In the space of two weeks, I’ve gone from not knowing who or what 1VERSE was to being just about ready to sign up as captain of their fan club. You can thank their YouTube channel for that. This is the first act from new agency Singing Beetle, brainchild of former SM Entertainment A&R Michelle Cho. They’re also the first idol group to feature two members of North Korean descent (and a member from Arkansas!). Their pre-debut online content has an addictive fly-on-the-wall, unproduced nature. It’s an authentic and fascinating look at the formation of an idol group from a small agency and I can’t get enough of it. Now, all that’s left is for the actual music to be decent.
The group’s official debut is still around the corner, but pre-release Multiverse offers a sweet opening salvo well-suited to summer. Its soft, shimmering approach is subdued but melodic, offering a series of hummable hooks that become more addictive than they first seem. The sound is very much in line with what fifth gen boy groups are doing — a soft rock approach rather than the bombastic style we often associate with K-pop. For a lover of over-the-top drama like me, this trend is starting to wear a bit thin. However, it works just fine as a pre-release appetizer. With that said, I would’ve loved a bit more kick in Multiverse‘s instrumental (especially during the chorus). There’s a missed opportunity to hit the song’s sentiment even harder musically.
My fondness for the members and their backstories likely colors Multiverse‘s overall effect. It’s simply so satisfying to see this super-diverse group come together. But beyond that, the song delivers a real earworm in its lilting chorus and a standout second verse rap injects the colorful character I hope to hear more of in their music going forward. We officially have liftoff. I’m excited to see where they go next.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
