Group LE SSERAFIM member Kim Chaewon has temporarily suspended activities, and they spoke about the performance.
LE SSERAFIM (Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Heo Yunjin, Kazuha, Hong Eunchae) will release all tracks from their second full-length album "PUREFLOW" pt.1 and the music video for the title track "BOOMPALA(붐팔라)" on various online music sites at 1 p.m. on the 22nd.
"PUREFLOW" pt.1 is an album that captures the changes and growth that came from learning about fear, and it is the group's second full-length album, released about three years after their first full-length album "UNFORGIVEN," which came out in 2023. Having debuted in the music scene with the song "FEARLESS," which means "no fear," they now want to convey a new message that "knowing fear allowed us to become stronger."
The new album title "PUREFLOW" was inspired by the line "For I am fearless, and therefore powerful" from the classic novel "Frankenstein," and while preparing the second full-length album they sought to return to their beginnings and conceived "FEARLESS 2.0," the next stage of the debut-era team symbol "FEARLESS." In that process, the sentence reinterpreted from the original through LE SSERAFIM's perspective, "FOR WE ARE NOT FEARLESS, AND THEREFORE POWERFUL" (we are not people without fear. therefore, we are rather strong), was born. That became the theme of the new release.
Having gone through various experiences and moments of shaking and facing fear, LE SSERAFIM did not avoid or deny it but rather used it as a stepping stone for change and growth, and they put the emotions and thoughts felt in that process into "PUREFLOW" pt.1.
The title track "BOOMPALA" is, like the album title, a word not registered in dictionaries, and it is an upbeat song based on the Latin house genre that listeners can enjoy. In particular, it samples the globally beloved song "Macarena," giving it strong addictiveness and familiarity, and teaser videos released so far have drawn attention for including Buddhist elements.
"I grew up in the U.S. listening to 'Macarena' since I was little. I never expected to encounter 'Macarena' like this after coming to Korea and working as an idol. Because 'Macarena' is a song that transcends cultures and generations, I think it's a song that connects everyone, so I'm very excited." (Heo Yunjin)
"On this album we ended up talking about fear. My attitude toward fear now is different from before. Now I realize that accepting and confronting fear can make you stronger. So when I unpacked it musically, I felt it was similar to the core proposition of the Heart Sutra. I was naturally influenced by those elements, and I actually wove them into the lyrics." (Heo Yunjin)
"I thought a lot about what could be felt and expressed well. This time, depending on perspective, fear might not be a big deal; it might be an illusion. The lack of a concrete substance of emotion is a central point of Buddhism and the Heart Sutra, so it naturally came through in the expression." (Heo Yunjin)
The performance is also a point. During lead single "CELEBRATION" promotions, LE SSERAFIM drew attention with a headbanging choreography that raised fans' concerns for being too intense. It's intriguing what kind of performance will appear for "BOOMPALA."
"During 'Celebration' we headbanged so intensely that fans worried a lot, and we could understand that. But even before the choreography was created, just listening to the song, the performance director and we talked about whether we should 'happily headbang.' When the choreography actually featured headbanging, I thought it was choreography that expressed the song well, so I liked it. It felt exhilarating on stage, and I think it's a different charm from 'BOOMPALA.'" (Hong Eunchae)
"There is a famous dance for 'Macarena.' Since we incorporated it directly into the performance, anyone will be able to follow along. I hope many people enjoy this promotion as well." (Kazuha)
"What 'Celebration' and 'Boompala' have in common is that there are parts everyone can copy. So I think the appeal is that at performances everyone can become one and enjoy it together. If 'Celebration' is headbanging, 'Boompala' features 'Macarena' as the point choreography, so I think people of all ages can enjoy it. (Heo Yunjin)
[OSEN]