LE SSERAFIM is aiming for the global stage with powerful energy and a positive message that transcends fear. With the “BOOMPALA” spirit from their new studio album’s title track, they are set to shake up global fans with a deeper narrative and overwhelming performance.
LE SSERAFIM (Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, Hong Eunchae) held a round interview to celebrate the comeback of their second studio album, ‘PUREFLOW’ pt.1, scheduled for release on May 22 at 1 PM. While Kim Chaewon was unable to attend due to health reasons, the members introduced the title track “BOOMPALA” and other new songs, while sharing the team’s growth story of becoming stronger by overcoming fear.
The title track “BOOMPALA” is an energetic chant used to lift the mood depending on the situation, and it carries the meaning of a spell that helps one regain their inner center. Infusing LE SSERAFIM’s positive energy and free-spirited charm, the song was completed with a bright and pleasant atmosphere that anyone can enjoy and relate to.
“I wanted it to be a song like a festival that people all over the world could enjoy and relate to. That’s why we sampled ‘Macarena.’ Since it’s such a famous song loved globally, I thought people of all ages and generations could enjoy it together. I believe many people live with their own worries and fears, so through this song, I want to share the ‘BOOMPALA spirit’ that delivers positive energy and courage,” Huh Yunjin shared.
The cheerful and addictive rhythm unique to the Latin House genre, combined with a powerful sampling of the global hit “Macarena,” instantly creates a festival-like atmosphere. Added to this are repetitive chants and messages reminiscent of the ‘Heart Sutra,’ providing a unique sense of immersion.
In particular, this song was inspired by the concepts of emptiness and nothingness found in the ‘Heart Sutra.’ It carries LE SSERAFIM’s positive message of fully enjoying the present moment and moving forward, rather than being swayed by formless fear and anxiety.
“I feel like I’m finding inner peace by letting go of useless thoughts or anxieties and continuously chanting ‘BOOMPALA’ like a spell. In a way, we put in the desire to focus more on our current selves and fill up with positive energy, with a mindset similar to meditation,” Kazuha explained.
“The concepts of ’emptiness’ and ‘nothingness,’ which are the core of the ‘Heart Sutra,’ were very impressive. The teaching that all entities exist without a fixed form and that ultimately nothing is permanent felt similar to the message we wanted to express through this album. I’m not sure if I can call it a point of differentiation, but I wanted to convey a mindset where many modern people can let go of the fear or anxiety they feel and comfort themselves,” Huh Yunjin added.
“The world moves so fast, and there are so many difficult or scary moments. In those times, rather than being too anxious, I just want to tell you, ‘Just BOOMPALA it.’ I hope we can give positive energy and a little bit of strength to many people through this song,” Sakura said.
LE SSERAFIM is a team that continues to take on new challenges and attempts in every moment, from music and styling to performance and music videos. Rather than following trends, they reinterpret things with their own sense to create iconic and trendy results, clearly building LE SSERAFIM’s unique narrative and identity in the process.
“We always decide on the message we want to deliver first, and then we think about the genre or concept that fits that message. Because of that, I think we naturally end up showing new attempts and new sides of ourselves. People watching might feel, ‘Oh, they’ve brought something new again!'”
“With our last album ‘Spaghetti,’ there were reactions like ‘What is this?’ at first, but I think it gradually seeped in over time. ‘BOOMPALA’ might also feel unfamiliar or awkward at first, but I’m expecting that many people will eventually ‘BOOM-seep’ into it,” Hong Eunchae shared.
The music video captures the peak of kitsch, maximizing LE SSERAFIM’s playful energy. Through music and dance, the members freely release the stress of daily life and the anxiety of modern people, sublimating it into a bright and cheerful emotion to add to the immersion. In particular, dynamic group choreography on a parade car and surreal elements like a giant statue soaring into the sky complete an overwhelming spectacle, like watching a fantasy festival.
“The core theme of ‘BOOMPALA’ is that fear, when viewed from a different perspective, can be sublimated into laughter or joy. That’s why I wanted to express the final scene of the music video like a festival, featuring people of various ages from all over the world dancing together and laughing. I strongly hoped that through this comeback, many people would play together with the ‘BOOMPALA spirit’ and enjoy life while letting go of some of their fear,” Huh Yunjin explained.
LE SSERAFIM hopes that “BOOMPALA” will deliver positive energy not only through stages and music but also in various moments of real life. It makes one look forward to the song becoming something that anyone can enjoy and be comforted by, from festival sites to modern people exhausted by repetitive daily routines and students worn out by study and competition.
“I hope that during future tour performances, we can have stages where we enjoy singing ‘BOOMPALA’ together with FEARNOT. I also hope there are parts where sing-alongs happen naturally or we can do the choreography together at places like university festivals. I hope it stays in students’ ears so much that it’s called a ‘CSAT-forbidden song’ because it’s too addictive (laughs),” Sakura added.
