[Exclusive Interview] VANNER Talks First English Single, 3rd Mini Album “BURN,” and Play Who’s Who

EMMA: I first want to start off by asking about your first English single which is a cover of Charlie Puth’s ‘I Don’t Think That I Like Her’. How did you go about reinterpreting the song to give it that distinct VANNER touch?

TAEHWAN: We wanted to keep some of the feeling of Charlie Puth’s original sound, but also wanted to imbue the reinterpretation with VANNER’s unique style. We used acoustic instruments and incorporated some rock elements in the arrangement, in an effort to show VANNER’s unique energy through the cover song.

EMMA: With this being your first English single as a group, how do you hope to connect with your international fans through this release?

HYESUNG: This is our first time singing in English, a language that is not our mother tongue. I believe there is a certain intimacy that can be created by the language itself. By singing this song in English, and interpreting it in our own style, we wanted to reach out to the global audience and connect with them more deeply.

This song is pretty popular in Korea as well, through TikTok challenges and such. We wanted to reach a wide range of listeners through this very popular song. In addition, we’re also preparing a lot of other content with the song so please look forward to that.

EMMA: Now I want to go into your upcoming comeback, your third mini album. The theme of VANNER 3RD MINI ALBUM [BURN] centers around hope and perseverance for today’s youth. How did you channel these messages into your music, particularly in the title track ‘Automatic’?

TAEHWAN: ‘Automatic’ embodies the story of VANNER. We were on a reality competition show called Peak Time, and on that show our team name was Team 11:00. This song is related to that time. In many ways, ‘Automatic’ is related to Team 11:00, and it is a song that we wish to devote to the youth who are living their daily lives in the real world. 

EMMA: Since VANNER is known for very high energy performances, how do you plan to translate that electro funk and disco elements of ‘Automatic’ into your live performances to the fans?

GON: One of the things that we like to do is to express our energy to the audience in a true and honest manner. And of course, some elements in performances are literally ‘performative’, a bit more exaggerated, but nonetheless we try our best to show ourselves as purely as possible to the audience. That approach has always helped us make our performances more powerful, and we plan on doing the same with performances of ‘Automatic’.

HYESUNG: To add to that, the genre itself is very exciting and energetic, and it’s a genre that requires a level of natural energy. One of our strengths is how we show our natural joy and energy on stage, and disco is a great way for us to show that to our audiences.
I think our previous performances were a bit more centered on charisma and power, but for this song we hope to perform in a more natural way, like GON said. I hope you look forward to our performances of ‘Automatic’.

EMMA: Each track on VANNER 3RD MINI ALBUM [BURN] seems to tell a unique story. Can you share which track resonates most with you personally and why?

YEONGGWANG: I personally love ‘Blossom’. The song was written for us by my role model LEE GIKWANG from HIGHLIGHT, an artist who I admire very much, and it showcases VANNER’s unique colors really well. I can’t wait to show off this song to the listeners. 

GON: I love ‘Xcellerate’ because it’s the only one in the album with hip-hop elements. I like that hip-hop sound a lot. 

TAEHWAN: My favorite is ‘Revolver’. I was really impressed when I first listened to it. The song showcases VANNER’s unique style that we’re known for, and I was drawn to the powerful vocals of the chorus.

GON: That’s because your vocals are powerful.

HYESUNG: I have two favorites: ‘New Heights’ and ‘Be Together’. I like ‘New Heights’ because it shows more diverse sides of VANNER, including a brighter, happier side. ‘Be Together’ is meaningful to us because SUNGKOOK participated in its making before enlisting in military service. 

EMMA: This album reflects both the struggles and the unyielding passion of youth. How do you hope VANNER 3RD MINI ALBUM [BURN] will inspire your fans, especially those going through difficult times?

GON: I hope our songs give listeners courage and love. I hope fans who listen to our songs can empathize with the messages that the songs are expressing, and I hope VANNER can have a positive influence on people who are trying to do something new or are perhaps going through hard times. The songs will resonate with listeners even more if they think about VANNER’s story while listening.

TAEHWAN: We’re all young right now, so don’t be afraid. Have courage,keep on trying and keep on challenging yourself.  That’s the message I want to convey through this album.

EMMA: Your five-year journey as a performance idol group has been incredible prior to releasing VANNER 3RD MINI ALBUM [BURN]. How does this album represent your growth as artists and as a group?

HYESUNG: Even before our debut in 2019, we did over 200 concerts in Japan together. And following our debut, we went through hard times because of COVID-19, doing side jobs to keep on performing. But then the reality competition show PEAK TIME gave us a second chance. So if you look at VANNER’s career, there’s been a lot of ups and downs. There have been bright sides and dark sides in our path.
But we don’t want to try to hide the bad parts. We want to stay true to ourselves and show all of our sides as naturally and honestly as possible. Fans and listeners must also have ups and downs in their lives, positive moments but also sad or hard times. All of those moments make up who we are. That’s what youth is made of. I hope listeners can see our natural, honest sides through this album. 

EMMA: Now I want to ask a lighter question. What is something you all do to relax?

GON: I enjoy watching animated movies. I liked ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’. And I also like to play console games, like PlayStation 5. I really like the Spider-Man series, which is why I bought a PlayStation. 

YEONGGWANG: My hobby is drawing. I draw on my iPad using Clip Studio to pass time. 

TAEHWAN: I have spent some time on my own, but recently I’ve been doing a lot more group activities with my members. We all go get something to eat, or visit a nice cafe, or go watch a movie together. Spending time together on our days off is how I’ve been relaxing. 

GON: Aww, I’m touched. 

HYESUNG: Doing absolutely nothing is the most relaxing thing for me. Even when I’m on the plane, I just sleep. 

EMMA: Lastly, I want to ask, is there a message that you want to share with your fans?

GON: I’m sincerely thankful to the fans who have stayed with us for such a long time. They are the reason why we exist. I always want to show our best sides to the fans, but I’m also touched by how fans love us no matter what side we show. VVS motivates us to keep on going, and I hope one day we can put on a dinner & concert show for the fans.

YEONGGWANG: Thanks to the support from VVS we were able to come back after a short time with a great new album and we also got to release a new English single. I hope to repay all the love and support we received from VVS by continuing to create good music, and I look forward to connecting with global fans as well through our music. 

TAEHWAN: Without VVS there is no VANNER. They understand our passion and devotion better than anyone else. They are very precious to us, and I hope to make great memories with VVS for a long time. 

HYESUNG: All my members already said everything, and I agree with all of it. I love you, always and forever, and thank you.

GON: I want to add just one more thing. When we have conversations with fans, we always try to show our truest selves to them. We want to be as honest and open with them as possible, and I hope that VVS also feels pure love for us too. I hope this kind of purity can cure any difficulties that fans might be having in their lives. I made up this phrase, ‘pure for cure’, because I hope the ‘pure’ love of VANNER will ‘cure’ and heal any troubles that VVS has. I hope our relationship can be one of healing. 

Emma also took some time during her chat with VANNER to play a game of ‘Who’s Who’!

Which member is the funniest?

VANNER: The funniest member is SUNGKOOK!

Which member is the slowest at texting back?

VANNER: Two for HYESUNG, two for SUNGKOOK.

Which member is the best cook?

VANNER: GON!

Which member learns choreography the fastest?

VANNER: GON!

Which member is the best at giving gifts?

VANNER: Two for TAEHWAN, one for GON, one for SUNGKOOK.

Which member takes the longest to get ready?

VANNER: Two for TAEHWAN, two for GON.

 
Which member has the best style?

VANNER: GON! Or every member, really. 

Which member has the most aegyo?

VANNER: One for TAEHWAN, one for HYESUNG, one for GON, and one for SUNGKOOK.

Last one, which member is the most athletic?

VANNER: Three for GON, one for YEONGGWANG.

GON: I play baseball. I throw 100 mph pitches. *laughs*

Thank you VANNER for taking the time to speak with KpopWise about the latest comeback. The group’s insights and passion for music truly shine through, and it’s clear that they are dedicated to sharing messages of hope and connection with their fans! We look forward to seeing how VANNER’s new music continues to resonate with fans.