IVE Expands Its Story With Second Full Album 'REVIVE+'

IVE said it is moving beyond the self-assured, “me”-centered narrative it has built so far and expanding its focus to “us.”

A comeback showcase for the group’s second full-length album, “REVIVE+,” was held Monday afternoon at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul’s Gwangjin district.

Rather than a declaration of change, the album is framed as a rekindling — widening IVE’s perspective from “me” to “us.”

Leader An Yu-jin introduced the album by saying, “'REVIVE+' carries the meaning of rekindling — lighting the fire again,” adding, “It’s not just about starting over; it reflects our strong ambition to spread the flames that burn under the name IVE even further.”

Liz said, “This album includes a lot of new attempts. We took on a range of challenges in both performance and music, so I hope the public will see us with fresh eyes.”
 
The title track “BLACKHOLE” is a shuffle-based song with a cinematic mood inspired by the film “Interstellar.” With expansive sound and film-like textures, it aims for immersion and a strong hook, using the image of a black hole — where disappearance and birth coexist — to symbolically express IVE’s view of the present and a point of change.

The album includes 12 tracks. Along with the double title tracks “BLACKHOLE” and “Bang Bang,” it features “Hide-and-Seek (Hush),” “Malware (Stuck In Your Head),” “Fireworks” and “HOT COFFEE.”

It also includes solo songs from all members: Jang Won-young’s “8,” Gaeul’s “Odd,” Leeseo’s “Super ICY,” Liz’s “Unreal,” Rei’s “In Your Heart” and An’s “Force.”

Gaeul said the decision to include many solo tracks came as the group prepared for concerts. “We thought a lot about how to show new and diverse sides of IVE,” she said. “We believed the impact — and fans’ anticipation — would be big if we showed solo songs that capture each member’s charm. I’m happy so many people seem to be listening and loving them.”

Jang added that the group’s concept has broadened. “If our previous albums focused on the subjectivity of ‘me,’ this time, as IVE has grown, we expanded into a worldview of ‘us,’” she said. “It’s a story of ‘us’ that includes not only the members but also listeners. I hope people feel positive energy from it.”

Gaeul also pointed to “rekindling” as a key word. “We really wanted to show how we’ve changed and grown,” she said. “We chose the word ‘rekindling’ because we wanted to connect not only with ourselves but also with the public and listeners — and to offer comfort through that shared feeling.”
Asked about future goals, Liz said she is prioritizing how the group is seen as artists over numerical achievements.

“There’s a phrase I want to hear more than a record I want to beat: ‘an artist that makes you curious about what’s next,’” she said. “We’ve shown a princess-like image each time, but we tried something new this time. If people love these challenges, I think we can try even more in the future.”

On measurable goals, Jang said it was too early to speak in detail before full promotions for “BLACKHOLE,” but added, “I want to fully feel the support and love that DIVE sends us. Since this album was made with fans in mind rather than numbers, we’ll promote it with a positive mindset.”

IVE’s second full-length album “REVIVE+” will be released at 6 p.m. Monday on major online music platforms.