In the nearly six years since ALL OUT, K/DA is back with FIRESTARTER, a four-track EP featuring Ahri, Akali, Evelyn and Kai’Sa, the four League of Legends champions behind the virtual girl group. MIYEON and SOYEON of i-dle return, joined by Sophie Powers and Mimi Webb, bringing new voices into a project that made its mark on the K-Pop scene. The EP was released by Riot Games and Virgin Music Group.
The title track, “FIRESTARTER” is an energetic introduction to the EP. It has the confidence you would expect from K/DA, with a sound that feels true to the group’s identity. There is a lot riding on a comeback after such a long absence, but the song makes a decent case for their return. It sets things in motion without feeling like an attempt to recreate the past entirely.
“WATCH ME” is where things get more interesting. There is plenty of attitude in this track, and carries itself without needing to do too much. It has that main character energy, the sort of song you can imagine playing during a memorable entrance. Listeners find themselves drawn to this song especially for its bleeding confidence.
For fans who have followed K/DA since the beginning, MIYEON and SOYEON remain an important part of the group’s appeal. Their return on “NEVER GOING BACK” feels familiar without being purely nostalgic. The song centres on independence and moving forward, which suits K/DA well. Their presence also gives the EP a stronger connection to the group’s earlier music.
“GIRLS,” featuring Sophie Powers, closes the EP on a different note. With its electro-pop and hyper-pop leanings, the track moves towards a sound that feels closer to Powers’ own musical style. The repeated “Girls will be girls” keeps the focus on the group’s all-female identity. It is a change of pace from the other tracks, giving the EP a different flavour before it ends.
The comeback also came with a choreography video. The performance has plenty of fire and the group’s aura is hard to miss. The moves add another layer to the song, making the visual side just as enjoyable as the music itself.
FIRESTARTER is a short release, but it gives K/DA room to show different sides of their sound. “WATCH ME” and “GIRLS” are standouts, while “NEVER GOING BACK” brings back some of the familiarity that made the group appealing in the first place. The EP may not need to reinvent K/DA to make an impression. FIRESTARTER is an explosive enough of a return.
FIRESTRARTER is out now on all major streaming platforms. K/DA can be found on Instagram here.
