INTERVIEW Kep1er thrives after lineup change, embraces new era with 'TIPI-TAP'

K-pop girl group Kep1er recently underwent a lineup change from a nine-member group to a septet, as two of its former members, Mashiro and Kang Ye-seo, decided not to renew contracts to remain as members of the group. Courtesy of KLAP Entertainment

For K-pop girl group Kep1er, the recent departure of two members wasn't a setback — it was rather a turning point. What could have signaled uncertainty for the project group, formed through survival show "Girls Planet 999" in 2021, instead brought a new wave of determination and strength, according to its remaining seven members.

In May, the group sent shockwaves through the K-pop world by announcing that seven members, excluding former members Mashiro and Kang Ye-seo, had all renewed their contracts, choosing to remain as members of Kep1er. With the group's journey initially set to conclude in July, the contract renewals ensured that Kep1er's story was far from over.

What made Kep1er's extension so remarkable is that no other project group born from Mnet's audition shows had achieved such a feat. Popular groups like I.O.I, WANNA ONE and IZ*ONE all disbanded after being unable to extend contracts, despite their massive followings. Kep1er, however, broke that cycle, forging a new path in the K-pop scene.

Seemingly mindful of their breakthrough in the industry, the seven members of Kep1er radiated confidence as they discussed the group's future during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Gangnam District.

"Getting all seven of us to renew contracts wasn't easy," said Shen Xiaoting, her eyes bright with determination. "But we were all able to do it because we're all chasing the same dream."

From left are Kep1er members Huening Bahiyyih, Choi Yu-jin, Seo Young-eun, Kim Chae-hyun, Kim Da-yeon, Shen Xiaoting and Hikaru. Courtesy of KLAP Entertainment

Reflecting on their past performances, Shen added, "So far, we've only held concerts in Japan. We all want to experience performing in Korea and other countries, which played a big part in our decision to stay together."

Choi Yu-jin, the group's eldest member, provided a deeper insight into the personal reasons behind their contract renewal.

"We each have so much to show individually, too," Choi revealed. "While I can't share every detail, we made sure our contracts included opportunities for solo activities. So, fans can look forward to seeing us explore various projects."

Even though Mashiro and Kang are no longer part of the group, the remaining members revealed that their bonds with the two remain strong. The two former members re-debuted last month in the new girl group MADEIN.

"Our group chat with all nine of us is still alive and buzzing," Kim Da-yeon said. "We chat a lot, keep tabs on each other's performances and always cheer each other on. Recently, I told everyone how much I missed the two of them, so we've made plans to get together for a meal once we wrap up our new album promotion."

And what's on the menu for their reunion? Kim chuckled, and the group burst into laughter as they revealed that they're planning to enjoy a cozy Chinese hot pot, or huo guo, together.

K-pop girl group Kep1er is set to release its new mini-album "TIPI-TAP," scheduled for Friday. Courtesy of KLAP Entertainment

Riding on the momentum, Kep1er is set to make its return to the K-pop scene Friday with the release of its sixth mini album, "TIPI-TAP."

With two members now absent from the group, the seven members noted they put significant effort into ensuring the new album fills the void left behind.

"To say the preparation process wasn't difficult would be a lie," Kim Chae-hyun admitted. "We worried about how we would manage, especially with two members gone. Distributing parts became a challenge, and no matter how hard we worked, we were afraid we might not be able to fully fill the empty spots."

She added, "But in the end, we decided to trust in our fans who have been with us, and in each other ... That trust is fully reflected in this album. I think when people see our expressions and the way we perform the title track, they'll see just how much we love being on stage."

According to the members, the new album's eponymous title track showcases Kep1er's signature charm in the hyperpop genre. Huening Bahiyyih, the group's American member, highlighted a unique element of the song — the use of gqom, a South African rhythm still relatively unknown in K-pop.

"Gqom is widely used in international music, but it's not something you hear often in K-pop," she explained. "After a lot of discussion about expanding our musical spectrum, we decided to incorporate gqom into the chorus. It ended up being a perfect fit for us, and even within the group, we were really excited about the sound."

Kep1er debuted in 2022 with the release of "WA DA DA," after its initial nine members each won their place during Mnet's 2021 survival audition show "Girls Planet 999." Courtesy of KLAP Entertainment

Kep1er's rise to fame was fast, with their debut track, "WA DA DA," released in 2022, setting a record for the fastest time a K-pop girl group debut song reached No. 1 on a local music show. As they embark on a new chapter, the members shared their hopes their latest release will mirror that success.

"The title track of this album shares a similar addictive quality with 'WA DA DA,'" Shen noted. "I hope listeners will feel like 'TIPI-TAP' is another version of 'WA DA DA,' but with a fresh genre twist."

Kim Da-yeon expressed her hopes for the song's performance, saying, "I'd love for the track to gain widespread recognition and climb the domestic music charts again, and it would be amazing to hit No. 1 on music shows again."

Huening Bahiyyih took those ambitions a step further, stating, "It's a dream of mine to see us charting on international platforms, especially on the Billboard Hot 100."