VCHA Ushers in a New Era of K-Pop as Global 'Girls of the Year'

Through K-pop's rapid changes over the past three decades, a constant pattern has been JYP Entertainment's special attention to its girl groups.

From Wonder girls became the first Korean pop singer to crack the Billboard Hot 100 with TWICE and ITZY making inroads with US label deals and tours, as well as a Japanese group NiziU having a No. 1 single on the Japan Hot 100 every year since The debuting in 2020, the company has lived up to its label as a “leader in entertainment” with noted strict guidelines for dating, dieting, media engagement and more. So when a miscommunication during the interview with JYPE's latest girl group abruptly ends the conversation when the program can't spare another 10 minutes, the fleeting encounter feels like a reflection of the meticulousness and unwavering standards of success set by K-pop. industry giants like JYP. Especially for the high stakes with VCHAa first of its kind 'global' girl group, there is no room for error.

VCHA began with a bold vision outlined by JYP founder JY Park and Republic Records founder Monte Lipman: A2K The competition series aimed to create “the first American artist made from the K-pop system”. Amidst increasingly fierce competition from industry heavyweights such as SM Entertainment, HYBE and Geffen Records with similar projects, JYP and Republic stepped into this next-gen pop battle, culminating in six-member girl group that is helping to evolve the definition of K-pop and change the way labels like JYP and Republic traditionally operate.

Unlike their Korea-based counterparts who famously go through years of rigorous training, VCHA embarked on a whirlwind journey that includes vocal and dance training, character ratingseven “quality star ratings” through its 22 episodes A2K where the final lineup of members Lexi, Camila, Kendall, Savanna, KG and Kaylee — ranging in age from 18 to 14 — were revealed in September 2023 and made their official debut just four months later today, January 26, 2024 via “Girls of the Year” unveiling of its digital single and music video.

After four buzz tracks hinting at their sound like “Ready for the World” and “YOUniverse” (the latter of which appeared on public Korean TV channels such as KBS and MBC along with other K-pop songs), 'Girls of the Year' marks the official launch of VCHA, and what 18-year-old Midwest-born leader Lexi says, “really emphasizes confidence, self-esteem and that where we strive to be. , who are, obviously, the girls of the year.”

An upbeat, bubblegum-pop anthem with hooks ready to get into the minds of young listeners, “Girls of the Year” also encapsulates a subtle but heartwarming message of feminism and self-reliance with lyrics like, “No more questionin' and no glass roofs.” Talking to you Advertising sign in their new home base in Los Angeles, Florida-raised, 17-year-old Savanna sings this line on the track and personally connects with the lyric when it “goes deeper because of the meaning itself.”

“Girls of the Year” embodies the essence of the VCHA's mission — to inspire and empower a new generation of fans who are not as bound or preoccupied by cultural, language and national barriers. With all six based in the US or Canada, the backgrounds of VCHA members range from white and Latino to Black, Korean, Vietnamese and Hmong.

Kendall from Texas recognizes the diversity they represent and the opportunity to be a role model.

“Girls of the Year is such a statement, but for us it's really about being able to be a group or someone that other people can look up to,” says the 17-year-old. “Being able to represent different communities is honestly a great honor because we all had people from our culture or our nationalities that we looked up to growing up and had such a big impact on our lives. So to be able to grow and become those people for others is really what being 'girl of the year' would mean to us.

VCHA is in good company with Republic Records signees such as Taylor Swift, TWICE, Ariana Grande, Stray Kids and ITZY who are cited as various inspirations for the members. The girls will open for their upcoming stage show JYP/Republic label mates TWICE in Las Vegas, Mexico City and Sao Paulo — something of a dream for youngest member Kaylee, who says TWICE is the first artist she remembers hooking up with since she was little. age.

“I can't say I'm nervous or excited because I can't think about it actually happening,” says the 14-year-old Philly singer. “It feels like a dream and not something we're going to perform on stage opening for TWICE. It seems so surreal to be able to do something like this so early in our careers.”

In fact, K-pop concerts traditionally don't have openers, marking yet another way the VCHA is shaking up the system's formulas with a page from the Western playbook. “That was something that was kind of unexpected,” adds Lexi, “we're very honored to be able to do something that hasn't really been done.”

To prepare for the upcoming shows, the sextet has full days of rehearsals, rehearsals and content creation starting around 10:30 or 11 am. local time, when the youngest members Kaylee and KG, who are 14 and 16 respectively, finish school. attend earlier in the morning via online learning courses. Kaylee and KG point out some difficulty in balancing schoolwork and group work, but they have the older members to help them study.

With the release of VCHA's “Girls of the Year,” paired with the easy-listening, R&B-pop cut “XO Call Me” As a b-side that Kendall notes is part of the “new sounds” they're excited to showcase, Teens moves into unfamiliar but exciting territory that feels more focused on deeper, heartfelt messages than the maximalist craftsmanship found in most K-pop debuts. .

Take the moment in the “Girls of the Year” music video where Camila walks from her dance rehearsal to a huge VCHA concert where she captures her stunning version on stage and they exchange smiles – a moment of recognition of her journey that has included years of auditions and pageants show like The Voice Kids in Canada and France, to make his debut in a group that supports some of the most proven players in the world of pop.

See what all the VCHA members had to say about their growth, looking back at candid moments from their character ratings in A2K where they are today.

The role of leader is important in K-pop and Lexi, you are the leader of VCHA. How has your role changed from someone who was known to help the contestants A2K to drive the VCHA now?

Lexi: Obviously, I'm very grateful to be the leader that helps organize things in this group. Even though I have the title, I think I get so much help from the other members – like, everyone helps me so much. Even though I am the captain, I think we all help the team a lot to be able to succeed and work hard.

I do a lot of the organization stuff, like setting our times for when we have to practice or spreading things out about what we have to do during the day and what's coming up. I also help us try to stay on task. Sometimes I will have to communicate [with the label teams] a bit about things like our programs.

I remember Camila being voted as Lexi's teammate during the A2K ratings. You are also the oldest member and you said a lot of this motivated you to somehow help care for and encourage your members. What does that relationship look like now?

Camila: Actually, in my family, I was always the youngest, so I was always well taken care of. I learned a lot from my mom and brother and how they always made me feel so safe and comfortable. I wanted to do that too if I was ever in a group. Being here, it's the same thing since we last spoke. I think because I am a very empathetic person, I always feel what other people are feeling. I always try to make people comfortable and make sure everyone is good emotionally.

Savanna, JY Park said he had doubts about your seriousness, but you share how you know nerves are useless. I liked your attitude and response then. Is that a mindset you carry on today?

Savanna: If I wanted to explain this further, being in gymnastics at a very young age led me to learn different techniques to not let my nerves get to me, since if I was nervous I would perform worse — especially in events where I had to balance on a four-inch beam. Although I was definitely nervous, I applied this learned technique of mine during his assessments A2K. I think I still have that mentality today as we do nerve-wracking activities, but I try to calm the members down and let them know that we've worked hard so far and try to relax, trust your practice and give it your all.

Kendall, I remember you being very focused on both your own and the group's development during Boot Camp with lots of time practicing on your own. How are you doing today with relying on your members?

Kendall: I would say that the more time we spent together and the closer we were, the more I could rely on my members. As a person, I often tend to think about myself and enjoy spending time alone, but it's nice to have a support system with the other girls that I can always count on.

JY Park also very honestly said that he believed that KG had a “solid style fixed in you” that couldn't work in a group. But not only have you proven you can adapt, you're on the team! How do you feel you are evolving as an artist today?

KG: Yes, JY Park was very right. I had a very solid style and unique way of singing where I fell out of my words, and this kind of singing is not usually found in K-pop groups. I can sing many different styles, so removing what he didn't like wasn't hard for me, but his advice made me a better singer and fits this group, so I really appreciate it. I think being an artist or a performer means you're constantly evolving, and right now, I've evolved in the K-pop world.

Kaylee, you were hoping you could be the “Moodmaker” of the group. Do you help set the tone for the team?

Kaylee: We all have different personalities and we are all so much fun to be around! So everyone has the possibility to become the team's mood maker.