On the afternoon of the 19th, LE SSERAFIM held a round interview at a cafe in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their second full-length album, ‘PUREFLOW pt.1’. Kim Chaewon was unable to attend the interview as she is currently taking a break to recover from throat pain following medical advice. Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae participated in the interview.
For LE SSERAFIM, whose name is an anagram of “IM FEARLESS,” “fear” has been a consistent theme since their debut. While last month’s pre-release track ‘CELEBRATION’ celebrates building inner strength, the title track ‘Boombala’ depicts the moment of moving forward using that strength. Source Music shared that the song conveys the perspective that fear is not an absolute emotion but something that can be easily overcome depending on one’s mindset.
Sakura shared, “If ‘Fearless’ was about being strong because we had no fear, I think this album opens a new chapter where we are strong because we now know fear, conveying a change in attitude toward it.” She added that fear isn’t necessarily negative, explaining, “I think fear is an emotion you feel when taking on a new challenge or starting something new, so we put feelings of courage into the album.”
“While preparing for this album, I became certain that ‘fear is evidence of love,'” Huh Yunjin opened up. “Don’t we all feel fear in human relationships? Moments where you wonder, ‘Am I the only one feeling this?’ ‘Am I the only one being sincere?’ ‘What if this person doesn’t feel the same way?’ I realized those moments aren’t just negative.”
She further added, “I realized it actually means I value and love that person that much, and I think the members and I became closer through that process. I also felt that if I have fear about the future, it’s because there are things inside me that I truly want to achieve.”
The title track ‘Boombala,’ based on the Latin House genre, is highly addictive as it samples the global hit ‘Macarena.’ ‘Boombala’ serves as both a cheer to raise the mood and a spell to regain peace of mind.
Except for Sakura, born in 1998, all LE SSERAFIM members were born after 2000. Although they might have been too young during the original ‘Macarena’ craze, all members were already familiar with the song. When asked about the prominent sampling, Huh Yunjin replied, “We wanted to create a song that felt like an exciting and joyful festival to match the message of ‘Boombala,’ and the Latin genre fit perfectly. Since the genres are similar, the rhythms might feel similar.”
Describing ‘Boombala’ as a song they wanted the whole world to enjoy and relate to like a real festival, Huh Yunjin noted, “Since ‘Macarena’ is such a globally famous song, I think it’s closer to a track that everyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy.” She also introduced the “Boombala Spirit,” explaining that the theme of the song is that fear can be nothing more than an illusion depending on your perspective.
The members agreed that the ‘Macarena’ sample played a huge role in enhancing the song’s charm. Hong Eunchae recalled, “At first, ‘Boombala’ had a more serious and deep vibe. Even then, it felt new and I imagined how we’d look on stage, but once the ‘Macarena’ sample was added, I think we all felt, ‘Wow, this is it!'”
When asked about potential reactions that the song might be “difficult” to grasp, Hong Eunchae replied, “Since we always decide on the message first and then match it to the genre or concept that expresses it best, we tend to try many new things. Many people react by saying, ‘LE SSERAFIM has brought something new again.’ With ‘SPAGHETTI’ (feat. j-hope), we also felt it was a big challenge. At first, people were like, ‘Wait, what is this?’ but then they gradually got into it and loved it.”
The music video also fully embraces the festival atmosphere. Huh Yunjin explained, “The theme of ‘Boombala’ is that if you look at fear from a different perspective, you can sublimate it into laughter and joy. The music video ends with a scene where people of various ages from all over the world gather to dance and laugh together.” She added that her hope for this comeback is for many people worldwide to dance together, embrace the ‘Boombala Spirit,’ let go of their fears, and enjoy life.
‘Boombala’ features English lyrics, though it was originally in Spanish. Kazuha mentioned, “I thought Spanish had its own charm, but I think English is the language that brings out the charm of this song the best.” Huh Yunjin also added, “After reviewing the lyrics, we chose English because we felt it was the language that best preserved the message.”
Throughout the interview, LE SSERAFIM mentioned the “Boombala Spirit” several times, even predicting that fans would “Boom-myeo-deulm” (get absorbed into ‘Boombala’) due to the song’s addictiveness. When asked about the most “absorbable” point, Sakura replied, “For me, it’s the part where ‘Boombala’ is repeated. It’s so addictive that I hope it sticks in people’s ears like a ‘song banned during the CSAT’ (earworm).”
Huh Yunjin explained, “There’s a lyric that says, ‘Since nothing is eternal, fear isn’t eternal either.’ I think that really represents LE SSERAFIM’s mindset and our current attitude toward fear, so it feels positive. Thinking that during hard times can bring peace of mind. I think it will feel like a mantra or a spell when people hear it at concerts or sing along. The point is that it can give positive energy.”
When asked if they were moving away from the “Dokki” (grit/determination) they had emphasized in previous songs and albums, the members burst into laughter. Kazuha replied, “I think ‘CELEBRATION’ and ‘Boombala’ show a reverse charm. Like ‘Fearless 2.0’? ‘Boombala’ is cheerful, but I think both are our colors. Both charms are part of who we are.”
Huh Yunjin added, “Grit isn’t always sharp or aggressive, right? It can be a quiet, personal conviction, or even the grit to hold your ground and move slowly in a world that’s moving too fast. We believe there is definitely a different kind of grit—a different form of determination—in the way we handle fear in ‘Boombala’.”
Huh Yunjin also shared, “Rather than a change in direction, I think our spectrum of what we can do has widened. While touring, we discovered—and the company and many others discovered—that we have a very positive and cheerful side. We showed that through ‘SPAGHETTI,’ and I think a new circle has been created in the intersection of what makes LE SSERAFIM.”
With Kim Chaewon resting due to her injury, the ‘Boombala’ promotions will be carried out by four members. Hong Eunchae expressed her sadness, saying, “Since it’s a full album, all five of us put in so much effort and affection to prepare this work, so it’s a shame she can’t be with us. I think it’s our job to fill her absence well.” She continued, “I think of this as a temporary recovery time so she can join us quickly. We will work hard to spread the ‘Boombala Spirit’ to many people.”
When asked if they feel they’ve achieved everything they wanted as LE SSERAFIM, Hong Eunchae immediately answered, “No!” She added, “Every time we release an album, we definitely wonder, ‘What story can we tell next? Is there something left to say?’ As we promote, new things we want to say emerge, and things change. We’re still delivering messages through albums, and while I’m already thinking about what to say next, I think more ideas will come during ‘Boombala’ promotions. We’re quite greedy!”
Huh Yunjin opened with, “I think finding one’s own color is a lifelong task for any artist.” She continued, “No matter how much time passes, what is the color that will always be ours… what is ‘LE SSERAFIM-like’? I think it’s important to keep creating things that are true to LE SSERAFIM.” She also expressed her hope to re-enter the Billboard charts through this album and achieve a career high.
