THE APEX TIMES
The 8 and Vernon’s new sub-group project, titled “V8,” arrives June 29 and is billed as an exploration of “wasted youth,” with production credits that include Pharrell Williams and BUMZU.
SEVENTEEN members The 8 and Vernon are preparing to debut a new side unit, V8, with a mini-album scheduled for release on June 29, according to Billboard. The announcement frames “V8” as the pair’s first EP as a dedicated duo, shifting from the group’s broader releases to a project built around a single theme and a slate of outside production collaborators.
Billboard reports that the project brings together established global producers, including Pharrell Williams. It also notes that Pharrell has previously worked with SEVENTEEN, producing “Bad Influence” on the group’s fifth studio album, “Happy Burstday,” released in 2025. In addition to Pharrell, the mini-album is described as featuring production from BUMZU and a larger roster of other producers named in connection with the project’s rollout.
The release materials described by Billboard characterize “V8” as a deep dive into the idea of “wasted youth.” The project’s theme is described as centered on “raw moments of wandering and confusion” experienced over time, along with later resilience and growth. Rather than portraying the youth period as simply lost time, Billboard says the concept reframes youth’s instability and fragility into an “explosive sense of freedom,” positioned as a force that keeps pushing forward.
Billboard also reports that the production roster was revealed through a promotional video concept in which names appear to burn in reverse, ultimately disclosing the collaborators. The list of producers named in that account includes, among others, German electro house producer and DJ Mechatok; Dylan Brady of 100 Gecs; Korean Music Awards winner KIRARA; and a further mix of electronic and hip-hop producers whose names were included in the same announcement.
In a separate report, South Korea’s The Chosun Daily said V8 is set to tease new material with a road-movie concept, and it connected the release to plans for SEVENTEEN-related concerts in July. The newspaper did not provide additional details about the specific tour dates in the excerpt available for this story, but it tied the unit’s promotional approach to the broader live-performance calendar.
The June 29 timing places V8’s debut EP in the same summer window in which K-pop acts commonly stage marketing pushes and fan-facing promotional activities ahead of international or regional appearances. For audiences, the release means a new entry point into SEVENTEEN content built around the interests and vocal styles of The 8 and Vernon, presented alongside production work from internationally recognizable figures.
For the music industry, the project also reflects the continued cross-border production model in major K-pop releases, where high-profile Western producers and global electronic and hip-hop creators are brought into the same commercial pipeline. The public rollout, including the stated thematic framing and the named producer list, sets expectations for how the EP will be positioned on streaming platforms and in press coverage once it launches on June 29.
As of the publication of these reports, the most concrete next step is the EP’s release date itself, with the named thematic concept and production roster serving as the principal information made available so far about what listeners will receive. Additional track listings, music-video details, and further promotional events would be expected to follow as the release approaches.