“Happiness! Hello, we are Red Velvet.”
The first time I came across Red Velvet was November 2023. I was scrolling on TikTok and came across a video discussing their newest title track, “Chill Kill.” Not knowing anything about the group at the time, I was curious and watched the video. The song left me in awe, and I went to YouTube immediately to watch the music video for “Chill Kill.” I was amazed with the concept, it resonated with me and felt like a contrast to the K-pop groups I was interested in. After that, my obsession for Red Velvet increased by the day as I listened to more of their music, falling in love with their uniquely creepy aesthetic.
According to Kprofiles, a widely known K-pop information site, Red Velvet is a 5-member South Korean girl group signed under SM entertainment. They debuted as 4 members–Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy–with the hit single “Happiness,” on August 4th, 2014.
“Happiness” is an Urban Euro-pop song with a strong synth sound and intense African tribal beat. The music video amassed 2 million views on YouTube in 24 hours, which was massive for K-pop at the time. While the song received mixed reviews for its chaotic style, personally, it established a unique and vibrant image for the group. 5 months later, on March 11th, 2015, Yeri would be announced an official member of Red Velvet. Her debut sparked resistance from fans because she was too young and would break up the original lineup, but they slowly welcomed her to the group.
Achievements
Red Velvet is one of K-pop’s most acclaimed girl groups. They hold numerous prestigious industry awards, like MAMA’s “Best Female group,” and Asia Artist Awards’ “Song of the Year.” They also won Golden Disc Award’s “Best New Artist and Digital Bonsang,” Korean Music Award’s “Best Pop Song,” and various Daesangs (highest honor an artist can receive in South Korea).
Red Velvet also achieved a “Perfect All-Kill” (PAK) for their song “Power Up” on South Korean music charts and still maintain one of the highest music show wins (84) in the industry. Not to mention one of their songs, “Red Flavor,” was so massive it led to them being one of the few groups who performed in North Korea.
Red and Velvet
An integral part of Red Velvet’s identity is their “Red,” and “Velvet,” or “Red Velvet” concepts. The red concepts are vibrant and high-energy, such releases including: “Dumb dumb,” “Red Flavor,” and “Russian Roulette.” Their velvet songs are mature and vocal-heavy like “Automatic,” “Psycho,” and “Be Natural.” Their songs are always split on these sides, with their new awakening being “Red Velvet,” a mix of the vibrant, yet vocal-heavy, mature concept they encapsulate. Their newer songs “Cosmic,” and “Chill kill” hold this genre, and even their older ones like “Peek-a-boo,” and “Bad boy” matching this genre too.
The members
Irene, the group’s leader, is the main rapper, lead dancer, sub vocalist, visual, and center. Irene is often described as “The Original Visual,” praised for her classic beauty and elegance in her performances.
Seulgi is the group’s main dancer and lead vocalist. Her voice is very distinctive, having a husky, warm, “velvety,” vocal tone that fans recognize instantly. With her amazingly sharp dancing and exceptional stage presence, her versatility blends her to any of their concepts.
Wendy is the group’s main vocalist and often the backbone of the group’s harmonies and synchronization. Wendy is renowned for her exceptional vocal ability, not just in her group, but as one of the best vocalists in the K-pop industry. Her performances are often commended for their range, control, emotional depth, and power. Many fans and critics consider her a “vocal queen” of her generation.
Joy is the group’s lead rapper and sub vocalist. Her tone is very popular among fans, specifically the way she utilizes her voice in songs, switching between fun, bright, or even melancholy tones depending on the story the song is conveying.
Yeri is the group’s sub vocalist, sub rapper, and maknae (youngest member). Alongside Wendy, she is also the backbone for the group’s harmonization as she sings all the low notes, and in my opinion, she has the best voice in the group. She’s like a chameleon, blending all the members’ voices together.
Favorite Era
Red Velvet’s discography is a very versatile experience, but my favorite era from Red Velvet would be their “Chill Kill” era. This era follows five sisters trapped in an unsettling, tragic situation. Then a “Chill Kill” disrupts their quiet, monotonous lives, forcing them to confront a traumatic reality.
The concept of this album is beautiful; it highlights family and trauma in an interesting way. It resonated with me so much. Not only was this the album that introduced me to Red Velvet, but I love horror concepts, and this concept was exactly what I was searching for. I truly think this album is so underrated and deserves tons of recognition.
Favorite Album
My favorite Red Velvet album is Ice Cream Cake. The album’s cohesion is a perfect balance of sugary, bubblegum pop with smooth, sultry R&B. The experience this album takes you through packs a punch at first but goes smooth overtime.
Starting with “Ice Cream Cake”, while not my favorite title track, it’s a unique and intense experience with a slightly creepy but fun instrumental. “Automatic” features a smooth, slow jamming R&B sound. This song is undeniably one of their best. The slow drive is such a contrast to the title track, “Ice Cream Cake,” setting the albums Velvet potency in stone.
“Stupid Cupid,” has a strong pre chorus that overpowers most of the song, but is still an amazing track with nice hints of rock influence. “Take it Slow,” just like the title, is a slow, beautiful, and relaxing track that you’d listen to while studying or reading. These pop-focused, high energy, retro-influenced tracks are amazing additions to this album and really highlight the members’ versatility.
I really like the placement of these songs in the album, providing a balance between the Red and Velvet tracks. “Something Kinda Crazy,” a strong, Mid Tempo track, has such an addictive chorus, and Wendy stands out so well in this song, especially during the chorus. Finally, “Candy (사탕)”, a sweet, upbeat, sentimental R&B ballad is the perfect ending to an album. I love the instrumental of this song, feeling like a double-edged sword by using cheerful, sugary imagery to convey intense, bittersweet feelings.
What is Red Velvet doing in 2026?
According to Kprofiles, as of April 2025, Wendy and Yeri have parted ways with SM entertainment, but are still part of the group. Yeri is currently focused on acting in popular Korean dramas like “Blue Birthday,” but is anticipated to make her solo debut in 2026.
Wendy’s solo tour, W:EALIVE, ran from September 20, 2025 through January 17, 2026. On February 3rd, 2026, she released the LP(long play) version of Cerulean Verge, her third mini album.
Joy is currently on her 2026 Asia solo tour, promoting her first mini album “From Joy, with Love,” released on August 18, 2025.
Irene and Seulgi performed as a duo at the Mediacorp, “Let’s Celebrate,” 2026 countdown show in Singapore on New Year’s Eve 2026. Irene released her first full length album, Biggest Fan, on March 30, 2026. The group has also reported a comeback in the latter part of 2026.
Despite the group’s 11+ years of activities, Red Velvet is still alive today. Truly one-of-a-kind legends, their versatile concepts, flavorful music, and vibrant personalities are why the group is still standing and popular today.
