Girlkind
Girlkind
South Korean girl group
Girlkind (Korean: 걸카인드, stylized in all caps) was a four-member girl group under Nextlevel Entertainment that debuted as five with members Sun J, Xeheun, Jikang, Medic Jin, and Ellyn on January 17, 2018, releasing their first digital single "FANCI". Sun J left the group in 2020. They disbanded on August 13, 2022.
2017-2018: Formation and debut
Xeheun competed as a Nextlevel Entertainment trainee in the South Korean reality television show Produce 101 but was eliminated in Episode 5.
Later Xeheun was announced as the first member of Girlkind in 2017.[1]
Girlkind members were slowly introduced through dance covers of popular Korean boy groups like BTS, Got7, Seventeen and Wanna One released on their YouTube channel. Later on January 17, 2018, Girlkind debuted as a five-member Hip-Hop girl group with their first digital single "FANCI" on Show Champion.[2][3]
2018: Broccoli (Mixtape), Girlkind overseas, S.O.R.R.Y
On April 7, 2018, Girlkind released their first mixtape "Broccoli".
Girlkind also performed at the "2018 Changwon K-POP World Festival" in Bahrain being the first K-pop girl group to ever perform in that country.[4]
At the end of May, Girlkind confirmed to come back with a new digital single "S.O.R.R.Y" through their social media.[5] Later, a performance video for Bolbbalgan4 song "Travel" was released on June 5, 2018.[6]
On June 7, 2018, Girlkind released "S.O.R.R.Y" teasers for the music video. Compared to their previous Hip-Hop releases, Girlkind seemed to have switched to a brighter and summery concept filming the music video in Saipan.[7]
2019: GIRLKIND XJR
On August 19, 2018, Nextlevel Entertainment announced on social media Girlkind sub-unit which consisted of Girlkind Leader Xeheun and Main Rapper Jikang. Girlkind XJR first Mini Album "Life is Diamond" was released on August 28, 2018. Xeheun and Jikang both participated into the composition of the title track "Money Talk"[8] which they later performed and promoted at the Korean music show KBS Music Bank.
2020: Sun J Temporary Hiatus, Future (퓨쳐), Psycho4U
On March 22, 2020, Nextlevel Entertainment announced Sun J temporary hiatus from Girlkind activities to concentrate on her studies at Gimpo University after her graduation from the School of Performing Arts Seoul.[9]
Later at the end of March, Girlkind had already been re-organized as a four-member group ready to come back with another digital single "Future (퓨쳐) ".The song and music video were released on April 14, 2020, on all streaming services. The members Xeheun, Jikang and Medic Jin participated into the writing of the lyrics. On April 17 a challenge called "Future Challenge" was consequently announced through social media with the aim to overcome COVID-19 by encouraging people into supporting each other in order to achieve our dreams.[10]
On October 26, 2020, Girlkind announced to come back with another single "Psycho4U", which was officially released on November 4, 2020.[11]
2021: Good Vibes Only (이 분위기에 취해), My Teenage Girl
Girlkind announced their come back plan through social media followed by their Yellow and Pink concept teasers.
Nextlevel Entertainment revealed through articles Brave Entertainment producer Two Champ participated in producing the new song while members Xeheun and Jikang helped arranging the choreography.[12]
The song and music video were released on July 7, 2021 entering Melon and Bugs! Top 100 latest 24 Hours chart from position #99 peaking at #39.[13]
The youngest member Ellyn participated into prequel season '등교 전 망설임' (RR: Deunggyo Jeon Mangseolim; lit. Hesitation Before Going to School) of MBC survival show My Teenage Girl, but was eliminated on Episode 3 due to lack of votes from the judges.
2022: Girlkind Tokyo Live 2022, disbandment
On March 26, 2022, the group announced their Japan concert series "GIRLKIND Tokyo Live 2022", which was held from April 16 to May 7 at Showbox in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo.
On August 13, 2022, Nextlevel Entertainment announced that the group has disbanded after a long period of discussion, because of internal issues.
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak Chart Position | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| Life Is Diamond |
Tracklist
|
75[14] | 48[15] |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart
positions |
Sales | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR[16] | ||||
| "FANCI" | 2018 | — | N/A | Fanci |
| "S.O.R.R.Y" | — | N/A | S.O.R.R.Y | |
| "Future (퓨쳐)" | 2020 | — | N/A | Future (퓨쳐) |
| "Psycho4U" | — | N/A | Psycho4U | |
| "Good Vibes Only (이 분위기에 취해)" | 2021 | 188[17] | N/A | Good Vibes Only (이 분위기에 취해) |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
- Girlkind Tokyo Live 2022 (2022)
- "이세흔, 내년 1월 드디어 데뷔..'걸카인드 멤버'" (in Korean). Osen. December 28, 2017.
- "걸카인드,'강렬한 걸크러쉬'" (in Korean). Osen. January 17, 2018.
- "걸카인드, 1월17일 정식 데뷔…'프듀' 이세흔 소속" (in Korean). Sports Chosun. January 2, 2018.
- "걸카인드, K팝 걸그룹 최초로 바레인서 공연 "뜨거운 환호"" (in Korean). News1. May 4, 2018.
- "걸카인드, 6월 컴백 확정 '프로모션 스케줄러 공개'" (in Korean). Xsportsnews. May 29, 2018.
- "신예 걸카인드, 볼빨간사춘기 '여행' 퍼포먼스 버전 공개" (in Korean). Xsportsnews. June 5, 2018.
- "걸카인드, 새 싱글 'S.O.R.R.Y' 뮤비 티저 공개…사이판서 '청량감' 폭발" (in Korean). 10Asia. June 7, 2018.
- "걸그룹 걸카인드XJR, 첫 미니앨범 트랙리스트 공개…28일 발매" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. August 18, 2018.
- "걸카인드 썬제이 잠정 활동 중단 "학업에 집중할 것"(공식입장)" (in Korean). Newsen. March 22, 2020.
- "걸카인드, '퓨쳐챌린지' 진행…신곡 '퓨쳐(Future)'로 희망의 메시지 전파" (in Korean). Nbnnews. April 17, 2020.
- "걸카인드 지강, 강력한 카리스마로 첫 이미지 컴백 티저 공개" (in Korean). Osenews. October 26, 2020.
- "걸카인드, 디지털싱글 '이 분위기에 취해' 7일 음원 공개...'롤린' 프로듀서팀 투챔프 참여" (in Korean). Mydaily. July 5, 2021.
- "걸그룹 걸카인드, 신곡 '이 분위기에 취해' 음원차트인" (in Korean). Mydaily. July 8, 2021.
- "2019년 36주차 Album Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- "09월 24일 Retail Album Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- "2021년 28주차 Download Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved October 12, 2021.