Despite the growing trend of virtual K-pop groups, HYBE recently launched their own group called SYNDI8. This caused a stir among netizens who pointed out striking similarities to aespa, with some even claiming that one of the members, Karina, had her name copied.
On June 27, the AI audio technology company Supertone, owned by the multi-label corporation HYBE, introduced the virtual girl group SYNDI8 to the K-pop industry.
On this day, they released their debut album, “MVP,”which includes three songs: “My Fantasy,””ATOTA,”and “True Color.”
Specifically, according to SYNDI8’s profile, the group consists of four members: Canary, Nest, Goyo, and Raven. Their name is a combination of the word “SYNTHESIS”and the number “8,”symbolizing the fact that all four members were born from four distinct voices.
Using their voices, they created a magical world known as Nancy Land in a virtual realm. This world was built upon a belief in the power of voices, which transcended any racial differences and united them.
The album “MVP”by SYND8 captures a feeling of nostalgia while also incorporating elements of futuristic retro-futurism. It follows the journey of the band as they search for the Magic Voice Prism in Nancy Land, showcasing their growth and development along the way.
The song “ATOTA”tells the story of discovering one’s authentic voice and experiencing the power of connecting with it. In “My Fantasy”, the members share their excitement as they finally get to perform on stage after honing their voice magic in Nancy Land. “True Color”reflects the members’ determination to uncover their true voices.
Given HYBE’s reputation as a top-tier company, there is great anticipation for whether they will bring a fresh perspective to the music industry. This is particularly notable as virtual groups like PLAVE and MAVE are gaining popularity among K-pop fans.
Despite gaining attention, HYBE faced criticism from K-pop fans due to the revelation of additional information about the girl group, instead of receiving complete support.
Many pointed out HYBE’s “obsession”with aespa and alleged that the virtual girl group was influenced by SM Entertainment’s artists.
Similarly to aespa, SYNDI8 is a member group that embodies distinct characters within their performances. Canary shares the same Hangul character as Karina, further emphasizing the virtual idol’s name that was influenced by the aespa member, who is often likened to AI.
Some of the comments are listed below:
- “What are you doing?”
- “Did you just copy Karina?”
- “Isn’t the design too old?”
- “Are we moving towards 2D animation because 3D costs too much money?”
- “You said you made some money, but you’re just spending it anywhere.”
- “Supply without demand.”
- “Isn’t it 2004? I don’t know much about that side, but is there a demand for that kind of drawing style? It looks like it was drawn with Paint.”
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