[Dispatch=Yuha Sky Reporter] "I think you can't beat someone who enjoys it." (Han)

Spitting, manipulation, malice, elimination, loser. These are words rarely heard in idol song lyrics. EVVNE, instead, brought out the most painful words and turned them into their own weapon.

From audition elimination to project group debut, reorganization into a five-member structure, and finally official group transition. Through that winding process, they expressed the anxiety, desperation, and sense of responsibility they felt through music.

Like the team name (Evening's Newest Etoiles), EVVNE dreams of becoming a newly rising star in the night sky. Now they have taken their first step as an official group, not a project.

Dispatch recently met EVVNE. We heard about the sincerity contained in their new single 'Backtalk' and their determination for an even greater leap.

◆ EVVNE more

EVVNE's beginning was Mnet's 'Boys Planet'. Han, Keita, Lee Jung-hyun, Moon Jung-hyun, and Park Ji-hoo, among others who ranked 11th, 12th, 15th, 29th, and 33rd respectively, formed a spin-off group.

Afterwards, EVVNE underwent several changes. In January of last year, they achieved the first official team transition from a survival project group. The members were reorganized from seven to five.

"I was worried the stage would look empty with fewer people. During the break, I focused only on lessons. Rather than putting it off saying 'who will do it?', I approached it with the mindset of 'I'll do it first'." (Lee Jung-hyun)

With that, their sense of responsibility grew stronger. They changed the way they express their opinions. Han recalled that "the members are speaking directly to the company and presenting ideas more often."

Teamwork also became more solid. Park Ji-hoo said, "We were already close, but we've become even tighter with fewer members," and laughed, "Now it feels like family beyond just a team."

◆ EVVNE only

The debut single 'Backtalk' took 'self-diss' as its subject matter. They did not hide the memories of audition elimination and wounds from the debut process, but faced them head-on.

"We started with the idea of writing our own story directly. The closest subject was self-diss. We recalled our past and shortcomings and reflected them in the lyrics." (Moon Jung-hyun)

The musical color is also bold. 'Backtalk' was based on digital core. By combining aggressive synths and trap rhythm, they maximized rough emotion.

Keita explained, "Digital core is characterized by a sound that seems to shatter, and I thought it matched well with the message that we will go our own way."

The performance is intense as well. Han emphasized, "The key to this choreography is using the body greatly. Especially in the part 'spit it out', we captured the feeling of throwing forward."

◆ EVVNE made

For this new release, all members received credit. Park Ji-hoo directly created and presented a PowerPoint proposal. They contributed ideas at every stage of production, from genre and concept to performance.

The lyrics contained raw emotion. Direct expressions appeared such as "I, who was eliminated, am a loser," "talk all you want," "even if haters block me," "no matter how hard you look, we are one and only."

Lee Jung-hyun said, "As we became an official group, we included our future aspirations in the lyrics. If we tried to package it nicely before, this time we wanted to express our true feelings without holding back."

Keita repeated guide recording seven times. It was a process to find the direction EVVNE could best deliver. The members also repeatedly revised lyrics and choreography to complete the team's color.

"We believe that authenticity comes from expressing ourselves through things we directly create. We will continue to make music that is uniquely EVVNE." (Keita)

EVVNE clearly established their direction as a self-producing group. Moon Jung-hyun said with emphasis, "We want to show that EVVNE is a team that creates for itself, and we will expand our participation to include songwriting in the future."

◆ EVVNE if

The descriptor that followed EVVNE was 'spin-off group'. Now there is no need to explain them with that word anymore. An audition opportunity was given to everyone, and what mattered was proving that opportunity in one's own way.

Park Ji-hoo's thoughts were the same. He said, "We simply didn't pass the final gate, but that end became another beginning. Now we will show you EVVNE's true color," and emphasized this.

Their driving force is ENVY (fandom name). Lee Jung-hyun expressed gratitude, saying, "It was an uncertain situation with no knowing when it would end. Yet because there were fans who believed in us unchanged, EVVNE exists today."

Han shared, "During a difficult time, a fan told me, 'If you lack confidence in yourselves, then we're supporting an insufficient person.' Because of those words, I was able to pull myself together again."

"Thank you for always being by our side. We will work harder and repay ENVY so that EVVNE can be someone to be proud of." (Moon Jung-hyun)

<Photo=Photographer Jung Young-woo>