monozip

[monozip]

Kep1er: the wrong agency, the wrong time but the right people.

Despite all of that, Kep1er is truly a lovely group.

Kep1er a 9 membered group formed in a relatively new survival show: gp999 had always been criticized and feasted on by vultures, getting picked on one by one without any room for sympathy. But the main criticism mainly centers their popularity: moreso how it does not live up or matches the popularity of other alumni's of mnet's survival show pipeline. And simply put, most of the blame could be partially placed on the company— the marketing team, the creative director directing their career's and all the inbetweens.

The company had done little actions to even prevent harm and malicious intent towards the girls. One of the members was massively dogpilled on mere minutes-hours after the show ended, and the malicious comments and intentions spread to the whole group, and the company still remains silent on this matter.

The line-up is amazing: it has great-amazing dancers, solid vocalists, amazing performers, entertaining and charming members. But even if it was the contrary, as long as they had solid and competent team behind them: they can far— farther than what their current team are letting them.

Marketing and promotions is truly a need, but another aspect that comes to mind is the whole's career trajectory/creative direction. In this era of kpop where graphic design, fashion and alike have a more noticeable stake in a group's popularity— the cohesion between design and music is important. Although as design goes, the team behind kep1er perhaps need to up their game but ultimately decent, but for music? I think their fine, amazing even. The catalog of music they have is amazing, they have a good assortment of genres and beats.

In my opinion there are two ways groups these days create a 'hit', three even. The group either already have a solid fanbase, the group had a vision, a solid, innovative concept/direction in a concept that caters to the groups overall concept. Or both. Well what do I mean by the second way? I felt like the team was doing well during wa da da and up! era, although distinctly different, you could still see the semblance of fun galatic girls with the insestance of space related motifs. Although we fresh, in my opinion, was good as well and I do think it was one of their best in terms of graphic and design— the frontier: the title track was not received warmly by the public, and frankly that was like the 9th circle of kep1ian hell. Giddy was a reboot and altough the space motifs that they had started with are not that noticeable or prominent it was a good era either way, design-wise.

With the group's name deriving from a known astronomer, i had hoped in the beginning before they've made their first impact that the team managing kep1er would've thought to keep the space motifs as the main focal point of the group's concept up until the end of their contract.

A group branching out from their usual concept is in my own a good thing! It's lovely to see a group try something new, show growth and flexibility, although theirs nothing wrong with sticking with the same old. But i do think the team behind kep1er just didn't it do it with grace, leaving the group to plummet harshly.

All of these things matters, simply because it affects these girl's career in the long shot. Of course rebuilding one's career is possible but with how the company holds them back, we won't see it right now or in the near future.

It's quite saddening how the company would not invest in the group, but would for their orher groups— I do think that they are managed by different teams. But its frustrating: barely having any promotion for them. They've definitely book more gigs for them, open up opportunities for the group members like have them post vocal or dance covers (which they did!!! but

...abandoned), cater content that alligns with the member's skills that fans may be curious of (perhaps baking content with recipes from the member like Bahiyyih which expressed her interest in cooking). So many possibilities, an amazing group with amazing members, but the cogs are not spinning. And i hope the girls know they are worth more than what the company is offering them.

[monozip]

JUST SOME THOUGHTS 💭 : the nine circles of loona hell.

After the very straining and soul-sucking battle that is BBC (although its not totally over! court-hearings are still due on August, it is still relieving knowing all 12 are out of BBC) new doors are opening up for the girls: as an odd eye circle comeback is right around the corner, a new wave of thrill and excitement is brewing up but, akin to the feeling of getting kicked on the stomach and as you stand up getting kicked again....orbits not only relive the feeling of euphoria to a new comeback, they'll also feel the same dread and annoyance at the piss poor management.

Modhaus choose to stray away from the usual path a company would do for promoting their artist, that being with NFTS and the benefit of voting for certain things due to said NFT. And it seems to be working for other group under Modhaus. I understand the need/or want for a uniform marketing scheme, but I wonder if Modhaus ever wondered or taken into consideration if the majority of OEC/Artms demographic and fans actually...gives a shit.

Although being a hot topic during 2021 (and years prior to that), it slowly started dwindling back in the shadows as other waves of trends came crashing in.But even then it seems as if NFT is just a rich mans toy that also happened to pack a punch at mother earth: the whole novelty about NFTs are the cha-ching linked to it, you'd just oggle and laugh at the cartoonishly high prices celebrities pay for ugly drawings of monkeys or even participate in it just for a quick buck.

Yet I don't see why it's necessary to even have NFTS in Artm's case considering how environmentally degrading it is. If they wanted to earn a quick buck out of these fans they could've just simply locked those photos on a paywall, there are many avenues and paths that can lead them to the same place. Also factor in the fact that majority or at least a good chunk of the fandom either don't care or vehemently hate it, so it just stirs a lot of negativity in forums or platforms where positivity is a better option— and yet Modhaus or any company really, never listens to the fandom's wishes/thoughts/feedback which is a big blunder due to the fact that fans are what feeds these companies, without an audience there is no place for their music to thrive.

But what about the albums? They're environmentally degrading too!

See, this is where my main gripe about NFTS actually formulate. I'm very much aware that everything I consume in my life can and will damage the environment one way or another, but there's actually a purpose behind those things. NFTS on the other hand...not so much. They are soulless pieces of merchandise, thats soul purpose starts and ends with it being a selfie whilst damaging the environment. Albums is a great garden to grow and see even a tiny speck of art. The inclusions are also another factor, it's a medium for art to flourish and has some real life uses to it (cd's).

Aside from the drift between fans and NFTS. Scheduling, lack of 'hype' is a big sore in the comeback, considering how the members themselves spoke about how they wish for a win. Why couldn't they manage their calendars correctly? Why aren't they hiring employees that can cater for a better outcome? Why are there dead zones of silence in between teasers? There's also overpricing of tour tickets (the announcement being before we even got the video teaser, me-thinks it would've worked out much better if they announced it in the middle of promotions as the hype may still be around).

Promoting Loona had always been a pleasure for orbits especially in their hayday before the great Armageddon, but now as the tides are shifting: there is now a realization that orbits antics may just backfire: Promoting the group is always the companies job, it's merely an option for the fans. And it's not as if Modhaus is a company majorly lacking in resources, so why can't they do it themselves? And the bare minimum is not to ghost fans leading up to the release date, there are ways to bring in hype and extra content without even straining or overworking the girls themselves. Posting hints about the comeback, interesting tidbits and trivia about it, even posting a little screencap of the mv is a decent way to generate curiosity regarding the comeback.

I do appreciate those little shortcuts video they post, content better than nothing at least.

It's just tiring seeing oec/artms re-living the same old issues under the hand of the same old man.

But that aside, I do genuinely look forward for this comeback (or re-debut maybe?). I dig the concept and especially the first few set of photo teasers as it was very interesting and alluring. It's wonderful that they choose to recall previous details for the sub-unit's comeback/re-debut as it really gives a rush to old fans and can create interest to the new ones. Tiny thing, but I really like the details they placed on the eyepatches like the laces and stuff. Love the thick bangs on Choerry too. The video teasers were also an amazing watch, just hearing OEC's old songs now as they are in a new chapter in their career, new company, new everything, is just thrilling and sweet. I wonder (delusions) if Haseul or Heejin will be a featured artists in their b-sides! That'll be fun for sure.