DAVIDE K-POP

VVS! I have the incredible opportunity to chat with none other than the sensational members of VANNER—Taehwan, Gon, Hyesung, Sungkook, and Yeonggwang.
So, fasten your seatbelts because you’re in for an exclusive conversation, unraveling the unique journey of these talented artists. Get ready; it’s going to be a musical adventure like no other!

It all began in 2018 when VANNER had their pre-debut in Japan, setting the stage for what would become an extraordinary musical journey. Fast forward to February 14, 2019, the date that marked their official debut in South Korea with the release of their studio album ‘V’ and its lead single “Better Do Better.” The stage was set, and VANNER was ready to make waves.

In 2023, the group not only showcased their talents but clinched victory in the JTBC idol survival show Peak Time, standing out among 24 contestants with a cumulative total of 1.46 million votes globally and domestically. Talk about a win!

Now, let’s rewind a bit to August 21, 2023, when VANNER triumphantly returned after their Peak Time success, dropping their first mini album, ‘Veni Vidi Vici.’ The EP soared to the top of the iTunes Global Album Chart in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and secured spots in charts worldwide, exceeding 100,000 album sales during this comeback.

On January 30, 2024, VANNER treated fans to their second mini album, ‘Capture the Flag.’ The EP, featuring the lead single “Jackpot” and the heartfelt “Be My Love,” once again showcased their musical prowess, topping iTunes Global Album Charts and leaving an indelible mark on the global K-pop scene.

So, get ready to dive deep into the evolution of VANNER—from their early days to conquering talent shows and dropping chart-topping albums. This is an exclusive interview you won’t want to miss as we unravel the layers of VANNER’s musical journey. Stay tuned for a conversation filled with insights, anecdotes, and the magic that defines VANNER’s unique sound!

BUT before we start, Let’s hear from VANNER! They left a special message for you all!

Davide: Hey VANNER! It’s very nice to meet you!
Can you introduce yourselves and share some fun facts that your fans might not know about each of you?

TAEHWAN: Hello this is VANNER’s leader sparkly fresh voice TAEHWAN. I always watch YouTube on my iPad before going to sleep. 

GON: Hello I am VANNER’s main dancer GON! I always have a spoon of ginseng with water every morning!

HYESUNG: Hello! I am VANNER’s sexy monster HYESUNG! I’ve known TAEHWAN for 8 years. 

SUNGKOOK: Hello this is your charming voice SUNGKOOK. I am eating a lot these days and doing music shows. 

YEONGGWANG: Hello this is fox prince YEONGGWANG.

Davide: It’s very nice to meet you guys!
Let’s now dive into your latest EP, “CAPTURE THE FLAG.” What was the inspiration behind it, and how was the experience creating it together?

TAEHWAN: We put lots of connection to the last album hoping it makes this album a bit more fun. It was an honourable project to be able to work with talented artists. 

GON: I’ve referenced “John Wick” movies for my gun-shooting action! When I got the demo with PENTAGON’s HUI and WOOSEOK’s voice in it, I was even able to learn just by listening to theirs. 

HYESUNG: I saw lots of movies. I wanted to be able to express what “JACKPOT” holds. I’ve also thought a lot about what the lyrics portray. 

SUNGKOOK: I get inspired by my members and in daily life! 

YEONGGWANG: I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from PENTAGON and BTOB’s HYUNSIK. Working with these producers, they gave me feedback which helped me realise what I am good at. 

Davide: That’s amazing! Each track in “CAPTURE THE FLAG” brings a unique flavour. What’s your personal favourite from the EP? Mine’s “Jackpot” – it’s such a bop!

TAEHWAN: I like “After Party”! I think this song shows VANNER’s new sides that were never seen before.

GON: Thank you! Of course, my favourite is the title “JACKPOT”, but I like “CIRCUIT” as well with the strong sounds and since I participated as the lyricist it’s a bit close. 

HYESUNG: Thank you! I like “PONYTAIL” the best.

SUNGKOOK: I personally do like “After Party”.

YEONGGWANG: I like all the songs but I want to recommend “Be My Love” since spring is around the corner and it suits the weather well. 

Davide: The “Jackpot” music video is a blast! You guys are like a cool gang going after the jackpot. The comedic moments added so much fun, I enjoyed watching it! How was the filming process? Any favourite behind-the-scenes moments you can share?

TAEHWAN: It was pretty awkward to act. There was a scene where I had to put out the fire with a blanket but I took off my jacket instead to put it off. A few buttons were flying around. 

GON: The other actors in the scenes made the shooting so much fun! The faces of our members when we ran away with the money back were hilarious. 

HYESUNG: To work with other actors was very fun at the moment.

SUNGKOOK: The funny parts in the music video were actually funny. Especially YEONGGWANG and TAEHWAN made it really fun. 

YEONGGWANG: In the last scene where GON runs away with the money bag, I actually tripped over someone’s leg but it didn’t make it to the music video. 

Davide: Share a bit about your journey into the world of K-pop. What motivated you to become idols, and how did VANNER come into existence?

TAEHWAN: I just auditioned with the thought of wanting to be a singer, and it ended up being an idol audition. I met HYESUNG and SUNGKOOK during my trainee days and we were introduced to a new company where we met GON and YEONGGWANG.

GON: I was actually VANNER’s dance teacher. With the CEO’s offer, I was able to join the group as the last member.

HYESUNG: I really loved singing and dancing, and the thought of being a leader of a trend was very appealing to me. So I’ve been dreaming of becoming an idol since then.

SUNGKOOK: I think I’ve gone through trials and errors. There were lots of disappointments on the way but I’ve overcome those and became VANNER. 

YEONGGWANG: I became an idol because I wanted to be like LEE KIKWANG of HIGHLIGHT. And like a drama there was VANNER.

Davide: When you’re not rocking the stage, what do you like to do in your free time to unwind? Any favourite hobbies or activities?

TAEHWAN: I like to meet friends and go eat nice food and chat. 

GON: I try to stay home and do nothing that relates to work! my hobby is game, baseball, and fishing.

HYESUNG: I usually watch dramas and movies, listen to my favorite songs, and rest.

SUNGKOOK: I play the online games and read!

YEONGGWANG: I like to work out or draw pictures. 

Davide: Any exciting news on the horizon for VANNER? Perhaps a world tour or any surprises in store for your fans, VVS?

TAEHWAN: We are having our very own first concert in April! Get excited for us!

GON: There is our first concert on April 27th-28th. If there are any VVS in any part of the world, we would like to visit and perform. 

HYESUNG: We are having our first concert in April. I would love to do a world tour as well.

SUNGKOOK: Our first concert in April.

YEONGGWANG: We are preparing for our concert and hope to finish it with success and aim to go on a world tour as well. 

Davide: I’m sure you are going to smash it!
A special shoutout to your amazing fans, VVS, around the world! Any message you’d like to share with them?

TAEHWAN: We will try our best to meet VVS all around the world, so please be excited and support us! We will come to you with lots of charms!

GON: To all the VVS that are supporting and loving VANNER, you are all so special in my heart and you deserve the same love as well. Even the small support and cheers help us strongly. Thank you for loving and supporting VANNER.

HYESUNG: To VVS all around the world, thank you and love you.

SUNGKOOK: We will become an amazing artist to repay the passionate love you always give.

YEONGGWANG: We will try our best to go see VVS all over the world, so please bare with us and always cheer us on!

Davide: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know you better. Keep rocking, and if you’re ever in London, let me know – would love to catch your show!

TAEHWAN: Thank you, I would love to visit London! We will invite you if we ever get to London!

GON: Thank you, I’ve never been to London, would love to visit!

HYESUNG: Thank you. Hope we can invite you when we ever perform in London!

SUNGKOOK: Thank you for the interview. We will repay you with amazing songs and performances.

YEONGGWANG: London is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit since I was little, I hope I can be there as VANNER with our performance.

This is was AMAZING! I had a great time chatting with VANNER and please make sure to stream ‘Capture the Flag’ on your favourite streaming platform.

Share the love on VANNER social media accounts, let’s all make the World Tour happening! If VVS want it, I’m sure VANNER will make it happens!