They come from Korea, Japan, and the United States. They play rock, sing about love in all its complexity, and have only just begun their journey. With their debut mini album 01, V01D introduces a sound shaped by emotion, honesty, and the different influences each member brings to the band.
V01D arrived quietly, but they didn’t arrive unnoticed. Juyeon, Kevin, Jiseob, Uchan, and Shinnosuke spent some time preparing for a debut that still feels surreal to them now that it has finally happened. Coming from different countries and musical backgrounds, the members gradually built a sound shaped by those differences rather than trying to erase them. In an industry often focused on perfection and polished images, V01D are leaning toward something more direct: emotion, sincerity, and music that feels honest to who they are.
Finding Each Other
Although the group has only recently debuted, V01D already seems guided by a strong sense of identity. Each member brings different influences and experiences into the band, creating a dynamic that naturally shapes both their music and the way they perform together.
Léane: How does it feel now that V01D has entered a new chapter after debut?
V01D: It was a moment we had been preparing for such a long time, so even now it still doesn’t fully feel real sometimes. We don’t think of debut as the finish line but rather more like the real beginning now. We’re really excited about the kind of music and performances we’ll be able to show moving forward.
Léane: You have members from Korea, Japan, and the United States. How does this multicultural dynamic influence your music and the atmosphere inside the band?
V01D: Because we all grew up in different environments and listened to different kinds of music, I think a lot of different colors naturally blend together. Even when we’re working on music, everyone brings different ideas, and I think those differences are actually one of the biggest strengths that create V01D’s unique synergy and color.
Léane: Uchan, you were the first member who wanted to form the band. Do you remember the moment when V01D truly started becoming real for you?
Uchan: At first it was more like a vague dream of « I really want to be in a band someday. » But once the members slowly came together, started making music, and seriously talking about the future, that’s when it hit me, like « Wow… this is really starting. »
Léane: Kevin, discovering band music completely changed your original plans of becoming a dance idol. What attracted you the most to this new musical world?
Kevin: Band music felt so attractive to me because it lets you freely express your emotions exactly as they are. The possibility of being able to directly convey my feelings through my voice and instruments on stage feels incredibly powerful and the possibilities are truly endless.
Léane: Jiseob, after stepping away from band activities for some time, how did it feel to return to the stage with V01D?
Jiseob: At first, I had a lot of worries and concerns, but once I started rehearsing and performing on stage again, I realized « These were the moments I loved the most. » I was simply grateful to be able to make music again.
Léane: Juyeon, both your voice and the instrumentals play an important role in V01D’s sound. How do you work to create that balance during performances?
Juyeon: Rather than focusing on just my singing, I think of our sound as one body with each member having an important function. So on stage, instead of focusing too much on technical aspects, I concentrate more on naturally delivering the mood and emotions of the song with my members.
Léane: Shinnosuke, you seem very focused and expressive when you play the bass. Is music sometimes easier than words for expressing yourself?
Shinnosuke: Yes, there are a lot of emotions that are difficult to explain with words, but somehow they come out naturally when I’m playing. So for me, music is the most honest way to express my feelings.
Léane: You said you hope to become a timeless band people can always come back to, like Oasis. What do you think makes a band stay in people’s hearts for years?
V01D: A band that leaves behind not just trends, but the sounds, emotions and memories of an era. A band where their music can instantly bring back certain feelings or moments, even years later. I think that kind of band truly lasts.
Love, But Make It Rock
For their debut mini album 01, V01D chose love as their central theme, not the neat, glossy version of it, but the full spectrum: the anxiety, the emptiness, the longing. Rather than presenting emotions in a polished or simplified way, the members wanted the album to reflect the contradictions people experience in real life.
The decision to include instrumental versions of every track also reflects the group’s approach to storytelling. For V01D, emotions are not carried through lyrics alone, but also through melodies, arrangements, and the atmosphere created by the instruments themselves.
Léane: Your first mini album revolves around the theme of love, but not only romantic love. Why did you want this to be the center of your debut project?
V01D: We thought love was one of the most familiar yet most complicated emotions. Even though it takes different forms for everyone, it’s still something everybody experiences at some point. We wanted to express not only excitement and happiness, but also emptiness, anxiety, longing, and all the nuanced aspects that exist inside love.
Léane: Even though the album talks about love, the emotions often feel raw, intense, and vulnerable. How do you think rock music expresses those feelings differently from other genres?
V01D: I think rock music allows emotions to explode more honestly instead of hiding them. Even small breaths or rough sounds can feel like part of the emotion itself, so the feelings come across in a more direct and truthful way.
Léane: You decided to include both the original tracks and instrumental versions of every song. Even without lyrics, how do you build emotions and storytelling through the instruments alone?
V01D: When we make songs, we usually imagine a story and atmosphere first. We pay close attention to the tone of each instrument, the flow of the arrangement, and the smallest details so the emotional storyline can naturally flow, even without words.
Léane: Many of your songs balance softness and intensity at the same time. Why are you drawn to those emotional contrasts in your music?
V01D: I think human emotions are so complicated and nuanced. Even during happy moments there can be an underlying anxiety, and even in calm moments there can be strong emotions hidden underneath. We want to naturally express these nuances through our music to make it as relatable as possible.
“We want to create our own path.”
As younger generations reconnect with band music, V01D believes listeners are increasingly looking for something more sincere and emotionally direct. While the group mentions artists such as Oasis, The 1975, Radiohead, SPYAIR, and The Rose among their inspirations, the members are less interested in fitting into one category than continuing to develop their own identity over time.
Léane: Band music seems to be finding new energy with younger generations lately. Why do you think people are reconnecting with rock sounds today?
V01D: There’s so much fast and overstimulating content these days that I think people are starting to crave something more human and emotionally honest. One of the biggest charms of band music is that it is so raw, honest, and powerful at conveying emotions to the listener.
Léane: Many people still separate « idol music » and « band music. » Do you think those boundaries are slowly disappearing?
V01D: I think genre boundaries have become much more flexible compared to the past. At the end of the day, what matters most isn’t the format, but the music and sincerity you show through it. We want to naturally create our own path and not be defined by one category or genre.
Léane: After all these conversations about rock and band culture, what do you think defines V01D the most as a band today?
V01D: Rather than being a fully completed team already, I think we’re a team that’s constantly growing and evolving. So if I had to define V01D right now, I’d say we are a team on the edge of unlimited possibilities.
Léane: Finally, a few words to the fans?
V01D: Thank you so much for always listening to our music and supporting us. We’ll continue working hard to become a team that lasts in people’s memories for a long time through V01D’s own colorful music and performances. Let’s make lots of great memories together!
Thank you to V01D for accepting this interview.