The global girl group GIRLSET is re-emerging into the spotlight, shedding the controversies of their past to focus on a new chapter defined by raw honesty and musical expression. In a candid interview with Billboard, the members discussed the intense changes they have undergone in two years—more than most groups face in five—and their intentional shift away from previous iterations toward a sound that is uniquely their own.
The group acknowledged that their journey has been fraught with challenges, including headlines surrounding KG’s lawsuit and Kaylee’s health hiatus. The emotional toll was immense, with the controversy hitting hard at some points, including some issues that were unexpected and others that were not recent news to them. They confessed to having "deep intertwined feelings" about everything, given their difficult journey, where they came from, and their relationships with past members.
Crucially, the group relied on each other, finding strength in their ability to communicate how they were feeling. They also found a powerful outlet in their music, writing songs that became "a big way for us to express ourselves" and communicate their story to the world. They feel there is "just too much to be said" to explain everything in conversation, emphasizing that their songs are their way of "kind of saying how we feel". They expressed hope that people will listen to the lyrics and "try to really see our side and how we feel about it".
When asked if they ever considered quitting, the members admitted there were certain moments where they wondered if things would continue, especially with factors they "can't control". However, they ultimately found a sense of purpose within the four of them, feeling this was the "right time" and "moment for us to finally be out there and like share who we are and truly be girl set". This new direction involved "a lot of change not only like internal external like kind of everything went through change". They became "a lot more involved in the creative process" with their label, JYP Entertainment (JP), in an effort to define who they are moving forward.
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Looking back at their starting point in the A2K audition process, one member recalled chasing her dream of being a singer and imagining being in a girl group, which felt like a "far dream" until the opportunity arose. Their initial drive was rooted in their love for the art they create. They were drawn to K-pop for the "performance aspect of it all," appreciating the huge focus placed on dance and singing together, which is always "eye-catching". They acknowledged the training system was hard, but they focused on taking it "day by day" and seeing incremental growth, which was "the most rewarding feeling ever". The group reflected on their past as Vcha, viewing that era as a "learning experience" that was "needed to get to where we are now". They appreciate those moments, but right now, as the four of them, they feel that this iteration "is right in every single way". Their biggest advice to their past selves would be the simple but hard-to-follow instruction: "believing yourself".
GIRLSET is proud to be part of the global conversation around multicultural girl groups, alongside acts like KATSEYE. They feel this diversity is one of the most important things about being a global group, bringing girls with different backgrounds and cultures together to create something special. One member spoke about the importance of being a representative for Latinas, recalling how seeing members from Cuban backgrounds in Fifth Harmony inspired her. They stressed that the conversation should not be about competition, noting that KATSEYE is doing "amazing" work. They hope fans appreciate both groups, viewing the dynamic as "more about that, like let's just be girls like doing our own thing, let's play together".
Musically, the group is defining their new sound with their main track, "Little Miss," which they feel is a "strong introduction to us". The song embraces a "Y2K 2000s sound" and aesthetic, confirming that sonically, they are "not sonically close to K-pop at all anymore". While they take inspiration from K-pop in "performance aspects like dance," their songwriting leans toward Western instincts, drawing inspiration from artists like Ariana Grande and Cat Dolls Flow. Looking ahead, they hope this chapter defines GIRLSET as a “new beginning” and their "introduction". They want to be remembered as a group that speaks about real things and is "raw and realistic and just people with emotions". They promised fans to "experiment so much and explore and so many more memories to create" in the future.
