports, taught me to never take anything for granted.
Nathan: There’s a huge sense of gratitude in knowing our experience brought us here. We delayed our debut until we were truly ready, and it was the right decision. We wanted to show the best version of 1VERSE without disappointing anyone. Now hitting 100 days, I feel proud of that patience and growth.
Kenny: Exactly. We really took our time to prepare the perfect debut gift for 5TARZ. To see it pay off – to see fans enjoying Shattered and Multiverse – it’s an amazing feeling. It’s like, wow, the long nights of practice and all our experiences are now on full display. We’re just really thankful and fired up to keep going.
Aito: Sometimes I still think to my self “I hope they like our performance” in the back of my mind, but hearing that our first tour was sold out gave me so much confidence. We’ll keep doing our best so that the next 100 days can be enjoyed with 5TARZ.

Q3. 1VERSE is known as one of the friendliest and most responsive K-Pop idol groups (honorable mention to your staff!). What do you hope people learn about you through your stages and interactions with fans?

Nathan: We’re really happy people see us as friendly and approachable! Through our music and fan interactions, we want everyone to know that we’re relatable. We pour our personal stories into our songs to tell fans, “we’re just like you. you’re not alone.” If listeners can feel a genuine connection or comfort from us, then we’re doing our job right.

Aito: Yes! On stage we might look cool and powerful, but off-stage and especially on Tik Tok we’re just a bunch of fun, down-to-earth guys. I hope people see that contrast. We never want to appear untouchable. We want to share our experiences with our fans, and I see that our fans are enjoying the experience every day on our social media and our fan platform.

Seok: Ultimately, I hope people learn that we’re normal people who happen to make music. We have flaws and struggles only we know about, and we’re always learning. By being responsive and kind, we want to break that wall between “idol” and “fan.” We want 5TARZ to feel like friends.

Kenny: And through things like livestreams, social media comments, or even our spontaneous mini-vlogs, we try to show our genuine selves. I think by staying true to who we are, we hope fans learn that 1VERSE is about authenticity, positivity, and mutual respect. If our friendliness can brighten someone’s day even a little, then nothing could make us happier.

@1verse_official

How did he do? 🥺 #1VERSE #유니버스 #AITO #KENNY

♬ original sound – Sean

Q4. Aito: What has been your most memorable stage performance so far?

Aito: My most memorable stage so far has to be our debut showcase. That was the first time we ever performed live in front of our 5TARZ, as well as our families and the media. We even premiered our pre-debut song “Multiverse” there, which was really special. I had led the choreography for that song, so seeing it come to life on stage was unforgettable. I remember looking out at the audience and seeing our family members and new fans together, and I almost got emotional. All those hours practicing the dance in the studio paid off in that moment. That performance will always hold a special place in my heart. It felt like we opened a portal to our universe for the first time, and everyone was invited in.

Q5. Seok: As the group’s main vocal, how does it feel to know that there are thousands of fans singing along to your voice wherever they are?

Seok: My heart feels warm knowing our music is comforting someone in this world. Many fans have written to us on social media, and I think our fans in particular like to write essays about their experiences. I try to read all of them. I am a vocalist, but my purpose is for our music to touch and encourage people. Recently I saw footage of our fans doing the fan chant for the first time, and it gave me goosebumps. It motivates me to work even harder on my vocals. 

Q6. Nathan: You began your journey to becoming an idol with YouTube dance covers. What has been the most eye-opening experience about your performances with the members?

Nathan: Coming from doing dance covers solo, the most eye-opening part of performing with 1VERSE is the power of teamwork. When I was dancing alone in my room for YouTube, it was just me, the camera, and my own feedback. Now I have brothers on stage with me, and the synergy we create together is on another level. I’ve learned that every member brings a unique strength and when we combine, it’s like magic.

For example, during late-night practice, even if we’re exhausted, we somehow energize each other. We start goofing around, impersonating each other’s parts – one time I mimicked the way the hyungs sing and had them literally crying with laughter on the floor. I realized you could never have moments like that as a soloist. Performing with the members has taught me about trust too, we rely on each other for timing and harmonies. If one of us is slightly off, the others adjust instantly. That unspoken connection is something I never experienced doing covers alone. Honestly, it’s made performing way more fun.

Q7. Kenny: What has been the most memorable experience with the members since you’ve debuted?

Kenny: We have so many memories already, even though it’s only been a few months since debut. But one of the funniest and most memorable experiences has to be when we all went out to a sushi buffet together. We were celebrating a milestone and apparently I… eat really fast.

The members were shocked at how much sushi I put away, and how quickly I was stacking empty plates. They were like, “Whoa, Kenny, this isn’t normal!” and Aito even started filming my plate pile in disbelief. I learned that day that I have a bit of a food monster inside me (and the members learned to never challenge me at an all-you-can-eat!). That little outing was special because it was one of the first times we relaxed together after debuting.

Also, a close second memory: we went through a haunted maze for a content shoot, and seeing some of the members scream and run (I won’t name who!) was absolutely hilarious. I’m sure fans will see that in a video someday. 

Q8. 1VERSE is about to embark on your first US fan-meet and has plans to tour the country eventually. What does this opportunity mean to each of you?

All members: Getting to meet our international 5TARZ, especially in the U.S., is a dream come true for us. In fact, one of our first performances for fans outside Korea was at K-PLAY Fest in Anaheim, California – that was a little taste of what it’s like to be on stage in the U.S., and it was amazing. Here’s what this opportunity means to each member:

• Seok: I’m simply grateful. I think of all the support fans in the U.S. have given us online, streaming our songs, leaving encouraging comments, and the fact that we can finally see them in person means so much. Hearing a crowd of fans in another country sing along (in English or even Korean!) to my vocals is going to be so emotional. This opportunity makes me want to work even harder to impress and connect with our international 5TARZ.
• Nathan: As an American member, performing for fans in the U.S. is like coming home with a victory. I grew up in Arkansas with these big idol dreams, and now I get to live them on home soil. My family and old friends can even come see me on stage. It’s honestly a little nerve-racking. I want to make my fellow Americans proud, but mostly it’s super exciting. I can’t wait to meet the fans who have been cheering for us from across the ocean.
• Kenny: It means the world to me. I spent a lot of years training in Korea, away from my hometown in LA, so going back to the States not just as “Kenny from LA” but as Kenny of 1VERSE is really special. I’m looking forward to eating some Chipotle (laughs) and showing Seok hyung and Aito around my home, but more importantly, I can’t wait to personally thank the fans out there for supporting us. We want to give them an unforgettable fan-meet and concert experience, and show that their support has reached us even from thousands of miles away.
• Aito: I’ve never been to the U.S. before, so this is a huge opportunity for me to experience a new culture and meet our fans there. I’m a bit nervous about speaking English, but I’ve been practicing phrases because I really want to communicate with our international 5TARZ without barriers. For me, this first US fan-meet is about sharing our music with more people and also learning from the experience. It’s the start of 1VERSE traveling around the world. I feel like it’s opening a new chapter for us.

So, collectively, this opportunity means connection. It’s ironic that our theme for the tour is “Shattered.” It’s the name of our title song and we’ve literally had shattering moments as we prepared for this tour. There’s just so much behind the scenes that we will have to live and tell, hopefully sometime in the near future. We’re all extremely grateful (and still a bit in awe) that there are fans in the U.S. waiting for us. Thank you 5TARZ you’ve been more than great!

Q9. Many 5TARZ were pleasantly surprised to see your company ensure that both concert tickets and the album purchase were affordable and environmentally friendly. What informed this decision?

Nathan: We’re really proud of how our company, Singing Beetle, handles things. The truth is, we’re a small company with a big heart. Our CEO (Michelle) and the team genuinely care about fans more than profits. In fact, fans discovered that for a while our CEO and her co-founder Joe were even working second jobs to fund the group. That’s how dedicated they are to us and to the fans. From the start, they’ve always said they want to do right by the fans.

Kenny: Our company also chose to print mini-CDs in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. I’m sure we can do much more than that, but we consider it a start of our learning process. We’ve also been trying to save shipping fees for our fans, and even opted for free events when visas became a problem in the US. Our company believes that if you take care of the fans and the world around you, in the long run it’s a win-win. We hope more companies follow that lead. And as artists, it also motivates us seeing our company care so much makes us want to work even harder to repay that trust.

Q10. What countries or cities would the members like to visit next?

Aito: “Japan!” I know I’m from Japan, but there are actually many regions there I’ve never been to. I’d love for 1VERSE to tour all over my home country so I can discover new places alongside my members. Performing in front of a home crowd in Tokyo would be amazing, but I also want to visit smaller cities, maybe eat local foods and meet fans there. Japan has supported us a lot, so it’s definitely first on my list.

Nathan: I would pick Germany. We’ve noticed online that we have a lot of fans in Germany for some reason! One of our most popular pre-debut videos was us trying German snacks, and (fun fact) I wasn’t in the group yet when they filmed that. So I’m curious to actually go to Germany, taste the real local food, and meet the German 5TARZ who’ve been supporting us. It’d be my first time in Europe ever.

Seok: Since Aito chose Japan, I’ll go with Brazil! I’ve been a huge football (soccer) fan since I was a kid, and Brazil is like a football mecca to me. I grew up idolizing players like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar, and now Vinícius Jr.. I would love to visit Brazil, maybe catch a match at the Maracanã Stadium, and of course meet our fans there. I see Brazilian fans commenting on our social media in Portuguese. It’d be awesome to hear them sing along to our songs in person.

Kenny: I have two in mind: Canada and the UK. I actually visited Canada once when I was younger, but I’ve never tried real Canadian poutine, so I want to go back and have some! And of course do a show for the Canadian 5TARZ since our tour is now officially a North American Tour. As for the UK, lately I’ve been strangely obsessed with Marmite (don’t ask me why). I’d love to visit London or other UK cities, maybe try Marmite from the source and meet our UK fans too. A world tour is a big dream of mine, and Canada and the UK are definitely on that dream list.

Q11. What message do you have for anybody who may be meeting you for the first time today?

1VERSE: First off, nice to meet you!  If you’re discovering 1VERSE today, we warmly welcome you into our universe. We’re a group that values music, storytelling, and our fans. We always say a phrase: “Love you in our universe.” We even put that lyric in one of our songs as a message to everyone joining us. So to new friends meeting us now, we want to say we love and appreciate you already. We hope our music can resonate with you. Maybe give you strength on a tough day or add some extra joy to a good day. Every big fandom starts with one person giving a new group a chance, and if you’re giving us a chance today, thank you so much. We’ll keep working hard to earn your support. Welcome to the 5TARZ family – we hope you stick around and grow with 1VERSE! 

Q12. Do you have any final words for your 5TARZ?

Nathan: We truly have the best fans in the world. I mean that. You guys are so supportive and passionate – it blows my mind every day. We’re always grateful for that, and we don’t take it lightly. Every stream, every message, every fan project – we see it, and it motivates us to work harder.

Seok: We promise we’ll continue to repay your love with great music and performances. As I said earlier, we’re keeping a beginner’s mindset. We’ll keep ourselves from being complacent, because we want to keep improving for you all. We also want to pay you back by being artists you can be proud of.

Kenny: Yeah, we’ll continue to grow and hopefully reach new heights, but we’ll never forget that it’s 5TARZ who put us on the map. You believed in us when we were literally, as I like to say, coming from “negative zero” among so many other options. The fact that you chose to give your attention to us, we will cherish that forever.

Aito: Thank you for always standing by us. Please keep an eye on what’s coming, we have so many ideas and cool projects we want to do for you. As long as you’re with us, we feel like anything is possible. Let’s continue to make great memories together. We love you in our universe, 5TARZ! Thank you! 

Thank you again to Singing Beetle and the 1VERSE members for your in-depth responses. We wish you the best for the remainder of your fan meetings!

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Do you want to see 1VERSE on tour?

Recently, 1VERSE experienced issues with planned tour dates and events were rescheduled as free fan meets, primarily due to member visa difficulties.

However, touring is planned to go ahead in 2026! For US based 5TARZ, please use this link to get yourself tickets to the New York tour stop!

And for European 5TARZ, Kooky are working to gauge tour stop interest for 1VERSE’s Europe Tour! Vote for your favourite at this link, and leave your city recommendations in the comments for a chance to be selected!

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If you want to keep up with the members, please follow them on the platforms below:

Instagram: @official1verse

X: @1VERSE_official

TikTok: @1verse_official

Youtube: @1verse_official

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1verse/1823857338

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4F9V7425qp8GwTYw3Nq1xS