The Rookie Group LE SSERAFIM Makes Its Mark With a Bold Sound

With their first comeback, ANTIFRAGILE, the girl group continues to carve out their own path.

By Elise Christopher

Debuting under HYBE, one of the biggest entertainment companies in K-pop, and having three members with some clout attached to their names, LE SSERAFIM started with a solid foundation. Then, there was a huge bump in the road: a member facing serious bullying allegations and being removed from the group, turning six girls into five just like that. Nevertheless, their fandom didn’t waver much, and the five members performed as if their debut wasn’t destabilized the slightest bit.

Now, the girls are proving themselves to be “antifragile”, as they have returned stronger than before. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the group’s leader, Chaewon, described the concept of this comeback as “...being confident and proud despite obstacles that come our way.” There’s no chance that this is a coincidence considering what has happened in the past six months—they’re sending a message.

The first self-titled track on the EP, “ANTIFRAGILE'', is so much fun. The reggaeton sound and memorable hook hit you immediately, and the song is full of catchy, “talking” rap lines that are common within this K-pop generation’s girl groups. Even with its distinct LE SSERAFIM vibe—a sleek feel fit for a catwalk—“ANTIFRAGILE'' leans more into the trend of loud, confident concepts that many girl groups have been doing in the past few years. The music video features the girls in colorful styling, their outfits sometimes mismatched, sometimes coordinated—overall, they are vibrant and the members’ self-assured energy oozes out of every frame. The choreography certainly reflects the song: it leaves little room to take a rest, involving both swift and fluid movements, and it’s a pleasure to take in. Their cohesiveness as a whole is illuminated by how synchronized they are—they’re always moving in a coordinated unit. 

What I love about “ANTIFRAGILE” is that it is a title track that truly embraces each member’s talents. Their debut song, “FEARLESS”, felt monotone and undynamic. “ANTIFRAGILE” has a lot more range, with vocalists Chaewon and Yunjin finally showing off both their high and low notes. Specifically, Chaewon's ad-lib in the last chorus comes as a welcome surprise considering the vocal track record established with their debut. Members Sakura, Eunchae, and Kazuha elevate their lines with not only their vocal execution but also the charisma they have while performing. Sakura, who historically pulled off softer and cuter concepts, embodies the song’s fierce quality. Eunchae, the youngest member, especially stood out with this comeback: she had noticeably more lines and she shined with her increased center time.

Looking at the rest of the EP, the B-sides do not disappoint. “Impurities” is my personal favorite: it’s a laid-back, R&B track that perfectly tickles my brain. The lyrics, which can be partially credited to Yunjin, talk about finding power and beauty within one’s true self. It is a little repetitive, but still a nice listen as the girls’ voices take on an almost lulling quality. Yunjin’s vocal agility gets a tiny feature in the very lowkey ad-libs of the song and leaves us wishing she got a chance to flex her talent more often.  Sakura’s vocal tone stood out the most as it matches the song almost perfectly.

“No Celestial” is a straightforward pop-punk song, reminiscent of artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Avril Lavigne. It’s about the members being unafraid to be their normal selves and asserting that they aren’t “angels” or “goddesses”—Yunjin has writing credits on these lyrics as well. The static effect on the girls’ voices in the pre-chorus adds to the more gravelly, rough element of the track. The shouting lines that pop up now and then in the background of the song add a sort of youthfulness and even cuteness to the song. Once again, Chaewon and Yunjin’s vocal talent permeates the track through its strong post-chorus, and Eunchae shows her own vocal capabilities alongside them in the actual chorus.

The final track on the album, “Good parts (when the quality is bad but I am)”, is a satisfying conclusion to the variety of genres showcased in the three tracks preceding it. It’s calm and soft, similar to “Impurities”, but closer to a pop sound than R&B. The beginning piano melody gives it a slight ballad feel, but the tempo picks up as other parts of the instrumental filter in one by one. The song blossoms in the best way and the sweet voices of the girls only add to this as they brighten the song. Yunjin and Sakura both contributed to the writing of this song and its lyrics focus on finding “the good parts” within themselves, maintaining the EP’s theme of self-love.

ANTIFRAGILE leaves me proud and excited for what the future holds for LE SSERAFIM. Rather than sticking with a single sound that has worked, the group branched out, tried something new, and came out on top. There’s no doubt that the girls will continue to flourish moving forward.