Album Review: Easy by Le Sserafim
For Le Sserafim, their way to the top hasn’t been easy, but the quintet manages to shake off everything that comes in their path nd their newest release Easy is a celebration of this.
Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae are back with a new album filled with a number of genre exploring hits that cement them as one of the most unique acts in the K-pop scene.
Their past releases including “Antifragile,’ ‘Unforgiven,’ and ‘Perfect Night‘ (which served as a promotional single for Overwatch 2), were only a piece to what makes Le Sserafim a fierce act, but Easy sees them at their best.
Credit: Le Sserafim
The title track of the same name was released last week following a huge buzz that circulated amongst the teaser trailers. The initial trailer, which features ‘Good Bones,’ sees the girls strutting down different areas including a street, an undisclosed alley, and a hallway. There’s an apparent supernatural feel to it as member Sakura shoots lasers out of her eyes and member Kazuha graces burned angel wings on her back. The song itself calls out those who spew anger and jealousy especially in the eyes of another’s success. ‘Good Bones’ contains lines in the member’s native languages of English, Korean, and Japanese.
“When things aren’t easy, I will make them easy,” Kuzuha and Huh Yunjin sing.
It’s an acknowledgement that adversity isn’t an obstacle to the group, but rather a challenge they pass with ease.
‘Easy,’ the title song, makes for the perfect transition from ‘Good Bones.’ The hi-fi trap R&B record is a new territory for the group sonically. With a snarling brass beat and dreamy vocal accompaniment, the girls present a nonchalant attitude when it comes to spite and jealousy. For the girl group, their songs continue to display confidence in themselves, each other, and their message. It’s this message that continues to resonate with their fans, ‘Fearnot.’
Credit: Le Sserafim
Kazuha told Teen Vogue,
“We have always sung very strong, confident, self-assured types of songs, but even those people who are really self-confident have their own vulnerabilities. They can be weak sometimes. They’re not always confident. I think that happens to everybody. We wanted to show a very candid, down-to-earth side of us, showing fans that we are also ones who do have vulnerabilities and we do feel weak sometimes. I think when we show them our vulnerabilities, we can connect more with the fans.”
As Le Sserafim rises in popularity so do their accomplishments. The group has exceeded over five million album sales and will play Coachella in the Spring making them the second Korean girl group to be an official act at the festival. But how did they get to this point after only a year and a half in the industry? Innovation.
With every comeback, the group continues to reinvent themselves by touching upon sounds that aren’t quite mainstream in the Korean pop scene. ‘Smart,’ for example, sees captivating Amapiano and Afrobeat beats at its forefront. The song’s theme of strength and intensity is beautifully matched with the daring choreography. Even though the song is simply a B-side, given how much attention it’s received recently, it will undoubtedly become their next big success.
Credit: Le Sserafim
‘Swan Song’ is an awe-inspiring R&B ballad of a Black Swan who channels their mistreatment into music a reflection of the group’s persona. And that’s another great aspect of Le Sserafim’s allure. Their songs are all well-balanced to a central theme and storyline. Easy is a riveting album from beginning to end as each song flows into the next seamlessly.
The final track, ‘We Got So Much,’ provides a fitting end to the album as it signifies the gratitude the group has for their fans. In fact, Yunjin and Eunchae took part in crafting the song’s lyrics. The group’s parting message from the album is that they refuse to accept misfortune as they know their fans are there to lift their spirits.
Easy is not just about having an inner resilience; there’s an exterior resilience that community may offer. Le Sserafim has forged a unique community both with their fans and within their group dynamic. And that community is really the centerpiece of this remarkable album.
Easy is available now on all streaming platforms.
Keep up with the group on social media.
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