Kirara (stylized as KIRARA), born on April 26, 1992, is a South Korean electronic musician known for her innovative sound and striking musical identity. She began creating music at the age of 12, navigating a challenging period related to her music and gender identity. Kirara’s debut EP cts1 (2014) marked the beginning of her career, followed by four studio albums: Rcts (2014), Moves (2016), Sarah (2018), and 4 (2021). Her second album Moves won Best Dance & Electronic Album at the 2017 Korean Music Awards, praised for its "aesthetics of repetition and the thrill of variation," with all tracks named after Pokémon moves. Kirara is recognized for her empowering catchphrase, "키라라는 이쁘고 강합니다. 여러분은 춤을 춥니다." ("Kirara is pretty and strong. And you guys are dancing.") She uses this phrase to encapsulate the balance of "strong" drums and "pretty" melodies in her music, while also expressing political messages about gender identity, as Kirara is transgender. Her 2018 album Sarah reflected on the death of an LGBT friend, showcasing her emotive depth as an artist. Kirara has also mentored musicians through Kirara Academy, influencing artists like Jang Myung Sun and Guinneissik. Her latest releases include cts7 (2023) and cts8 (2024).
