Sep 11, 2026 4:00pm IST
VERIVERY on the Pressures of the K-Pop Industry, Embracing a Lighter Sound With ‘Confetti’ and Staying True to Their Identity (EXCLUSIVE)
Dongheon, Gyehyeon, Yeonho, Yongseung and Kangmin have been part of VERIVERY for eight years. Having stayed together beyond the industry’s infamous seven-year mark, the members are now forging a new path with their latest EP, “Confetti,” along with a music video for its title track, “Don’t Panic!”.
The group joined Variety India for an exclusive video conversation ahead of the release to talk about moving away from their familiar musical formula and giving something back to their fans through their new music.
On giving their discography a lighter feeling
About their six-track album, Gyehyeon says, “‘Confetti’ is about releasing confetti to brighten up someone's mood. It's a very bright and joyful song where you know we're looking for these small moments of everyday happiness that can cheer you up.”
Dongheon reveals that while their label officially began working on the album in June, building on ideas that had been taking shape for some time. He had been thinking about it since March, deciding to move away from their performance-heavy song releases to a more laid-back title track. The members share that the song was initially much shorter, but their input—including adding an outro—helped shape the final version as they worked with multiple producers and composers. Kangmin adds that “Way to Zero,” the album’s opening track, was probably the most challenging song for them to record.
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On aligning their music to the industry’s expectations
Now in their eighth year, VERIVERY is considered senior in the K-Pop industry, despite most of the members still being in their twenties and early thirties. Reflecting on the contradiction, Yongseung says releasing “Confetti” felt like an opportunity to do what the group has always wanted to do.
The members are also choosing to embark on a more adventurous path in their personal lives, with the youngest among them considering getting a tattoo. When asked whether a group tattoo is also on the cards, Gyehyeon says they are looking for something meaningful, while the rest jokingly toy with the idea of getting “VR” permanently inked.
Speaking about an industry that is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging almost every day, the group reflects on how much industry pressure factors into planning a comeback. Kangmin says, “The K-Pop industry moves really fast, with a lot of things that are going on behind the scenes. So I am still a little afraid of it. But to tackle that, I think I really wanted to be more active, especially with our new album. The preparation process included talking extensively to convey our message with the album and its songs. We really want it to reflect our preferences and showcase our identity.”
Dongheon opens up about the pressure of being the group’s leader, saying, “As the leader, I feel a lot of pressure. When it comes to making an album with these guys, not everyone in the team can be satisfied. But as someone who produces music, the biggest fear is what if the audience doesn't like it. Listening and balancing opinions with the members is really crucial in dealing with this kind of pressure.”
He also addresses whether K-pop's global expansion has raised concerns about changing identities or moving away from the team’s initial goals. “It’s a question that we used to worry about two or three years ago. In hindsight, people who debuted around the same time as us seem to have pretty strong color identities. But we are more colorless. We're able to encompass everything and we're looking forward to new opportunities.”
On swerving away from K-Pop’s usual narrative
The Korean music industry often places a strong emphasis on overarching messages and storytelling in music videos and concerts. VERIVERY have often designed their performances around these elements. However, their latest record steps away from that expectation.
Yongseung explains, “This album is designed for the kind of content that fans will enjoy creating on their own. ‘Confetti’ is on the lighter side. It's more direct in its message of enjoying our bright energy so people can resonate with it. We focus a little less on the group lore and the storytelling. For the concert, we considered these aspects, but our goal was to have fun with our fans.”
On collaborating with an Indian artist
With K-Pop continuing to find a wider audience in India, Yeonho reflects on the possibility of collaborating with an Indian artist. “The love and support from our fans in India is really a huge part of what allows us to keep releasing music and performing on stage, so we're very grateful for that. And honestly, we've never really collaborated with anyone before, but we've always been artists who dream of doing so. So if the opportunity arises, we’ll go for it.”
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