In the space of two weeks, I’ve gone from not knowing who or what 1VERSE was to being just about ready to sign up as captain of their fan club. You can thank their YouTube channel for that. This is the first act from new agency Singing Beetle, brainchild of former SM Entertainment A&R Michelle Cho. They’re also the first idol group to feature two members of North Korean descent (and a member from Arkansas!). Their pre-debut online content has an addictive fly-on-the-wall, unproduced nature. It’s an authentic and fascinating look at the formation of an idol group from a small agency and I can’t get enough of it. Now, all that’s left is for the actual music to be decent.
The group’s official debut is still around the corner, but pre-release Multiverse offers a sweet opening salvo well-suited to summer. Its soft, shimmering approach is subdued but melodic, offering a series of hummable hooks that become more addictive than they first seem. The sound is very much in line with what fifth gen boy groups are doing — a soft rock approach rather than the bombastic style we often associate with K-pop. For a lover of over-the-top drama like me, this trend is starting to wear a bit thin. However, it works just fine as a pre-release appetizer. With that said, I would’ve loved a bit more kick in Multiverse‘s instrumental (especially during the chorus). There’s a missed opportunity to hit the song’s sentiment even harder musically.
My fondness for the members and their backstories likely colors Multiverse‘s overall effect. It’s simply so satisfying to see this super-diverse group come together. But beyond that, the song delivers a real earworm in its lilting chorus and a standout second verse rap injects the colorful character I hope to hear more of in their music going forward. We officially have liftoff. I’m excited to see where they go next.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Not just ONE North Korean member but TWO? Wow, I wish them all the best. This silly, frothy genre of kpop boy groups is my guilty pleasure, so I’d probably rate it a 9.
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I’ve been following them when it was just Hyuk and Seok. I love their unserious nature aka Kenny. Hyuk pulled me in after finding out he worked on one of MiSaMo bside songs. I agree with the score it’s a fun song with alot of potential. It just needed something more to be truly great.
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It my just he my audio, but the mixing sounds a bit rough around the edges. It’s good, I would give it the same score, 8.25
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I love the pre chorus, it’s the stand out section for me, I agree about the chorus needing something extra, i was fine for a first chorus but the 2nd should have more layers and then build to a much grader finale as well, but overall it’s a really nice song, I like it.
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First time I hear of them and after reading the review I kind of want to check their journey….nooooooo!!!!!!
The song sounds great to me 8.25/10
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You really should!
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I’ve been with this group for about a year, and they are truly so funny and talented. I was astonished when listening to their new song ‘MULTIVERSE’ and it’s not even their debut song! To anyone who hasn’t already checked 1verse out, this is your sign to. 🤭
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For my rating, I give it a 10/10. It’s a catchy song, with a fun choreography. The MV was cute, and totally fit the vibe!
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The producers did a few things very right here. First, find a nice beat and stick with it through the whole song. Second, make it an entity known as song, viz verse-chorus-verse-chorus–etc. No weird construction, drops, excursions, just song. It also helps that the English lyrics are pretty good.
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