LDH Japan
SWEET REVENGE is a sensational new multi-ethnic J-pop girl group making waves in the global music scene. This dynamic trio, composed of ASAMI from Japan, AGNES, who is Dutch and West African, and LARISSA, a native of the Netherlands, is redefining the pop genre with their unique blend of cultures and talents. They came together through the rigorous “Global Vocal Battle Auditions,” a worldwide search orchestrated by the renowned Japanese entertainment powerhouse LDH JAPAN. Now, they’re on a trajectory that seems unstoppable.
The group’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. During auditions, their standout vocal and dance performances caught the eye of one of the international judges, world-renowned GRAMMY award-winning producer AFROJACK. His endorsement set the stage for SWEET REVENGE to embark on their musical journey, channeling their distinct identity that balances sweetness with a fierce femme fatale energy. This unique blend is powerfully showcased in their debut single, “Might Just,” released on June 21st, accompanied by a visually stunning music video inspired by Y2K.
You can watch the music video for “Might Just” here. The video has already amassed over 1.6 million views, an impressive feat attesting to the catchiness of their tunes. The video is an obvious testament to their artistic vision and impact on the global stage.
The formation of SWEET REVENGE is a story of talent, perseverance, and cultural fusion. ASAMI, AGNES, and LARISSA each bring their unique backgrounds and strengths to the group, creating a powerful synergy that sets them apart from other pop acts. Their ability to seamlessly blend different cultural influences into their music and performances is reminiscent of the superstars in BLACKPINK, yet SWEET REVENGE carves out their own distinct niche in the pop landscape.
Their debut single, “Might Just,” is a high-energy anthem that perfectly captures the essence of SWEET REVENGE. The song’s infectious beat and the trio’s powerful vocals and charismatic presence make it an instant hit. With its vibrant visuals and captivating choreography, the music video further solidifies their place as a group to watch.
The early success of SWEET REVENGE is a clear indication that they are on the path to becoming global icons. Their story of coming together from different parts of the world to form a cohesive and powerful group is inspiring to fans everywhere.
SWEET REVENGE is not just a pop group; they’re a force that’s igniting a fiery movement. Their blend of diverse cultures, powerful performances, and engaging personalities make them a standout act in the music industry. As they continue to rise, SWEET REVENGE is set to leave an indelible mark on the global music scene, inspiring fans and aspiring artists alike. Keep an eye on their rise to fame by giving them a follow today!
Q: Hi SWEET REVENGE! Congratulations on your debut single! We have been following you and are excited about your new song! What can you tell us about the group name and concept?
AGNES: So, we’re called SWEET REVENGE for a reason… I think that when you meet us, you’ll (hopefully) see three sweet girls, but beyond the sweetness also lies a very tough, savage side you don’t want to mess with, and if you do, well, you can expect some SWEET REVENGE coming your way.
ASAMI: Our name was decided by our company boss HIRO-san. I loved the name from the beginning, but with Covid and all the struggles we had in our six years of training, there were so many “revenges” as a group. But I also believe we are all warm, kind, and sweet people, so the name grew on us, too. SWEET REVENGE is a perfect name for us!
LARISSA: Thank you so much! We are a very international group. All three of us are very different and come from different places in the world. We brought all of that together and trained in Japan, Holland, and LA. Our music represents who we have become these past six years and the places we’ve experienced together!
Q: For those who are not familiar with your journey, you were all discovered during a global audition process. Were you nervous about auditioning in front of global superstars like AFROJACK and VERBAL?
AGNES: I am always nervous when I have to perform, but I always remind myself that it only means I care. During the audition, I definitely cared a lot because I saw such a great opportunity that I didn’t want to mess up. VERBAL is such an amazing artist and creative director; I look up to him in many ways, so I felt truly honored to have the opportunity to audition for him, and it’s been amazing working with him ever since!
ASAMI: Yes! I was very nervous, but I think that more than auditioning in front of the incredible judges, I was more nervous about talking to the other competitors in the audition. They were also mostly Dutch, so when I first heard them speak, I was scared, but they all spoke English, so after some time, we got to bond more! But it was also my first time being in a boot camp with girls from abroad that I didn’t know, so I was very nervous about that!
LARISSA: It was actually my very first audition… So yes, I was super nervous; my voice was shaking through the entire 30 seconds. I never expected to be here today, but my biggest dream was to become an artist!
Q: Why do you think “Might Just” is the record to debut with? How does it embody you as an artist?
AGNES: “Might Just” is so fun and catchy but also very groovy and cool. When you hear it, you just want to get up and dance! We love that this is our first song because it carries so much energy we want to spread out into the world!
ASAMI: It’s very bright and pop, but if you listen to the lyrics, it’s very teasing and boss lady-like, and I think the contrast is very interesting! And for our first song, I think it fits our name!! “Might Just” is also a very dancy song. As you might see in our dance practice video, we dance a lot as well, so for people to see what we do, I think it was the perfect first single!!
LARISSA: From the very first moment we were in the studio witnessing “Might Just” get made to recording it, we all knew this would be the first single! It’s such a fun and catchy song and I hope everyone will enjoy listening to it as much as we do! And if you listen to the lyrics, it’s also very female empowering, and that’s definitely something we stand for as female artists in the industry!
Q: When recording your debut record, what was the process like working as a trio on this and with your GRAMMY Award-winning producer, Jonathan Yip from The Stereotypes?
AGNES: Amazing! The process of being in the studio creating songs is actually my favorite part of being an artist. It’s just so special to see a song come to life, starting with nothing and ending with a hit! The Stereotypes really only make hits, so we are very grateful that we get to work with them. Creating “Might Just” was so much fun! Everyone had the best energy, and seeing the song come together made everyone even more energetic and happy! We have a ‘behind the scenes’ of the moment “Might Just” was created, and I watch that video back so many times because it always puts a smile on my face.
ASAMI: We had The Stereotypes and 9AM in the studio with us, Kameron and Micha, our songwriters. During a break, I listened to a bit of the beat they were trying to make, and it already sounded fire, but as the song came together, it sounded better and better! We were all super excited, and it was also fun to see the guys having fun and making the tracks but also asking us do you wanna say this? What do you prefer? Working with them is my favorite part, and it’s so much fun! I learn a lot from their creativity and working as a team. Also, as a group, we trust them so much. I’m really grateful for their support!!
LARISSA: Recording “Might Just” was my first time in the studio with The Stereotypes! We knew from that very moment that this was it, and it felt right! Being in the studio with The Stereotypes, 9AM, and the songwriters of “Might Just,” Kameron and Micah, was an incredible experience! They made the song while we were in the room, and we immediately fell in love with it! It came together so fast and was a fun and unique experience!
Q: How was your experience working with Amber Park for the music video?
AGNES: We love the work Amber Park has done for the music video! She is so creative and good at creating beautiful worlds you just want to step into. We actually never met her in real life while working on this music video since she is based in LA, and we are based in Tokyo. In this music video, she created worlds for our avatars to live in.
ASAMI: We met over an online meeting before the process started. We got to say hi and introduce ourselves. She was very interested in the group and already had ideas for the music video. Seeing everything come together and the music video is insanely good, I cannot thank her enough!
LARISSA: Receiving the first concepts Amber Park came up with for the music video was a very exciting day for us! She made our first music video so special, and we all love it so much!!
Q: Who are some artists that inspire each of you?
AGNES: My biggest inspiration is Beyonce and my dad. Beyonce’s performances, live shows, work ethic, and skills are things I’ve looked up to since I was a kid and always will be! My dad just lives and breathes music. There isn’t a day he is not playing on his Kora or guitar or that there isn’t any music playing in the house. He is a musician, and growing up, he was my biggest teacher in music. I will always look up to him.
ASAMI: I started listening to Amy Winehouse, and that’s how I got into singing. Her delivery and presence of performance were very inspiring to me. Then, I started digging into more hip-hop and R&B music. I got inspiration from Brandy and SWV. They are still my all-time favorite artists. Then I started listening to rap music, and Travis Scott inspired me with his music and fashion. I look up to his creativity!
LARISSA: My two all-time favorite artists are Rihanna and BTS. The way Rihanna built her empire is very inspiring to me! I also love makeup, so seeing her start her own brand that became a global makeup brand inclusive of everyone is incredible to me! And being in a group myself, trained in Japan, BTS is the best example of who I want to become as an artist! Their message and how much they care about their fans are a big inspiration to me!
Q: Given that you are all different ethnicities, what are some things you have learned from each other culturally?
AGNES: So much! Japan was a country I had never been to and a culture I also didn’t know much about, but I’ve learned so much from ASAMI and from living here. I think what inspires me most is how, to me, this culture is so selfless. It’s the most respectful culture I’ve ever seen and lived in. People are so kind and considerate.
ASAMI: The types of music we listened to was very different. I learned a lot about Afro music from AGNES and ballads from LARISSA. But culturally, when we lived together, I got to experience food, music, lifestyle, everything!
LARISSA: When I auditioned, I was 16. It was my first time going to Asia. Over the last six years, living and training with AGNES and ASAMI in Holland, Japan, and LA, I’ve learned so much about the world! ASAMI taught us about the Japanese way of life, which is a very respectful culture! We still learn from her every day! AGNES is half Dutch like me and half West African. She is also very true to both her cultures, and it’s amazing to see and learn from them! I think we’re a very special group bringing all of our cultures together!
Q: What do you think sets your group apart from other J-pop groups?
AGNES: Our music and looks. The term J-pop means that we are ‘made in Japan,’ but we aren’t a ‘typical’ J-pop group, which is also not our goal. Our dream is to become the biggest female group globally, and we want our sound to always be global. We all look different and come from different backgrounds, making us look global, but the music we make with The Stereotypes are super universal songs that I believe can be loved by the whole world!
ASAMI: We are all very different visually, and as a group, our music is in English, so I think it’s very different, but in the future, we hope to open the variety of J-pop!
LARISSA: The diversity of our group, our music, music videos, and performances will show who we are but also show that we are trained in Japan! Japan is a big part of who we are, and it was very important to us to include that in the concept of our group!
Q: What do you think was the hardest part about preparing for this debut?
AGNES: The most challenging part has definitely been having patience, trusting the process, and using the right timing. The past six years haven’t always been easy, as it should be wanting to reach a dream as big as ours. Grinding through all the training days, day after day, even though we didn’t know when we would debut, would sometimes be hard, but having my girls by my side on all those days made it more than worth it. I don’t think we should have debuted any sooner. We needed every obstacle that was thrown our way to be ready to present the world with the best version of SWEET REVENGE possible. We feel more than ready now!
ASAMI: 6 years of training was definitely the hardest. Dancing 12 hours a day was, thinking back on it now, insane, and how we grind through together and its chemistry, I think everyone will see in the future!
LARISSA: It definitely hasn’t always been easy, and there have been many ups and downs in these past six years… But in the end, we’ve always believed in this group and in each other, so finding out we were finally debuting was very special!
For more on SWEET REVENGE’s debut and rise to fame, check out this article, which covers their journey and the release of their debut single. Stay connected with SWEET REVENGE on social media to keep up with their latest updates and releases. Follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.