ITZY on Tour

ITZY are one of K-pop's most meteoric girl groups, a collection of five singers who debuted in early 2019 and swiftly found themselves with a record-breaking hit single on their hands. Within a day of releasing "Dalla Dalla" (a play on the Korean word for "different"), the band discovered their debut video had broken the record for most-viewed K-pop video in 24 hours. The video did more than that, however: It showcased the quintet's emphasis on self-confidence and self-expression, while promoting the band's lethal dance moves and striking visual presence. With a sound that relies heavily on EDM and house, ITZY focus on high-energy dance music that keeps a crowd energized — with only rare detours into balladry. In late 2019, the group undertook a showcase tour, starting off in Jakarta and visiting cities throughout Asia before landing in the U.S. in early 2020, where their fan base, known as MIDZY, proved their love for the group with tribute videos and more.

ITZY Background

JYP Entertainment, the powerhouse South Korean company behind the girl group TWICE, has thrown its weight behind ITZY. The singers, though ranging in age from just 16 to 19 when the group was founded, were already veterans of South Korea's K-pop industry: Chaeryeong had competed on the musical survival show Sixteen, and Ryujin (the band's rapper) was a contestant on Mix Nine. Singer and bandleader Yeji appeared on The Fan, and all the members (except Lia) were part of Mnet's reality show Stray Kids in 2017. Once they signed with JYP, the group trained intensively for years — even living together — before releasing their first EP, It'z Icy, in July 2019. It'z Me followed in March 2020, and the group expanded their sound palette into rock 'n' roll with a third EP, Not Shy, in August 2020. Their fierce lyrics are bolstered by an international conglomerate of songwriters and producers, which includes Korean luminaries like SM Entertainment songwriter Kenzie, Swedish innovators including Cazzi Opeia and Caesar & Loui, as well as others based in the U.K. and Norway. That creative ferment has kept the energy high and the sound electric, while a reality show filmed in Paris helped fans connect on a more personal level with these rising K-pop idols.