Oh, So Everyone Loves Girl Groups Now…
The Girl Group Renaissance. Pictured: Spice Girls, Fifth Harmony, Katseye
Somewhere in her room in the year 2005, a 10-year-old Missy slips a VHS tape into her VHS player. After the lackluster commercials, a scene of technicolor buzzes onto the screen. I scream as the silhouettes that I know so well appear with the sound of a jazzy back beat. I was, of course, watching Spice World. Again. Much to my mom’s dismay.
Being a girl group fan was in my blood from day one. I was obsessed with the way that they moved. The sharpness of their moves, the beautiful costumes, and the vocal runs that would replay in my head for days. After the Spice Girls, I had the Cheetah Girls, Play, and the list goes on and on. I never got sick of “girl power” lead lyrics and overpriced merchandise in K-Mart, no matter how old I got. Some of my best memories were born because of my interest in girl groups. My friends and I made up routines based on the music videos blasting from the speakers in the middle of my living room, to purchasing new CDs for my walkman that I would replay until my mom made me brush my teeth and go to bed.
I thought my dedication to girl groups would have ended in my early teens, but record labels were relentless. The entrance of Little Mix and Fifth Harmony in my high school years made it certain that I would not forget the importance that female musicians had on my life. The riffs. The tiffs. The fandom drama. I was obsessed with it all. I spent hours reposting photos on Tumblr and crafting my Spotify playlists around them. I watched interview after interview on YouTube until it was impossible to keep my eyes open.
Being a girl group fan is in my bones, so it was no surprise that once I stepped foot into the K Pop space in 2022, I landed right where I left off. Sure, BTS and Stray Kids were my entrance to the K Pop world, but I found out quite quickly how incredibly talented the girls in the K-pop world truly were. It took me only a matter of days to find the sugary backbeats of Twice, the bass-heavy world of Purple Kiss, and, of course, the Girl Crush icons that are Itzy. I had never been so blessed with so much content and SO. MANY. GIRL. GROUPS. It can sometimes feel impossible to keep up with all of their schedules, and the music is so good that I end up becoming a fan of almost every one that I listen to. I dipped my toe back into Western girl groups at the same time, listening to duos like Chloe x Halle and even fell for another UK group called Flo.
But even then, my girl group fascination always felt like a niche interest. Yes, I know that all of these girl groups have a ton of fans, but I honestly felt like I only ever had one friend (if that) to gossip to about them. To discuss their album concepts in length, to dissect their lyrics until I wasn’t even sure I believed my own theories anymore. Then, suddenly, I was sitting on WeVerse (a Korean music app for artists that gives you updates on releases, schedules, etc.), I found out that Hybe was teaming up with Western powerhouse label Geffen to create a Western girl group based on the KPop model. This meant that the new girl group was going to go through the intense dancing and singing training sessions I had heard about from my favorite idols. This girl group was going to be chosen by the fans, who would vote for their favorites each week based on a set of performance videos released.
Favorite girl groups: Citizen Queen, GIRLSET, Say Now and 3Quency
The concept confused me, but I was intrigued nonetheless, watched the performances each week, and placed my vote. Watching these girls try to achieve their dreams reminded me of my years of watching American Idol, and the amount of serotonin that my washed over my body when I finally saw them make it. When the final lineup was released, I was overjoyed. The lineup was filled with beautiful, talented ladies who I knew were creating beautiful music together. And when they released their first song as a full group, now called Katseye…. I already knew that I was going to be a big fan. The synchronization was on a whole other level; the visuals were absolutely captivating. I couldn’t wait to see what they released next. Their first EP, SIS, felt a little disjointed to me, and I wasn’t sure if it really stood out in the way that it might need to in the West. I was definitely drawn in by their next single, “Touch,” which showed off the girl’s incredible dancing skills and lent itself very nicely to TikTok challenges.
However, I was not aware that the girls weren’t actually prepared for this to be a competition show… and that the fan voting and performances that led to this EP were taped along with behind-the-scenes content for a documentary-style show for the public. One that captured the petty arguments and the emotional moments, along with the good. I was shocked, sitting there seeing more and more people talking about them online. We were watching these girls being their most authentic selves, dealing with the trials of being a teenage girl, finding friends while also begging for their shot at their dream. It was messy. There were moments from the show that I still cringe about, but it is an integral part of their story.
There was more shock than anything, but I did notice that the documentary hadn’t fully hit the mainstream. I saw tweets about it in other fandom spaces, K-pop fan groups, etc., but more of my friends in my everyday life still didn’t know who I was talking about. I encouraged almost anyone who would listen to check them out, and aggressively did free promotion on my Instagram stories, but little came from it. Two of my friends finally caved, and I finally had people to discuss this girl group with, and I definitely took advantage of it while enjoying the Touch viral moment on TikTok.
Then it happened.
Gnarly.
A song that took me fully by surprise. If there was an anthesis to the SIS EP, it would be this song. It was jagged, it was aggressive, it was filled with sound almost to the point of frustration. The first time I listened to it, I texted my friend. I told her that it was going to be really hard for me to actually like this song. None of it made sense. Boba tea? Party in the Hollywood Hills? The chorus was even more off-putting. It included slices of sound effects and intense talk-rapping. I found out later that this is just everyday producing for well-known hyperpop/EDM writer Alice Longyu… but for the first time, I thought that I might be too old to be listening to something… to “get it.”
Three or four listens later, and somehow I came around on it. Then I watched the magnetic choreography that went with it, filled with as much personality as the song itself. And I watched it grow in popularity. It was fascinating to see my FYP flip entirely from those who were strongly against the song, to all of those same people commending them and asking why the song was actually “so catchy.” After a while, nothing felt out of place anymore, and I was singing it constantly.
I started to see larger content creators discuss the group, and a few more of my friends reached out asking why they actually really liked this silly little song. However, it was the recent GAP ad that caught my friends’ attention. With Milkshake by Kelis playing in the background, the girls came together to do a collaboration with the brand that brought the conversation to a whole new level. The clean dance moves, the timing, and the face cards definitely had the entire world in a chokehold. I had friends texting me telling me that they were finally getting into Katseye, or asking me if I had seen the documentary. It held me back from being the “I knew Katseye before they were cool” comments because I couldn’t be happier that these girls were getting the spotlight they deserve.
I have to say that I think that Katseye’s popularity has spurred a new appreciation for Western girl groups in a way I haven’t seen in a while. You’d have the occasional girl group appear and unfortunately disappear due to label budgets, breakups, etc. (I still love you, Girls World). Now, it seems like there are intentional efforts to create groups. I see great groups pop up on my FYP daily, and I even found myself watching the new Building the Band series on Netflix, which focused on creating Western groups for the music world, and gushing at the collaborations that come from the K-pop collaboration show “KPOPPED.”
There’s something to be said for groups like this coming around at a specific time and place. The music is great, of course, but what I think truly brings audiences in and makes them stay is the differences that come with multiple members in a group. The ability to find your favorite and latch onto them. To see the members interact and be brought into their friendship and their world, even for a little bit… from a distance. There’s a sense of comfort in seeing the pure interactions and true care for one another that comes along with creating music together. Or, at least that’s what I receive from them: A sense of joy, a look at what female friendship really looks like that warms my heart… along with fantastic music to listen to.
So… I’m not judging anyone for getting into girl groups now, but I am a little disappointed that it took you this long. But welcome to moments of pure womanhood, empowerment, and enough great lyrics to cry about for days. I welcome the girl group Renaissance with open arms.
So… Taylor Swift is Releasing a New Album
Me in my Red (Taylor’s Version) cardigan, with a mini Red cardigan my coworker made for me!
As an avid Swiftie, it was no surprise when my phone began buzzing on August 13. Nothing makes a girl feel more special than a friend who understands her obsession with a blonde pop artist.
“OH.MY. GOD.”
“Missy, SHE’S MOVING!”
Taylor Swift announced her new studio album “The Life of a Showgirl” on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce’s, podcast. Even though I am quite a fan, I have to admit that I heard about the announcement by watching clips on TikTok and Instagram because sports podcasts are not exactly up my alley, and I still have nightmares about the long, drawn-out quest she sent us on during the Super Bowl.
Nevertheless, I was excited to see that she is putting out a new record. I have been a fan of Taylor since the debut era, so I’ve definitely watched pretty closely as her image has shifted and changed throughout the years. Even though the moody aesthetic of Midnights and the dark subject matter of the Tortured Poets Department both shocked me, I really think that this transition is the most interesting to me.
I think, like many other fans who have seen Taylor fall headfirst into love, we expected a Lover 2.0 on the horizon when we heard about this release. So I couldn’t help but curl a smirk seeing her vibrant blue and orange cover, where she lay submerged in water.
She’s dove headfirst into the showgirl aesthetic, with the pearls to the feather to the vibrant, bright red blush. The commitment to character almost made me curious if she was going to go full Folklore character mode this time around. Something I would be pleasantly surprised by as the #1 fan of the song The Last Great American Dynasty and the dynamic trio of Betty, Cardigan, and August on Folklore.
Taylor is an excellent storyteller, whether it’s her stories she’s telling or not, but I believe that she has a unique talent for taking us through an adventure that seems far, far away. Seeing names like Elizabeth Taylor and Ophelia on the record has me hopeful that we will hear beautiful winding stories that take us out of the mind of Taylor Swift and into the life of someone new, through her eyes.
As I wait for the new release, I can’t help but see myself fall back into the pattern of listening back to her old music (since she owns it now, too!), and wondering where this album will fit in my ranking. Although I fell victim to the midnight release of the album and vinyl (it’s for my collection, I swear), I am holding out to see what she has up her sleeve this fall for further releases and special editions, because we know there will be many.
Being a Taylor Swift fan often reminds me why I am so attached to my fangirl experience. The collective excitement, the connection that comes with waiting for every snippet, every hint, and every music video. There’s always something to talk about, to cry about, to relate to that makes everyone around feel just a little bi.t closer. Not too long ago, I sat on the floor of a dimly lit, small local venue with a friend, eyes fixed on the ceiling as I listened to The Tortured Poets Department for the first time. All the exchanged smiles and shocked looks remain close to my heart as I mark “interested” on several local celebrations taking place in my area this time around, and I cannot wait to see what moments this era holds for me.
Check out my pre-listen tracklist ranking below! Do we have any predictions in common?
Hinterland 2025, My Beloved
Royel Otis’ Hinterland backdrop that say “Hinterland, You’re So F*cking Gorgeous.”
As someone who has gone to several Hinterlands in the past, going in 2025 was barely even a question for me. Yes, even after the chaos that we saw in 2024 with the lack of water, temperatures over 100 degrees, and heat rash that didn’t leave my body for weeks afterward. And yes, even after I almost passed out at a Stray Kids concert earlier this summer (a story for later). The lineup looked great with some of my favorites, Role Model, Kacey Musgraves, Orla Gartland, Rebecca Black, and more on the list… there was no way I wouldn’t be there.
I was hesitant about how well I’d fare this year after last year’s event, but I came armed and prepared this time around for the worst (AKA bags of ice being rushed out and several people leaving on stretchers). So, how did it go, and what did I do to prepare? Let’s chat!
What was in my bag?
Me with my handheld fan at Hinterland
As I mentioned, I went a little wild with my preparation this year as I would have my younger sibling in tow again, and after last year, the last thing we wanted to do was leave the festival dehydrated and sunburnt. I purchased two mini fans (one for around the neck and another to hold), cooling towels, inflatable chairs, sweat towels, a large can of sunscreen (shout out to my sibling’s partner, Cole), and a collapsible water bottle. What happened next may shock you…. the weather didn’t even reach over 80 degrees!
So I didn’t even end up using having to use even half of the items I brought, but I will say that we did use the fans at the high points of sun throughout the day, and we definitely ran through the suncreen!
Were the changes helpful?
Hinterland has been very transparent throughout the year that they took the backlash of the prior year into account and that they were actively making changes to make it better. I decided that with this in mind, 2025 was the year that would set my expectations for the years to come. I potentially wouldn’t come back if things didn’t go very well this time around. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t think everything was fixed, but I do see the improvements.
What went well:
Giant fans at the barricade: These were an excellent addition to the pit. Although the weather was way milder than last year, there were still points of high sun where you needed more of a breeze on your face, and this helped make it easier. I honestly didn’t even get my fans out for more than a few minutes the first two days of the festival because of them.
Water FLOWING: Having the boxed water available and passing it out consistently throughout the Festival was a sight for sore eyes. If you were there in 2024, you know that the water wasn’t passed out in mass until later, and those River Water cans were…. not my favorite. I was so happy to see people not have to yell out for paramedics as often during the festival, and I believe this was a big factor in that.
What needed improvement:
Pit floor: I did VIP this time around for hopes of better conditions, and in a lot of ways… it was a better experience for me. However, one of the things that I did not love was the way the pit floor was structured. There were holes in the flooring that consistently leaked water and created mud out of the dirt surrounding us. This quickly turned my white shoes into more of a brown color (my bad on the shoe choice though lol). This made it a bit harder to fully focus on the sets at times because we were just worried about being surrounded by a see of dirty legs and shoes. I would love to see that change so that the water flows elsewhere and attendees do not have to stand in mud each day. Shoutout to my tide-to-go stick and my sibling’s washing machine for making my shoes a little less dirty eventually.
VIP food options: We had two priority food options near us in VIP, and I wasn’t impressed by the selection. We had a less-than-savory teriyaki bowl the first night, and had to venture elsewhere the other two nights. I would love to see more food options in the future that wouldn’t have me walking up that mountain of doom (the walkway up the hill from VIP) throughout the day.
Parking: Now I am the resident passenger princess, and my sibling drove us in, but even I could tell that the parking was a bit chaotic. Each day, we left about an hour before doors opened, and the traffic was never really too heavy. Leaving, however, was a bit more difficult. I’m not sure if there is much that can truly be done about it since we are in the middle of a small town Iowan field with little area to turn around and exit…. but I do think there are a few things that I think may be helpful. At least on the first night, we did not see any volunteers/employees directing traffic. Instead, we saw attendees helping other attendees out as they tried to get through the path. I do think that it would be important to make sure that team members are assisting with the traffic flow throughout the night. I also think that maybe adding a late-night set or two with acoustic sessions from some of the popular artists might be a cool way to slow down the immediate flow of traffic trying to leave the festival. I know they do a late-night show for campers, but I think that this can be expanded on and not only bring even more music to fans, but maybe lessen some headaches. I recommend everyone stay a little longer after the final set if they drove in to beat the immediate traffic!
Diversity in artists: I was glad to see some great diverse music acts on the list this year, but I think that it can get even better. I hope that now that we’ve seen artists like Tyler in the headliner slots that we can see more POC in that leading spot, or at least additional performers placed throughout.
Overall, it was great to see them take the criticism to heart and make several changes to make the Festival a better experience. I really enjoyed this year, and I will be back again for sure. I am hoping for perfect weather again!
What were my highlights?
This is my favorite part to discuss. What did I love about Hinterland 2025?
The artists: Of course, the music was fantastic. My must-see acts were Clairo, Bleachers, Gigi Perez, Role Model, Orla Gartland, and Remi Wolf, and they were all fantastic! Remi, in particular, blew my mind. Her energy on stage is infectious, and I cannot wait to see her again! That warm-up exercise she made us do before the performance will remain in my head rent-free. Another highlight was Jack Antonoff saying that Hinterland was better than Glastonbury. Not sure if he meant that… but it had me smiling regardless throughout their chaotic set. Clairo’s set was so extensive, and I loved that she brought her whole team into her introduction, red wine glasses and all.
The Merch: The merch t-shirt for VIP was great this year. I loved the yellow, and the gemstone design was sick! I was able to snag a “Diva” t-shirt for the diva himself (Role Model… or Gracie Abrams or Sabrina Carpenter… whatever he goes by today) as well, and I was very happy with my purchases. Also, I grabbed one of those cute, $55 keychains for my sibling for their birthday. In their defense, it’s really cute!
The blue butterfly keychain that I purchased for my sibling.
The Verdict
Although there were still some things that I may shift when it comes to my overall experience, I had a great time at Hinterland. And I will be going again!
As I count down the days until the 2026 Festival, here is my dream lineup of artists for next year.
Dream 2026 Hinterland Lineup:
Keshi
Lizzy McAlpine (again to headline!)
Peach PRC
Bebadoobee
Alemeda
Japanese Breakfast
Rachel Chinouriri
Rayvn Lenae
Audrey Hobert
Jensen McRae
Conan Gray
Alessi Rose
Griff
Cat Burns
Aly & AJ
SZA
Maisie Peters
Here’s a playlist of some of my favorite songs from these artists! Until 2026, Hinterland it’s been nice to know ya!
… Is This Thing On?
Me with my Twice lightstick outside of the United Center in Chicago in 2023.
I have had many blogs in the past. Almost all of the had something to do with music. Whether it was music reviews, playlists or personal musings based on lyrics, my dedication to music wouldn’t be surprising for anyone who truly knows me. For some reason, right here and right now, I felt a pull to type again. To talk about the one thing that makes me smile even on my darkest days. So join me for…. whatever this is. I’m ready if you are!