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HYBE x Geffen’s The Debut: Dream Academy is just days away from its finale and the girl group’s reveal, and the top 10 contestants sat down with Billboard‘s Tetris Kelly to reflect on their time in the competition so far. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I feel […]
The competition is narrowing down in The Debut: Dream Academy, and on Sunday (Nov. 5), the top 10 finalists were revealed. The latest eliminations came after the last of the competition’s three missions ended. The third mission was focused on demonstrating the remaining contestants’ artistry while executing various musical concepts. One group performed Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” […]
The 20 contestants of The Debut: Dream Academy were put to the test on Friday (Sept. 15) when they completed the first mission of the competition. And the newest YouTube installment of the girl group competition also says goodbye to its first two finalists.
The mission was a showcase with the goal to “level up your skills as a global girl group,” as the contestants were previously split into two dance teams and two vocal teams. “Team members are crucial business partners, and it’s important to know proper work etiquette with your business partner,” HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk explained in the first episode, which aired last week.
The girls were split into four teams for the mission, with two vocal teams and two dance teams. The first dance team consisted of Daniela, Megan, UA, Adéla and Hinari, while the second dance team featured Emily, Ezrela, Marquise, Yoonchae and Mei. The first vocal team included Karlee, Lexie, Iliya, Brooklyn and Manon and the second vocal team consisted of Sophia, Lara, Celeste, Samara and Nayoung.
Fans voted on WeVerse and YouTube for their favorite contestants after the jaw-dropping performances, but ultimately, the first two contestants eliminated in the mission were 19-year-old Adéla from Slovakia and 14-year-old Hinari from Japan (pictured below).
Adela
Courtesy of HYBE x Geffen Records
Hinari
Courtesy of HYBE x Geffen Records
The remaining 18 contestants have flown from Los Angeles to Korea for Mission No. 2, where they will continue the competition at a training & development facility where many K-pop groups have trained.
When the 20 finalists were announced last month, Chairman Bang said at a press event in LA: “I have wanted to form an international group based on K-pop methodology for a while. To do this, I believed we needed a capable partner. When I met [Interscope Geffen A&M Records CEO] John [Janick], from the first moment, we both felt instantly that we had a connection, musically and creatively. I am very proud of the rich history we have made and the tremendous talent we have found. I am proud of the opportunities we have created within the K-pop universe.”
For his part, Janick added: “Since we began our partnership two years ago, Bang and I have often spoken about our shared beliefs in artist development, music and creativity. To develop a global group with Bang, with the best of K-pop methodology, and our Geffen team, is truly special and will bring to life a first-of-its kind experience in music. Each candidate is incredibly talented, dedicated, and driven, making this an exciting moment for music fans around the world.”
Watch the episode above.
The Debut: Dream Academy has arrived.
The first episode of the competition series aired on Friday (Sept. 1) featured all 20 contestants as they watched a conversation between HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk and Interscope Geffen A&M Records CEO John Janick, as they give advice on what it takes to succeed in a girl group. “If you don’t love music, you won’t succeed,” he explains.
Janick added, “I feel like to be a successful part of this group, it’s going to require a huge amount of creativity and passion. I think with every artist, that’s what we’re looking for.”
The duo then ran down the first mission of the competition series, a showcase that aims to “level up your skills as a global girl group,” in which the contestants are split into two dance teams and two vocal teams. The mission will result in two eliminations. “Team members are crucial business partners, and it’s important to know proper work etiquette with your business partner,” Bang Si-Hyuk explained.
The executives then explained the two other missions of the series. According to an explainer also shared to Dream Academy‘s YouTube page, in the team mission, the contestants will head to Korea to compete before another series of eliminations. The artistry mission will test the contestant’s “ability to pull off unique concepts” before the final girl group is revealed at the live finale on Nov. 17.
Finally, the girls were split into their teams. The first dance team, which will be performing BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom,” features Daniela, Megan, UA, Adéla and Hinari. The second dance team, which will be performing NewJeans’ “OMG,” features Emily, Ezrela, Marquise, Yoonchae and Mei. The first vocal team, which will be performing a mashup of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” and Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” features Karlee, Lexie, Iliya, Brooklyn and Manon. The second vocal team, which will be performing Paramore’s “Still Into You,” features Sophia, Lara, Celeste, Samara and Nayoung.
The diverse group of young women were selected from more than 120,000 submissions after HYBE and Geffen announced the joint venture — HYBE x Geffen Global Girl Group Audition — in November 2021.
Watch the full first episode below.
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