Immediately after listening to VERIVERY’s new single From Now (딱 잘라서 말해), I could imagine the number one criticism it would garner:

It sounds the same as their last song… and the one before that!

Fair enough. But for me, this isn’t a problem. In fact, at this stage in their career I’d consider it an asset.

I’ve written many times about the importance of rookie groups developing a signature sound. In my mind, any successful rookie should forge their burgeoning discography from the same lump of clay, sculpting it into slightly different forms each time. The trick to becoming a truly legendary group, then, is to take this idea and gradually evolve over time, bettering both song and performance quality each step of the way. If VERIVERY are still releasing Ring Ring Ring Version Fifteen two years from now, it may be an issue. For now, their distinct brand of retro New Jack Swing has my complete attention.

It helps that I grew up with this sound, triggering an instant sense of nostalgia. From Now’s producers have the details down perfectly, delivering a lockstep drum beat and loose, personality-filled performance. This time around, the hooks aren’t quite as sharp as VERIVERY’s debut, relying more heavily on sing song hip-hop than robust melody. However, From Now’s rollicking chorus is a definite earworm, bursting forth with an addictive energy. It’s a perfect match for summer, and is echoed by an exuberant blast of synthesized vocals that offer an ideal segue into the second verse. They’re definitely not reinventing the wheel, but I look forward to seeing how VERIVERY evolve this sound over future comebacks.

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