Music Video to Premiere Worldwide on 8 August, with Exclusive Advance Screening at HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Music & Arts Festival in Los Angeles
Credits:
CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2026 in KUALA LUMPUR photos (credit: Masato Yokoyama)
CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2026 in KUALA LUMPUR video (credit: MMT inc.)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Emerging Japanese girl group kiOra marked a major milestone on Saturday, 1 August 2026, with their first-ever overseas performance, taking the stage as the opening act at CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2026 in KUALA LUMPUR at festival venue Zepp. During the performance, the four-member group announced that the official music video for their highly anticipated debut single, "Coco," will premiere worldwide on Saturday, 8 August 2026, coinciding with the song's digital release.
First introduced at HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Music & Arts Festival in TOKYO 2026, hosted by 88rising at Makuhari Messe, kiOra represents a fresh musical movement the group describes as "Tokyo Hyper City Pop" - fusing the sounds of hyperpop with the melodic charm of city pop.
To celebrate the release of “Coco”, fans attending HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Music & Arts Festival at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles, will be among the first in the world to experience an exclusive advance screening of the music video on 8 August, ahead of its global premiere.
Please note: kiOra had been scheduled to perform at HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Music & Arts Festival in Los Angeles, USA, on August 8, but the appearance has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.
First International Performance
Performing before an enthusiastic audience in Kuala Lumpur, kiOra delivered their first international stage appearance, marking an important step in the group's global journey.
Following the performance, the members shared their thoughts:
OTO:
Getting to perform kiOra's first song "Coco" and sing it together with everyone was amazing! Jom jumpa lagi!
KYLA:
Thank you to everyone who came today! It was the best. The "Coco" MV is coming out soon, so please get ready to watch and rewatch! Can’t wait to meet again.
RUKA:
I was so happy to hear your cheers during our first overseas performance. I hope we can sing "Coco" together again!
YU:
I was energized by today's CENTRAL performance. I’ll keep doing my best to share our first single “Coco” with even more people around the world!
Keep an eye on kiOra as they continue to make waves on the global stage, ahead of their first single release on August 8.
About kiOra’s First Single “Coco”
The title draws on the phrase "in my core," combined with the Japanese words "ima coco" ("here and now"). This is to highlight that your true self is in the moment, not some distant ideal. The track is an anthem to finding the courage to move forward before you feel ready.
The core of kiOra's sound, Tokyo Hyper City Pop, was shaped by four accomplished producers and songwriters: her0ism, Yaeji, Mechatok, and Kanata Okajima.
her0ism, deeply involved with kiOra since the project's inception, is a producer known for writing with top artists in Japan and abroad, including BLACKPINK's LISA, XG, Arashi, and NEWS.
The production team also features Yaeji, the globally acclaimed artist, producer, and DJ known for her collaborations with Sampha, Charli XCX, and Dua Lipa. Last year she attracted major attention with her official remix of Hikaru Utada's "Mine or Yours."
Mechatok, a leading producer of the hyperpop scene based in Berlin and London, is known for his work with V8 (SEVENTEEN), FKA twigs, fakemink, and Bladee.
Finally, the team was joined by one of Japan's foremost songwriters, Kanata Okajima, who’s behind numerous hits for BTS, Namie Amuro, and more.
As production progressed, Los Angeles-based songwriter Chelsea Warner joined the team (known for work with EXO, (G)I-DLE, and KiiiKiii). The recording took place at StudioBeat3, founded by multi-platinum engineer IRKO, whose credits include The Weeknd and many others. Vocal production was handled by renowned vocal director Ashley Alish.
Bringing together top talent from Japan, Korea, Europe, and the US has ushered in the new global pop sound “Tokyo Hyper City Pop.” Inspired by Japanese heritage, kiOra’s first chapter "Coco" begins its worldwide release on August 8, with the music video to follow the next day.
Digital Single "Coco"
Release date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Pre-add / Pre-save here: https://orcd.co/kiora_coco
Event Information
CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2026 – Kuala Lumpur
Venue: Zepp Kuala Lumpur
Date: Saturday, 1 August 2026
Line-up: KANA-BOON • Tatsuya Kitani • jo0ji • ReoNa • kiOra (Opening Act)
Profile
Derived from the Japanese word "kiyoraka", meaning pure or clear, kiOra is a four-member girl group that embraces the beauty of growth, authenticity and continual evolution.
Unveiled at HEAD IN THE CLOUDS TOKYO 2026, the group is built around the concept of Japanese Heritage, expressing the idea that true artistry lies not in perfection, but in the courage to continue evolving. Through their music, visuals and performances, kiOra aims to share a contemporary vision of Japanese culture with audiences around the world.
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