ZICO & YOASOBI's Ikura Unite for Genre-Bending Duet 'DUET'

A musical collaboration transcending borders and genres is set to drop, featuring South Korea's ZICO and Japan's YOASOBI vocalist, Ikura.

Their new digital single, titled 'DUET,' is scheduled for release on the 19th at midnight. The song originates from the imagination of 'What if one could perform a duet with their ideal partner?' Notably, the collaboration raises curiosity about how two artists, seemingly with contrasting vocal tones and musical styles – ZICO representing Korean hip-hop and Ikura spearheading Japanese band music – will harmonize.

This pairing is particularly compelling as both artists are powerhouses in their respective music markets, captivating both mainstream audiences and dedicated fanbases. ZICO is renowned as a hitmaker, consistently topping charts with tracks like 'SPOT! (feat. JENNIE),' which dominated charts both domestically and internationally last year, as well as the viral sensation 'Any Song' and the hip-hop anthem 'New Thing (Prod. ZICO) (Feat. Homies)'. He has also a history of successful collaborations with diverse artists such as JENNIE, IU, and Rain, consistently delivering fresh sounds.

Ikura, active both with YOASOBI and under her personal name Lilas, has garnered significant popularity. YOASOBI's hits include the chart-topping 'Idol,' a theme song for the popular anime 'Oshi no Ko,' along with 'Monster,' 'Yoru ni Kakeru,' 'Gunjou,' 'Yusha,' and 'Shukufuku.' She has built a strong fanbase not only in Japan but also in South Korea. In her solo work, Ikura showcases her clear and transparent vocal tone with emotional ballads like 'Sparkle' and 'Answer,' which have been well-received by music fans.

Previously revealed snippets of 'DUET' highlighted its bright and upbeat melody. Concept photos released on the 15th vividly captured their contrasting aesthetics, with ZICO's hip-hop fashion juxtaposed against YOASOBI's elegant attire, drawing significant attention. Expectations are soaring among music fans in both countries for this 'epic collaboration' that brings together two artists with distinct charms.

Netizens are expressing excitement, commenting 'ZICO and Ikura's collaboration? I'm listening to it no matter what!', 'I'm so curious how their different charms will blend together,' and 'A meeting of K-pop and J-pop, how refreshing.'