IVE Celebrates the Release of 'REBEL HEART' with Fans in Exciting Live Countdown

On January 13, IVE (안유진, 가을, 레이, 장원영, 리즈, 이서) hosted a live countdown event on their official YouTube channel to celebrate the pre-release of their third EP, 'IVE EMPATHY,' featuring the track 'REBEL HEART.'

Reuniting with their fans, known as DIVE, the members shared their thoughts on why they chose to unveil 'REBEL HEART' as one of the two title tracks. Jang Wonyoung expressed, "From the first time I heard it, the song touched my heart. Since January marks the beginning of a new year, I felt it could provide comfort and empathy to those starting fresh resolutions or persevering through ongoing challenges."

The discussion then shifted to the album itself, with Rei explaining, "As the title suggests, 'IVE EMPATHY' is about empathy. While our previous album focused on self-love, this time I wanted to explore empathy from various perspectives."

Gaeul added, "I wanted to show how IVE has grown, both as individuals and through our music. The album reflects our journey from focusing on ourselves to recognizing and empathizing with the pain and struggles of those around us, ultimately growing together through shared experiences."

The members urged fans not to forget the official release date of February 3, emphasizing, "We will be back on February 3. Don’t think it’s all over after the Lunar New Year!"

They also engaged in lively discussions about their concept photos, films, and trailers. Liz revealed, "We took all the photos with a film camera, so we couldn’t monitor them as we shot." Gaeul surprised fans by announcing she would wear a crown during their promotional activities, reminiscent of their concept photos.

Throughout the live session, the members maintained a warm atmosphere by interacting with fans and even teased a snippet of their new choreography, demonstrating a move that matched the lyrics "Hate me."

As the event wrapped up, the members shared their personal reflections and aspirations for the year ahead. IVE expressed their readiness to work hard, stating, "We have filmed a lot of content, and there’s so much more to come. We hope DIVE will love 'REBEL HEART' and look forward to the title track on February 3!"

The pre-released track 'REBEL HEART' portrays a collective march of rebellious spirits with diverse narratives. Following its release, the song quickly climbed to the top of various music charts, including Bugs' real-time chart and Melon's HOT100, marking a strong start for IVE.

IVE is set to officially return with their third EP 'IVE EMPATHY' on February 3, following their appearances on various music shows and content leading up to the release.