In September 2022, numerous young women from the United States and Canada participated in auditions for a reality singing show. These aspiring singers, aged between 12 and 17, came from diverse backgrounds and talents. Ultimately, only six of them would become part of a unique American girl group with a K-pop influence. Meet Lexi, Camila, Kendall, Savanna, KG, and Kaylee, the winners of A2K, a star search program hosted by Republic Records and JYP Entertainment. The competition aimed to create a Los Angeles-based girl group that followed K-pop principles. VCHA, derived from the Korean word 비춰 (bit-chwo), meaning “shine” or “illuminate,” was chosen as the group’s name, symbolizing their hope to join the legacy of successful JYP-produced girl groups.
Camila, speaking over a morning Zoom call from Seoul, noted the incredible aspect of VCHA being the background diversity of its members. She believes that their representation provides hope for others who aspire to become K-pop artists. Lexi, the group’s leader, is of Hmong descent and trained in ballet. Camila, the sole Canadian member from Quebec, comes from a musically inclined Cuban family. Kendall, with Vietnamese heritage, hails from Texas. Savanna, who grew up in Florida, is of Venezuelan and Trinbagonian descent and was a former professional gymnast. KG, an LA native, grew up playing guitar in a family band and may become the first white K-pop star under a major South Korean label. Kaylee, the only member of Korean descent, grew up practicing taekwondo and aspiring for stardom.
VCHA represents a cross-cultural attempt to combine the success of K-pop with the US music industry and create a thriving American girl group. The US has not witnessed the success of an all-American girl group since Fifth Harmony. While K-pop has seen prominent groups like BLACKPINK, TWICE, and NewJeans, and British groups like Little Mix and FLO have made their mark, American girl groups have been largely absent. JYP and Republic Records are looking to change this trend. With VCHA emerging from the K-pop system and situated in mainstream pop, there is optimism for their success.
The members of VCHA grew up with K-pop as their inspiration rather than American girl groups. KG was especially influenced by watching ITZY perform at KCON. Kaylee listened to JYP-born groups like Miss A and 2PM with her mother and admired TWICE. Lexi’s interest in contemporary dance led her to discover K-pop and aspire to be an idol.
After the broadcast of A2K’s finale, VCHA promoted their debut single “Y.O. Universe” on South Korean music shows. While they continue to train at JYP’s headquarters in Seoul, their official debut is expected in 2024. They dedicate hours each day to honing their vocal and dance skills to meet the high standards of K-pop. Although the show depicted their training efforts, much of it was not shown.
At present, VCHA and their teams are exploring their musical identity. The songs on their album SeVit were not specifically created for the six winners but are representative of their journey from the show to their first public performance. Future music will shape their sound and concept as a new group.
Throughout their training, VCHA had to remain incognito in Seoul as fans eagerly anticipated the show’s outcome. Despite the challenges, the girls stayed confident and worked hard to reach a professional level. With VCHA, JYP is delving into unfamiliar territory, knowing that good music and active promotion will be crucial for their success. They plan to interact with fans in various ways, not limited to social media, and are eager to perform live when the opportunity arises.
VCHA acknowledges the nervousness of being the first of their kind to enter the music industry. They understand that their debut is new and may be met with varying reactions. Nevertheless, they hope to make a significant impact with their music and pave the way for future American girl groups.
