The K-pop survival show A2K (America2Korea) has ended, revealing its six finalists: Camila, Kaylee, KG, Kendall, Lexi, and Savanna. This venture saw teenage girls from North America auditioning for a chance to train in Seoul and debut in a global girl group called VCHA. A collaboration between JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, it marks the first American group trained under the rigorous K-pop system.
The girls of @Official_VCHA talk to Teen Vogue about nerves, fans, and more in their first official interview. https://t.co/ZsEfgrPsEd
— Teen Vogue (@TeenVogue) September 22, 2023
VCHA: What’s in a name?
The excitement was palpable during their first official group interview with Teen Vogue. Savanna expressed her eagerness to connect with fans, while Camila reflected on their incredible journey over the past year. Lexi said she can’t wait for people to listen to the music they’ve been working on. To mark their formation, VCHA announced the release of a pre-debut single, “SeVit (NEW LIGHT),” featuring the title track “Y.O.Universe” and other songs from the show.
After the show, the six finalists underwent intensive training at JYP Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul. Eventually, their group received the name VCHA (pronounced vit-chaa). When asked about their reactions to the name, leader Lexi said, “We were really shocked at first. It was unexpected because we were so used to A2K that it just wasn’t something that we thought was going to be our name. But it’s really cool, and the meaning matches us really well.”
Kaylee elaborated on the name’s significance, saying, “VCHA comes from the Korean word ‘비춰’ or ‘bichwo,’ which means ‘to shine the light.’ And the textbook meaning is basically that we’re supposed to inspire. We all have role models or people we want to be like, so we want to inspire and lead the way for people who also see us as role models.”
When asked what they did after the finale, Savanna revealed, “Honestly, we didn’t have that much time [to celebrate] after the members were announced. We went straight into training. But we have been spending a lot of time together, and we’re also next-door neighbors at the hotel. We’ve been bonding. We eat meals together and go on walks.”
VCHA making the “Y.O.Universe” brighter when together☀️https://t.co/QCV1prXOuK
🌌VCHA Pre-Debut Single “SeVit (NEW LIGHT)”
🎼https://t.co/dvL05wizkZ
📺https://t.co/6GGgES7Xbx#VCHA #SeVit #NEWLIGHT #YOUniverse#A2K #America2Korea— VCHA (@Official_VCHA) September 23, 2023
Their ‘A2K’ journey
KG’s love affair with K-pop began after she went to KCON LA, where watching ITZY live inspired her. Meanwhile, Kendall and Lexi got into K-pop because of its distinctiveness. They emphasized its choreography, fan interactions, fashion, and rich culture. “I feel like one of the biggest things in K-pop is the interaction with fans is so much different than in Western music. I feel like in K-pop, there are more personal interactions and more content put out there for fans,” Kendall said.
Reflecting on their A2K journey, Camila said, “I think we can all agree that we learned how capable we are of overcoming hardships because the show was very challenging. There were a lot of intense moments, and at times, it got really hard, but it was really comforting to see that you can do it and that you have your members and your friends to help you throughout the whole process.”
The show emphasized the importance of teamwork. When asked about the challenges of singing and rapping in Korean, the girls revealed that one member was particularly helpful. KG said, “It was fun to be on a team with Kaylee, who is fluent in Korean. I had to try and sing in Korean. She definitely laughed at me sometimes for my pronunciation, but she taught us well.”
In conclusion, Savanna expressed her gratitude for the experience. “Five months ago, I could never have imagined this moment, us sitting down. I never thought I would get here with all of them. We learned so much, and we all just grew so much. I’m happy to say that after all this training and hard work, I guess we can be considered somewhat professional now. At the same time, it was a lot of fun. I would maybe do it again.” – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: The girls are looking to follow in the successful footsteps of JYP Entertainment’s other groups. Source: Teen Vogue.