- 16.1KShares
In the ever competitive world of Kpop idol groups, big and small agencies are constantly pushing fresh new faces to match the increasingly changing appetites of today’s generation. So let’s take a look at which new Kpop idol groups are the most promising rising stars of the future and who we should be keeping a close watch on.
iKON
iKON is hands down the most hyped debut of 2015 thanks to YG’s masterful media plays. iKON members were already well known pre-debut as Team B from survival show Win: Who Is Next that aired in 2013. But the boys’ talents are indeed worthy of the high anticipation as their debut album Welcome Back is one of the strongest albums of the year in both quality and consistency. Leader B.I.’s heavy involvement in the making of the album is a testament to his musicality and potentials as a producer. The question that many of us have is whether B.I. can become the new G-Dragon and carry iKON to the same level of international recognition that Big Bang enjoys. Either way, I for one, am a fan of iKON’s music and am excited to see what they’ll bring us in the new year.
Seventeen
With Son Dam Bi leaving the agency and After School on hiatus, Pledis hoped that Seventeen would be the new “it” idol group to help the label stay active. And that bet paid off. The 13 member group’s debut album 17 Carat made eighth place on Billboard’s World Albums chart in May and their sophomore album Boys Be topped the same chart in September. Boys Be is also the most selling rookie album of 2015, just to put Seventeen’s popularity into perspective. Most impressively, the boys produced, composed, and wrote Boys Be themselves, proving that their fame is indeed a reflection of their talent. With three subunits specializing in hip-hop, vocals, and performance, Seventeen could explore any number of directions in 2016. I have a feeling that no matter what they choose to do, success is waiting at their door.
Twice
Since both girl groups of the label, Wonder Girls and Miss A, are well-considered as veteran groups at this point, JYP is in need of new blood — aka Twice. The nine member act follows suit to other JYP groups with inclusion of international members — three from Japan and one from Taiwan. Twice’s rise to stardom can only be described as fast and furious. They quickly garnered attention with hit single Like OHH-AHH from their debut album The Story Begins and go on to pocket Best New Female Artist of the year only two months after their debut in October 2015. Taiwanese member Tzuyu and Japanese member Momo are also helping Twice gain international popularity. If I were JYP, I’d strike the iron while it’s hot and bring the girls back as fast as possible in 2016.
Monsta X
Monsta X has quite a bit in common with the other super rookies of 2015, iKON and Seventeen. Like iKON, Monsta X was formed by Starship after going through a trainee survival broadcast show No Mercy. After the group was formed, it immediately began amassing interest through co-promoting with fellow labelmates like Giriboy, Mad Clown, and Sistar. Similar to Seventeen, Monsta X eventually make their debut in May with hit album Trespass, and then returns a few months later with a follow-up effort, Rush, in September. Rush further solidifies Monsta X’s success and establishes them as a new force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to see if the boys will continue with their rugged and edgy hip hop concept in the new year or transition into something completely unexpected.
CLC
It’s been a long six years since Cube last introduced its only girl group, 4Minute, in 2009. That’s a really long gap for Kpop industry standards, so naturally, the debut of CLC (Crystal Clear), is overdue and highly anticipated. Unlike their sunbae 4Minute’s aggressive and badass concept, CLC’s five members are decidedly innocent looking, mirroring their image to the group’s name and the title of their debut album, First Love. Beyond the interest already generated through their Thai member Sorn, and appearances in labelmate BtoB and G.Na’s music videos, CLC instantly received approval with their hit single Pepe as well. Though the girls made a fast comeback with Question in May, they’ve been out of the spotlight for the second half of the year. CLC’s road to success won’t be an easy one as they face strong competition with similar styled groups GFriend and Oh My Girl, who also debuted in the same year.
GFriend
Despite being from a smaller label Source Music, GFriend has gained much attention since day one of their debut with catchy single Glass Bead from their Season of Glass album. Their pure and youthful energy reminds many of the early days of Girls’ Generation. In particular, a viral video of the girls’ professionalism during slippery stage performances and numerous Running Man appearances earned them much respect and popularity in a very short amount of time. GFriend strikes again in July with Flower Bud that peaked at eighth place on the Gaon chart and goes on to win Best New Female Artist at MelOn Music Awards — certainly no small feat for newbies. GFriend is expected to return with a comeback album in early 2016 and I’m curious to see if the girls can continue their winning streak.
Oh My Girl
Promoted as the sister group of B1A4 from WM entertainment, Oh My Girl is an eight member group also touting their girlish naivete concept. The girls achieved good results with their debut single Cupid in April. But what made Oh My Girl really stand out among others is their visually stunning comeback album Closer released in October. The album’s concept is inspired by fairytales, hence a strong vibe of mystery and dreaminess elevated through high-gloss movie-poster-like teaser images that immediately went viral. Recently, Oh My Girl makes headlines in the media again for being mistaken as sex workers and denied entry into the US. Perhaps a blessing in disguise, this incident brought them even more attention and empathy. In this fierce battle among the rookie girl groups, only time will tell who’s going to come on top.
Day6
JYP’s other big play of 2015 is the new male rock band group Day6, which is uncharted territory for a label that’s known for its R&B, hip hop, or dance pop groups and instantly peaked my interest. It also helps to see the familiar face of member Jae, who finished as sixth place in the first season of K-pop Star. Day6 debuted with album The Day and lead single Congratulations in September, which peaked second position on Billboard’s World Music chart and sixth on Gaon chart. The group’s popularity can be attested by the fact that within five minutes of tickets going on sale for their first solo tour, the concert was sold out. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of Day6 in 2016 and that this is only the beginnings of their long journey in the industry.
N.Flying
Another new rock boyband that debuted in Korea in 2015 is N.Flying from FNC, an agency known to make global rock band hits like F.T. Island and CNBLUE. Though the band is new in Korea, N.Flying has already accumulated familiarity through their earlier 2013 debut in Japan, and received recognition for their music through topping Japanese charts. Their long-awaited debut in Korea was delayed to May 2015 due to an injury of the band’s leader, but that didn’t stop N.Flying’s debut album Awesome from reaching seventh place on the Gaon chart. Labelmate SeolHyun of AOA also appeared in their music video, helping bolster N.Flying’s status. The boys quickly came back with another extended play Lonely in October and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the new year.
That’s a wrap for now. Which of these new Kpop idol groups are you looking forward to the most this year? Tell us in the comments section below.
- 16.1KShares
- 16.1KShares