05/06/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | JUNE 5, 2025

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First Malaysian female artiste to debut in K-pop o Klang native makes waves in Korean music industry

L INGLING has become the first Malaysian female act to debut with six-member K-pop girl group Kiiras. Her debut comes with the release of the group’s single Kill Ma Bo$$ last week. The starlet has been gaining steady popularity among K-pop fans, especially Malaysians, after she finished second in the pre-voting for Mnet’s I-Land 2: Final Countdown , the show that formed Hybe’s Enhypen in 2020, last year. ‘Language genius’ leader A true polygot, Lingling has earned the title “language genius” within the group and fandom (still awaiting its official name). Like most foreign members in the K-pop industry, she has been naturally pushed into the spotlight as she navigates an often demanding and unforgiving industry. The 20-year-old also carries the responsibility of being Kiiras’s leader, a role that adds more weight to her journey. But she will not be walking alone, as by her side are her bandmates, Harin, Kurumi, Kylie, Doyeon and youngest member Roah – and together the group sets the stage to becoming a defining force in K-pop. Gen Z rookies with powerful message Dubbed the new Gen Z K-pop idols, Kiiras breathes fresh air into the industry with a new concept by stepping back a few years. Think Taylor Swift’s Debut with cowboy hats and boots, but reimagined with a Kiiras twist. Embracing the “Wild Wild West”, Kiiras trades in popular K-pop concepts such as Y2K, princess and girl crush for a bold country-Western vibe. It makes a bold entrance into the K-pop scene with its debut single Kill Ma Bo$$ – a country-inspired track, laced with R&B and hip-hop elements. The track stands as a girl power anthem, effectively delivering the group’s ambitious message to its listeners as it unapologetically challenges norms and sets new standards. With a striking “Old West” visual concept, Kiiras steps boldly into uncharted territory, perhaps heralding a new K-pop era. Kill Ma Bo$$ can be streamed on all music platforms.

Lingling is a Klang girl.

Kiiras debuts under the label LeanBranding.

Thai rapper Milli drops new single

Haunting aftermath of first love POP singer Regina Song has made her musical return, dropping a new heart-wrenching single Love Me Again . The single is a devastatingly intimate

THAI rapper Milli, famously known for her collaboration with Stray Kids’s Changbin and F. Hero on Mirror Mirror , just dropped her second single Menace , which is a prelude to her upcoming album Heavyweight . The release follows her first single One Punch . “After the intense One Punch , I am shifting towards R&B vibes with Menace . The intensity of the two songs is very different,” shared Milli. The song carry “a much lighter groove”, said the 22-year-old artiste, adding that the lyrics contradict the vibe because “they represent my own pain of choosing to walk away from a relationship that was hurting me”. Accompanying the second single, Milli also treated fans to a music video for Menace , which marks a significant transformation for her as she transitions from her “tough girl” debut image to a sensual, sexier one. The music video was directed by Puangsoi Rose Aksornsawang. Painting a clearer image for Menace , Milli said: “This is a confident step forward, with me telling myself that I will no longer be the only one being victimised – that I am good enough. “The song is a result of a collaboration with a foreign producer during an 88Rising song camp in Los Angeles.” Milli is not a mere newcomer, she has been in the game for a while and

and emotionally charged love song that revolves around the themes of longing, regret and the cruel passage of time. Written during an emotionally turbulent period of her life, Love Me Again revisits the haunting aftermath of her first love. The song captures a moment of clarity in the process of moving on, when the initial anger fades, leaving behind an aching wish to turn back time to what once was. The lingering melody of this track underscores the fragility of moving on from a relationship, inviting listeners to grieve

Love Me Again revisits Song’s first love.

million monthly listeners on Spotify. The Singaporean singer was also selected as Spotify’s 2024 Radar artiste and has performed at multiple shows, including a sold-out Southeast Asia tour last January and Wanderland Festival in the Philippines last March.

together, look back on good times fondly and wonder about the possibilities that could have been. Since gaining fame for her debut single The Cutest Pair , Song has become among the most-streamed artistes in Singapore – having over one

Milli is a 22-year-old rapper from Thailand.

which led to collaborations with K-pop big names such as Bibi ( The Weekend ) and Jackson Wang ( Mind Games ). Menace can be streamed on all music platforms.

in 2022, she made headlines for being the first Thai solo artiste to perform on the main stage at Coachella. Known for her fierce rap bars and petite stature, Milli gradually gained recognition via the online platforms