JYP Entertainment, Republic Records announce U.S. girl group VCHA

Global girl group VCHA [JYP ENTERTAINMENT]

JYP Entertainment and U.S. music giant Republic Records have teamed up to form a new girl group called VCHA.

VCHA is the result of "A2K," or America2Korea, a girl group audition program run jointly by the two agencies. The episodes of A2K were posted on JYP's official YouTube channel from July 14 to Sept. 22. The project to start a U.S.-based girl group was operated using the same K-pop training system that has produced JYP Entertainment's famed groups such as Twice and ITZY.

VCHA members consist of the six finalists from A2K, which are Lexi, Camila, Savanna, Kendall, KG and Kaylee, who are all from the United States.

“The band’s name was created by Park Jin-young himself, a singer and producer at JYP Entertainment, meaning to shine light on the world and fans,” the agency said in a press release.

The newly introduced girl group dropped its pre-debut single "SeVit" with the lead track titled "Y.O.Universe" on Sept. 22. The group's official debut date has not yet been decided.

“SeVit,” which when pronounced in Korean means "new light," is a three-track compilation with the lead track and two other songs that the members performed during the "A2K" show.

“Y.O.Universe,” the lead track, is an upbeat pop song that sends the message that “everyone is special because they are different.”

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]