ILLIT's first single "Topping" is out digitally ahead of its September 1 release, gaining attention after a surprise concert debut.
August/11/2025 10:17Related Groups & Members
ILLIT's first single in Japan "Stop Time" includes the track "Topping," which is set for digital pre-release on September 1, attracting attention. Today, on August 11 at 0:00, "Topping" was released in advance on various music distribution services. On August 2, a part of the song was featured in a web commercial for the new collection of the Lacoste 2025 sneaker campaign, where ILLIT serves as an ambassador, generating buzz. Additionally, on the 10th, "Topping" was unexpectedly debuted at the first fan concert "2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY IN JAPAN" at Kanagawa's Pia Arena MM. The singer-songwriter noa, who participated in the production, also appeared, realizing a collaboration. The surprise heightened the excitement in the venue. "Topping" is a pop genre song that depicts the diverse emotions of a girl on her first date and the special feelings experienced during a romance. It illustrates the thrill of a first date and the difficulty of expressing true feelings, contrasting with a plain feeling without 'toppings.' The lyrics uniquely express the sentiment that even if the meeting is ambiguous, wearing cute clothes (adding toppings) can silently convey, 'Is this a date?' The playful lyrics "Top Top Topping" convey the special feeling of falling in love, providing enjoyment to listeners. The song features top-line composition and lyrics by the new generation singer-songwriter noa, who has created buzz on TikTok with songs like "All-Directional Beautiful Girl," maximizing its addictive quality. noa stated about the production, "In this work, I aimed to create lyrics that embody a girl with courage to express her feelings within ILLIT's sparkling and cute image. I hope it becomes a song that remains in everyone's memory." Expectations are high for the chemistry that will arise from ILLIT's encounter, which has led trends primarily through short-form content. The first single in Japan, "Stop Time," is a work that encapsulates the sparkle and fleeting youth of straightforward girls, featuring two new original Japanese songs, "Stop Time" and "Topping," along with the Japanese version of the title track from the 3rd mini-album "Borrowed Cat (Do the Dance) (Japanese Ver.)" and the long-hit original Japanese song "Almond Chocolate," which has gone viral on TikTok, totaling four tracks. The previously released collaboration with Care Bears™ and two types of concept photos have also attracted attention. Following this, a music video teaser will be released on the 31st, and the music video will be unveiled on September 1. ILLIT will continue with their first fan concert "2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY IN JAPAN" today on the 11th at Kanagawa's Pia Arena MM, and on September 3 and 4 at Osaka Castle Hall. The general reserved seat tickets for all four performances have sold out, indicating ILLIT's high popularity. Furthermore, they are set to perform at the "ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2025" on September 14, marking their first appearance as a K-POP girl group alongside IVE. Attention continues to be focused on the rise of the "audio powerhouse" ILLIT.
Related Articles
ILLIT held their first solo concert in Japan, '2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY IN JAPAN,' on August 10-11, selling out all seats. They performed 13 songs, including their new single, and engaged with fans through various activities, building anticipation for their upcoming Japanese debut.
On the morning of the 9th, ILLIT departed from Gimpo International Airport to Japan for their fan concert '2025 ILLIT GLITTER DAY,' scheduled for August 10-11 in Kanagawa and September 3-4 in Osaka. This marks ILLIT's first solo concert series, featuring a collaboration with Care Bears and the release of their first single 'Time, Stop.'
HYBE announced record Q2 2025 earnings with sales of 705.6 billion won, a 10.2% increase from last year. The success of world tours and artist activities, including BTS and SEVENTEEN, contributed significantly. Despite a slight decline in album sales, indirect revenue from merchandise and fan clubs surged, indicating strong growth.
Kang Daniel secured first place on the chart with his single "Episode," despite not performing live. The June 28th 'Show! Music Core' featured a vibrant lineup of K-pop artists, including NINA, H1-KEY, ENHYPEN, and fromis_9, showcasing the power of fan engagement in the digital era.
BTS's Jimin and Jungkook have received nominations for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards in several categories, including 'Top Global K-Pop Artist' and 'Top Global K-Pop Song.' Jimin's song 'Who' and Jungkook's '3D' are among the nominees, highlighting their ongoing popularity and impact in the music industry.
The 2024 SBS歌謡大典 will take place on December 25 at Incheon Inspire Arena, showcasing a lineup of popular K-POP artists. The second lineup includes SHINee's Key, NCT 127, ATEEZ, aespa, ENHYPEN, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, and ILLIT, promising a festive Christmas event. This annual festival highlights the best of K-POP during the holiday season.
The 2024 FNS歌謡祭 has announced its third wave of artists, featuring ILLIT and ENHYPEN on the first night, and Jejung on the second. ILLIT will perform 'Magnetic' while ENHYPEN will debut 'Polaroid Love' at Universal Studios Japan. Previous announcements included popular K-POP groups like aespa and Stray Kids. The festival airs on December 4 and 11.
The 2024 MAMA AWARDS opened in Los Angeles, marking the first K-POP awards in the U.S. Hosted by Park Bo-gum, it featured Hollywood presenters and celebrated artists like TWS and ILLIT. The event emphasized the blending of cultures and music, with awards for best new artists and performances.
The 66th Japan Record Awards will be aired live on TBS from 5:30 PM to 10 PM on December 30. Notable winners include NewJeans for 'Supernatural' and LE SSERAFIM for the Special International Music Award. ILLIT won the Rookie Award, marking a significant achievement for K-POP girl groups.
ILLIT's 2nd mini-album 'I'LL LIKE YOU' debuted at 94 on Billboard 200, marking their second consecutive entry. They are the only K-POP artist this year with two albums on the chart. Their presence is notable across various Billboard charts, including 2nd on 'World Albums' and 1st as 'Emerging Artist.' They will perform at major events like the 2024 MAMA AWARDS and NHK Kouhaku.
