ZICO Joins Forces with Japanese Star Lilas for New Digital Single 'DUET'

A highly anticipated collaboration between top Korean artist ZICO and renowned Japanese musician Lilas (Ikura from YOASOBI) has been confirmed.

ZICO personally announced on his official social media on the 12th that their new digital single, titled 'DUET,' will be released on the 19th at midnight. Lilas also shared her excitement, posting a photo of herself holding ZICO's 'Duet Invitation' with the caption, "I'd love to, Let's DUET!"

Previously, ZICO hinted at a duet through updates on his social media and YouTube channel, expressing difficulty in finding the right collaborator for a song he felt was exceptionally good. This led to widespread speculation, amplified by numerous celebrities including Go Kyung-pyo, LE SSERAFIM, Sung-ho of BOYNEXTDOOR, BE'O, Rei of IVE, Um Ji-yoon, ENHYPEN, Lee Eun-ji, IZNA, Colde, Han Lolo, and 10CM, all posting pictures with ZICO's 'Duet Invitation.' The revelation that Lilas, a symbolic figure in Japanese band music, is the featured artist has sparked immense excitement.

The collaboration brings together ZICO, a leading figure in Korean hip-hop, and Lilas, representing Japanese band music. The fusion of their distinct genres promises a unique musical experience, with early previews of the song hinting at an upbeat and catchy melody.

ZICO has consistently explored diverse musical collaborations, including recent works like 'EKO EKO' with Japan's m-flo and 'SPOT! (feat. JENNIE)' with BLACKPINK's Jennie. He is also set to hold his first solo concert in Japan in eight years, '2026 ZICO LIVE : TOKYO DRIVE,' at the Keio Arena Tokyo on February 7th next year, further cementing his global presence.

Korean netizens are buzzing with excitement, commenting things like, 'ZICO x Ikura finally!,' 'This already sounds like a hit,' and 'I can't wait to hear the synergy between these two artists.'