VANNER Ignites the Stage with “BURN”: A Story of Youth, Passion, and Global Ambition

On a cool evening, atop the iconic LA 4th Street Bridge, we met VANNER, draped in their 2024 Fashion Week outfits. Despite being in Los Angeles, they radiated a chic New York vibe—perfectly embodying the youth of today: bold, pure, and at times, lonely in the face of adversity. The group, who have always aimed to inspire their generation, revealed more of their evolving artistry with the release of their third Mini Album, “BURN”.

TAEHWAN, reflecting on their new project, explained, “The fact that just four of us prepared this album made it feel very different. Compared to past albums, “Burn” is more focused on the keywords ‘youth’ and ‘passion’. Like its title, I think it will be the hottest album yet.”

This emphasis on youth, hope, and struggle ties into VANNER’s personal experiences, including their journey on the Korean reality competition show Peak Time of JTBC. “Winning Peak Time was similar to the energy of youth,” HYESUNG reminisced. “It felt like we achieved something we desperately wanted, which is what this album’s theme also represents.”

Given the album’s message of friendship and passion, it’s no surprise that the members’ bond has grown stronger. HYESUNG shared the secret behind their enduring connection, stating, “The fact that we spent such a long time together, that we love the stage together and empathize with each other, gives us insurmountable energy and a feeling of unity. Thanks to that energy we feel with each other, we can enjoy the stage even more, and always present new sides of ourselves to the fans and audience.”

While discussing the album’s lead single, “Automatic,” the conversation turned to how each member interpreted its theme. YEONGGWANG reflected on his childhood for inspiration: “Each member expressed the theme in his own way, but I personally thought about my childhood when I would pursue friendship and dreams. I recalled how I would overcome any obstacles with just my passion and tried to showcase that side full of dreams and hopes.” GON, the group’s main dancer, added, “We strived to synchronize the rhythm and the narrative rise and fall of ‘Automatic’ with the dance performance as much as possible. It would be great if the audience could focus on that synchroneity.”

In addition to music, fashion was a hot topic during the interview, as the members sported high-fashion runway looks for the photoshoot. GON reflected on the link between fashion and their music, saying, “I think this photoshoot showcases our restrained sexiness as well as our casual and natural charm. [Burn] will also present such contrasting charms.

We asked them a couple of quick questions about their styles, and the members went into detail about each of their outfits.

 Which member’s daily fashion was most similar to the concept of the photoshoot?

TAEHWAN commented, “Every member wore glamorous outfits that were definitely very different from our daily looks. And yet every member pulled off their looks perfectly. Of all the looks, GON’s second outfit and the Adeam look caught my eye because I thought it was cute.”

GON agreed, saying, “The outfits were so luxurious, and I think every single member pulled them off really well. I was surprised by how amazing everyone looked in their outfits, even though the styles were completely different from their daily looks.”

HYESUNG added his thoughts on YEONGGWANG’s transformation for the shoot, saying, “Normally, YEONGGWANG likes to wear comfortable clothes, but in this photoshoot, he made the flashy style his own. His look really suited the concept of the photoshoot.”

YEONGGWANG, in turn, complimented HYESUNG’s styling: “I think each outfit suited each member’s unique style. If I had to choose just one, I would say HYESUNG’s look was the most fitting for the concept. He wore looks from Givenchy, Sandro, and Goodfight, and he made every look seem like it was from his own closet.”

How do you think the runway outfits would look on stage?

TAEHWAN shared his excitement about wearing Versace for the first time, explaining, “The pieces gave off an indescribable aura. I think the outfit would really make our performance shine if I could wear it on a music awards stage, and it would go incredibly well with our song ‘JACKPOT.’”

GON, who wore both Fendi and Adeam, described how different each look felt: “If I were to wear the Fendi outfit on stage, I’d feel like I just walked off the runway. The Adeam look was comfortable yet unique, which made it stand out.”

HYESUNG mused on the power of the stage. “The stage has a magical effect on the outfits we wear. Even under the blinding spotlights there are outfits that shine even brighter, and I think the jacket from Givenchy I wore for the photoshoot was one of those special outfits. I thought the look would go well with ‘Blossom’, one of the tracks from [BURN].”

YEONGGWANG added more details about his outfit: “I wore a runway look from Fendi. When I first saw the outfit, I noticed how it exuded both sexiness and charisma. If I were to perform on stage in this outfit, I would be able to show off my sexy side, which I haven’t really been able to do so far. The second outfit I wore was from Adeam, and in contrast to my first outfit, the Adeam pieces gave off an innocent and cute feeling. If I could wear this outfit for our performance, I think I’d be able to express VANNER’s refreshing charm.”

VANNER’s journey, as captured in this interview, reflects their unwavering passion for music and their dedication to their fans. With each album and performance, they aim to embody the themes of youth, hope, and perseverance, while continuously evolving and experimenting with new styles and sounds. As they promote “Burn” and continue their global activities, including their first English single, VANNER is committed to sharing their unique story with fans around the world. Their connection with their global fanbase, VVS, remains a driving force, and their excitement for future stages and collaborations is palpable. With their boundless energy and commitment to growth, the world is eager to see what VANNER will accomplish next. As YEONGGWANG said, “We’ve worked hard to stay on stage, driven by our passion for performing, and we want to share that energy with as many people as possible.” There’s no doubt that VANNER’s fire will only continue to burn.

Credit

Artist VANNER

Publicist Graff Records

Management KLAP Entertainment

Creative Director / Stylist Lisa N. Hoang

Stylist Assistant Ian Martin

Photographer Juliet Wolf

Photo Assist Rebekah Gaillard

Hair Andre Gunn Honey Artists

Make Up Artist Yukina Mitsuhashi

Make Up Assistant Akihiro Sawada

Production Assistant Imani Abrahamsen

Brands: FENDI, VERSACE, GIVENCHY, Maison Margiela ADEAM, Sandro, Goodfight, Dr. Martens, Koi Shoes, MCI Jewelry.