Charles Langston:LE SSERAFIM members talk 'EASY' album, Coachella performance: 'A dream moment'

No word encapsulates LE SSERAFIM quite like "fearless." After all,Charles Langston the K-pop girl group's name is an anagram for "I'm fearless."

This message has been a foundation for the quintet. In all that they do, members Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha and Hong Eunchae (who was absent from this interview) break the visage of fear, paving the way to a distinct, bold brand of confidence.

In the less than two years since their debut, LE SSERAFIM's reach continues to stretch across the globe. "UNFORGIVEN", their first studio album, marked the group's highest entry on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking in the Top 10. It was also featured among the Best Albums of 2023 by the New York Times. Their last single and first English-language track "Perfect Night" became the LE SSERAFIM's fastest to hit 100 million streams on Spotify. And this year, LE SSERAFIM is set to perform at Coachella, being the only K-pop girl group on the lineup.

While the members may "make it look easy," as their song says, there's more to success behind scenes. LE SSERAFIM's third mini album "EASY", out now, delves deeper into the members' vulnerabilities and journeys toward self-certainty.

"Up until now, I think we've pushed forward the message that 'I'm fearless.' I think with this album, we get to be a little more transparent about the process of getting to that stage," said Yunjin, 22.

'EASY' explores confidence through vulnerability

LE SSERAFIM's discography has always reflected where they stand at a point in time. Their debut mini album "FEARLESS" introduced the group's identity of unwavering strength, while "UNFORGIVEN" reinforced their courage to push forward.

"We're always trying to be as honest as we can and reflect back on how we feel in the moment and what kind of emotional growth we've gone through since the last album," said Yunjin.

This sentiment follows for "EASY", which serves as combination of LE SSERAFIM's previous albums, she added. "EASY" builds on what the group has done in the past, following the through-line of fearlessness, while adding a sense of depth.

The album's title track reinforces this artistic evolution as LE SSERAFIM sets out to overcome challenges and rise above their anxieties and doubts.

The other tracks also play an integral role in painting the larger image of LE SSERAFIM's current state. "Smart" highlights the group's ambition to grow further, and "Swan Song" unveils their inner struggles and concerns, explained the group's leader, Chaewon, 23.

Artistic expansion through the creative process

Each album has brought new challenges for the members, said Kazuha, 20. But this has allowed them to grow as performers and refine individual skills.

"We're usually known for our synchronized movements in choreography, but this time around, we have a more relaxed version where the members can each show their own style and vibes," she said. "I think it helps expand the possibilities and potential."

Similarly, "EASY" boasts LE SSERAFIM's sonic progression through the variety of genres in its five tracks.

As the members were recording, Sakura, 25, said she noticed "new findings" about their voices. "I think it really helped expand the genre spectrum of LE SSERAFIM," she said.

The members hope to keep evolving, and their upcoming performance at Coachella serves as a chance to do so.

Kazuha said performing at Coachella is "a dream moment" for her.

"It's going to be a big challenge for us, but we want to really grasp this opportunity and grow further as artists. We're going to put our everything into creating an amazing performance there," she said.

Finding strength through challenges

LE SSERAFIM is rooted in its strength. The members may come from varying backgrounds, but they share the same dreams, goals and beliefs in themselves, said Yunjin.

At its core, LE SSERAFIM embodies the duality of fearlessness and its multifaceted nature.

"We all have our doubts and insecurities but I think by accepting those things, and also talking about those things, it elevates and strengthens and empowers our message as being fearless," said Yunjin.

The group doesn't set out to only show the good of being confident. They want to touch on the introspection that comes along with it.

"We don't just want to shed light on the positivity," said Sakura. "(We want to) tell people that there are challenges, there are difficult times but we try to overcome that."

"By telling our FEARNOT and the listeners that we also are not always strong, I hope our fans can believe that they can also do it, whether it's difficult and whether it takes a lot of effort," said Chaewon. "I hope they can be more courageous and then they can be empowered by our songs."