First Impact is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group Kep1er, a project group formed through the 2021 Mnet reality competition show Girls Planet 999. The album was released on January 3, 2022, by WakeOne. It is available in three versions: "Connect 0", "Connect -" and "Connect 1", and contains six tracks with "Wa Da Da" as its lead single.

Background and release

Kep1er was formed through the Mnet reality survival show Girls Planet 999, which aired from August 6 to October 22, 2021. The show brought 99 contestants from China, Japan and South Korea to compete to debut in a multinational girl group. Out of initially 99 contestants, only the top nine would be in the final debut lineup.

Kep1er was originally scheduled to debut on December 14, 2021, with their first EP First Impact, with pre-orders beginning on November 29.[unreliable source?] However, it was announced that the group's scheduled debut had been delayed to January 3, 2022, due to one of their staff members having tested positive for COVID-19. On December 14, it was revealed that group members Mashiro and Xiaoting tested positive for COVID-19.[unreliable source?] On December 26, Kep1er's agency announced that Xiaoting and Mashiro have fully recovered from COVID-19.

On January 3, 2022, Kep1er released their debut EP First Impact with "Wa Da Da" serving as the lead single.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME

Gladys Yeo from NME gave the extended play three out of five stars, calling the EP an energetic six-track project record that makes for an enjoyable listen but falls short in fleshing out Kep1er's identity as an act. She commented how individually, the songs on the EP can be enjoyable and how this allows the group members to show off their vocal abilities, but falters when it comes to cohesion and establishing the group's identity.

Track listing

First Impact track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."See the Light"Park Woo-sangPark Woo-sangLee Sang-wonPark Woo-sangLee Sang-won1:51
2."Wa Da Da"BuildingOwner (PrismFilter)Elum (PrismFilter)ShannonDankeHwang Yu-binOdal ParkLee Seu-ranKakoBuildingOwner (PrismFilter)Elum (PrismFilter)ShannonBuildingOwner (PrismFilter)3:03
3."MVSK"Jeong Ho-hyeon (E.one)Jeong Ho-hyeon (E.one)Jeong Ho-hyeon (E.one)3:10
4."Shine" (Kep1er ver.)IsranInner Child (MonoTree)Seo Ha-young (MonoTree)Albi Albertsson (Mussashi)Mia KemppainenAlbi Albertsson (Mussashi)Mia KemppainenKanata OkajimaHautboi RichInner Child (MonoTree)Seo Ha-young (MonoTree)Ryan KimPeter ChunSabrina SalmonAlbi Albertsson (Mussashi)3:34
5."Another Dream" (Kep1er ver.)Park Soo-seokSeo Ji-eunWang Yu-rimPark Soo-seokSeo Ji-eunPark Soo-seokSeo Ji-eun3:21
6."O.O.O (Over&Over&Over)" (Kep1er ver.)Jeong Ho-hyeon (E.one)Hwang Hyun-hyeon (MonoTree)Girls Planet 999Jeong Ho-hyeon (E.one)Hwang Hyun-hyeon (MonoTree)Jeong Ho-hyeon (E.one)Hwang Hyun-hyeon (MonoTree)4:07
Total length:19:06

Charts

Weekly chart performance for First Impact
Chart (2022)Peak position
Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for First Impact Chart (2022) Peak position Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 19 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 2 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 10 South Korean Albums (Gaon) 1Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for First Impact Chart (2022) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon) 8 South Korean Albums (Gaon) 3 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for First Impact Chart (2022) Position Japanese Albums (Oricon) 83 Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan) 96 South Korea Albums (Circle) 42
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)19
Japanese Albums (Oricon)2
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)10
South Korean Albums (Gaon)1
Chart (2022)Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)8
South Korean Albums (Gaon)3
Chart (2022)Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)83
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)96
South Korea Albums (Circle)42

Certifications

Certifications and sales for First Impact
RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)Platinum250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for First Impact
RegionDateFormatLabel
South KoreaJanuary 3, 2022CDdigital downloadstreamingWakeOneSwing
VariousDigital downloadstreaming

External links