SM Entertainment’s Hearts2Hearts and Starship Entertainment’s KiiiKiii, both considered next-generation girl group hopefuls before their debut, will officially launch on February 24.
Hearts2Hearts, an 8-member girl group debuting after five years since aespa, is SM’s new group. They aim to connect with global fans through their unique, mystical, and beautiful musical world, filled with various emotions and heartfelt messages, and to move forward together as a larger “us.” They caught attention last month when they released a teaser video at SM’s 30th anniversary concert.
According to SM, the members of Hearts2Hearts include Jiwoo (leader, born in 2006), Carmen (born in 2006, from Bali, Indonesia), Yoohwa (born in 2007), Stella (born in 2007, from Canada), Jooeun (born in 2008), Aina (born in 2008), Ian (born in 2009), and the youngest Yeon (born in 2010).
The group’s debut single, “The Chase”, features two tracks: the title track, “The Chase,” and “Butterflies.” The title track, with lyrics written by Kenji, creates a mystical and mysterious atmosphere with dreamy sound sources and vocal melodies, while the track’s mood change, centered around intense and unique bass synths, stands out.
Hearts2Hearts will hold a showcase on February 24 to officially begin their debut activities. Additionally, member Aina will join MBC’s Show! Music Core as an MC, which has garnered significant attention.
SM stated, “Since this group debuts in our 30th anniversary year, we plan to showcase a distinct style in music, performance, and visuals based on SM’s longstanding cultural heritage and strong planning capabilities.”
Meanwhile, KiiiKiii, a new girl group from Starship Entertainment (home of the popular girl group IVE), will also debut on the same day by releasing a pre-debut song. Their first full album, “UNCUT GEM,” is scheduled for release on March 24. KiiiKiii consists of Jiyoo, Isol, Sui, Haum, and Kiyaa, and they are Starship’s first new girl group in four years since IVE. Starship describes KiiiKiii as a group that will introduce a new direction in K-pop with their unique and sensory music combined with a multi-platform optimized visual creative approach.
Starship created buzz by launching KiiiKiii’s official social media accounts on February 10, posting images and videos that hinted at the group’s vibe without revealing too much information. On February 16, they surprised fans with the music video for their first debut title track, “I DO ME.”
“I DO ME” is a pop dance song that maximizes KiiiKiii’s confident charm, expressing the self-assured mindset of a girl who believes in her instincts. Filmed in New Zealand, the music video highlights the members’ individuality amidst nature, raising expectations for KiiiKiii. The music video reached No. 1 on YouTube’s trending videos in Korea just 12 hours after release.
KiiiKiii will release the audio for “I DO ME” on February 24 and begin their official activities. They will perform on Mnet’s M Countdown on February 27.
As representatives of the fourth generation of K-pop, aespa and IVE are joined by the “younger siblings” Hearts2Hearts and KiiiKiii, who will debut in a head-to-head competition. With Hearts2Hearts showcasing a dreamy atmosphere and KiiiKiii leading with a “gen Z” vibe, it will be exciting to see how these new groups make their mark in the music industry this year.