The new Asian group being developed by the people behind K-pop group SKarf should be able to sing in at least five different languages. Singapore's first K-pop girl group held auditions in December 2015 to look for their next big star.
The 500 applicants who signed up thought the talent company Big Boss Entertainment was looking for another addition to their existing girl group. Two days after the auditions at Chinatown Point in Singapore, applicants who were shortlisted were told that they would need to perform in different languages, The New Paper has learned.
Big Boss Entertainment's decision to cast a diverse group of performers comes with its goal to break into the K-pop, J-pop, Mandopop, Cantopop and English pop markets. Marketing the talents as a "flexi-group" would mean they could survive any music trend, Mr. Alan Chan, one of the talent company's directors, told website.
In an exclusive interview with The New Paper, Chan said that they would be calling their next girl unit Asian Pop group. "If they can sing and perform in different languages, they can go anywhere and make it anywhere," Chan told the website.
This new strategy came after founding SKarf in 2010. The girl group consists of one Singaporean and three South Koreans. The group has since been sold to South Korean entertainment company CJ E&M.
Chan explains in the interview that by creating only a K-pop group, they were limiting their possibilities. "Longevity is the goal and that is what we are striving for," Chan told TNP.
From the hundreds of applicants, only eight people were shortlisted. Five of them were asked to perform to SKarf's "My Love" as their own girl group.
However, the finalists were not happy upon learning about the new twist of introducing them as an Asian Pop group. Three of the five admitted their disappointment as they hoped to become part of SKarf.
One singer, on the other hand, took the twist as a good surprise as long as she gets to be a singer. Another finalist said to TNP that she is not one to shy away from challenges.
SKarf made their official debut in August 2012 by releasing their first self-titled album "SKarf". "Oh! Dance" was their first title song. Since their start, two members have left the group girl including Ferlyn Wong who wanted to pursue a solo career, according to Korean pop culture website Omona They Didn't.