K-pop Group 1VERSE Start The Year With New Single And World Tour

The K-pop rookie group 1VERSE (pronounced “Universe”) returns with new music for the new year with the sexy drill track, “WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall).”

The group – Hyuk, Seok, Nathan, Kenny, and Aito– first debuted last July with their single album, The 1st Verse, and has grown significantly, with fans from all over the world and millions of followers across all their social platforms.

Written by Kenny and Nathan, “WABIF,” the second installment of the group’s Shattered era, explores the “deeply human emotions of listlessness, surrender, and apathy,” and “finding the nuances of hope and despair as one lies awake, watching their world fracture into chaos, but still choosing resilience.”

Both Asian Americans, Kenny and Nathan, recalled trying to adjust to life as idols in Seoul, admitting it was difficult, but they were determined to make it. Like many other artists and performers, it’s no surprise that they were able to turn their feelings into art.

In fact, all five members are all still figuring out their lives and place in South Korea. Hyuk (currently on hiatus) and Seok made history as the first North Korean defectors in a K-pop idol group. Nathan and Kenny are from the United States, and Aito hails from Japan.

“Everyone in our group has to assimilate into South Korean culture,” Kenny explained last year. “There’s an aspect of everyone struggling to find their ground and where they belong in Korea. I think that’s where we found similarities.”

Now with their new single and their World Tour across North America in January and February, and then to Europe in April, 1VERSE is ready to show off what they can do, and meet more of their fanbase – 5TARS.

“We’re deeply grateful that 1VERSE has already connected with so many incredible fans around the world, and we can’t wait to share this heartfelt new single with them,” Michelle Cho, Singing Beetle CEO, said in a press release. “It’s a very exciting time for the band members and Singing Beetle as we continue pursuing our mission to deliver authentic, creative, and powerful storytelling through music.”

1VERSE’s “WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall)” is out now on all streaming platforms. Tickets for 1VERSE’s upcoming concerts are available here.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurasirikul/2026/01/21/k-pop-group-1verse-start-the-year-with-new-single-and-world-tour/