GIRLSET, “CHAT”
Linus Johnson
The quartet—Lexi, Camila, Kendall and Savanna—has returned to the Korean music scene with a fresh identity and a bold new single, “CHAT.” After their debut on the 2023 competition series A2K (America2Korea), the group was forged from the intersection of K‑pop training rigor and Western pop sensibility. Now, three years later, they are stepping onto a Seoul stage again, this time as a global girl group, powered by a high‑octane hyperpop track that blends cutting‑edge production with their own creative instincts.
“CHAT” lands with the force of a breakthrough. Co‑produced by Grammy‑winning collective The Stereotypes and co‑written by R&B‑pop hitmaker August Rigo, the song is paired with a vibrant visual directed by Colin Tilley—renowned for work with Little Mix, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar and J Balvin. The track marks GIRLSET’s fourth single ahead of their upcoming debut album, a project whose details the group has deliberately kept under wraps.
“We’re still very early in our journey and there’s so much more we want to explore, create, and show,” says group leader Lexi. The trio’s growing autonomy stems from a partnership that began as a joint venture between Korea’s JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, a first‑of‑its‑kind effort to integrate Western artists into the K‑pop training system.
The collaboration has evolved from a top‑down model into a true partnership. “They really want us to have a lot of input into everything that we do,” Camila notes. Kendall, for her part, initiated the redesign of the GIRLSET logo, submitting a proposal that was adopted. “We push for specific things, but it’s always a conversation,” she says, describing a dynamic that keeps internal disagreements collaborative rather than adversarial.
This evolution is reflected across their releases. “‘Commas’ was a transition song from VCHA into GIRLSET and our new sound,” Savanna explains of the 2025 track that introduced the group’s fresh identity. “‘Little Miss’ is where we really showed a big part of ourselves.” Lexi adds, “With each comeback we’re evolving more and more. Sound‑wise, concept‑wise, I think it just continues to change, show us and we really love that.”
Proximity to the creative process has been pivotal. “It was very important that we were in the studio, writing on songs, adding the harmonies,” Kendall notes, crediting this hands‑on involvement for shaping the group’s signature sound. The result on “CHAT” is the boldest, loudest composition GIRLSET has produced, building on earlier forays into fierce electro‑pop and throwback R&B.
“‘CHAT’ felt especially important to release because it highlights a different side of us,” Lexi says. “It reflects a new sound and vision that we’ve been exploring, and that creative process has been incredibly exciting.”
The accompanying video underscores this sense of agency: it begins with the four members as near‑interchangeable avatars until Camila grabs the camera and turns it like a phone, flipping the perspective to her own handheld view. The visual repeatedly breaks the fourth wall, shifting viewers between dancing alongside GIRLSET and observing behind‑the‑scenes moments. The song’s declarative lyrics reinforce this empowerment: “It’s on me, do you hear me?” Kendall asks on the pre‑chorus, while “You and I, we’re not the same, can you feel me?” asserts their distinct voice.
The track’s creation also showcases the group’s collaborative spirit. In the studio, the women retooled “CHAT” so a belt in the final chorus blossomed into a four‑part harmony. “We edited the high note into a four‑part harmony to add an extra vocal moment to the song,” Kendall explains. They also contributed to choreography arrangements and helped compile visual references for the music video and world‑building, which extends to the fashion for this era. “It’s impossible to describe everything we have taken part of for ‘CHAT’ because I feel so much can overlap in the creative aspect,” she adds, confident fans will learn more about the specifics down the line.
The group’s near‑term focus is their forthcoming album, a project they describe as “a more updated representation of what GIRLSET sounds like…completely raw with the audience about who we are and telling our story through that.” Camila shares, “We’ve been working on it for a long time and have meticulously crafted and written songs that we love for you guys.” Kendall emphasizes their desire to maintain consistency while exploring new ground: “We definitely don’t wanna just jump; we want to be able to still have a consistent sound while exploring new things.”
At the heart of GIRLSET’s dynamic is the deep trust they share. “We do love each other a lot, and we mean a lot to each other,” Lexi says, noting that their visions often align. Savanna adds that the group is “so united” and bound by a “shared drive and passion.” Kendall acknowledges the rarity of such chemistry, stating, “We’re really lucky with each other. With other groups forming, you might just not have the person that you vibe with. We do love each other a lot, so it just works.”
This closeness runs deeper than work. “We are each other’s safe space,” Camila says. “We share the same life, pretty much the same experiences…even sometimes things that family maybe wouldn’t understand because they’re not in this environment or experience. So, having people that know exactly how you’re feeling and why; it’s really amazing, to be honest, and it’s a blessing.” GIRLSET aspires for their music to serve a similar sanctuary for listeners, aiming to “connect with fans, talk about real things, be vulnerable,” Camila explains. Their inspiration includes artists like Ariana Grande, who “makes something maybe painful into something really beautiful and that can help other people.”
Evidence of this ethos appears in a new self‑penned track, “5 Seconds of Fame,” teased at a March radio event. The song delves into the hurt of supporting someone with hidden agendas, hinting at the personal narratives the group intends to share. “‘Five Seconds’ is a song we hold really close to our hearts,” Kendall says. “It was written so that people could relate to it no matter what…something coming directly from our heart.” Camila gently confirms, “When the time is right, then we want to talk about it and dive into it a little more — but it’s not out yet.”
Cultural roots also influence their work. Camila and Savanna wrote the Spanish‑language version of “Tweak,” and the girls aim to weave more languages, instruments, and traditions into their evolving sound. Lexi notes they “see so many different people that are from all of our cultures,” crediting the music with “bringing so many people together.”
For the moment, GIRLSET is back on a Seoul stage, performing music that might never have existed had they not sought greater creative control. Their story continues to unfold, but right now they want fans to enjoy this “CHAT” — an invitation to listen, connect, and be part of their evolving journey.
