HYBE Launches Virtual Girl Group SYNDI8 — One Member Referenced aespa Karina? 

Amid the popularity of virtual K-pop groups, HYBE also debuted SYNDI8. However, it drew mixed reactions as netters noticed its similarities to aespa, even allegedly copying Karina’s name.

On June 27, the virtual girl group SYNDI8 made its entry into the K-pop scene under Supertone, an artificial intelligence (AI) audio technology company owned by the multi-label corporation, HYBE.

On this day, they dropped its first single album, “MVP” which is composed of three songs, “My Fantasy,” “ATOTA,” and “True Color.”

(Photo : SYNDI8 (Instiz))

In particular, based on SYNDI8’s profile, they are a four-member group comprising Canary, Nest, Goyo and Raven. Their name was the amalgamation of the word, “SYNTHESIS” and the number “8,” which means that 4 members were born from 4 voices.

Their concept was then set in a virtual world called Nancy Land, a worldview based on voices, which is the source of power that moves the world. Through their voices, they create a magical world regardless of their different races.

Its album, “MVP” is an album that evokes nostalgia and gives a sense of future-oriented retro-futurism. It reveals the journey of SYND8 who set out to find the power of the Magic Voice Prism in Nancy Land.

(Photo : Nest (Instiz))

(Photo : Goyo (Instiz))

(Photo : Raven (Instiz)

The title song “ATOTA” then sings about the process of finding your true voice to realize the magic of connecting your first voice. The song “My Fantasy'” expresses the moment when the members, who learned how to freely use their voice magic in Nancy Land, achieve their dream of performing on their first stage. ‘”True Color” contains the members’ strong desire to find their true voices.

As HYBE is a top-tier company, there is a huge interest if will they bring a new wind to the music industry, given that virtual groups are making their wave among K-pop stans such as PLAVE and MAVE:

However, rather than full support, HYBE became the center of criticism from K-pop fans after knowing more information about the girl group.

A lot brought back the “obsession” of HYBE with aespa and claimed that the virtual girl group referenced SM’s Entertainment artist.

Just like aespa, SYNDI8 is also a member group that has certain characters that they are playing. Canary’s name also used the same  Hangul character as Karina, which draws attention to the virtual idol’s name inspired by the aespa member who was often compared to AI.

(Photo : Canary (Instiz))

aespa karina (Photo : Instagram)

Here are some of the comments:

• “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.”