After three years of hard work, the members of Calista have finally dropped their debut record, an Extended Play (EP) launched on Tuesday night.
Originally a six-member P-pop act, Calista was reintroduced by Merlion Entertainment with just four members. The new lineup includes Anne (leader), Dain (lead vocalist), Denise (main dancer), and Elle (creative lead).
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During the event, Calista performed a few of their songs, including the catchy and LSS-inducing main track, “Alas Dose.” This song is part of their EP Four (Finding Our Unique Rhythm), which also features “LMK,” “Bongga Ka Day,” “Oops My Bad,” and “’Wag Na.” All these tracks are original except for “Bongga Ka Day,” which is a remake of the Hotdog classic.
Despite the lineup change, leader Anne remains optimistic about the group’s future. She expressed gratitude to those who have supported their career and to the fans who continue to show their loyalty.
“It wasn’t an easy journey, but we’ve overcome all challenges. My members are strong. When I feel down, they lift my energy. We’re excited for this new EP and the opportunities it brings,” she said.
Calista discussed their preparations for the comeback, which included intense training in dance, singing, and maintaining mental health.
“We’ve been preparing non-stop for this comeback. We’ve worked hard on dancing, singing, and coming up with new ideas. We also researched themes and sounds that would suit us. We know we need to stay strong as exhaustion is inevitable. Thankfully, we pushed through, even with some members falling ill,” Anne explained.
As they explore new genres, Dain mentioned the group’s intention to diversify their music.
“We want to show different flavors. We don’t want to stick to just one genre. We want to offer variety to our fans. ‘LMK’ is a song that’s said to suit us, and we want to add more R&B to our music, but we won’t stop there,” she explained.
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During their reintroduction, the group received strong support from fans who cheered, raised banners, and sang along to their songs. Anne acknowledged the significance of their fanbase:
“In this industry, fans are incredibly important. Their cheers keep us going and motivate us to perform better when they’re present. We’re grateful that they’re with us, dreaming of our success.”
Denise added, “We’re excited about this new chapter. A lot of people believe in us. Our family encourages us, saying this could be our year, so we remain motivated. The fans are a big part of that drive.”
In a nod to the growing P-pop scene, Anne emphasized that the group is not focused on competing with other acts.
“We don’t want to compare ourselves to anyone else. Our only competition is with ourselves. We support the P-pop rise and want to help strengthen the industry,” she said.
Calista also expressed appreciation for fellow P-pop groups BINI and SB19, acknowledging their role in expanding the P-pop market.
“We’re incredibly grateful to BINI and SB19 for opening doors for P-pop. They’ve introduced the genre to both fans and casual listeners, broadening the audience for P-pop. Many more groups are emerging, and we believe we’ll reach that level too. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we focus on improving our craft and using it as motivation,” Anne concluded.