IVE MINE Album: The Untold Story Behind Their First EP's Triple Title Tracks

The IVE MINE album shattered records by selling an astounding1.7 million copiesin its first week, earning a prestigious double million certification from the Korea Music Content Association. Released on October 13, 2023, this groundbreaking EP marked IVE's most ambitious comeback yet with an unprecedented triple title track strategy.

The group's 2023 comeback showcased their versatility through three distinct title tracks: "Either Way" with its dreamy synth atmosphere, "Off The Record" featuring rhythmic beats and heavy bass guitar, and "Baddie" driven by strong trap elements. This strategic release coincided with their massive world tour "Show What I Have," spanning 27 cities across 19 countries.

The Genesis of IVE's First EP

Starship Entertainment's strategic vision for IVE took a bold turn with their first EP, marking a significant evolution in the group's artistic journey. The creative team began early planning stages with an ambitious goal: to showcase IVE's versatility through multiple title tracks.

Early planning stages

The project's initial conceptualization focused on expanding IVE's musical horizons while maintaining their signature identity. "We wanted to express different sides of ourselves in our latest album, instead of limiting ourselves with one style," explained member Liz during a press conference in Seoul.

Decision to create triple title tracks

The decision to release three title tracks emerged from a desire to present diverse facets of the group's artistry. Consequently, the team developed a sequential release strategy: "Either Way" on September 25, followed by "Off The Record" on October 6, and "Baddie" on October 13. This approach, while ambitious, sparked both excitement and apprehension among the members. "It's our first attempt at having three lead tracks, and we were both worried yet excited," shared Gaeul.

Creative vision behind I'VE MINE

The album's creative direction centered around a compelling narrative of self-discovery. Each title track explored distinct themes:

"Either Way" - examining how others perceive oneself
"Off The Record" - discovering mutual understanding
"Baddie" - unveiling new aspects of identity

Furthermore, the EP showcased the group's growing artistic involvement, notably with member Wonyoung contributing as a songwriter for the B-side track "OTT". "I've Mine is a story about ourselves, and it connects back to our previous albums, while also showing a brand-new side of IVE," explained Wonyoung.

The creative team specifically designed each track to stand independently while contributing to a cohesive narrative. This approach allowed IVE to demonstrate their musical range and artistic growth, although some industry observers noted concerns about the potential impact on digital performance due to divided attention across multiple tracks.

Breaking Down 'Either Way'

Released as the first title track from I'VE MINE, "Either Way" showcases a sophisticated evolution in IVE's musical journey. The pre-release single emerged as a thoughtful exploration of self-perception and societal expectations.

Songwriting process

The creative process brought together an impressive team of songwriters. Notably, acclaimed artist Sunwoo Jung-a penned the lyrics, moreover, Ryan S. Jhun led the composition alongside Luke Fitton, Lauren Aquilina, and Liam O'Donnell. The song's narrative delves into the complexities of being under constant observation, subsequently reflecting modern social pressures.

Musical elements and production

"Either Way" stands out with its distinctive musical architecture:

Composed in A-flat major with a tempo of 123 beats per minute
Features dreamy synth sounds and emotional vocal arrangements
Incorporates unique hook elements that enhance the song's message

The production team crafted a stripped-back arrangement that places the spotlight firmly on vocal performances. This approach marks a departure from IVE's previous high-energy releases, additionally showcasing their artistic range.

Member involvement in creation

The members' personal connection to the song's message adds depth to their performances. Liz particularly resonates with the track, sharing her favorite line about misunderstandings creating countless images of oneself. The chorus "Either way, I'm good" emerges as a powerful statement about self-acceptance, as explained by Gaeul who notes that the song explores how others perceive "Me".

The vocal arrangement process highlighted each member's unique qualities. Their performances bring nuanced interpretations to the emotional lyrics, particularly evident in the chorus sections where Yujin's contribution adds a distinctive color to the overall sound. The members' involvement extends beyond vocals, as they actively participated in expressing the song's message through carefully choreographed performances that complement the dreamy musical atmosphere.

Inside 'Off The Record'

As the second title track from IVE MINE album, "Off The Record" emerges as a refreshing departure from the group's typical sound. The track showcases a city-pop influence, primarily characterized by its groovy bass guitar and rhythmic beat.

Production challenges

The production team, led by Ryan S. Jhun alongside Sivert Hagtvet Hjeltnes, Bård Bonsaken, and Hilda Stenmalm, faced the task of creating a distinctive sound. Indeed, the track required a delicate balance between maintaining IVE's signature style and exploring new musical territories. The team crafted the song in B-flat major with a tempo of 108 beats per minute, establishing a mid-tempo groove that would become the track's foundation.

Sonic evolution

The song's musical landscape features several distinctive elements:

Groovy and heavy bass guitar as the driving force
Layered vocals with intricate harmonies
Breeze-like instrumental arrangement
Interpolation of The Cardigans' "Lovefool" in the bridge

Choreography development

The dance creation process for "Off The Record" notably differed from previous IVE releases. The choreography team developed movements that complemented the song's laid-back nature. Nevertheless, the routine maintains complexity through:

Synchronized group formations
Elegant hand movements
Subtle hip movements coordinated with the bass rhythm
Expressive facial expressions matching the dreamy concept

Director Lee Hye-in approached the music video with a fresh perspective, focusing on storytelling rather than traditional performance shots. In fact, the visual narrative employs a fantasy film aesthetic, creating a dreamy and nostalgic atmosphere that perfectly complements the track's musical elements. The video notably breaks from IVE's previous releases by completely omitting choreography scenes, in favor of conveying a more intimate storytelling approach.

The production team incorporated various symbolic elements throughout the video, such as spinning bottles and forbidden apples, to enhance the narrative depth. The final result presents a more approachable and relatable IVE, marking a significant evolution in their artistic presentation.

The Making of 'Baddie'

Completing the trilogy of title tracks from IVE MINE, "Baddie" emerges as a bold departure into darker territory. The track, composed in F major with a tempo of 160 beats per minute, showcases IVE's versatility through its trap-influenced sound.

Concept development

Starship Entertainment crafted a strikingly dark concept for "Baddie," coupled with British musician Hannah Diamond's creative direction. The song's production team, including rapper BIG Naughty and K-pop producer Ryan Jhun, focused on creating an overwhelming atmosphere with simple yet abundant sounds.

Visual storytelling

The music video presents a unique narrative where IVE embodies mysterious "cat humans" who disrupt society. Key visual elements include:

Burning bouquets with scattered petals
Racing game consoles with bright monitors
Movie theater settings with dark atmospheres
Symbolic transformations between human and feline forms

Accordingly, Hannah Diamond's signature hyperreal and heavily edited style brings these elements to life through her distinctive visual approach. The concept photos showcase each member's individual charm, from Ahn Yujin's confident pose on a motorbike to Wonyoung and Liz's emotional portraits with oversized red ribbons.

Dance creation process

Just Jerk's J Ho and the dance crew Lachica developed the choreography under the theme of 'finding another me'. The performance emphasizes:

In essence, the dance routine captures the song's intense energy through sharp movements and dynamic transitions. The members enhanced their performance through unique styling choices, analogous to sports uniforms, which highlighted their individuality.

The visual concept evolved beyond traditional K-pop aesthetics, incorporating elements like Wonyoung's lip ring piercing and Rei's manga-inspired lashes. This transformation aligned with the song's message of self-confidence and breaking free from societal norms.

Hidden Gems: B-Side Tracks

Beyond the triple title tracks, IVE MINE album features three distinctive B-side tracks that showcase the group's musical diversity. Each song brings its own unique flavor to the EP's sonic palette.

Story behind 'Holy Moly'

Initially crafted by the same team behind IVE's debut song "ELEVEN," "Holy Moly" combines a rhythmic drum beat with strong bass and brass instrumentation. The track features a mystical chorus that builds to an impressive climax, primarily characterized by its twisty hook. The production team, including Ryan Jhun, Peter Rycroft, and Lauren Aquilina, created a funky and upbeat atmosphere that gradually intensifies throughout the song.

Wonyoung's contribution to 'OTT'

Notably, Jang Wonyoung stepped into the role of sole lyricist for "OTT," marking her third songwriting credit with the group. The track showcases a dark charm through its strong trap beat and electric bass rhythm. Wonyoung explains the inspiration behind the lyrics: "I wanted to say I fall in love in an over-the-top way, like more than normal. It can be about DIVEs and saying 'I'm really into you guys'".

Making of 'Payback'

The final B-side track features this impressive lineup of creators:

"Payback" distinguishes itself through:

A dreamy synth atmosphere
Lyrical storytelling about freedom from others' perspectives
Carefully crafted falsettos and higher vocal registers

The song's production emphasizes the members' vocal abilities, undoubtedly showcasing their range through ethereal melodies. The unexpected addition of guitar elements brings fresh energy to the track's sonic landscape, creating a fitting conclusion to IVE's first EP.

Visual Concept Evolution

The visual journey of IVE's first EP unfolds through a carefully orchestrated series of concepts, marking their most ambitious artistic presentation to date. Each member showcased their radiance through distinct lighting techniques, from neon to fluorescent and natural illumination.

Album artwork development

The physical album release features four main versions: Either Way, Off The Record, Baddie, and Loved IVE. Each version comes with:

Music video themes

The trilogy of music videos presents a striking visual progression. For "Either Way," the production team opted for poignant black and white close-ups, creating their most melancholic and cinematic work. The "Off The Record" video juxtaposes fairytale-inspired elements with late-night siren vibes, primarily through deserted city spaces and empty shopping malls.

Fashion and styling choices

The styling team crafted distinct looks for each concept:

Wonyoung's Harajuku-inspired ensemble with cheerleader elements

Yujin's sequin dress under a green hooded bomber jacket

The visual narrative reaches its peak with "Baddie," where the members sport darker, more dramatic makeup than their previous releases. The styling incorporates unexpected elements like Wonyoung's lip ring piercing and Rei's manga-inspired lashes, signifying a bold departure from their established image.

The creative direction simultaneously maintains IVE's signature sophistication through carefully selected props and set designs. Notably, the music videos incorporate symbolic elements like spinning bottles and forbidden apples to enhance the storytelling depth. This thoughtful approach to visual storytelling certainly elevates the album's thematic exploration of self-discovery and transformation.

Recording Studio Stories

Inside the recording studio, IVE's distinct vocal characteristics shine through their meticulous attention to detail. The group's approach to vocal recording demonstrates their growing maturity as artists, primarily focusing on creating seamless harmonies that complement each member's unique tone.

Vocal arrangement process

The production team employs several sophisticated techniques to achieve IVE's signature sound:

Double tracking with left and right positioning
Octave layering for enhanced vocal depth
Strategic removal of breath marks and sibilants
Careful timing adjustments for cohesive group sections

Notably, the producers maintain a delicate balance between precision and natural flow, allowing certain sections to remain slightly loose for authentic expression. This approach creates a unified sound while preserving each member's individual color.

Recording challenges

In addition to standard recording procedures, the team faced unique challenges when capturing vocals for I'VE MINE. The production team carefully managed technical aspects such as:

Member experiences

Throughout the recording process, each member brought their distinctive qualities to the tracks. Leeseo's voice emerges as the most unique in the group, making her parts instantly recognizable. The vocal arrangement highlights individual strengths while maintaining group harmony.

The members approached the recording sessions with dedication and professionalism. Liz emphasizes the importance of mental preparation, stating that "you have to be mentally strong, or internally strong, in order to be physically or outwardly strong".

For challenging vocal sections, the group developed a systematic approach to perfecting their parts. They would often stop and repeat specific sections until achieving the desired result. This methodical process helped create the polished sound evident across all six tracks of the EP.

The recording experience proved especially meaningful for Wonyoung, who contributed not only as a vocalist but as a songwriter. "I love the process and I really love writing lyrics," she shares, describing her approach to songwriting in the studio. First, she listens to the track at home to set the right mindset, then proceeds with writing and making adjustments as needed.

Album Production Journey

The production journey of IVE MINE album represents a masterful blend of technical expertise and creative vision. The project brought together an impressive roster of industry professionals who worked tirelessly to create a sonically cohesive EP.

Collaboration with producers

The production team, spearheaded by Ryan Jhun, assembled a diverse group of international collaborators. Notable partnerships emerged across all tracks:

Primarily, the creative process involved extensive collaboration between members and producers. Wonyoung's approach to songwriting exemplifies this partnership: "At first, I just listen to the song, just to get the feeling and set my mind right, usually at my home or in my room".

Mixing and mastering process

The technical phase of production followed a systematic approach toward achieving optimal sound quality. The mixing process encompassed:

Frequency content adjustment through equalization
Strategic compression for dynamic control
Spatial positioning of instrumental elements
Vocal arrangement refinement

Therefore, the mastering phase focused on ensuring consistency across all tracks. The engineering team employed specialized tools to achieve:

Forensic audio correction
Tonal balance optimization
Dynamic range control
Format-specific optimization

Final touches and adjustments

As the project neared completion, quality control became paramount. The mastering engineers conducted thorough evaluations across different playback systems to ensure optimal sound translation. Hence, each track underwent multiple rounds of refinement before final approval.

The production team paid careful attention to metadata tagging and export settings based on various listening formats. Notably, this meticulous approach extended to the physical album production, resulting in four distinct versions: EITHER WAY ver., OFF THE RECORD ver., BADDIE ver., and LOVED IVE ver.

Throughout the production journey, the team maintained a delicate balance between preserving IVE's signature sound and pushing creative boundaries. Yujin reflects on this achievement: "This album is super meaningful to me as it's our first full-length album and because I participated in writing the lyrics for the first time".