IRISÉ and Takanashi Kiara Unveil “Trauma” at a Joint Comeback Showcase

INDEPENDENT — IRISÉ and Takanashi Kiara of Hololive staged a showcase for their collaborative single “Trauma” on Friday, working through a six-part program that spelled out the title word and ending with a live performance of the song. The event ran on IRISÉ’s channel and on Kiara’s at the same time, with an interpreter on hand so that viewers of both could follow, and lasted about 100 minutes.

The hosts, Kiri and Tiz, introduced “Trauma” as a hybrid metal track that mixes industrial metal with modern pop production, with Kiara featured. The song’s music video had been released a few hours earlier, and the group asked viewers to like and “hype” it. After a break for a costume check, with the instrumental playing, the group asked who had made the song. Chat answered with “Kiiri!!” as Kiri, who choreographed the track, previewed the challenge dance for the chorus. The group also noted that the song contains a single Korean word, “gaja” (“let’s go”), sung by Kiara.

“Thank you for shining some light into my life this year.” — Takanashi Kiara, in her closing remarks

A fan-question session followed. Kiara said she liked that her usual two phoenix feathers appeared in a darker version for the video, and the group changed into leopard-print and black biker looks on stream. Kiara said she first saw IRISÉ through the algorithm, which kept showing her “Love Game,” and that she asked her manager to arrange permission to dance to it. Asked about ballet, Kiri said she had never taken lessons and then performed cartwheels on stage. The choreography took about five days, the choreographer said, and drew four dancers. The group then unboxed the physical album, which follows a secret-document concept and includes photo cards, CCTV cards, a QR code, a transparent photo card and random posters and hologram cards.

A segment of cool and then cute poses led to the last letter, “after.” Kiara said she had invited many Hololive members to dance the “Trauma” challenge, and that collaboration shorts would appear on those members’ channels. In her closing words she thanked the group for letting her take part and said she hoped it would not be the last time. IRISÉ said they do not come back often, thanked viewers and promised to keep showing new sides of themselves. After a selfie, the group said it would see viewers the next week and performed “Trauma” in full.

Chat filled with applause in the final minutes. Viewers said they hoped to see the three together again, and some asked for an encore.