1VERSE: Electrifying First Steps on Stage in Montreal

Though they currently have only three original songs to their name, the members of 1VERSE (pronounced “uni-verse”) are already brimming with energy. Kenny, Nathan, Aito and Seok (with fifth member Hyuk on hiatus since September) have just wrapped up their first North American tour with a stop in Montreal.

Their universe is clearly ready to meet ours. In less than a year, the group has already built an ultra-active international fanbase. Their 5TARZ (the fandom name, pronounced “stars”) number over one million on TikTok, and those gathered at Club Soda had traveled from across Canada.

A double distinction in the K-pop landscape

1VERSE owes much of this growing popularity to a rare proposition in the K-pop scene: a group with truly international profiles. Nathan is American, of Thai and Laotian descent; Aito has Japanese roots; Kenny is Chinese-American. As for Seok and Hyuk, both North Korean defectors, they are among the very first to have joined a K-pop group. A double distinction that allows the young agency Singing Beetle, founded by producer Michelle Cho, to stand out.

The members also showcase this diversity on stage through their setlist. When aiming to present a full concert only months after debut, expanding the program becomes essential. Alongside their original tracks (Shattered, Multiverse, and their latest single WABIF – Wide Awake Before I Fall), 1VERSE delivers a true K-pop melting pot: God of Music by Seventeen, IDOL by BTS, two songs by ATEEZ… and a notable cover of Your Idol by the Saja Boys (K-Pop Demon Hunters). On stage, the group impresses with accurate vocals and consistently high energy.

The concert also gave each member the opportunity to shine solo or in duos: Kenny performed songs by Ed Sheeran and Troye Sivan; Nathan covered Babydoll by Dominic Fike; Aito took on Taemin’s Drip Drop; and Seok delivered Drowning by Woodz. These varied stages highlighted the versatility expected of K-pop idols, blending vocal prowess, dynamic choreography, and more intimate moments. Despite a demanding pace and back-to-back performances, the members showed very few signs of fatigue, maintaining steady vocal intensity throughout the show. Notably, and quite rare for a rookie group — 1VERSE relied neither on lip-syncing nor on backing vocal tracks.

The group also took time to bond with the audience. During a game segment, fans were asked to match members to different scenarios — such as who would be most likely to befriend their airplane seatmate or go to a restaurant just for dessert. For most questions, Kenny, the group’s playful “social butterfly”, was the top pick, both among his bandmates and the audience. Through constant teasing and visible affection, the members demonstrated that their professional partnership has gradually grown into genuine friendship.

Like an increasing number of K-pop artists, the members of 1VERSE are actively involved in the creation of their music: Aito contributed to the choreography of Multiverse, while Hyuk collaborated on the lyrics with CEO Michelle Cho. On the merchandising side, another surprise awaited fans : the members’ stickers were once again illustrated by… Aito.

In April, 1VERSE will return to Europe, with scheduled stops in Paris and Bordeaux. A perfect opportunity to discover a group that may still be young, but is already deeply committed on stage — and which, as Kenny joked, hopes to soon have more than three songs to promote.

Special thanks to Michelle Cho and the Singing Beetle team for allowing us to attend this concert.

Gabin Fontaine