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| K-pop girl group LIMELIGHT / Courtesy of 143 Entertainment |
Rookie girl groups make debut amid K-pop boom
By Dong Sun-hwa
With the global boom of K-pop, more singers are joining the cutthroat battle for stardom, seeking to become a new sensation.
LIMELIGHT is one of the latest acts that burst onto the music scene on Sept. 29. The trio held a pre-debut event two days before its official debut at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, to premiere its debut single, "STARLIGHT." It is a song about the members' determination to make a breakthrough in the "new world." The tune was composed by Kim Seung-soo, who was behind the success of "Violeta" (2019) by the now-defunct project group IZ*ONE.
"As soon as I heard the song, I could notice a unique feel created by Kim," member Suhye said during the event. "I think 'STARLIGHT' is a great fit for all of us."
LIMELIGHT is currently made up of three members: Suhye, MiU and Gaeun. Suhye appeared on MBC TV's talent search show, "My Teenage Girl" (2021-2022), while MiU and Gaeun were featured in Mnet's audition show, "Girls Planet 999" (2021) ― which gave birth to girl group Kep1er.
However, its management company 143 Entertainment is planning to expand LIMELIGHT by adding more members in the future.
"We are a trio right now, but will gradually become a 'complete group,'" Suhye said. "We are a futuristic team that can spark people's curiosity."
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| K-pop girl group Mimirose / Courtesy of YES IM Entertainment |
Another newcomer is Mimirose, a five-piece act consisting of In Hyo-ri, Yoon Ji-a, Seo Yun-ju, Han Ye-won and Choi Yeon-jae. Being the first girl group launched by singer-actor Im Chang-jung, Mimirose was at the center of attention even before its debut.
Im, the founder of YES IM Entertainment, is a veteran singer famed for his vocal bravura, who put out a series of smash hits like "A Glass of Soju" (2003) and "The Love I Committed" (2016). He is the only Korean singer whose songs have ranked first on local music shows in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
Thus, expectations for Mimirose were high among music industry insiders, who were curious about Im's ability to incubate a K-pop group. And Mimirose has succeeded in drawing positive reactions after debuting on Sept. 16 with the album, "Awesome," in which Im participated in the creative process. The members have been praised for their performing skills and quality songs.
"Honestly, we were quite pressured to be called 'Im Chang-jung's girl group,'" Mimirose said during a press event at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District in eastern Seoul, Sept. 26. "But just like him, we want to make our name known broadly and win the hearts of people of all ages."
Leading its debut album is "Rose," a tune with a dynamic flow portraying an array of emotions that the five members feel after diving into the "unknown world." The album also offers "Lululu" and "Kill Me More."
"We want to go step-by-step," Mimirose said. "In the end, we want to receive grand prizes (at different music awards). Our role model is Girls' Generation, a long-running group that is still active as a team."
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| K-pop girl group Lapillus / Courtesy of MLD Entertainment |
In June, MLD Entertainment, home to popular girl group MOMOLAND, debuted another all-female act, Lapillus. It is a multinational group comprising Shana (Japanese), Chanty (Filipino-Argentinian), Yue (Chinese-American) and three Korean members: Bessie, Seowon and Haeun.
Lapillus dropped its first mini-album "GIRL's ROUND Part. 1" on Sept. 22, only about three months after making its debut with the track, "HIT YA!" Despite being a rookie group, it is already making waves in the Philippines, attracting some 8,000 fans at a fan event in the country's capital Manila and becoming a promotional ambassador for the province of Ilocos Sur.
"We were surprised to see so many fans in the Philippines," Chanty said during a press event held at Konkuk University in Seoul, Sept. 22. "It was the first promotional event we had outside Korea … We will work harder to further raise our international profile."
"GIRL's ROUND Part. 1" is fronted by the lead single, "GRATATA," a dance-pop song sprinkled with a moombahton rhythm. Its main theme is the members' dreams.
"We tried to reveal our confidence and determination in our debut track, but this time, we attempted to give a festive mood to our new tune," Seowon explained.
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