REIRIE, the most highly anticipated, and surprising, new unit of 2023 dropped their debut MV yesterday. REIRIE marks the reunion of two of the most highly revered talents in chika idol, Rei Kuromiya and Rie Kaneko, who first endeared themselves to the world with LADYBABY. The re-assembly of this well-loved duo was announced on New Years Day, which makes the title of their first single entirely appropriate for this Year of the Rabbit.
Kaneko Rie
Let’s Discover Rie Kaneko’s New Project, Ilie
Ilie is a solo project of Rie Kaneko who we know and love as the only original member of LADYBABY whose tenure lasted for the duration of the unit. At some point after hanging up the leather and lace of her former death pop group, Rie signed on with the ultra-hip ekoms production and management company (home of Qumali Depart, CROSSNOESIS and the dearly missed Maison book girl). She debuted as Ilie back in July with this MV for “aimai”.
Ladybaby Will Live(?)
Color me somewhat surprised — after Rei unceremoniously split and Rie started up on her solo project, I was among those who thought that Ladybaby, of whatever iteration, was as good as dead. Yes, this is idol, and humans are interchangeable parts, and Ladybaby management has been pretty cutthroat about personnel in the past, but still.
So then imagine how hard the coffee shot out of my face when I read this:
Officially announced today at Kaneko Rie-chan's seijinshiki event there will be recruitment for new member/s for LADYBABY.#LADYBABY #TheIdolFormerlyKnownAsLADYBABY
— ラップスター (@VizMajor) January 8, 2018
