K/DA’s return with FIRESTARTER brings the virtual pop supergroup into a new era, trading on the explosive energy that made “POP/STARS” a global phenomenon while introducing fresh voices to its fictional lineup. The four-track EP reunites MIYEON and SOYEON of i-dle as Ahri and Akali, respectively, while Sophie Powers steps into Evelynn’s role alongside Mimi Webb as Kai’Sa.
The project arrives eight years after K/DA’s 2018 debut, which helped transform League of Legends characters into pop stars with identities that extend far beyond the game. Since then, the group has amassed more than 2.7 billion global streams and 1.8 billion video views, while “POP/STARS” earned RIAA Platinum certification. With FIRESTARTER, Riot Games and Virgin Music Group revive that formula through four songs that combine K-pop, electronic pop, and the larger-than-life attitude of the virtual group’s universe.
The title track set the tone ahead of the EP’s release, pairing forceful electronic production and heavy bass with a chorus built around unapologetic confidence. MIYEON, SOYEON, Sophie Powers, and Mimi Webb share the spotlight, switching between English and Korean lyrics as they embrace the chaos promised by the song’s central refrain. Its high-energy sound establishes a clear direction for the project, balancing K/DA’s familiar K-pop identity with a sharper electro-pop edge.
Powers emerges as one of the EP’s defining new additions. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter appears on three of its four tracks, bringing her own electronic and hyperpop influences to a group whose appeal has always depended on the collision of different musical personalities. On “WATCH ME,” she and Webb trade vocals over a driving electronic beat, maintaining the polished K-pop framework while allowing their individual styles to come through.
Still, the strongest connection to K/DA’s origins comes from MIYEON and SOYEON. The i-dle members return on the title track before reuniting for “NEVER GOING BACK,” a confident, forward-moving song that captures the fearless attitude at the heart of the project. Their chemistry feels natural, and the track’s message of independence gives the EP one of its clearest standout moments.
The closing song, “GIRLS,” takes a different route. Featuring Sophie Powers over production associated with DJ Sona, Royal & the Serpent, and Sorana, it leans further into the electro-pop and hyperpop sensibilities that define Powers’ solo sound. Its recurring “Girls will be girls” refrain reinforces the project’s all-female identity, bringing the four-song release to a close on its own terms.
Beyond the music, FIRESTARTER also reconnects K/DA with the visual world that helped establish its cultural footprint. The title track’s music video comes from Fortiche Production, the animation studio behind Arcane and the group’s breakout “POP/STARS” video.
From the explosive title track to the more individualistic closing cut, scroll down to see the full FIRESTARTER song ranking.
Related
Watch Me
Girls
Firestarter
Never Going Back
Photo: Riot Games
Leave a Reply