LE SSERAFIM graces the GRAMMY Museum
The angelic K-pop quintet participated in a discussion and performance Thursday night.
By AUBRIE COLE
Five seraphic angels illuminated the GRAMMY Museum Thursday night. Clad in black and silver, the world-renowned K-pop group LE SSERAFIM engaged in an intimate interview with moderator Emily Mei and performed for an audience of around 200 “FEARNOTs,” the quintet’s fervent fans.
The coveted seats of the Clive Davis Theater sold out in mere seconds following the event’s announcement, a testament to the raw influence and popularity of the group. Having debuted less than two years ago, KIM CHAEWON, SAKURA, HUH YUNJIN, KAZUHA and HONG EUNCHAE have continued to destroy records, gaining fame in global proportion. The past week has marked their first visit to the United States as a full group, where the members participated in personal performances with tremendously limited seats.
“I think this is our very first time having our fans up so close [while we’re] on stage,” KIM CHAEWON said in Korean. “I hope you will enjoy our performance. Thank you for coming today, and I hope we can have a perfect night.”
LE SSERAFIM’s most recent release, “Perfect Night,” is a fully English single written in collaboration with the popular video game “Overwatch 2.” The single envelops the listener in silky harmonies and honeyed vocals, brewing a smooth lyrical latte for FEARNOTs and “Overwatch” fans alike.
“‘Perfect Night’ is a song about having a perfect night out with our friends,” KAZUHA said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong, it’s gonna be a perfect night because we are together.”
Collaborating with “Overwatch 2” seems to be a dream come true for the members, specifically SAKURA, who’s been an avid “Overwatch” player for years. Throughout the night, SAKURA frequently made quips and references to the first-person shooter game. Yesterday, LE SSERAFIM performed at BlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment’s annual convention, as part of the collaboration.
HUH YUNJIN, LE SSERAFIM’s fluent English speaker, described the unique challenges of learning and producing a song in a foreign language and genre.
“We were very meticulous about the pronunciation and getting the vibe of the song down. I think this is the first time we’ve done a song in this very laid-back genre,” HUH YUNJIN said. “I remember I would send voice memos of me singing the [English] lyrics and pronouncing [them] really slowly.”
Emily Mei moderated a conversational interview with LE SSERAFIM at the GRAMMY Museum Thursday night. (Rebecca Sapp / Getty Images via Recording Academy)
LE SSERAFIM continues to outdo itself, facing unprecedented global success upon its original debut in May 2022. Since then, the group has skyrocketed, collaborating with artists such as Demi Lovato and Rina Sawayama, while repeatedly appearing on the Billboard 200. The members expressed their gratitude and disbelief at their dreamlike level of success.
“I cannot believe this is happening,” KAZUHA said in Korean. “It’s very surreal for us.”
Though LE SSERAFIM recently concluded its first tour, many American fans’ excitement was dashed by the lack of stops in the U.S. However, their hopes for a world tour may be fulfilled in the future.
“This was our first tour, but on our next tour we want to [go to] the whole [of] America,” KIM CHAEWON said in Korean.
As the interview drew to a close, the members gracefully glided off stage to prepare for the second segment. The Clive Davis Theater hummed with restless anticipation as Emily Mei reintroduced the girls, now equipped with mic packs and a poorly contained eagerness to showcase their work.
LE SSERAFIM treated the small audience to four mesmerizing songs including “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife (English Version),” which had never been performed live before. The Korean version of the track is a fan favorite, so the English performance was a special treat for the American fans.
“Perfect Night,” “UNFORGIVEN” and “ANTIFRAGILE” also made their Los Angeles debuts to the rapturous delight of the audience. Each member of LE SSERAFIM flaunted their vocal and dance skills and belted their verses live, beating the lip-syncing allegations that seem to stalk every K-pop girl group like the plague.
Concluding the night with melancholic cheers, the audience expressed its love and gratitude for LE SSERAFIM with emblematic heart-shaped hand signs and waving. In turn, the members bid farewell to their American FEARNOTs at the GRAMMY Museum, their goodbye filled with appreciation for their fans.
“Thank you so much for coming out tonight. Hopefully, we made it a perfect night,” HUH YUNJIN said. “Go home safely, have some good food and get a good night’s sleep. We love you!”
