There are concerts, and then there are K-pop concerts. IVE's debut New Zealand show — the Auckland stop of their second world tour SHOW WHAT I AM — was nothing short of K-pop extravagance at its finest. The show drew over 8,000 fans to Spark Arena, setting a new record as the biggest-selling K-pop concert in New Zealand history. For a country that has historically been treated as an afterthought on global touring maps, that number means something.

IVE wasted no time. After a tension-building video montage, all six members stormed the stage. They launched straight into "Gotcha" to thunderous cheers, followed immediately by “XOXZ” and “Baddie,” an opening trio that set the tone for everything that followed. "Baddie," released in 2023 as part of their I've Mine EP, hits differently in a live arena. It was bass-heavy, assertive and built for a crowd that already knows every syllable.

Let's talk about the live vocals because it matters more than casual observers might realise. For New Zealand, and most overseas fans, IVE has lived almost completely in the digital realm — through music show clips, fan cams and performance compilations, where Korean broadcast regulations routinely strip out live audio in favour of MR tracks. To finally stand in a room and hear the IVE members sing, breath and all, is a different experience entirely.

Every member performed a solo for the first time on this tour, and every single one of them served. Wonyoung's "8" was powerful and confident in the exact way you'd expect from the biggest It Girl in K-pop right now. Liz's "Unreal" showcased stripped back vocals that deserve so much more credit. Gaeul's self-written "Odd" had a dreamy quality that felt genuinely intimate for a room that size. Rei was bright and joyful in "In Your Heart." Yujin's "Force" was incredible to watch. And then there was Leeseo. Her solo "Super Icy" incorporated vogue beats which was truly one of the freshest things I have seen on a K-pop stage. It felt new, it felt personal and I am so glad that she gets to have her moment as one of the more underrated members of IVE.

On the topic of solo stages, it was absolutely surreal to see THE Jang Wonyoung in real life. She is currently operating at a cultural altitude that is difficult to overstate. She is the face of a generation of K-pop, the subject of more fashion week front rows and magazine covers than most established Western pop stars could claim this year. She is as beautiful as I thought she would be and her professionalism is something I will remember for a long time.

On the topic of solo stages, it was absolutely surreal to see THE Jang Wonyoung in real life. She is currently operating at a cultural altitude that is difficult to overstate. She is the face of a generation of K-pop, the subject of more fashion week front rows and magazine covers than most established Western pop stars could claim this year. She is as beautiful as I thought she would be and her professionalism is something I will remember for a long time.