POISED to be the next biggest girl group, CALISTA brands itself as the hottest P-pop act in the country. The four-member group is trained to serve flaming vocals and heartstopping dance skills, flaming up the torch of success.
Debuted in March 2022, the group is composed of Anne (Leader, Main Vocal, Main Rapper), Denise (Main Dancer, Sub Rapper, Lead Vocal), Elle (Lead Vocal, Sub Rapper, Lead Dancer), and Dain (Lead Vocal, Lead Dancer).
The members were carefully chosen from over one hundred talented girls in the country who auditioned to be part of the girl group.
They were trained by a globally renowned choreographer and vocal coaches and underwent public relations training to improve their talents and public communication skills.
The group name is a Greek term that means “the most beautiful or feminine.” Calista, according to the group, can also mean “strong, edgy, and fierce,” words that are very opposite to the patriarchal notion of being ‘feminine.’
The group name can also mean “Call It A Star,” depicting the girls as stars that can shine on their own.
Produced by Merlion Events Production Inc., the group released their debut single, “Race Car,” which was dedicated to all strong Filipino women, showcasing the virtue of Pinoy resiliency.
The music video for the single was released on International Women’s Day, March 8.
Seven months after their debut, the group finally made their first comeback with “Don’t Have Time” in October.
According to their label, the group underwent rigorous training with two of the most respected choreographers in the K-pop world: Lee Eun Kyung and Park Ji Yeon.
Lee, known also as A.Dan, previously worked with K-pop powerhouse 2NE1 and Korean stars Na Hoon Ah and Ji Chang Wook.
Meanwhile, Park, known famously as B.B., is the main dancer of Korean superstar Lim Young-woong.
The decision of the management to train the girls under K-pop choreographers is aligned with their goal to prepare the group for an international breakthrough in the future.
CALISTA would release two special singles, “Christmas Rush” and “Christmas in the Philippines,” in November and December respectively.
In 2023, the group released their third digital single, “Ugnayan.” The new single set a new era for the group as they became more involved in the creation of their music unlike before.
As the hottest girl group in the P-pop landscape, CALISTA aims to bring their talents beyond the local music sphere, hoping they would be recognized internationally in the future.
The quartet is currently busy performing in various music events and TV shows in the country.
Their fans, known as A-Lista, have been patiently waiting for their return to the music scene as it has been over a year since the group released a song.
This article is part of the June RA Spotlight. Vote for CALISTA in the poll here. Follow republicasia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the latest.
