Le Sserafim draws mixed reviews at Coachella

Le Sserafim perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, April 13. Captured from YouTube

Rookie K-pop group Le Sserafim drew mixed reviews after its performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 13.

Despite displaying some apprehension at the start, the group quickly adapted, delivering intense energy throughout the 40-minute set. The performance sparked both admiration and criticism, particularly within the online forum community known as Reddit.

Le Sserafim performed 10 songs, including hits like “Antifragile,” “Fearless,” and “The Great Mermaid,” and debuted an unreleased track called “1-800-Hot-N-Fun.” A notable highlight was the group’s performance of “Unforgiven,” which featured a guest appearance by famed American guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers, drawing considerable attention. The group expressed joy over the performance, describing it as a dream come true.

Media outlets like Billboard and NME offered positive reviews. Billboard highlighted the performance as one of the day’s standouts, noting that the group kept the crowd dancing throughout the set. NME described the performance as “vigorous and fun,” praising how Le Sserafim made the Sahara stage its own.

Le Sserafim perform tracks from its mini-album ‘EASY’ at the release showcase at Korea University, Feb. 19. Yonhap

However, audience reactions were divided. Some attendees appreciated the overall vibe and production quality of the show, even if the vocals were not perfect. Others, who focused more on the music, found the live vocals lacking.

One concert-goer suggested that the group might benefit from reducing the intensity of its choreography to improve vocal performance, but praised Le Sserafim for performing live without relying on pre-recorded vocals. Another viewer pointed out that while the group’s energy was commendable, the vocal performance was disappointing.

Technical issues were also a concern, with some noting that inconsistent microphone volumes might have impacted the way the group’s vocals were perceived. Despite these technical difficulties, some critics felt that these did not fully account for the vocal shortcomings.

Le Sserafim has faced criticism for its vocal performances since debuting. Last year, their first solo concert stirred controversy with suspicions of lip-syncing among some members.

The group is scheduled to perform again at the same venue on April 20, offering another opportunity to address these criticisms and demonstrate its growth.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.