March has reached its halfway point and with it, the K-Pop industry has seen a wide variety of music releases that have taken over playlists everywhere. From the solo debut of ITZY's YeJi to BLACKPINK Jennie's first studio album, as well as BTS j-hope's 'Sweet Dreams', there's been no drought of amazing releases. There was also the release of LE SSERAFIM's newest album, "HOT" which has been garnering attention from fans and critics alike.

The Source Music girl group has been pushing forward at lightning speed, reflected by their meteoric rise to the top and high-paced title tracks. However, we see a noticeable shift in tempo this time around for 'HOT'. Coming into their third year as a group and considering what they've accomplished so far, many eyes are on LE SSERAFIM to see if they can remain as a top girl group of their generation.

 

Overcoming Adversity & Critiques

LE SSERAFIM Make A "HOT" Comeback - What It Means For Their Growth And Artistic Direction

Cosmopolitan

At the start of 2024, LE SSERAFIM were on an upswing, coming off of the success of 'Perfect Night' and 3rd mini album "EASY". They were reaching worldwide acclaim and with an appearance at renowned music festival, Coachella, their trajectory was projected to go even higher. However, following their Coachella performance, the group was met with a barrage of criticism over their singing capabilities. Netizens across the globe were relentless in their critiques, especially due to the fact that performing at Coachella is still such a big deal for K-Pop acts. It was rough period for the girl group and the fandom, as their reputation and popularity saw a significant change.

Regardless of the setbacks, LE SSERAFIM powered through and took every opportunity to showcase their talent and skills. Their following mini album, "CRAZY" did numbers, and their title track of the same name won several awards from local music shows. They were also applauded for their various award ceremony performances which included everything from the VMAs and EMAs to the likes of SBS Gayo Daejeon and Golden Disc Awards. Through these stages, the girl group brought the energy and had audiences mesmerized from beginning to end. The various remixes, small changes in choreography, and overflowing charisma won over countless people's support.

Despite going through a tumultuous period in 2024, the girl group never lost sight on their dream as an idol group. They never gave up and showed resilience in every moment. And the fans came out in full force all year long to show LE SSERAFIM that the good certainly outweighs the bad.