Plus Magazine

Lapillus, a multinational rookie group that debuted a year ago, has taken the special stage at the world’s largest K-culture festival, KCON. 🙌Lapillus has successfully finished the KCON special stage, and now they’re preparing for a new challenge, 2023 MAMA AWARDS. We interviewed them, whose journey was filled with the passion and enthusiasm of rookies.
 

First of all, your ROAD TO KCON stage was amazing, congratulations!!     
I’d like to know how your overall experience was in KCON as Lapillus.

Bessie: It truly felt like a dream stage! Just the fact that I could personally stand on the stage I had only seen in videos was incredibly amazing, and I can't even put into words how I felt. These are moments I will never forget. Thanks to Lapis, I was able to perform on the KCON stage, and I'm really, really grateful for that.

Shana: Watching the senior artists who participated in KCON enjoy themselves in front of so many fans, I also pledged to become someone like that someday.

I’m aware that you had a busy schedule during the KCON period, how were you feeling?    
You must not have had enough time because of preparations for the stage.

Yue: I always make a diligent effort to manage my health and well-being. I also make sure to regularly take vitamins and eat well. When I think about performing on stage in front of Lapis when things get tough, it motivates me to work even harder.

Haeun: I was busy every day, but it actually felt more enjoyable. It was something I had been longing for, so it felt more meaningful, and I put in a lot of effort to prepare for it.

While you were filming ROAD TO MAX ‘MAX SHOW’, you went to Santa Monica, right? How was it?

Shana: When Seowon went to look for the alphabet, I tried to hide, but she came back faster than I expected, so I couldn't hide and got caught, which was funny.

Haeun: The roller coaster was the most fun for me!

Yue: When I was younger, I went to Santa Monica with my family, and this time, being able to go with the members was so enjoyable. It was a happy time because I could show them things I like or things I thought they would enjoy.

I’m curious if there were any interesting episodes while preparing for the joint performance you had with EVERGLOW.

Chanty: We had a joint stage with EVERGLOW and there was a part where SIHYEON and I played the guitar together, so we practiced together. It was more challenging than I thought, but practicing with the senior artists helped me relax a lot, and it was great to become closer with them!

Seowon: Right before the stage started, AISHA held my hand and smiled at me! It was very reassuring, and thanks to that, I was able to enjoy the performance without feeling too nervous!

What was the most enjoyable part of your KCON convention activities? Did you get to meet many Lapis fans?

Chanty: During KCON convention activities, it was great to meet so many Lapis! Not only Lapis but also other people showed interest in us and supported us, which was really nice.

Bessie: It was enjoyable to spend quality time up close with our fans, and the dancing part was the most fun. We also explored the booths. Being able to have a good time with our fans is something I cherish the most from that experience.

Seowon: The dance battle was really fun, seeing fans dancing with so much passion was really exciting for me. Also, there were Lapis fans from many different countries, which was fascinating. We were truly grateful that they came all the way to LA to support us!

How were the global fans you met at KCON? Are there any characteristics specific to fans from different countries?

Chanty: There were fans not only from the United States but from other countries as well. While meeting fans, I noticed that the atmosphere and the way fans show their support vary from country to country. Fans from the U.S. and South America passionately cheered for us and called our names, while Asian fans encouraged us with touching words.

Yue: Even people who didn't know us well showed great support, which was very touching. Asian fans seem to be more reserved and shy but their support showed genuine kindness, while fans from the U.S. and South America are more expressive and outgoing. Even if they have different styles of support, we could equally feel their love. Thanks to the warm support from fans, we were able to successfully finish our performances.

During the preparation for the stage, was there a member you relied on the most? If so, why?

Shana: I think the member I relied on the most was Yue! While practicing, even when it was tough, she often gave practical advice like, 'This stage we're preparing is not something just anyone can do. To enjoy it then, we have to work hard now!'

Bessie: I think it was probably Yue as well. Sharing a room with Yue, we had many conversations, and we found that our thoughts and feelings were surprisingly similar, almost like close friends of the same age. She noticed when I seemed lacking a bit of confidence and gave me a lot of advice, compliments, and encouragement during the preparation for the KCON stage, which I was really grateful for.

Do you have any episodes from the backstage waiting room?

Bessie: Everyone had high expectations, and it was our first time, so we were quite nervous. It felt just like our debut stage. That's why the members looked adorable, and I kept thinking about our debut stage.

Haeun: I had trouble adjusting to the time difference, so I even fell asleep while getting my makeup done. (laughs) I don't remember it well, but the unnies (older members) told me that I kept sleeping.

During rehearsals, was there any particular aspect you focused on or felt unsatisfied with?

Seowon: Since it was our first time on such a big stage, I was quite nervous. I paid a lot of attention to our formation during rehearsals because I felt we needed to fill the stage with our performance.

Haeun: The camera makes our expressions and dance moves appear weaker than they actually are. I felt like I was giving it my all, but it didn't come across well on camera, which was disappointing. I think these are some aspects I should look out for and improve them.
 

Did you get to watch rehearsals of other artists?

Shana: I watched the rehearsal of our senior group, (G)I-DLE! Seeing leader Soyeon  focusing on harmonizing the group and the dedication in their rehearsal was really impressive!

Yue: I watched the rehearsal of EVERGLOW, and it was amazing to see how they concentrated on their performance and communicated quickly among the members. I learned a lot from EVERGLOW's rehearsal.

How was the red carpet?

Chanty: We were extremely nervous before walking the red carpet, but the fact that not only our fans but also others were supporting us was very touching, and it created a great atmosphere!

Seowon: I think I was really nervous on the red carpet! There were so many fans in front, and since it was our first time in LA, I felt like I needed to present a pretty and confident image on the red carpet.

What were the members' feelings 10 minutes before stepping onto the KCON stage?

Shana: I wanted to get on the stage quickly. I was quite nervous, but seeing the other members enjoying themselves helped ease my tension. I think if it weren't for the other members, I would have been even more nervous.

Bessie: I had a lot of worries, and my confidence was quite low, thinking, "Can I really do well?" But just before going on stage, I suddenly gained confidence that I could do it. I was still nervous, but because of Lapis, I wanted to do really well on stage, even if it was just for Lapis.

Seowon: Since it was a stage that we had all dreamed of since our trainee days, we had talked about just enjoying it without any regrets with the members. We all reassured each other that we could do it, even though we were all nervous.

How did you feel being on the KCON stage? Also, did you watch the VCR shown before the stage?

Yue: I watched the VCR because we could see it on the monitor from the stage. While watching the VCR, I was deeply moved, and I felt like we had worked really hard over the past 4 years. When I got on stage, it truly felt like a dream.

Haeun: KCON was a stage we really wanted to perform on, and it was a stage we had always followed closely. So, when we got the opportunity to perform there, it was a great honor, and it made me think that we should work even harder to be able to perform there again in the future.

What was it like after the performance? I'm also curious about the reactions from those around you.

Chanty: After successfully finishing the performance, I almost cried. I couldn't believe that we were on the KCON stage. I was pleasantly surprised by the positive reactions, and it made me want to do even better.

Seowon: We worked really hard and prepared hard for KCON, so after it was over, I felt a sense of relief but also a lot of regret. People around us said a lot of encouraging things like, "You were amazing!" and "You did well!"

Finally, could you please share a few words with Lapis?

Bessie: Thanks to Lapis, we had the wonderful opportunity to perform at KCON and get closer to you. With Lapis' unwavering support, we will continue to show even better performances in the future. Thank you for always being there for us, and we love you. Lapis, let’s join MAMA AWARDS, too!

Shana: It was even more special because it was a stage created by Lapis, and it became a cherished memory! Thank you so much. We'll keep fighting so that one day, we can fill the KCON audience with Lapis. Thank you, Lapis!

| 기획 및 제작 : Choi Jihye 
| 디자인&번역 : Baek Garam, Byeon Hyo Jin 
| 편집 : Jung Sumin, Kim Taeyeon