Ahead of their much-anticipated return, the members sat down for a candid Q&amp;A with fans. Here&rsquo;s what they had to say about IVE Secret, festival highs, and the goals that drive them.

For seven months, <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/culture/ive-talks-smash-hit-comeback-album-ive-switch-celebrity-kpop-music-interview" title="IVE Talks about Their Smash Hit Comeback Album, 'IVE Switch', Growth &amp; More" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IVE</a> kept fans waiting. Seven months since Ive Empathy, the group&rsquo;s third mini album that cemented their dominance on the charts, their silence was loud. But silence has always been deceptive when it comes to IVE. Behind the curtain, six young women were meticulously crafting their boldest chapter yet.
Now, the wait is over. IVE Secret, their fourth mini album, lands with precision: six tracks that are both mysterious and magnetic, capturing the contradictions that make IVE so compelling. From the cryptic, bass-heavy &ldquo;XOXZ&rdquo;&mdash;its message a whispered &ldquo;I love you, good night. And see you in my dreams&rdquo;&mdash;to the wistful glow of &ldquo;Midnight Kiss&rdquo;, co-written by vocalist Liz, the record leans into contrasts. Light and shadow, tenderness and power, subtlety and spectacle.

It&rsquo;s not just another comeback.&nbsp;For leader <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/peekaboo-soft-small-photo-set-with-an-yu-jin-and-fendi-style-recordings" title="IVE's An Yu-jin Introduces Fendi's Peekaboo Soft Small Handbag in New Campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An Yu-jin</a>, the long preparation was a chance to elevate IVE&rsquo;s identity: &ldquo;I wanted to showcase IVE&rsquo;s unique colours in a more three-dimensional way,&rdquo; she explained, her words carrying the measured confidence of someone steering a ship that&rsquo;s already charting history.
Confidence is a recurring theme among the members. <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/april-2023-cover-story-gaeul-ive-comeback-interview" title="Cover Story: IVE's Gaeul Shows Off A Fresh New Side" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ga-eul</a> spoke of wanting to repay the fans&rsquo; loyalty &ldquo;with even better performances,&rdquo; while <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/ive-rei-k-pop-celebrity-interview-cover-story-june-july-2025-music-empathy-rebel-heart" title="Cover Story: IVE Got a REI of Light" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rei</a> confessed she felt nervous but &ldquo;excited to convey IVE&rsquo;s unique mood.&rdquo;
Jang Won-young, who co-wrote lyrics for XOXZ, admitted the pressure of expectation but framed it as motivation: &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve prepared diligently so that your time waiting won&rsquo;t be in vain. This time, I want to create many good memories with Dive.&rdquo; Each member circles back to one thing: connection. Whether through the precision of their music or the intimacy of their stage presence, IVE aren&rsquo;t simply dropping an album&mdash;they&rsquo;re creating moments.

IVE are as known for their visuals as their vocals, and IVE Secret continues that tradition with striking, otherworldly styling. Ga-eul&rsquo;s tightly curled hair gave her a dreamlike aura, one that matched the album&rsquo;s surreal concept. &ldquo;It felt mysterious, like stepping into a fantasy,&rdquo; she said. Rei debuted bold two-tone pink hair, a risk she worried over until reassured by staff and members that it suited her perfectly.
Perhaps the most cinematic story came from Liz, who shot against a crumbling wall: &ldquo;At first, I wasn&rsquo;t sure how it would look. But in the end, it felt like I was a hero standing strong even as the wall fell apart.&rdquo; The imagery of resilience feels apt for a group constantly reshaping their narrative without losing their essence.&nbsp;
What does success look like for <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/culture/ive-concludes-first-world-tour-with-sold-out-encore-stadium-concerts-celebrity-k-pop-news" title="IVE Concludes First World Tour with Encore Stadium Concerts in Seoul &amp; Japan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IVE</a> in this era? Not streams or trophies, according to them, but impact. Yu-jin spoke of revealing new sides of the group, Liz emphasised the maturity of their vocals, and Lee Seo summed it up best, &ldquo;Rather than focusing on numbers, I hope this becomes an activity we enjoy together. We want to convey our confident energy and create unforgettable memories.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s a refreshing sentiment in a scene often obsessed with metrics. For <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/culture/kpop-girl-group-ive-teases-new-album-concert-in-singapore" title="Viral K-pop Group, IVE Teases New Album and Concert in Singapore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IVE</a>, the win is in the moment.

If IVE Secret represents their artistic depth, their summer festival run represents their global reach. Just last month, IVE performed at <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/culture/ive-slayed-the-lollapalooza-2024-stage-us-music-festival-debut-celebrity-news" title="IVE Slayed The Lollapalooza 2024 Stage For Their US Music Festival Debut" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lollapalooza</a> Berlin and Lollapalooza Paris, a year after becoming the first K-pop girl group to storm the Chicago stage.
The milestone wasn&rsquo;t lost on them. Yu-jin described each performance as &ldquo;a new lesson,&rdquo; while Won-young recalled the thrill of seeing fans proud and joyful in the crowd: &ldquo;That gave me great strength. I want to be a member of IVE who can always convey positive energy.&rdquo; For the youngest, Lee Seo, the moments were overwhelming: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s moving when the audience sings along in Korean. I still get nervous, but I feel like I&rsquo;m growing step by step.&rdquo;

At the close of their Q&amp;A, the group&rsquo;s voices softened when speaking of their fans. Yu-jin called Dive &ldquo;a great source of strength,&rdquo; while Ga-eul promised, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve worked really hard on this promotion, so please join us and enjoy it.&rdquo; Rei vowed to &ldquo;repay the wait with a wonderful performance,&rdquo; and Won-young shared her wish to &ldquo;make many fun memories together.&rdquo; Liz and Lee Seo echoed the love, urging fans to embrace XOXZ with open hearts.

IVE’s Secret Unveiled: The Bold Comeback of K-pop’s Unstoppable Force

Tags

Related Articles

Culture

IVE Talks about Their Smash Hit Comeback Album, 'IVE Switch', Growth & More

Fashion

Cover Story: IVE Got a REI of Light

Culture

IVE Slayed The Lollapalooza 2024 Stage For Their US Music Festival Debut

Recommended posts for you

Living

Dyson Just Unveiled 11 New Gadgets in Berlin—Here’s All You Need To Know

Beauty

Hermès Beauty Releases Barénia Eau de Parfum Intense

Beauty

Exclusive! Inside Gucci Beauty's Brand New Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum Intense

Fashion

The Best Celebrity Looks on the 2025 MTV VMAs Red Carpet

Watches & Jewellery

Jennifer Lawrence On Her Favourite Moments and Die, My Love

Watches & Jewellery

Cartier’s Panther Campaign Lights Up Iconic Landmarks Worldwide

Beauty

Dior Capture Unveils Pro-Collagen Shot and Crème Regard

Watches & Jewellery

Following the Flowerlace Collection by Van Cleef & Arpels