Plus Magazine

“You, be my ally”. LE SSERAFIM shares an unbreakable will and spirit with everyone, even in the face of failure. Firmly establishing themselves as the leading 4th generation girl group with their unique concept, LE SSERAFIM has recently released their highly anticipated first full-length album [UNFORGIVEN]. Their title track ‘UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers)’ has become a hot topic with the participation of producer Nile Rodgers. Would you like to hear the story of the girl group LE SSERAFIM, filled with diverse charms and individuality?

Hello, LE SSERAFIM, welcome back with your first full-length album [UNFORGIVEN]. It's great to have you here for the interview. Please say hello to the M Countdown Magazine readers.

LE SSERAFIM : Hello, we are LE SSERAFIM. We have made a comeback with our first full-length album [UNFORGIVEN] and are pleased to greet M Countdown Magazine readers. We hope you enjoy listening to our music and have fun, as we have put our best efforts into preparing it!

Finally, LE SSERAFIM's first full-length album [UNFORGIVEN] is out. This is the first full-length album since your debut. How do you feel about it?

LE SSERAFIM : We recently celebrated our first anniversary since debut, and just a day before that, we were able to introduce our full-length album [UNFORGIVEN] to our fans FEARNOT and the public. We are truly happy and proud of this accomplishment. We hope many people will enjoy not only our new songs but also the fantastic performances we've worked hard to prepare. We believe this album will be an important milestone for us, LE SSERAFIM. Moreover, we hope this album holds significance for everyone who listens to our music.

You collaborated with the legendary American music producer Nile Rodgers on your title track ‘UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers)’. How did you come to work with him?

KIM CHAEWON : We heard that Producer Bang Si-hyuk played ‘UNFORGIVEN’ for Nile Rodgers, and he liked the song so much that he decided to collaborate on it. Later, in an interview, he said, “As soon as I heard LE SSERAFIM’s song, I fell in love and decided to participate in the track”. Hearing this story was a huge honor for us. We also had the chance to exchange greetings with him via video call during the guitar recording session. We remember being happy when he had many kind words for us at that time.

The music video, with scenes such as KAZUHA’s wings being torn and HUH YUNJIN’s arrow flying, was also impressive. What do you think about the relationship between music and visual elements?

KAZUHA : ‘UNFORGIVEN’ is an album with a message about paving our own path as LE SSERAFIM without being bothered by others’ evaluations. This message is well-incorporated into our music video as well. The scene of tearing wings symbolizes breaking away from the familiar ‘pretty’ image and demonstrates the confidence that we can soar higher even without wings. The scene of aiming an arrow also symbolically represents our determination to confront the prejudices of the world.

Sampling the main theme~in the music video altogether creates an atmosphere like a Western movie. What is the background for choosing this theme?

HUH YUNJIN: We thought that our message of pursuing our own path as LE SSERAFIM was similar to the pioneering image of Western movies. Musically, we were able to convey the image of pioneers by sampling the main theme from the [The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly]. We also tried to visually express the album's message through our concept photos and music video, using costumes reminiscent of Western films and incorporating scenes of riding horses.

Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae, what is each member’s favorite track from this album?

KIM CHAEWON, KAZUHA : ‘Fire in the belly’

SAKURA, HUH YUNJIN, HONG EUNCHAE : ‘Eve, Psyche and Bluebeard’s Wife’

The lyrics “Let's go together beyond” in ‘UNFORGIVEN’ and “You, be my ally” in ‘Fire in the belly’ evoke a strong determination and camaraderie. What aspects did you intend to express through these lyrics?

KIM CHAEWON: We wanted to deliver a message of ‘Let’s all move forward in a positive direction together!’ so that everyone can gain courage through our music.

In the track ‘Between you, me and the lamppost’, your vocal tones and singing shine. What vocal songs do you often practice?

KIM CHAEWON: I practice different songs each time, but this time, I would like to recommend Moon Sujin’s ‘Never Let Me Go’!

SAKURA: I practiced Taeyeon’s ‘Dear me’ before my debut.

HUH YUNJIN: These days, I enjoy singing songs by SZA, keshi, Baek Yerin, and GEMINI.

KAZUHA: ‘Impurities’!

HONG EUNCHAE: It’s not a song I practiced frequently, but the song I liked the most that I practiced before my debut is Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Someone You Loved’.

‘Burn the Bridge,’ which incorporates members’ narration into the drum and bass, has a unique style. What are your thoughts on it?

HUH YUNJIN: It was incredibly new and fascinating. We were also very grateful to our label and the producers. We knew they always tried to incorporate our opinions and thoughts, but I never imagined that my ‘Thanks to’ message or interviews would be incorporated into the lyrics. So, I was extremely grateful, and it made me think they are truly geniuses. It made me realize that I should put even more sincerity into my writing in the future.

Overall, most of the songs in this album have a strong intensity in terms of sound. However, the track ‘Impurities’ stands out with its calm and dreamy atmosphere. What is the meaning behind this song?

SAKURA: Personally, it’s my favorite song among the tracks we have released! While the title track consists of strong and addictive songs, I believe ‘Impurities’ showcases LE SSERAFIM’s potential by demonstrating that we can excel in this genre as well.

The track ‘Fire in the belly’ has a prominent Latin vibe. Is this a genre or style that you typically enjoy listening to?

KIM CHAEWON: I haven't had much exposure to this genre before, but I became more interested in it while preparing for this song.

SAKURA: I mainly listen to K-pop and J-pop, but I also enjoy Latin pop occasionally.

HUH YUNJIN: I make an effort to listen to various genres of music, and I particularly enjoy Latin pop because it's so energetic and fun.

KAZUHA: I usually listen to R&B, rock, J-pop, and jazz, but I've been listening to Latin pop more frequently lately.

HONG EUNCHAE: Some members enjoy K-pop or pop music, while others prefer J-pop. We all make an effort to listen to songs in various styles!

In the choreography of ‘UNFORGIVEN,’ the finger-pointing dance move reminiscent of rabbit ears and devil horns stands out. What is the intention behind this dance move, and what is the behind-the-scenes story of it?

HONG EUNCHAE: Actually, this part had really fast movements, so it was incredibly challenging to practice, which is why it became the move I practiced the most. I tried to express a combination of cute expressions with strong and intense facial expressions!

LE SSERAFIM’s performance videos always achieve high view counts. What do you think are the performance strengths that only LE SSERAFIM possesses?

KAZUHA: We believe our strength lies in teamwork. It's not just about coordinating the angles, speed, and positions in the choreography, but also about having a unified mindset, attitude, and a shared desire to deliver an amazing stage. Because all the members align on these aspects, our teamwork is strong, and we think that's why not only FEARNOT but also many others recognize and appreciate these qualities in our performances.

The title of the track ‘Eve, Psyche and Bluebeard’s Wife’ is very unique. What was the inspiration behind it?

SAKURA: In ‘Eve, Psyche and Bluebeard's Wife,’ each character breaks a taboo within their own story, which ultimately allows them to move forward. The title could be seen as a representation of the lyrics “I wish for what’s forbidden,” expressing the desire for something that is not allowed or permitted to oneself.

The track ‘No-Return (Into the unknown)’ exudes a retro vibe, including brass elements. What is the focus or direction of this song?

HONG EUNCHAE: Musically, it features a disco-pop style rhythm and a dazzling brass section. With its catchy melody line and our refreshing vocals, it's a song that fans can enjoy singing along with and have a great time.

Can you share your aspirations for the path you will continue to pursue and your goals for this year?

KIM CHAEWON: I want to work hard, go on tours, and perform on bigger stages as much as possible.

SAKURA: I want to go on a tour and meet FEARNOT from all around the world, and someday, I hope to have a dome tour.

HUH YUNJIN: I want to assimilate more and express many things through music and performances. I want to become an artist who can convey the stories we want to tell exactly as they are!

KAZUHA: I hope to see growth in my dancing, vocals, and language skills, and through gaining more stage experiences, I want LE SSERAFIM to become even more captivating in our performances.

HONG EUNCHAE: I want to continue staying busy and sharing our stories. I also want to go on tours to meet FEARNOT from all around the world.

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