11 Asian pop girl groups you need to know — NewJeans, BINI, MISAMO, Secret Number, XG, KAIA, and more

The girls are taking over. 

Across the region, we’ve been treated to a wide range of music from a powerful bunch of girl groups over the past couple of months. Whether it be new favourites that have found their way to our hearts and playlists or old favourites that you can always count on to release bangers, they’ve always been stars that serve fun, excitement, and energy.

Before Women’s Month comes to an end, we’re shining a light on the kaleidoscope of pop girl groups that add colour to our lives. From K-pop’s rising hitmakers NewJeans and FIFTY FIFTY to the Philippines’ glittering stars BINI and KAIA, here are some Asian pop girl groups you need to know about. 

NewJeans

From the global phenomenon that is ‘Hype Boy’ to the ear-wormy hit ‘OMG’, NewJeans are taking over. A breath of fresh air in a sea of loud, overproduced tracks, the ADOR act ditched convention and instead carved out their own space with their signature graceful R&B sound topped with the K-pop sheen that we love and adore.

Praised for their quaint yet jam-packed discography, the quintet have grown to be one of the most popular acts in music today. In less than a year, NewJeans have booked major festivals, won an array of accolades, and worked with some of the world’s biggest brands. And there’s not a soul that won’t drop everything to dance to ‘Hype Boy’.

FIFTY FIFTY

FIFTY FIFTY are an absolute dream. Whether it’s their wispy melodies, honeylike vocals, or pristine harmonies, the four-piece have a way of making you feel like you’re floating on cloud nine. Despite emerging at the tail-end of what was a great year for K-pop girl group debuts, the ‘Higher’ act have already cemented themselves as a powerful force in music. 

Just recently, FIFTY FIFTY entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their latest hit ‘Cupid’, achieving an incredible milestone for a group that debuted less than six months ago.

BINI

Radiant, sweet, and genuine, BINI live in a colourful soundscape that you can’t help but be drawn into. With their infectious bubblegum pop sound and incredible vocals coupled with their stories of believing in yourself, falling in love, and rising from hardship, the Filipino act build a fun, feminine fantasy world where you can simply be. 

BINI debuted in 2021 with their single ‘Born To Win’ and have since continued to push forward the burgeoning P-pop scene both within and beyond the Philippines with hits like ‘Na Na Na’ and ‘Lagi’.

KAIA 

Whether you’re looking to dance or conquer the world, KAIA has just the music for you. Centred around their mission to inspire, the P-pop act fills the airwaves with songs that uplift your spirits, soothe your heart, and get you on your feet. Compassionate and true to themselves, the girls want to share their stories and experiences the best way they know how: backed by a dynamic electropop beat you can’t help but dance to. 

MISAMO 

TWICE is a familiar name to many being one of the most popular K-pop acts out there today; so when the group’s Mina, Sana, and Momo announced that they’re forming a Japanese subunit, you can just imagine the excitement. While the trio have yet to make their official debut as MISAMO, the love and adoration for them have already reached sky-high.

MISAMO is set to officially debut this July. 

R Rules

Don’t get it twisted, R Rules are not like any other girl group you’ve seen. Packing a punch and a kick, the Japanese-Filipino group are breaking boundaries, paving a path that’s uniquely their own. Often bringing together Japanese and Filipino cultures, R Rules put together their distinct individuality to empower and ignite a flame in their listeners, all while sharing their eclectic blend of pop, hip-hop, and EDM.

Secret Number

Secret Number aren’t a group that’s difficult to decipher, they’re bold, daring, and brimming with talent. Often recognised for being the first K-pop group to have an Indonesian member (Dita), the ‘TAP’ stars are known for their electronic fast-paced tracks full of excitement and energy. 

PiXXiE

Living up to their name, PiXXiE are a group straight out of a fairytale. Ethereal yet fierce, the Thai girl group have been making waves since their debut in 2021. Taking us to ‘PiXXiELAND’ with each and every release, the trio are characterised for their exhilarating pop sound that has a smidgen of whimsy and a whole lot of power.  

XG

Like they so powerfully deliver in ‘Shooting Star’, everything XG does is “A1, flawless”. Rising to meteoric success in just the last couple of months, the J-pop act captured everyone’s attention with their fast-paced trilingual rap verses in ‘GALZ XYPHER’—even earning praises from the likes of Jackon Wang, MILLI, and MaSiWei of H1gher Brothers.

Since then, the girls have taken the world on quite the ride. Armed with a swagger you can’t quite shake off, XG make fierce power anthems with catchy choruses that linger long after it’s over. 

Lapillus

LAPILLUS are set on taking over. Within just a couple of months of their debut, the six-piece pop outfit have already captured the hearts of thousands across the world and not just because they’ve already embarked on their first international tour. From their enticing stage presence to their electropop brazen power anthems, it’s not hard to fall in love with the multicultural K-pop group. 

Nogizaka46

With their bubbly vocals and adorable pop sound that’s reminiscent of sunshine and rainbows, Nogizaka46 never fail to brighten up our days. Even as we see new girls group emerge, the Sakamichi Series act continues to stand on top, cementing themselves as an impeccable force in J-pop.