V8, the new unit composed of SEVENTEEN members THE 8 and VERNON, officially launched its self-titled debut mini-album, V8, today, marking the start of a bold new creative chapter driven by youth, experimentation, and a shared passion for innovative sound.
The duo’s name combines the “8” from THE 8 and the “V” from VERNON, drawing inspiration from the power and performance of a V8 engine. Their logo merges the Chinese character for “eight (八)” with the letter “V” into a design resembling the character for “human (人),” symbolizing the personal stories at the heart of the project.
The eight-track release explores the many dimensions of youth, tracing a journey through uncertainty, chaos, resilience, and personal growth. Anchored in electronic music, the album reflects the duo’s artistic evolution while reframing the idea of “wasted youth” as the very force that propels them forward.
Reflecting on the creative direction behind the project, V8 said, “We really wanted to tell an authentic story. Looking back on the times we’ve spent and how they’ve led us to who we are today, it naturally brought us to this theme—how our experiences of youth drive us forward.”
The pair also emphasized their active involvement in shaping the record, explaining, “We tried many new approaches, often choosing new directions over familiar ones, such as exploring diverse electronic sounds and using different languages in the lyrics. It wasn’t easy fine-tuning the meticulous details ourselves and exchanging different opinions with everyone involved, but that made the process all the more fun and rewarding,” highlighting the collaborative and hands-on nature of the production.
Leading the release is the single “singasong,” featuring German DJ and producer Mechatok. Ahead of the album’s launch, a preview clip of the track generated significant buzz, surpassing 100 million views in just 10 days. Fans have praised its infectious melody, dance-driven beat, and accompanying shuffle dance choreography.
Released alongside the album, the music video for “singasong” captures the duo’s free-spirited energy through the imagery of a demolition derby, where worn-out vehicles collide without a defined course. The visual metaphor reflects V8’s fearless approach to forging ahead despite uncertainty, blending reality and fantasy into an energetic and liberating viewing experience.
Beyond the title track, V8 features a diverse lineup of collaborators spanning multiple genres. The album includes “girlsnboys,” produced by 14-time GRAMMY® Award winner Pharrell Williams; “BEAT,” featuring experimental artist Alice Longyu Gao; and “rat race,” created with Dylan Brady of 100 gecs. The members also spotlight their individual musical identities through solo tracks: THE 8’s “8DM,” featuring Alice Longyu Gao, DPR CREAM, and DPR ARTIC, and VERNON’s “mia,” co-written and arranged with Korean musicians KIRARA and Han Jung In.
Ahead of its official release, V8 was introduced during a special pre-listening event that transformed the album into an immersive DJ party experience. Designed to reflect the duo’s boundary-pushing artistic vision beyond traditional K-pop conventions, the event featured performances from Mechatok, KIRARA, and Han Jung In while giving fans from around the world an early glimpse into V8’s sonic landscape.
Building on the album’s momentum, THE 8 and VERNON are set to bring the project to the stage with the launch of their ‘2026 VERNON THE 8 [V8] LIVE’ concert series, opening in South Korea on July 11 and 12.
Listen to ‘V8’
