Written by Emily Warry

On April 13th, rising rookie group 1VERSE took to the stage at The Garage in London, delivering a high-energy showcase of versatility, precision, and raw performance skill. Despite having a limited original discography, the group transformed the night into a dynamic and immersive experience, proving that their strength lies not only in their music, but in their ability to truly embody every performance they take on.

Opening with their original track “shattered”, 1VERSE immediately set the tone for the night. From the very first moments, their live vocals were strikingly strong, matched by a confident and impactful stage presence. It was a powerful introduction that established their identity as performers.

What followed was a series of covers that highlighted one of the group’s most impressive qualities – their ability to completely transform. Their performance of BTS’s “IDOL” stood out as a defining moment, not only for its energy but for how convincingly the members adapted their delivery. Each member fully stepped into the roles they were covering, from vocal tone to stage presence, creating a performance that felt immersive and precisely executed to the original song. This level of adaptability continued through their covers of SEVENTEEN’s “God of Music” and RIIZE’s “Get a Guitar”, each stage showcasing a different side of the group while maintaining a consistently high level of energy.

A softer shift came with TVXQ’s “Hug” and Troye Sivan’s “Fools”, where the group’s vocal strength took centre stage. These performances allowed their voices to emotionally shine, offering a contrast to the intensity of earlier stages while still highlighting their versatility.

The night also provided each member with the opportunity to showcase their individual strengths through solo and unit stages. Aito and Seok’s cover of BTS’s “House of Cards” captivated the audience, delivering a performance that felt rich in atmosphere. Aito in particular was brought to the spotlight with a deeply immersive presence that made the stage difficult to look away from.

Aito’s solo dance performance of Taemin’s “Drip Drop” further emphasised his precision and control as a performer. This was also enhanced by atmospheric lighting that elevated the overall stage. Seok followed with a performance of WOODZ’s “Drowning” a standout vocal performance that highlighted both his tone and emotional delivery. This was a moment that left a lasting impression, becoming one of my personal favourites within the set. Kenny then offered a softer, heartfelt moment of Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team”, while Nathan’s performance of Dominic Fike’s “Babydoll” showcased a natural charm and expressiveness that captured the audience’s attention.

Beyond the performances, 1VERSE brought an unexpected layer of entertainment throughout their ment segments, which were just as memorable as the stages themselves. Filled with humour, playful interactions and games with audience participation, these moments felt like a fun variety segment.

The members demonstrated a strong connection not only with the audience, but with each other. Constantly hyping each other up after individual stages, these moments added personality and connection to the overall show.

Returning to their own discography, “WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall” stood out as a particularly impactful stage. 1VERSE created a powerful moment that further emphasised their strength as performers with the rawness of their live vocals, paired with emotional delivery.

The energy surged once again during their covers of ATEEZ’s “Halazia” and Stray Kids’ “LALALALA” both of which drew some of the loudest reactions from the crowd. These stages really showed 1VERSE’s ability to fully embody different concepts, consistently maintaining precision and intensity. Their performance of ATEEZ’s “Guerrilla” also became a clear highlight of the night, with the crowd erupting in response to the song and fully engaging in the iconic “Break the Wall” chant, which took the energy to another level.

Closing the night with their original track “Multiverse” the group shifted into a brighter, more uplifting tone. Their interactions with the audience felt natural and genuine, this reflected both their enjoyment of the moment and their appreciation for the crowd’s energy throughout the show.

With an audience that remained loud, engaged, and fully immersed from start to finish, 1VERSE delivered a performance that exceeded expectations. Through a combination of strong live vocals, immersive stage presence, and remarkable versatility, they proved themselves to be true all-rounders,  and a group undoubtedly worth watching as they continue to grow.