Korean music label Singing Beetle announced that K-pop boy group 1VERSE will release its first track of the year on January 21, 2026, with the new single album ‘WABIF’ (‘Wide Awake Before I Fall’). The new single release from 1VERSE (pronounced “universe”) follows the band’s history-making debut in July 2025, and it comes just one week before the start of its world tour, as the group continues building exceptional first-year global momentum.
1VERSE features five arti sts from Korea, the United States, and Japan: HYUK, SEOK, NATHAN, KENNY, and AITO. Two of the members — rapper HYUK and singer SEOK — continue to make history as the first North Korean defectors in a K-pop idol group.
Since its debut, 1VERSE’s exploding popularity has taken the K-pop world by storm. The group has built a loyal and rapidly growing international fan base known as 5TARZ (pronounced “stars”), gained nearly a million followers on TikTok with astonishing speed, and received significant accolades from global media, leading to growing demands for a tour. Billboard Brasil spotlighted 1VERSE’s pre-debut track ‘Multivese’ in their Best 25 K-pop Songs of 2025, while Kpop Wise and K-Ville Entertainment featured the band as having one of the top debuts of 2025, among praise from other leading industry voices.
“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,” said Singing Beetle CEO Michelle Cho. “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.”
After ‘WABIF’ goes live, 1VERSE is set to turn their growing energy and momentum to the global stage. In early 2026, 1VERSE will embark on an ambitious tour, including 11 shows in the U.S. and Canada during January and February, find tickets here —followed by another 10+ shows in Europe during April, cementing their spot among a select few K-pop groups who have successfully gone on to do a multi-continent tour within their inaugural year.
The new single release ‘WABIF,’ the second installment of 1VERSE’s ‘Shattered’ era, is a ‘sexy drill’ track that wrestles with the deeply human emotions of listlessness, surrender, and apathy.
Co-written by members KENNY and NATHAN, ‘WABIF’ explores the nuances of hope and despair as one lies awake, watching their world fracture into chaos, but still choosing resilience.
‘WABIF’ is set for release on all major streaming platforms at 6PM KST on January 21, 2026, with additional content releasing through 1VERSE’s official channels.