Q&A: VCHA, JYP Entertainment’s new girl group, on their journey to K-pop

JYP’s new girl group VCHA sheds light on their journey, their debut, and what it means to be an inspiration for others. Here’s our interview.

Some may say that K-pop’s reach has gone global. But a new group in town is on a mission to bring the genre to an even more global level. Meet VCHA, the latest addition to JYP Entertainment’s stellar line-up of girl groups. We’re no stranger to the groups from the company—from Wonder Girls to ITZY and TWICE. But VCHA is not just any group, they’re a global girl group, perhaps the first of its kind. Camila, Lexi, Kendall, Savanna, KG, and Kaylee debuted through the competition series, A2K, a collaborative endeavour by J.Y. Park in partnership with Republic Records’ founder Monte Lipman. 

The six-piece from diverse backgrounds from across US participated in challenges to be part of the final line-up. Fresh off their debut, they’re still reliving the moment. While the stakes are high and the pressure is on, the members admit they’re also making the most of the experience that turned them from fans into superstars. It’s not a stretch to say that the standard for K-pop these days is to go global and VCHA is the embodiment of that. The group, though different, represents what it means to follow your dreams. While challenges lie ahead, especially for such a bold concept, they’re also ready for the world. 

VCHA, which takes inspiration from the Korean phrase, ‘Shine a Light’, debuted earlier this year. But before that, they put out a pre-debut single, ‘SeVit (New Light)’ which comes with three other tracks: ‘Y.O. Universe’, ‘Go Getter’, and ‘Know Me Like That’. This was quickly followed by a second pre-debut single, ‘Ready for the World’, the complete version of the A2K theme song. A few months into 2024, they’re taking to the stage as the opening act for their senior labelmate, TWICE in the group’s final ‘Ready to be Me’ Once More concerts. Just as we’re recovering from their debut two-track release, ‘Girls of the Year’ and ‘Xo Call Me’, their second single, ‘Only One’ is out on March 15.

Ahead of their performance and new song release, Lifestyle Asia caught up with VCHA to shed light on their journey so far. Read our interview to find out how their lives have changed since debuting, their love for K-pop, and what it means to be a global girl group.

VCHA reflects back on their A2K journey and how they got into K-pop

How has the journey been so far and how much things have changed for you?

Lexi: Before A2K, I was a normal teenager who attended school and after-school activities. But now, here I am, as an idol in VCHA. So much has happened in such a short amount of time and that could only happen because of hard work, determination, passion, and lots of support.  

Kendall: Honestly, this journey was unpredictable. I didn’t expect my life to change so drastically, nor did I expect such a reaction from viewers. Through this whole experience, I’ve learned so much about myself, from actual skills to being more introspective about my own thoughts. But the most important thing I’ve learned is that you know yourself best, so always trust yourself.

This group is such a refreshing concept in K-pop. Do you feel any pressure in that aspect or are you all just mostly enjoying it?

Camila: I believe that this group is in fact a new concept. We all come from different backgrounds and cultures and that makes it special. We’re just super excited to show the world our hard work and we hope to inspire anyone out there that has a dream like we do. We want to be a great example of how no matter where you come from, you can achieve anything. 

KG: I think it’s a mixture of both. The concept of a global girl group representing diversity is new. So, there is some pressure to do it well and represent others well. But I think it’s really cool and meaningful. The opportunity for A2K presented itself. Honestly, it felt like I manifested it. So, I am really enjoying it, and I hope others can be inspired and believe they can do anything they put their mind to.

How was the transition process from being a contestant to a trainee to now an official member of the group? And what would you say is the biggest lesson that you’ve all learned?

Savanna: The show taught me a lot of life lessons besides singing and dancing, so while transitioning to an official member of the group, I used those lessons during the process. We all grew so much during the show, and I have much appreciation for it. One of the biggest lessons that I personally learned was just being patient with myself, and giving some things time. I tend to want to get everything right away, but being patient with yourself is very important.

Kaylee: I learned so much throughout the show and I’m using everything I’ve learned to become a better person and member of VCHA. We’ve all grown up so much from the show, and I’m so grateful that I was able to take part in it.

You all dreamed of being K-pop idols and had this expectation or even image in your mind before you all started. Does those ideas and images live up to the expectation now that you’ve debuted?

Camila: Our perspective of being an idol has definitely changed. As a fan and regular listener, we only get to see the final product. But being behind the scenes of this whole experience made me realise that it’s not easy. There is so much work and effort put behind everything single video and performance. It’s such a long process, something I could’ve never imagined. It’s a lot of hard work and hours of training. But in the end, it pays off.

Kendall: Viewing idol life and living in it completely changed my perspective on many things. Any expectations I had were broken. There were so many unexpected aspects of life in this industry that caught me off guard. There were some things I expected, such as the effort that goes into every little detail. But it all made me realise that you really have to love what you do. As long as you have a passion for what you do, you can achieve anything. 

You guys mentioned a lot of times in the show that being an idol is your dream. Were there specific moments or people that inspired you to take that leap?

Kaylee: My family has really inspired me to follow my dreams. They have always told me to go for it and they show me support for everything I do! I’m so happy they are with me throughout my journey to VCHA and I use them as my motivation to keep working hard.

KG: For me, I first discovered K-pop when I was 12. I started making K-pop-inspired music before I even knew what it was. But I knew I wanted to become an idol after watching some documentaries on K-pop and going to KCON where I watched groups perform for the first time. I also have my mom, who is my biggest supporter, who inspired me to take that big leap. She is always there to push me to become anything I want to be.

VCHA talks about debuting and being the opening act for labelmate TWICE

What’s the significance of your pre-debut song, ‘SeVit (New Light)’ and how do you think it represents you as a group?

Camila: Our pre-debut ‘SeVit (New Light)’ represents the end of a chapter of the A2K series and the beginning of our career as VCHA. The songs from that album were made during the show for all the girls that participated in it. It later became our songs as VCHA, and we cherish them as a great memory and as a great changing point in our lives. They will always have a special place in our hearts. 

Lexi: Our pre-debut song holds so much significance because it truly represents us as a group. We are just a group of unique individuals that are there for each other when we need it. We lift each other in dark times and come together to shine.

For the song, ‘Y.O. Universe’, you guys celebrated your differences. What about being different feels special to you?

Kaylee: It’s so important to embrace each of our differences because VCHA is a group that symbolises diversity and each person’s uniqueness. We all have our similarities and differences, and it’s so important to embrace them so we each have our own personalities.

Kendall: When you think of someone, any person, you remember them because they are different from everyone else. That’s why it’s so important to be different because that’s what makes everyone special. We should all embrace being special and that’s why we want to create an environment where everyone can be proud to be themselves. 

In what ways does your debut single, ‘Girls of the Year’ highlight your charms as a group?

Camila: ‘Girls of the Year’ really highlights everyone’s charms. Every member was able to showcase something special throughout the song. It means a lot to us since it tells our story. That’s why we took each segment of the song very seriously. It shows the growth of our journey and the story of us achieving our dreams.

Before, you were just fans watching TWICE on TV. But now, you get to be the opening act for them. How does that feel?

Lexi: We feel so honoured to be able to open for such amazing artists. To be performing on such a big stage for a large crowd at such an early stage of our journey is truly a significant experience for us. We’ve learned so much through this experience, and we just want to say overall that we are so grateful for this opportunity.

JYP Entertainment’s VCHA on growth and embracing their differences

Lexi, you’re the first Hmong person to debut in a K-pop group. How do you feel about that?

Lexi: I’m so incredibly grateful for all of the support and love I have received from the Hmong community. I am so proud to be Hmong and I am also super proud to be able to represent my people. It makes me so happy knowing that people in the world watch me do what I love to do. I’m so glad that I can be someone that others look up to because when I was a kid, having that figure to look up to inspired me so much. Overall, I’m just super happy that I’ve received so much support and I can’t wait to hopefully inspire others in the future.

Camila, you’re such a big cheerleader for all the members. How do you strike a balance between keeping the group harmony and expressing your talents and charm?                  

Camila: I’ve always cherished the special moments with the people that I love. I’m super empathetic, so I always feel everyone’s emotions. Therefore, I make sure that we all feel good, comfortable, and excited. Although I also go through hard moments myself, I can always rely on my members, and they can always rely on me.

Kaylee, despite your young age, you’re also very mature in some ways. How is it like being the youngest and do you feel any gap having members older than you?

Kaylee: Even though I’m the youngest, it doesn’t feel so most of the time. The members are always sure to include me when we are together. I always forget they are older than me. That just goes to show how close we all are!

Kendall, you described yourself as the artistic person in the group. What does being artistic or being an artist mean to you?

Kendall: I don’t believe that being an artist or being artistic is limited to the physical arts or even the performing arts, those are just the most common forms of expression. In my opinion, it’s more important to find a way to express yourself, who you are, and your feelings in a way that is natural to you. If you find a place where you feel comfortable, I don’t think it’s necessary to put a label on it, you should just enjoy what you are doing without putting pressure on yourself. Being artistic or being an artist should have no boundaries, if you express yourself freely. Art can be whatever you make it into.

Savanna, throughout the show, we’ve seen you grow in your singing. How were you able to gain that confidence and become the artist that you are today?

Savanna: My experience on the show gave me many opportunities to grow my skills, including singing. During all the missions, I got to learn more about myself. Through this, I gained confidence in my own abilities and the training that I was receiving. I’ve found more of my identity in singing and as an artist, and through that it gives me the confidence to show my singing to the world.

KG, before A2K and VCHA, you’ve already been performing. Did you always know you wanted to perform? Was it difficult to change to K-pop from what you were used to?

KG: Since I was seven, I have always been passionate about music. I started in the industry by modelling, acting, and forming a sibling band with my brothers. That’s where I learned to play the guitar, piano, and percussion. When I was older, I transitioned to making more pop/K-pop vibe music, so it wasn’t really difficult to change genres because I really do enjoy all types.

More than being artists and musicians, idols are also role models. How do you see yourself as a role model for the young generation?

Lexi: I hope that we are seen as a group of teenagers with different cultures and backgrounds who come together to inspire others to also want to achieve their dreams. I want people all over the world to think that they can accomplish anything and everything as the unique individuals that they are. We as kids always had role models growing up and to potentially be a role model in this era is truly a significant moment to remember.  

Savanna: With our group being diverse, I want the younger generation to look at us and see themselves in someone. They can see us and know that if we do it, they can do it too. I hope to show a hard-working spirit that others can look up to as well when going through a tough time.

What does ‘being a global girl group’ mean to you?

Kendall: To us, being a global girl group is such an amazing opportunity. It means that we get to represent our own cultures to inspire those around the world like us. This is important to us because we were all once inspired by figures who represented us when we were younger, so to possibly become that person for someone else, who inspires and proves to them they can do anything they put their mind to, is the biggest honour.

Lastly, what should we look forward to from you and what is your message for your supporters and listeners?  

Camila: You should look forward to great music and great performances coming up soon. We’ll keep working super hard, I hope you enjoy what’s to come. Can’t wait to show it to the world.

Savanna: Thank you to everyone who supports us, it really means a lot. It makes a difference and really motivates us to keep going. I really cannot wait to show everyone what we have in store. Please continue loving us.

KG: Thank you so much for all your love and support. We wouldn’t be here without you. Please look forward to what’s upcoming as we are so excited to share this new journey with you. We’re ready for the world.

All images credit: JYP Entertainment