April (band)

April
Also known as APRIL
Origin Seoul, South Korea
Genres K-pop
Years active 2015 (2015)–present
Labels DSP Media
Associated acts
Website http://dspmedia.co.kr/april/
Members
Past members
  • Somin
  • Hyunjoo

April (Hangul: 에이프릴) also styled as APRIL is a South Korean girl group formed by DSP Media in 2015. They debuted on August 24, 2015, with releasing mini-album Dreaming.[1][2] The group is currently composed of six members: Chaekyung, Chaewon, Naeun, Yena, Rachel and Jinsol.

History

Pre-debut

From 2012 to 2014, former member Somin and newest member Chaekyung were members of DSP Media Japanese girl group Puretty with releasing singles "Cheki☆Love" in 2012, "Shwa Shwa BABY" in 2013 and then disbanded in 2014 with plans for the members to re-debut into other groups.[3]

In mid-2014, former member Somin, newest member Chaekyung and member Chaewon became finalists in Kara Project, in which seven trainees competed to become the new members of label mates girl group, KARA. Chaekyung was elimined, while Somin and Chaewon made it into the final where they finished in second and fourth place respectively.[4]

In 2016, newest member Chaekyung, together with fellow trainee Cho Shiyoon, represented DSP Media on reality girl group survival show Produce 101 for the chance to debut in a Mnet girl group, where she finished in 16th place. She also participated with other Produce 101 contestant to joined the mockumentary series The God of Music 2 project group, C.I.V.A in July 2016 and joined LOEN Entertainment project group I.B.I in August 2016.

2015: Debut, Somin's departure and Singles

April performing on August 25, 2015.

On February 9, 2015 DSP Media announced that they were going to debut a new girl group, which would be labelled as their labelmate, Fin.K.L's and Kara's sister group.[5]

Following teasers all through the summer, April debuted on August 24, 2015 with the mini-album Dreaming,[1] releasing the music video for their debut album’s title song, "Dream Candy".[2][6]

On November 9, DSP Media announced that after a long discussion, concerning her future, with the agency, April's leader Somin has decided that she would definitely be leaving the group.[7] The same day, DSP Media revealed that the group was rearranged with the 5 remaining members and would have a comeback later during the same month.[8][9]

On November 25, the group released their 1st single album Boing Boing as well as a girl scout-concept MV for its title track, "Muah!",[10][11] followed by a Winter Special Album Snowman accompanied by a music video for the title song of the same name on December 21.[12][13][14]

2016: Spring, 1st concert Dream Land and Line-up changes

On January 29, 2016 it was announced that the group would be holding their 1st fanmeeting in Japan, on March 6, under the name "April JAPAN FANMEETING 2016 ~ The First Fairy tale". The event was presented by they labelmate and former KARA member, Heo Young-ji.[15] A mini-fan meeting was also held in Seoul, on February 27.

On February 12, DSP Media announced that the group’s fan club will be called "Fineapple". The agency explained that the name "Fineapple" is a combination of the words "Fine" and "Apple", which they state is a shortened form of April.[16]

The group performing a few days prior to the release of "Spring".

On February 18, April won the Girl Group Rookie of the Year award at the "22nd Korean Entertainment Arts Awards".[17]

Their second mini album Spring was released on April 27, 2016. On May 12, member Hyunjoo took a temporary hiatus from the group due to breathing problems and frequent headaches.[18]

On July 29, it was annonced that April will hold their 1st solo concert since debut titled Dream Land on August 21, in Seoul.[19][20] The group also hold another concert in Tokyo, Japan, on October 15th.[21]

On 29 October, Hyunjoo revealed a handwritten letter announcing the end of her hiatus and her departure from April to pursue an acting career.[22] DSP Media later confirmed her departure from the group and announced that there will be addition of new members for an upcoming comeback set for early 2017.[23]

On November 11, 2016 DSP Media annonced that former Puretty member, Kara Project and Produce 101 contestant and member of temporary groups I.B.I and C.I.V.A, Yoon Chaekyung had been added to April.[24] On November 23, DSP Media introduced Rachel as the newest member of April and revealed that the group would be making a comeback in January 2017.[25][26]

Members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Discography

APRIL discography
Music videos 7
EPs 2
Singles 4

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[34]
Dreaming 8
Spring
  • Released: April 27, 2016
  • Label: DSP Media, LOEN Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
 12

Single albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[34]
Boing Boing 13
Snowman 14

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[39]
"Dream Candy" 2015 77 Dreaming
"Muah!" 134 Boing Boing
"Snowman" 140 Snowman
"Tinker Bell" 2016 100 Spring
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Appearances and collaborations

Year Title Member(s) Album/Single Note
2014 White Somin, Chaewon White Letter Prior to debut
그대안의 나 (You are the one)
2016 "Pick Me" Chaekyung Produce 101
In the Same Place Produce 101 - 35 Girls 5 Concepts With Girls on Top
시계 (Clock) Chaewon, Chaekyung Clock
Fingertips Love Chaewon, Naeun, Yena & Jinsol "Creating a Healthy Cyber World" Campaign song With B1A4, BTOB, A-JAX, Heo Young-ji, Oh My Girl & Kassy

Filmography

Drama

Year Title TV Network Member(s) Role Note
2014 KARA Secret Love Dramacube Somin Herself Cameo
2015 April Episode DSP Media All except Naeun Themselve
  • Lead role
  • Prior to debut
2016 Mysterious TV Surprise MBC Chaewon Lee NanYoung Appeared on Episode 709
April Love N/A Naeun TBA
  • Lead role
  • VR Webdrama
Reply Pyeongchang, 100 °F KBS Media Chaewon Hwang Hyewon
  • Lead Role
  • Webdrama
Moomin's Room OCN / Naver Hyunjoo Moda
  • Supporting Role
  • Webdrama

Variety Show

Year Title TV Network Member(s) Note
2014 Kara Project MBC Music Somin, Chaewon, Chaekyung Contestants
2015–Present APRIL's ON AIR PRIL DSP Media All Debuted prior to debut
Baek Jong Won's 3 Top Chefs SBS Regular guests
2015 Weekly Idol MBC Every 1 Guests, Episode 215[44]
Here Goes April Naver V Channel
Let's Go Dream Team! Season 2 KBS2 Yena Appeared on Episode 309
The National Best Family BnM Yena, Jinsol
2016 Produce 101 Mnet Chaekyung
Vitamin KBS2 All
The National Best Family BnM Naeun, Jinsol
National Idol Singing Contest KBS Naeun Lunar New Year Special
Idol Star Athletics Championships MBC All
War of Vocals - God's Voice SBS Jinsol Panelist
Daily APRIL AfreecaTV All
My Wish GTV
Pops in Seoul Arirang TV
After School Club All except Hyunjoo Hyunjoo was absent due to her hiatus[18]
Girls Spirit JTBC
  • Fixed cast : Jinsol
  • Guest : Chaewon, Naeun & Yena
 Contestant
Tok! Tok! Boni Hani EBS Jinsol MC
The God of Music 2 Mnet Chaekyung with other Produce 101 contestant as C.I.V.A
Plan Man tagTV, TRENDY
Hello I.B.I JTBC as an I.B.I member

Videography

Music videos

Year Title Director Note
2015 "Dream Candy" Digipedi Debut Music Video
Special Choreography music video
"Muah!" Zanybros Directed by Hong Won-ki
"Snowman" Winter Single, directed by Lim Seok-jin
Special Choreography music video
2016 Noraebang version
"Tinkerbell" Zanybros Directed by Hong Won-ki[45]

Music video appearances

Year Title Artist Member(s)
2012 "(Cheki☆Love)" Puretty Somin, Chaekyung
2013 "BABY (Shwa Shwa BABY)"
2014 "White" DSP Friends Somin, Chaewon
"Born Hater" Epik High Somin[46]
"Stop Stop It" Got7 Naeun
2016 "Pick Me" Produce 101 Chaekyung
"Clock" Chaewon & Chaekyung Chaewon & Chaekyung
"Fingertips Love" With B1A4, BTOB, A-JAX, Heo Young-ji, Oh My Girl & Kassy Chaewon, Naeun, Yena & Jinsol
"WHY" C.I.V.A Chaekyung
"MOLAE MOLAE (몰래몰래)" I.B.I
"I.B.I"

Awards and nominations

Korean Entertainment Art Awards

Bout Year Recipient Award Result
22nd 2016 April Female Rookie of the Year[47] Won

Gaon Chart Awards

Bout Year Recipient Award Result
5th 2016 April Female Rookie of the Year Nominated

Seoul Music Awards

Year Category Recipient Result
2015 "Dream Candy" Bonsang Award Nominated [48]
APRIL New Artist Award Nominated
Popularity Award Nominated
Hallyu Special Award Nominated

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 Lee, Jeong-ah. "'DSP 신인' 에이프릴, 데뷔일 전격 공개". Nate News. SK Communications. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
    2. 1 2 Won, Ho-jung. "April debuts with hopeful song 'Dream Candy'". Kpop Herald. Korea Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
    3. 1 2 "퓨리티 소식 이건 뭐임?". 17 January 2014. DC Inside. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
    4. 1 2 3 Jun, Su-mi. "카라 소속사 "새 멤버 영입 결정, 영입 인원수 미정"". eNews24. CJ E&M. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
    5. ↑ http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/86966/dsp-to-unveil-new-girl-group-april
    6. ↑ Shin, Ji-hye. "[V Report] Rookie girl group April makes debut". Kpop Herald (Korea Herald). Herald Corporation. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
    7. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2015/11/10/aprils-former-leader-somin-reveals-why-she-left-the-group-in-handwritten-letter/
    8. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/11/aprils-somin-leaves-the-group-leaving-it-a-5-member-group
    9. 1 2 November 8, 2015 (2015-11-08). "April Member Somin Leaves Group". Soompi. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
    10. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2015/11/24/april-releases-1st-single-album-boing-boing-and-mv-for-muah/
    11. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/11/april-dream-about-kissing-in-adorable-muah-mv
    12. ↑ http://officiallykmusic.com/april-to-return-this-winter-with-snowman/
    13. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/12/april-are-beautiful-in-white-in-new-snowman-teaser-image
    14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcbDvRVn3vM
    15. ↑ http://contents.innolife.net/news/list.php?ac_id=7&ai_id=211843
    16. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2016/02/11/april-announces-official-fan-club-name/
    17. ↑ "April Takes Home Rookie of the Year Award at the "22nd Korean Entertainment Arts Awards"". Soompi. 2016-02-18. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
    18. 1 2 3 http://www.soompi.com/2016/05/12/aprils-hyunjoo-temporarily-halts-group-promotions-due-to-health-issues/
    19. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2016/07/29/april-hold-first-solo-concert-since-debut/
    20. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/08/april-to-hold-1st-ever-solo-concert-in-celebration-of-1st-anniversary
    21. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/10/april-holds-their-first-solo-concert-in-japan
    22. 1 2 http://www.soompi.com/2016/10/29/breaking-aprils-hyunjoo-posts-handwritten-letter-announcing-departure-group/
    23. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/10/aprils-hyunjoo-permanently-leaves-the-group-april-to-bring-in-a-new-member
    24. 1 2 http://www.soompi.com/2016/11/10/yoon-chaekyung-joins-april-5th-member/
    25. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2016/11/23/april-make-comeback-new-members-chaekyung-rachel/
    26. ↑ "Girl Group Zone! on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
    27. ↑ "DSP 측 "윤채경, 에이프릴 합류..새 음반 준비中"". Retrieved 2016-11-11.
    28. ↑ Kim, JiYeon (June 20, 2012). "DSP Media Unveils Its Newest Group- Puretty". enewsWorld. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
    29. ↑ Cho, He-jin (June 28, 2016). "New Girl Group CIVA Confirmed to Debut in July". Mnet. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
    30. ↑ "'프로듀스 101' 간발의 5人, I.B.I(일반인) 프로젝트 그룹 결성". Naver (in Korean). Sports Seoul. July 21, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
    31. ↑ Choi Ji-ye (2015-11-25). "에이프릴 현주 여자친구 엄지, 닭갈비 먹으러 가다 눈앞에서 캐스팅[MD인터뷰③]". My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2016-08-21.
    32. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2016/11/23/april-make-comeback-new-members-chaekyung-rachel/
    33. ↑ "Girl Group Zone! on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
    34. 1 2 "Gaon Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
    35. ↑ Cumulative Sales for Dreaming:
    36. ↑ Cumulative Sales for Spring:
    37. ↑ "2015년 12월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
    38. ↑ Cumulative sales for "Snowman":
    39. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
    40. ↑ Cumulative Sales for "Dream Candy":
    41. ↑ http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=2&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=49&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week
    42. ↑ http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?pageNo=2&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=53&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week
    43. ↑ Cumulative Sales for "Tinkerbell":
    44. ↑ Kim, Kyung-min. "[단독] 에이프릴, '주간 아이돌' 출격 "대형신인 입증"". XSportsNews. XSPORTSMEDIA. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
    45. ↑ "[단독]'카라 동생' 에이프릴, 오늘 신곡 MV 촬영..쟈니브로스作 :: 네이버 TV연예". Entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2016-05-05.
    46. ↑ "Epik High - Born Hater M/V (Feat. Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Mino, Bobby)". YouTube. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
    47. ↑ "[포토] 에이프릴, '귀엽지요~' : 스포츠조선". Sports.chosun.com. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
    48. ↑ "Seoul Music Awards Global (scroll to K-POP STAR 2015 [LIVE VOTE] and click "Main, Popular (Overseas) and Rookie" to reveal the nominees)". Seoul Music Awards. SportsSeoul. Retrieved 9 December 2015.

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