In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, Softest Hard is emerging as one of electronic music’s most exciting rising names. Fresh off contributing to “CELEBRATION,” a new single from LE SSERAFIM, the Vietnamese-American artist is helping bridge the worlds of EDM and K-pop through a sound rooted in nostalgia, high-energy production, and global influence.

What began as a personal record quickly transformed into an international release after her manager, Dannie Fite, shared the track with HYBE while the label was searching for new material. While several songs initially missed the mark, Softest Hard’s unreleased demo immediately resonated with the team.

“This is exactly what we’re looking for,” she recalled them saying after hearing the track for the first time.

The collaboration came together organically, eventually reaching HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk and the members of LE SSERAFIM themselves, who all quickly connected with the record.

For Softest Hard, the process also highlighted the creative differences between producing electronic music and working within the K-pop space. While EDM traditionally prioritizes longer drops and dance breaks built for live DJ sets, she explained that K-pop songwriting focuses far more heavily on vocals and lyrical structure.

“In the EDM world, it’s more about the drop,” she explained. “You’re anticipating the drop. But in K-pop, it’s more focused on the singing and the overall song structure and that’s something I had to get used to.”

Long before stepping into the global K-pop world, Softest Hard was already building momentum through support from some of dance music’s biggest names. Most notably, Skrillex discovered her music during the SoundCloud era and personally invited her to the studio shortly after she moved to Los Angeles.

“I literally thought it was fake. I had just moved to LA, I was 19, and I thought, ‘There’s no way this is the real Skrillex.’”

The moment became especially full circle considering Skrillex was also responsible for introducing her to electronic music in the first place.

“My first EDM show ever was a Skrillex show,” she recalled.

The mentorship eventually evolved into opening opportunities, unreleased collaborations, and continued support throughout her career. She also credited Diplo with helping shape her artistic development after becoming a resident DJ on Diplo’s Revolution SiriusXM platform, where she was constantly challenged to discover new music and refine her ear as a selector.

Beyond industry mentorship, Softest Hard says her Vietnamese heritage has played a major role in shaping her musical identity. Growing up, she was surrounded by classic dance records and nostalgic electronic tracks played by her mother which influences her productions today.

“My mom used to play tracks like ‘Better Off Alone’ and ‘Blue’ all the time. Dance music is huge in Vietnam, so I grew up with it always in my ear.”

That nostalgia continues to define the core of her evolving sound. While she feels she has now fully developed the balance between the melodic “soft” side of her music and the heavier energy reflected in her name, she says the next chapter is all about experimentation and unexpected collaborations.

“I feel like I’ve perfected that sound, and now it’s about exploring it deeper. I love finding new pockets that I can dive into.”

After more than a decade of grinding within the electronic space, Softest Hard hopes her journey can also inspire younger producers — especially women entering the scene — to remain patient and continue pushing forward despite setbacks.

“It took me 10 years to get something this big,” she said. “You know you’re fire, but other people don’t unless you put yourself out there, so just keep going.” 

With an evolving sound and an eye toward innovation, Softest Hard is carving out a lane entirely her own.