A K/DA SPECIAL EDITION

A K/DA SPECIAL EDITIONK/DA ISBACK WITH"THE BADDEST"TRIVIAARE YOU A K/DAEXPERT?SERAPHINECONFESSIONS OFA RISING STAR

K/DA, ANARTISTICEVOLUTIONSERAPHINECONFESSIONSOF A RISINGSTARFASHION/ INSTANTSTYLE WITHYASUOTRIVIA AREYOU A K/DAEXPERT ?K/DA IS FINALLYBACK — WITHAMBITIONSRENEWEDTwo years ago, K/DA set theMunhak Stadium on firewith a performance of POP/STARS at the League ofLegends World Championship Finals inIncheon, South Korea. Now, K/DA is finallyback—with ambitions renewed. With newsounds, new styles, and the announcementof an EP, K/DA is primed to become anew phenomenon. This special editionof SHARP is entirely dedicated to theirsensational comeback, along with theirpromising new collaborator, Seraphine.We’ve also included a quiz on Page 14,where you can prove how much you reallyknow this group. Last but not least, we’veprovided a special K/DA centerspread foryou to decorate your walls. Happy reading,and long live music!

AN ARTISTICEVOLUTIONTwo years after their international hit sensation, POP/STARS,K/DA is finally back. From their evolution as musiciansto the development of their new sound and fashion,the girls explain the history of what is now calledK/DA and what that means leading up to their newsingle “THE BADDEST,” as well as theirlong-awaited first full EP.Waiting in the K/DA studiois an intense yet almostmeditative experience.The warm glow of therecording equipment and screens light upwhat would otherwise be a dim, humblespace. A small, framed article and a fewcommemorative photos on the wallsunderstate the group’s explosive successand overnight popularity. Just as you’reawash in the surrealness of it all, therhythmic clacking of heels breaksup the hum of the equipment, andbefore you can even blink, K/DA inall their dazzling beauty stand beforeyou. Led by Ahri, the women leisurelysit down. Their effortless style makesthem seem like they’d be more at homesitting front row at a prestigious fashionshow than here in an interview, but theirlaughter and warmth quickly dissipatesany perceived barriers.On the question of how K/DA got to this point,Ahri smiles. She recalls her early career, where shefelt smothered by modern pop norms and variouslabels’ demands and wished she could finally expressherself freely. She had broken off her contract with herprevious label, despite her success as a solo act.KAI’SAAHRIAs the leader, founder,and main vocalist of K/DA,Ahri graces the stage withconfident charm. The calmcenter of the group, she valuesauthentic self-expression andencourages her team to dothe same. Ahri takes pride indiscovering new talents andshaping them towards their fullpotential.As the main dancer and teamchoreographer, Kai’Sa strivesfor perfection. Her intense,quiet focus pushes the teamforward with otherworldlyconcepts and pristine attentionto detail. Kai’Sa embraces acosmopolitan approach to life,finding inspiration in everycorner of the world.

6THEBADDESTLYRICSBaddest do what the baddest doThe baddest do we the baddest oohBaddest do what the baddest doThe baddest do we the baddestComing at you liveReal real wildHere to light it upSet the world on fireGonna break rulesAnd hearts in twosCause that’s what the baddest doNever going backNah not thatDiamonds on dripCause I came to make a splashGonna break rulesAnd hearts in twosCause that’s what the baddest doAKALIAkali is the main rapper of thegroup, boasting street punkstyle with a brash, dangerousstreak. She constantly keepsher team on their toes—and values her creativeindependence most of all.Akali’s always spinning onnew projects and refuses tocompromise for her art.I spit heat, I melt your face offDisappear, I’m your eraserIn the cut just like a razorMurder business, where my blazer?I got all the boys on meI got all the lines on ringKnock ‘em dead, turnin’ headsI got all the eyes on mePretty face 걸어들어와유행 선두자원하지만 못하잖아애가 타잖아You like “whoa” KALI you the goat난 알지 I know준비해 cause I like to ball멈추지 않아나는 lit 크게 like a bitTHE GROUP’SPOPULARITYSKYROCKETEDAS POP/STARS HIT #1ON ITUNESAND BILLBOARD“I wanted space to write my own music, and explorewhat my sound could evolve into in a group,” Ahriexplained.그거 말고 byte믿어봐 큰 만큼 크게어깨 펴고 high백 퍼센트덤비지 못해죽여주잖아나는 boss 간지 with the sauce원하면 줄게I’m doing damageWent just how I planned itI do what I want when I say모두 날 따라 해난 끝내주잖아(Like) to live on the edge of insane(It’s crazy)Sorry for the bad news, sorry I’m so badOnly took a minute for me to get what you hadSorry for the bad news, know it makes you sadI’ll be here for a minute baby you should pack yourbagsWay that I look should be breaking the lawIf I don’t got it I take what I wantMy circle small like a round of applauseYou know that I love the sound of applauseYou know I mean everything that I sayWhen you see me coming get out of the wayI came to slay I came to slayback and I’m better and ready to stay(It’s crazy)Sorry not sorry for being the best언제든지 내가 좀 해Look at the gold all on my chestLook at the gold call it a flexEvelynn chimed in here, explaining how the concept forK/DA began as a collab between the two. “Ahri and Ihad been friends for a while, but I was surprised whenshe approached me about forming a new group. Ourtastes in music have always been very different. ButAhri proposed something new and fresh, beyond thebubblegum sound of her first label. Something withmore bite.” At that, Evelynn gave a mysterious smile.“With that, I was sold.”FROM A DYNAMIC DUO TO AFULL-BLOOMED BANDFrom there, both Evelynn and Ahri agreed they wantedto round out this duo into a cohesive group. Looking foran outstanding dancer, Ahri was captivated by Kai’Sa.Her international style and range impressed Ahri, whocame across Kai’Sa’s work via her dance studio’s viralvideos. Kai’Sa’s absolute dedication to her craft not onlymade her a driving force on stage, but also the team’schoreographer. And soon after that, the two foundersdiscovered Akali, who seduced them both with her talentand authenticity as an artist. As a lyricist, rapper, andproducer, Akali was the missing piece the group needed.In 2018, the four artists’ efforts paid off. They brokethrough with a memorable single that stunnedaudiences: POP/STARS. Before the League of LegendsWorld Championship Finals, the band brilliantlyperformed their debut song on the Incheon MunhakStadium stage in front of a large audience and millionsof online viewers.The group’s popularity skyrocketed as POP/STARS became#1 on iTunes and Billboard, and was streamed over 170million times on major streaming platforms. The officialYouTube video itself has reached over 360 million viewsas of 2020, featuring several outstanding sequences andimagery; for example, Evelynn’s driving of her car at fullspeed towards Kai’Sa, who dodges it at the last moment.“That scene was thrilling to film,” Kai’Sa reflected withnostalgia. “And that custom car was incredible.”

“ That’s why I got one for myself afterwards,” Evelynncasually responded.THE PRICE OF SUCCESSSuccess, however, comes with its own challenges. Thefame post-POP/STARS was overwhelming and daunting.While this is what the girls had been working towardsfor so long, the sudden wave of fans and popularity ledall four members to take some time away from it all fora lengthy period of introspection. Ahri enjoyed a breakover the holidays at the beach. She then turned herfocus to K/DA’s future. “I want our work to serve as aninspiration to young artists everywhere, and to anyonewho is unhappy in a system too rigid and constraining.Knowing the pain of that situation, I really want to showthat you can spread your wings and express your trueselves in your creativity,” she shared.Kai’Sa decided to explore the world in search of newinspirations, new mentors in various dance styles, andnovel ideas to bring back to the group. She also spentsome time teaching and working at her own dancestudio as well. “These trips were mostly about refreshingmy craft and artistry. Everywhere, people have adifferent approach to dance and movement. Learningnew techniques, new ways of understanding, and everevolving my style that was my goal. And bringing itback to share with my studio was important as well.”And of course, everyone knew what Akali was doingstarting up a new collective. True Damage burstfrom the underground scene, featuring a group ofbreakthrough artists. The project fulfilled her creativelySEPTEMBER 2016Ahri approaches Evelynn tobegin work on forming a new,yet unnamed group, seekingout unique voices andsingular talents.AUGUST 2013Ahri bursts onto the K-popscene, winning “mosttalented new K-pop artist”at the Pop Shine awards.JUNE 2017Ahri discoversKai’Sa’s workvia her dancestudio’s viralvideos. Kai’Sajoins the group.and also gave her an outlet to experience managingtalent and a group, just like Ahri. “I still enjoy theanonymity of the underground scene. Dancing, rapping,singing, doing whatever I want in front of peoplewho don’t know me; it’s all so exciting! I really lovedgetting to make use of that space to let myself andthe members of True Damage work with no limits. TrueDamage really gave me the opportunity to dive backinto my natural environment,“ said Akali.A NEW ERABut now the ladies are back together again. With theirhit new single, THE BADDEST, topping the charts andstreaming platforms, one can only wonder what’s nextin the upcoming months leading up to their EP. “POP/STARS was a celebration of the alchemy of all ourtalents,” Kai’Sa explained. “With this EP, however, eachof us took creative lead on a track. We wanted to givemore room for each voice to shine.“And it won’t stop there.“Now that we’re in the second era of K/DA, we’re workingwith more talented artists and leveling up our own creativitythrough those collaborations,“ said Akali. “I want to take thelearnings from True Damage, as well as within K/DA, andcontinue working with new talent and veterans alike.It isn’t just K/DA’s sound that continues to grow andevolve. Ahri teased us with the slightest of hints attheir new look as well. “We drew inspiration from allover, striving to capture the duality of elegance andvulnerability. I’m very excited with the results.”K/DA’STIMELINEOCTOBER 2017Ahri learns of Akali via social media. Sheand Evelynn travel to scout one of Akali’sperformances, ultimately inviting the youngrapper and producer to complete the group.EVELYNNEvelynn is K/DA’s lead vocalist,wielding a hypnotic stagepresence like no other. Neverone to stay in the shadows,she relishes the crowd’sreactions to her masterfullycrafted image. Co-founder ofK/DA alongside her counterpartAhri, Evelynn edges the grouptowards their most thrillingcreative risks.NOVEMBER 2018POP/STARS releases and isan instant smash hit. The banddebuts their live performance atthe League of Legends WorldChampionship.AUGUST 2020The pre-releasesingle of the EP, THEBADDEST drops,marking the publicreturn of K/DA.JANUARY 2020With renewedenergy andinspirations, K/DAbegins work inearnest on theirnew EP.AUGUST 2020Fans share viral sensationSeraphine’s work online, taggingK/DA and catching the eye ofEvelynn. K/DA invites Seraphine tocollaborate on a song in the EP.