What first truly demonstrated LE SSERAFIM’s strong presence in the US music market was “Perfect Night.” The track also did exceptionally well in Korea, topping Melon’s monthly chart with it being a K-pop song with 100% English lyrics. Considering that the only other songs to achieve this feat have been “Dynamite” and “Butter” by BTS, there’s more to this story than just a song that’s found wide appeal in Korea—rather, it’s so popular that, after receiving boosts like its tie-in with the game Overwatch 2, the US music market has turned its attention to the single itself. Consequently, it secured number 159 on Spotify’s weekly US chart, demonstrating its streamability, after which it reached number 19 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, the place for songs that are on the verge of reaching the Hot 100. There’s been the perception lately that K-pop has been transitioning from its traditional makeup of intricate choreography and hard-hitting music to a more laid-back, chill vibe, with girl groups spearheading the evolution, or at least an expansion into greater diversity. This shift seems to have particularly coincided with some successes in the US. So clearly, “Perfect Night” has once again proven that the overlap that has been witnessed in recent achievements in the music world is no mere coincidence.

“EASY,” at first, acts like a summary of “Perfect Night,” but then moves in something of a different direction. With hints of Latin pop and Jersey club, this latest song seems to move beyond merely hip hop to defy categorization altogether. Rather, after their success with “Perfect Night,” it’s become clear that the group—known among other current K-pop girl groups for such striking songs as “FEARLESS,” “ANTIFRAGILE,” “UNFORGIVEN” (feat. Nile Rodgers), and “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s wife”—opted to move in a direction that’s softer and lighter. This doesn’t mean they’ve given up playing with certain genres, especially those that are most trendy nowadays; their use of hip hop was a result of wanting to make a transition while remaining consistent, rather than the other way around, and thus “EASY” might not have the same striking appeal of Latin pop or the persuasive dance-driven power of Jersey club. But still, the emotional arrangement and overall sound of “EASY” gives it potential—like “Perfect Night,” it just takes a bit of time to grow on you.

A similar shift can be seen in their messaging as well. The fearless resilience and disregarding any need for approval from haters that they’ve emphasized since their debut has evolved into a self-assurance that if what they do seems easy, it’s because they make it look that way. But as revealed in interviews with the artists and in their social media, an even more pronounced shift has taken place—toward the decision to put themselves out there despite knowing all too well how cruel the world can be. There’s another trend in K-pop lately, and that’s for artists to break the fourth wall by singing about their own emotions in songs beyond those traditionally dedicated specifically to fans. It’s not always easy for people to relate to the difficulties they face, but “EASY” strikes a careful balance in a complicated world.

In that sense, “EASY” is anything but. In order to be universally accepted, pop music requires more mulling over than you might think. And “EASY,” having done a good job with that, looks like it will continue to do so. Following the Friday release of its English version on February 23, the Korean original debuted on Spotify’s weekly US chart at 117 in its first week. It also began charting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 99. Meanwhile, in Japan, the album performed exceptionally well for a Korean-language release from a K-pop girl group, selling over 100,000 copies and hitting number one. Next up is the stage at Coachella in April, and if this momentum continues, we might get to see a side of LE SSERAFIM this summer that we’ve never seen before.