Pop-Culturalist.com

Introducing VCHA, the groundbreaking global pop supergroup from K-Pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment and Republic Records. Embodying their name, inspired by the Korean term for “shining a light,” the six-piece ensemble illuminates the extraordinary talents of Camila, Lexi, Kendall, KG, Kaylee, and Savanna. With show-stopping choreography and transcendent vocal prowess, the girls are more than ready for the world and have already accumulated millions of streams with their pre-debut project.

Today, the group releases their highly-anticipated debut single, “Girls of the Year.” Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with VCHA about “Girls of the Year,” how they came together as a group, being role models, and the year ahead.

PC: A2K was a truly unique experience designed to challenge each of you as artists. What did you learn about your craft by being a part of that process?
Lexi: I learned so much on this journey, but the most important lesson is to remember that growth takes time. I was impatient with myself, wanting to grow quickly, but I didn’t allow myself the time to grow and simply expected to be able to do everything in such a short period.

Kaylee: I learned so much during the process! I believe throughout the show, I learned to embrace my imperfections and mistakes. Before this, I would point out everything I did wrong and everything I thought was wrong with me, but through this journey, I realized imperfections are the way to grow. Looking back, I’m so thankful I learned this because, without it, I don’t think I would be as happy as I am right now!

Savanna: One of the biggest lessons I learned is that you need to be patient with yourself. In a fast-paced and pressure-filled environment, I wanted to get everything perfect right away. I learned that growth takes time!

PC: What was it about the industry and K-pop that made you want to be a part of VCHA? Has anything surprised you about this journey thus far?
Camila: I’ve always been very passionate about music. Both of my parents were musicians, and they always encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. After discovering K-pop, I fell in love with the music and the style. I knew then that I would love to be a part of it.

Kendall: Before I was introduced to K-pop, I had thought about possible career paths, but I was disappointed that there was nothing that combined singing and dancing in a way that interested me. When I came across K-pop, I was not only excited about the singing and dancing but also the way that fashion and acting were incorporated into the music, feeling almost like a different culture. That really attracted me, and I wanted to become a part of the K-pop community.

KG: For me, I’ve always loved the unique sound of K-pop. It’s different from most Western music, and I liked that. But what surprised me and made me set my mind to pursuing K-pop is the fact that it’s more than just the music. It involves choreography, performing, fashion, and, most importantly, the loyal fans and training system. I don’t like when things come easy; I want to work for it. So, joining JYP Entertainment was my biggest challenge but accomplishment ever.

PC: You’re all triple threats. Is there an aspect of your craft that comes more naturally to each of you? Is there a facet that’s more difficult?
Lexi: I believe that with practice, hard work, and dedication, anything can become natural to you. Personally, I struggle more with the singing aspect. To make up for that, I’ll practice in my own time to hone my skills and improve. There’s always something to work on, so I’m not only focusing on my singing but also on my dancing and performance skills as well!

Kendall: For me, one thing I would consider natural is my ability to emote. I say this because I didn’t even know I had the ability; I just did what felt right and felt the music, be it singing or dancing. So, I never knew I had a “talent” in that regard until it was pointed out to me. One thing I struggled with was the ability to use my chest voice. I was a soprano 1 in the choir and sometimes sang the descant voice part, so I never really had to use my chest voice. That’s why I found it difficult at first to suddenly have to sing completely different songs in a chest voice. However, I believe that determination and hard work are the most important things because if you have the will, you can achieve anything. So, I have worked hard to improve and will continue to do so.

KG: The music side comes more naturally to me because I’ve spent my whole childhood training in it. I play instruments, sing, and also enjoy hobbies of songwriting and music producing. The most difficult part for me was learning how to dance. Before I joined JYP Entertainment, I had never danced before, so I had the pressure of learning in a quick amount of time. But what made me overcome this challenge was fully believing in myself and constantly telling myself, “you can do it.” I’m so happy to have overcome it, and this was the moment I knew anyone can do anything if they want it badly enough.

PC: You’ve got a new song out now. Tell us about “Girls of the Year” and the inspiration behind the song.
Kaylee: “Girls of the Year” showcases the process we went through to get to where we are now. We all work so hard, and we all started off with just a dream. “Girls of the Year” is what we aspired to become, and that’s what we are now!

Savanna: “Girls of the Year” is a song about claiming exactly what the title is—Girls of the Year! It’s what we as a group want to achieve. It’s such an exciting time for us, and the song is our “perfect” debut song.

Camila: “Girls of the Year” represents our journey and our ambitions as a group. We’ve been working so hard to finally be able to show the world our passion. The dream of becoming the Girls of the Year will finally come true. We can’t wait to show you everything that we’ve prepared.

PC: You’re inspiring so many already in your young careers. What has it meant to you to see the fan response to each of you individually and to the group?
Kendall: I feel that the greatest achievement of an artist is to be able to inspire others. Therefore, I am very grateful to everyone who has followed my path and the journey with VCHA. I hope to become someone others look up to with pride and someone who can continue to inspire others. I will continue to become the best person and artist I can be, setting an example for others who want to follow their dreams.

Camila: It’s such a surreal feeling. One of my biggest dreams has been to be a role model to anyone out there with a dream. I’ve always had artists that I look up to, so having people that look up to me means the world, truly.

Lexi: Honestly, I’m so grateful for everyone’s support. It truly makes a difference in our lives and gives me so much light. Our purpose as a group is to come together to shine upon others in the dark! As a kid, I loved having role models to look up to, so that I could be motivated to want to achieve my goals and dreams. We aspire to be a group that people can potentially look up to.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2024, what can fans expect from VCHA?
Savanna: Fans can expect a lot more content and music from VCHA. We have many secrets and activities planned and can’t wait to show the world what we have in store for this year!

KG: In 2024, we have many amazing opportunities planned, but it’s a little secret for now. But one thing I can say is that our fans can expect more performances, and we hope to meet our fans soon as we travel around the world.

Kaylee: Fans can expect so much more to come this following year! It is a secret as of now, but we all hope to blow everyone away with everything we have planned this year!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Camila: I’ve been really interested in Lana Del Rey’s music and songwriting for some time now. She’s been inspiring me a lot to songwrite. I think fans would be surprised since her music has a distinctive style, very different from what I’ve said I listen to in the past. But I really enjoy her music; she’s a great artist!

KG: One band that fans might be surprised to know that’s on my playlist is a little throwback to The Goo Goo Dolls, a rock band from the 1980s. I really love their one song “Iris”. I love to sing it with my guitar.

PC: First album you bought or streamed?
Kendall: The first physical album I ever bought was actually the Oddinary album by Stray Kids.

Savanna: I remember as a kid I had Justin Bieber’s Believe album on repeat. I would play the CD in the car almost every day. I was absolutely obsessed!

PC: First concert you attended?
Kaylee: The first and only concert I have attended is the Stray Kids Dome Tour! I actually attended with the other VCHA members, and I was so grateful for everyone that made it happen! Stray Kids really blew me away with their performance, and I hope to do the same in the future!

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
KG: One album that changed my life was Louder from this band called R5. When I was really young, I thought R5 was so cool because they were a sibling band who played instruments, and I loved watching them rock out on stage together. Their album Louder is the album that inspired me to want to play the guitar and form a sibling band with my brothers just like them. This album changed my life because it inspired the beginning of my music journey.

Kendall: One album that has meant a lot to me is the album Oddinary by Stray Kids. That’s because it was the first physical album I bought and it helped me get more into K-pop and got me to where I am today.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Camila: I would love to perform at Dickies Arena! There’s a story behind why I would choose this venue. Before the Korea portion of the show, A2K, we visited Kendall and her family, and we got to see Stray Kids perform at Dickies Arena! It was such a special moment. It would mean so much to me to go back but this time as a performer!

Lexi: One venue I would love to perform is Dickies Arena. It would be a full-circle moment because some girls from the A2K cast and I came together to watch Stray Kids in concert. We had a blast that night, and we were able to learn more about each other through this fun experience, making us closer!

PC: A must-have on the road?
Kaylee: A must-have for me is definitely my phone and AirPods. I absolutely have to listen to music as I look out the window!

Savanna: An absolute must-have for me is my headphones. It makes time go by much faster on long trips!

To keep up with VCHA, follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Listen to “Girls of the Year” today.

Photo Credit: JYP Entertainment