Latest news with #Cosmosy
Korea Herald
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Japanese girl group Cosmosy aims for global orbit with bold new single
Blending anime-inspired storytelling and multilingual lyrics, the rookie act sets sights on Coachella and Tokyo Dome In the K-pop landscape crowded with homegrown talents, Cosmosy stands out as an all-Japanese girl group making its mark from Seoul — not Tokyo. A little over three months after its official debut, the four-member act is already drawing global attention with a clear vision, distinct concept and the upcoming single 'BabyDon'tCry=BreakingTheLove' in July. 'We are students, idols and warriors — girls who save the world when needed,' said Himesha, describing Cosmosy's multidimensional concept. Inspired by Japanese anime and culture, the group takes a hybrid approach to storytelling, music and performance. Each member brings a unique flavor to the quartet. Kamion, often dubbed the team's 'Korean teacher,' radiates bright energy and feline charm. 'I love chatting with people — maybe too much — but it's helped me learn Korean fast,' Kamion said during an interview with The Korea Herald, June 12. De_Hana, who describes herself as a 'soft mochi bunny,' is known for her low voice and surprising talents — including soft-serve ice cream artistry. Her love for performance began in childhood musicals, but a high school visit to the Summer Sonic Festival shifted her path. 'I saw a K-pop artist's stage and thought, 'I want to do that too.' That moment sparked everything,' she said. Himesha, the group's calm yet enigmatic figure, started dancing at age three. Though hesitant at first, the opportunity to express herself through music won her over. 'I really admire Blackpink's Rose, especially her song 'Gameboy,'' she added. A'mei, the youngest, has been dancing since she was three and was active in street battles and modeling gigs before joining Cosmosy. 'I was scouted through a casting call and decided to take the plunge,' she said. Though cast at different times, the members went through multiple auditions and trained together for about a year before debuting under NTT Docomo, Japan's largest telco, in April. Cosmosy's world: Culture, language and ambition Unlike many K-pop girl groups that lean on Korean or Western aesthetics, Cosmosy embraces Japanese cultural roots. 'There aren't many groups that show Japanese culture this way, so we think it's one of our strengths,' said Himesha. The group's music videos feature traditional Japanese sword, 'katana' imagery and anime-style transitions — stylized visual nods to their heritage. While no single anime defines the group, each member has favorites. De_hana picked 'Spy x Family' and 'Aikatsu!;' Himesha loves 'The Promised Neverland' and 'The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.;' Kamion chose 'Kimi ni Todoke' and 'Lala's Style Book;' and A'mei said 'Kirarin Revolution' had a lasting impression on her. New single with bold message Cosmosy's upcoming single, 'BabyDon'tCry=BreakingTheLove,' pushes its sound and concept even further. 'It's about breaking love built on hypocrisy and protecting yourself and each other — a strong message from girl warriors,' Kamion said. It follows 'Zigy=Zigy' and debut track 'Lucky=One,' both of which surpassed 10 million YouTube views. The group sings in Korean, Japanese and English — a point of both challenge and pride. 'Pronunciation and accents are tough, especially batchim (final consonant in a syllable block),' said Kamion. De_hana admitted that understanding the deeper meanings of lyrics can be difficult, while Himesha called the experience 'hard, but fun.' Still, the trio agreed their fans appreciate the multilingual approach. 'We were surprised how many people love 'Zigy=Zigy,' even though it's an unusual style,' Kamion said. 'It's become part of our identity.' Personal moments reinforce that impact. A'mei recently visited her school in Japan and was surprised when classmates danced to their songs. De_hana's relatives performed 'Lucky=One' on violin, and Kamion's young cousin memorized the English lyrics after watching the music video. 'It reminded me of when I dreamed of becoming an idol,' Kamion said. Himesha recalled her family and friends gathering around the TV to watch 'Zigy=Zigy' over Lunar New Year — a memory she holds close. In May, Cosmosy flew to New York for a promotional event hosted by Sony Music and Spotify. The members filmed TikTok challenges and met fans in Times Square, even collaborating with viral creator Nick Kosir, an American television meteorologist best known as 'The Dancing Weatherman.' 'I'd seen his 'like Jennie' cover. It was so cool to work with him,' said De_hana. 'So many people stopped to watch us film,' added Himesha. 'It was a little overwhelming, but it left a deep impression.' Coachella, Tokyo Dome and beyond With bold concepts and growing global appeal, Cosmosy has its eyes on major stages. 'I want to perform at Tokyo Dome one day,' said Kamion. 'So many artists dream of that.' A'mei dreams even bigger: 'Blackpink's Jennie left such an impression on me that now I want to perform at Coachella.' De_hana hopes for a No. 1 on Korean music shows, where she can thank fans with a surprise encore. Her role model? Girl group Ive's Jang Wonyoung, for her professionalism and drive. 'And I really improved my singing by practicing with Sza's 'Far,'' she added. Himesha, meanwhile, is aiming for global reach. 'If Cosmosy can become world-famous, I'd love to join a global project someday,' she said.
Korea Herald
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
From Blackpink to Cosmosy: Ex-YG's producer's inventive approach to K-pop
From managing Blackpink's debut to launching all-Japanese girl group Cosmosy, Sinxity aims to redefine K-pop's creative model while championing diversity and LGBTQ+ visibility Shin Seong-jin, better known by his professional name Sinxity, may come across as soft-spoken, but his words land with surprising clarity and conviction. In an industry steeped in formulas and rigid systems, Sinxity stands out for challenging conventions and redefining the role of a K-pop producer. 'I'd rather be called a creator than a creative director,' he told The Korea Herald in an interview on June 12. 'There are producers for drama series on over-the-top platforms, but above them are creators who oversee the entire message. That's what I do — from choreography and visuals to promotion and marketing, I aim to deliver a consistent creative identity.' Sinxity's approach is often compared to that of Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of Ador, who debuted the girl group NewJeans. Like Min, Sinxity does not compose music, but plays a decisive role in shaping all aspects of an artist's debut and concept. 'I've been working in entertainment since 2009, starting at YG Entertainment,' he said. 'I was involved in (the company's) IPO projects and also worked as a manager and creative director on debut projects for Lee Hi, AKMU, Winner and Blackpink.' On his experience with Blackpink before their debut in 2016, Sinxity said, 'The fact that Blackpink even came together as a team felt like a miracle. Each member had outstanding potential. Meeting such individuals in a single group project feels like fate.' 'What's most important in producing is identifying the essence each trainee holds, and helping that core grow,' he said. 'With the Blackpink members, I was truly moved by their talent, beauty and individual charm.' Building new creative standard In 2018, Sinxity left YG Entertainment and founded his own label, Axis, backed by investment from Naver subsidiaries Naver Snow and Naver Webtoon. He said the name Axis reflects his vision: 'If one strong axis was in place, I believed it could become a platform where creators like myself could emerge — even reshape the entertainment industry.' 'I want to surpass companies like Hybe, SM and JYP Entertainment — not just follow them, but do better. I see content as something holistic. I want to set a new standard across the entire entertainment value chain.' Cosmosy and case for cultural specificity In April, Axis debuted its first girl group, Cosmosy, in partnership with Japan's largest telco, NTT Docomo. The group consists of four Japanese members and sings in Korean, English and Japanese in each song — a rare combination even in today's global K-pop scene. 'In Korea, K-pop mixes Korean and English. Likewise, Japanese fans enjoy listening to Korean, and Korean fans enjoy Japanese through anime and J-pop,' he said. "Since Korean and Japanese have similar syntax, mixing the two doesn't feel unnatural. Each language offers unique expressions, which I found creatively exciting.' Cosmosy also pursues a diverse musical range beyond K-pop and J-pop, venturing into pop and Afro-pop influences. 'They're an idol group in the way they promote, but musically they're diverse. I think it's okay to blur the lines of identity,' Sinxity said. 'We formed a clearer hypothesis about how Cosmosy could grow. With all members being Japanese, we could use that cultural specificity to define the direction of our concept more clearly.' 'Rather than debuting them as a 'complete' group, we allowed space for them to evolve,' he said. 'We focused on having an all-Japanese lineup because that cultural foundation allows for unique content. With multinational groups, issues of cultural appropriation often arise. We wanted to steer clear of that.' Redefining norms At the end of the interview, Sinxity also spoke candidly about his sexual identity, sharing that he is gay. 'There are many sexual minorities in K-pop,' he said. 'With two members of Katseye recently coming out, I think K-pop is having a positive impact.' Axis also runs a drama subsidiary that produces BL (gay romance) series. 'Our content aims to break stereotypes and give courage to those who need it. I just hope what I'm doing has meaning in this world.'
Korea Herald
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Cosmosy takes big bite of New York
Rookie girl group Cosmosy left an impression on New York with a string of promotional activities, according to Sony Music Korea on Monday. In a surprise rendezvous with American weather forecaster and social media presence Nick Kosir, the four bandmates of the girl group danced together to the tune of their debut single, 'Lucky=One.' They took to Times Square for a flash mob along with a local dance crew, even making an appearance on one of the billboards at the city landmark. The group also hosted an exclusive showcase in partnership with Spotify and performed a sample of the unreleased 'Baby Don't Cry=Breaking the Love.' Cosmos, an all-Japanese girl group, debuted as a team of four in April with the single 'Lucky=One.' The music video for the tropical dance tune had attracted over 10 million views on YouTube as of May, as did that for predebut single 'Zigy=Zigy' in January.
