LE SSERAFIM’s 5th EP ‘Hot’ shows ‘burning’ love in different forms
LE SSERAFIM members (from left) Eunchae, Chaewon, Kazuha, Sakura, and Yunjin in a concept photo for “Hot.” Image: Courtesy of Source Music
For LE SSERAFIM, being fearless has always been at the core of their music. The K-pop girl group—consisting of Chaewon, Sakura, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae—thrives in their strong sense of self which is attributed to their “burning passion” for love, as portrayed in their fifth mini-album “Hot.”
The fifth mini-album is the final installment of LE SSERAFIM’s “Easy,” “Crazy,” and “Hot” trilogy. The three-part project began with “Easy” in February 2024 which talks about braving anxiety and difficult moments while making it seem effortless. It was then followed by “Crazy” six months later, revolving around the willingness to go out of control to reach a desired goal.
Released on Friday, March 14, “Hot” is the final chapter of the three-part series which centers on the “burning passion” to go all out for love. It consists of the following tracks: “Born Fire,” “Hot,” “Come Over,” “Ash,” and “So Cynical (Badum),” with Yunjin, Chaewon, and Eunchae contributing to the lyrics.
“We always told people to be fearless and go on whatever they believe in. This time, we learned a lot of things while doing ‘Easy’ and ‘Crazy,’” Eunchae said during the quintet’s media showcase in Seoul. “‘Hot’ is the epitome and culmination of the experiences we had so far. In this album, we want to show that [there’s nothing wrong with] going all in with your love despite not knowing what the outcome will turn out to be.”
LE SSERAFIM while performing “Hot” during their media showcase. Image: Courtesy of Source Music
The members, who donned flowy ensembles in white and cream in the showcase, reflected their ethereal personas in the title track’s music video. It is a stark contrast to their sleek and polished concept in their debut. But it is an intentional move to show how there’s nothing wrong with having boundless passion to forge ahead despite uncertainty.
“It tells the story of ourselves. It is based on our learnings, experiences, and ideas. While working on the trilogy, I knew the output is out of our hands. We don’t know what the consequences will be and yet, we’ll go all in,” said Yunjin. “If you have people who truly love you, loving yourself and going all in [can still happen]. This is what I learned while working on the trilogy.”
Burning passion
Diving headfirst into the album is what LE SSERAFIM had in mind while working on “Hot.” According to the group’s leader Chaewon, the members were the epitome of “burning fire” throughout the creative process, a trait they always had within themselves since their debut.
Chaewon during LE SSERAFIM’s media showcase for “Hot.” Image: Courtesy of Source Music
“We’re truly like a burning fire because it’s an opportunity for us to showcase a special kind of performance or stage. [For instance], even when there is a time constraint, I remember us putting in all-nighters to prepare for those year-end awards ceremonies,” Chaewon said.
“We have a lot of personal stories infused into ‘Hot,’” she continued. “This album fits the image of our group because regardless of the consequences, I would go all the way for whatever I love. I think it’s spot-on in that sense.”
Touching on the theme of love in “Hot,” Yunjin—who was one of the songwriters in the title track—said its lyrics go beyond romantic love. “I think love comes in different forms. It could be love for your hobby, work, or yourself who is not perfect,” she explained while reiterating the definition of love depends on the person’s state of mind.
Sakura during LE SSERAFIM’s media showcase for “Hot.” Image: Courtesy of Source Music
“You can love yourself even if you’re imperfect. Or to have someone who loves you even if they’re not perfect. Love is very general depending on how you’ll take it. There are different answers to the type of love we’re talking about in this album,” she added.
For LE SSERAFIM, love is defined by their strong bond. “At the top of my mind is our team,” Kazuha said, sharing that “Hot’s” theme is what touched her heart the most out of the trilogy.
“It is something I would love to burn and pour all of my passion into. It is thanks to all of our fans that we can bring music to the world and going into it, I was thinking about my passion and love for the team as well as my wonderful fans,” the former ballerina further explained.
Yunjin during LE SSERAFIM’s media showcase for “Hot.” Image: Courtesy of Source Music
Eunchae echoed the former ballerina’s thoughts, saying, “Every single moment I share with LE SSERAFIM [is love for me]. The five of us coming together as one and creating music that we love, I think that in itself is the message that we want to convey.”
Yunjin, who has the habit of saying “I love you” to her bandmates in their group chat, said the album portrays the beauty of how LE SSERAFIM “loves to live” not only within themselves but also the people around them.
“I think it’s not so much about we live to love but we love to live. I love our team and everyone who gives us so much support. I love what I do and that makes me live on. It gives me the strength to live,” the “jellyfish” singer explained. “That’s where my headspace was. We talked a lot about this within our team and we expressed a lot of our love. In our group chat, we tell each other that we love each other all the time.
Third year
“Hot” comes two months before the group’s third anniversary. Reflecting on their journey, Sakura said being part of LE SSERAFIM played a huge part in her growth as a person and an artist. The quintet marks her third debut after the J-pop group HKT48 and South Korean-Japanese project group IZ*ONE.
Kazuha during LE SSERAFIM’s media showcase for “Hot.” Image: Courtesy of Source Music
“I can’t believe that it’s going to be our third anniversary very soon. Every time we have a new release, I’m so happy that we get to talk about what we have in our hearts and try new genres. I’m so happy that I’m growing as a person and as an artist,” she said.
At some point in her career, Sakura initially believed that results were “really important.” She eventually realized that enjoying the process without expecting anything in return is as equally important.
“I thought that results were really important but as I enjoyed myself as LE SSERAFIM, I realized that it is not the result that matters but the process. You do your best and work hard, and then the results are not for you to decide. The process is for you to decide. If you work hard, you can change the process. While I was working on this album, it really hit home for me. Regardless of the output, the process is very important,” she said.
Eunchae during LE SSERAFIM’s media showcase for “Hot.” Image: Courtesy of Source Music
One of the focal points of the quintet’s music is their performances. This will be shown in their stages on music shows and other related ceremonies with the members showcasing their sharp choreography and commanding stage presence. Kazuha also hoped that it would extend to their upcoming world tour.
“I wanna hear that LE SSERAFIM’s performance is essential to their music. We’re ready to showcase our hot stages and we’re also going to be on our world tour very soon. Now we have more chances to meet our fans across the globe, we’re really going to nail every single performance,” she said.
The quintet will kick off their “Easy Crazy Hot” tour in April, with legs in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and North America.
