Starship's New K-pop Group Kiiikiii Is Weird...And I Like It
Written by Daphne Bryant
Images courtesy of KPopping
I would say that I am and always have been a very casual consumer of K-pop. I like certain songs and certain groups, and have researched the industry for articles before, but I’m not the type to create fan accounts, join groups online or eagerly hop on IG lives. What I mean to say is, I definitely don’t know everything there is to know about K-pop, so I might get some things wrong (and you’ll just have to forgive me). I also don’t really keep up with new groups and their debuts. The only group I’ve ever properly followed through their debut was New Jeans, which was all the way back in 2022.
Somehow though, Kiiiikiii grabbed my attention. Kiiikiii is an upcoming five-member girl group under Starship Entertainment, a South Korean agency and label. I first saw their concept photos on TikTok a few days ago, and was struck by their stunning visuals and carefree concept. Not that teenage girls frolicking in fields is a revolutionary thing, but there is clearly something refreshing and youthful about this group.
The members are:
Jiyu, the leader of the group, as well as a vocalist, rapper and dancer (19).
Leesol, a rapper and the eldest (19).
Sui, a vocalist (18).
Haum, a vocalist and rapper (18).
Kya, a vocalist and KiiKii’s maknae (14).
Today I listened to and watched the MV for“ I DO ME”, KiiiKiii’s pre-debut single which came out on February 24th, and really enjoyed it. Immediately, my suspicions about them being a different kind of girl group were confirmed. They tackled deeper, more grounded vocals in the catchy chorus, filmed in a beautiful mountain landscape as opposed to using big sets, and wore comfy clothes instead of flashy ones. I also noticed that the dance for“ I DO ME” was pretty chill with lots of relaxed and natural movements, and it looked like it was genuinely fun to perform.
As I searched for more information about the girls, I discovered that their vibe was not not just different, but also quite odd. Unlike other girl groups, their studio concept photos are quirky and unusual; the members make strange poses, pose with fruit, and aren’t afraid to look a little weird. Three days ago, probably around the same time as they released“ I DO ME”, they released a track entitled“ DEBUT SONG.” Except...this song is not at all a debut song in the traditional sense. The nursery rhyme style lyrics are very literal:“ Congrats on your debut / Congrats to dear KiiiKii” and“ Cake, cake, cake, you can have it your way (Your way) / I could do this all day / It’s our debut today, it’s time to celebrate” draw direct attention to KiiiKiii’s status as a pre-debut group. In a way, they’re breaking the fourth wall a bit! The MV is very randomly filmed on the streets of London, and features jarring cuts, MacBook clips with classic filters, silly editing and...Jiyu playing the flute? It’s pure, unbridled chaos, like a behind-the-scenes look into an already strange group, and I’m obsessed.
From their official website
Their Instagram account is even more bizarre. The aesthetic can best be described as a blend between“ weirdcore” and“ frutiger aero.” There are pictures of baby sheep printed on toilet paper, older white men posing with KiiiKiii printed on their bleach blonde mohawks, and links to their official website which is...currently posing as a fake site for selling KiiiKiii themed jams? It’s all SO STRANGE, but even then they don’t go all the way with the weird, balancing it out with a retro futuristic aesthetic that is both nostalgic and modern (AKA frutiger aero references, succeeding the Y2K era).
A lot of the judgement I’ve seen directed at KiiiKiii has been in regards to their concept being too strange or out there. I get how their vibe could be off-putting or hard for people to grasp onto, but I think that’s the point. They’re bringing something fun, eccentric and unique to K-pop, and it feels so needed. According to a release featured in the Hollywood Reporter,“ The group is hoping to usher in a‘ new wave of self-expression and authenticity’”, and I have no doubt that they will.
Before I wrap this article up, I feel as though I’ve got to address the NewJeans debate. I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s seen a few comments comparing KiiiKiii to NewJeans, calling them a copycat group. If you’re curious about my opinion, the truth is that I find it more than a little ridiculous. KiiiKiii and NewJeans have very different aesthetics and very different sounds. Plus, five-member girl groups are nothing new. They have traditionally been super popular and well-received (take the Spice Girls and Fifth Harmony as Western examples, Red Velvet and LE SSERAFIM as Eastern examples). You can’t just pull the NewJeans card every time you see one, because believe it or not, they did not invent that dynamic.
With that out of the way, I’d like to formally announce my support for KiiiKiii and my excitement for the group. The girls are beautiful, talented and have people talking. Even if you don’t know how to feel about them yet, the intrigue is definitely there.
