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Over the past few years, the music industry has evolved immensely. It has become a more accessible space allowing for the nurturing, and growth of new talent globally. Social platforms such as TikTok have allowed emerging artists to share their music more easily with the world, thereby catapulting their rise to fame.
In a world, where everyone seems to be dipping their fingers into the creative pie, it often gets difficult to keep up with all the new artists, and we miss out on getting to know some really cool artists. But, fear you not, The Teen Magazine has got you covered!
The Teen Magazine recently had the pleasure of sitting down with VCHA, a group of six musically gifted individuals bound together by their love of sound.
Photo by JYP Entertainment
(Top row, left to right: Lexi, Camila, Kendall; Front row, left to right: KG, Savanna, Kaylee)
VCHA, the rising sensation in the K-pop realm, has been capturing hearts worldwide with infectious melodies and authentic personalities. As they gear up for their opening act for TWICE in Las Vegas, we talked about their journey, inspirations, and dynamics in the beloved world of K-pop.
VCHA began with an ambitious goal envisioned by JYP founder J.Y. Park and Republic Records founder Monte Lipman. This daring ambition gave birth to the concept of the A2K competition, which was formed with the purpose of developing the "first American artist" from the K-pop industry.
A2K was a phenomenal success with numerous people entering and auditioning to be a part of the show. However, only 11 applicants were successful, and this 11 included VCHA members: Lexi, Camila, Kendall, Savanna, KG, and Kaylee. A2K cultivated the K-pop sensation which is now redefining the K-pop genre as we know it. When we asked about the influence of A2K on the group's musical identity, this is what Savanna had to say:
âI think A2K very well showed how each one of us came in as regular teens, and overcame many challenges throughout the journey. This experience definitely shaped us into who we are today, and we kept that hardworking, humble attitude into VCHA as well. I think that represents our identity coming from the experience we had throughout A2K.â
Throughout A2K, VCHA embarked on a whirlwind journey encompassing dance, and vocal training, numerous assessments and evaluations. No more than four months after their formation, they reached No. 1 on Billboardâs Hot Trending Songs Chart and a No. 1 spot on YouTubeâs Trending Worldwide music videos with their smash hit, âY.O.Universeâ. Their other song, âGirls of the Yearâ gained massive attention and accumulated nearly 5 million views in less than a week!
To be able to create such a solid and supportive fanbase in such a short span of time is incredible. So, naturally we had to ask about how they feel about the overwhelming amount of love received from their fans.
Lexi was more than happy to share with us, âI feel so grateful to everyone who showed so much love for our debut single! You never know what to expect, but I knew that I could count on our VLIGHTS to be the best fans in the world! Iâm super happy with the result, and Iâm glad everyone enjoyed it as well.
Photo by JYP Entertainment
For those who may not know, as with every Korean music group, their fans have a nickname. BTS has the Army, BlackPink has the Blinks, and VCHA has the VLIGHTS.
The VLIGHTS have often been described as a huge support for the group, and have helped to make the road to fame a bit smoother for the team."Their love for us motivates us to want to work harder, so we donât disappoint them! Without VLIGHTS we could not get this far", Camila stated adoringly.
As we all know, the transition from ordinary teen to super-star can often have different impacts on different creatives. Many often mold themselves into an idealized version of their interpretation of a Hollywood star, and lose themselves along the way. However, this girl group has remained grounded, humble, and authentic.
They have focused merely on the music. Their energetic and calm personas continue to shine through as they find their way to the top.
They're still the same group of girls who jumped and danced in the rain with big smiles as they shot the music video for âY.O.Universeâ and laughed hilariously at any and everything. VCHA has this energy and aura about them that you can't help but love.
Photo by JYP Entertainment
This is substantiated by their thousands of followers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. With such a huge reach, we were curious to know how the group was able to handle all the sudden pressure to become role models for numerous people globally, and how they always managed to create balanced content for their culturally inclusive and varied audience.
Kendall stated, âI think as a global girl group, one of the most important aspects that we want to showcase is our differences. I believe music gathers us and brings us together, and it shows that no matter where youâre from you can always come together and do something great!â
Their diversity also adds to their charm. VCHA is comprised of talented individuals who each have a different story to tell in their own way, which is brought together by their music. Instead of letting their differences fade into the background, they âcelebrate togetherness,â strengthening their bonds.
Photo by JYP Entertainment
The world of K-pop is undeniably competitive, with numerous talents reaching for limited spots in the top agencies. In K-pop, talent can only take you so far. It would help if you had an excellent PR team that was well-versed in timing, branding, and strategic marketing to reach the top.
Hopeful artists in this aspect of music undergo years of rigorous training and are very dedicated. However, the pressure doesn't let off even after a successful debut. It remains high, with groups constantly aiming to be different from the last to stand out in a saturated market. The industry is fast-paced; therefore, quick and creative thinking is expected. Despite the demands, fame's glitz and glam continue attracting aspiring artists to this industry.
VCHA's defining characteristic is that they "all come from different backgrounds and cultures." By recognizing their strengths, they've achieved immeasurable success within a short time and looked absolutely stunning doing it. This is what Camila had to say:
âWe want to keep our future projects as a surprise but I can give you a little hint. Youâll be seeing a different side of VCHA in the near future! Stay tuned for the future and what's to come!â
That left us on the edge of our seats!
But we do have some exclusive news.
Firstly, VCHA will open for TWICE during their one-night-only encore performance- âReady To Beâ- at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on March 16th. Get your tickets now!
Secondly, the group's new single âOnly Oneâ has just been released on all streaming platforms! Click here to stream now.
Photo by JYP Entertainment
FUN QUESTIONS WITH VCHA
Here are 10 fun and quick questions for VCHA:
1. What's the most memorable fan encounter you've had so far?
Savanna: For me, I would say when we were flying from Mexico to Brazil while touring with TWICE. While in the airport, we met so many ONCEs and VLIGHTS that were at the concerts in Mexico. Everyone was coming up to us all throughout the airport, and it was so unexpected! Everyone was so kind, and the encounters made my heart so full.
2. If you could swap lives with another member for a day, who would it be and why?
KG: I would want to swap lives with Camila because she is tall and I think it would be cool to see people and life from a different perspective.
3. What's the funniest or most embarrassing moment you've experienced on stage together?
Camila: The first moment that came to my mind was during our performance as an opening act for our senior group TWICE in Brazil. We were overly excited and some of us, including me, forgot a little bit of the speech we had prepared. It was a really cute moment!
4. Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions as a group?
Lexi: I wouldnât necessarily find this fascinating, but we do vocal warmups all together and do a little cheer before we get up on stage! It sounds a little like this: â1,2,3, VCHAA!â
5. If VCHA were to star in a movie, what genre would it be and who would play each member?
Kendall: If VCHA were to star in a movie, it is likely to be a comedy movie. I say that to express my belief that we are a humorous group. It would be something like a family comedy where we all acted as family members, but the jokes are so cheesy that they become funny, that would be fun to film.
6. What's the weirdest or most unexpected talent that one of your group members has?
KG: The weirdest and most unexpected talent that a group member has is Lexiâs imitation of the character Stitch, itâs really cute.
7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would you use it on tour?
Camila: My answer is going to be a little bit unusual but I would love to have the powers of the Avatar. Being able to bend water, fire, earth, and air would be the coolest experience ever! I would maybe use it during a dance break, to give it special effects!
8. What's your go-to karaoke song when you're not performing your own hits?
Savanna: Recently my go-to song has been âGood enoughâ By Xdinary Heroes! Singing it is so fun and has actually been one of the songs Iâve been practicing on the side of VCHA activities.
9. If VCHA had a mascot, what would it be and why?
Kendall: In my opinion, if VCHA had a mascot, it would look like a star. It would be a star redesigned to be more 'VCHA' not a regular one. I believe that a star character would be the perfect fit for our group's vibe and could truly reflect us and our VLIGHTS.
10. Whatâs the most adventurous thing VCHA has done as a group?
Lexi: The most adventurous thing VCHA has done is travel the world to achieve their dreams! Weâve gone to Mexico and Brazil to be the opening act for TWICE, and it was just awesome.