Leia (singer)

Blackswan (stylized as BLACKSWAN) are a South Korea-based multinational girl group formed by DR Music, with an admission and graduation concept.

As of October 2023, the group consists of Fatou, Leia, Gabi, Sriya and NVee.

The group was originally set to debut in mid-2010, as the third generation of Baby V.O.X. However, their record company DR Music; decided to rebrand them as a new group named Rania (short for "Regeneration Idol of Asia") with eight members: Saem (later known as Yina), Lucy (later known as Jooyi), Sarah, Riko, Joy, Di, T-ae, and Xia.

T-ae, Riko, and Yina were chosen to star alongside former 2PM member Jay Park in his movie Hype Nation, which caused DR Music to delay the group's debut.

They originally debuted under the name Rania (라니아) in 2011 with the EP Teddy Riley, the First Expansion In Asia.

At the beginning of 2011, Sarah decided to leave the group.

While the company attempted to debut another member named Yijo, an interview with member Yina in 2022 revealed that the label ultimately did not find her fit for debut.

Rania made their debut in April 2011 as a seven-member group consisting of Saem, Jooyi, Riko, Joy, Di, T-ae and Xia.

On April 6, Rania performed on KBS' Music Bank, with the EP Teddy Riley, the First Expansion In Asia and its title track "Dr Feel Good", composed by Teddy Riley.

The song was originally given to Lady Gaga.

The music video and live performances were controversial in South Korea as some viewers felt that the group's image was too provocative.

As a result, Rania was forced to change its choreography and make minor changes to the outfits.

After the promotion of "Dr Feel Good", the group returned in June with its first digital single "Masquerade", also composed by Riley.

Despite having planned an American debut, the group made no advancements.

Shortly afterwards Riley announced that he would have nothing more to do with the group after falling out with their record label, releasing a statement saying:

I wish them the best.

It's not the girls I dislike, I love Rania, they would be better with me at SM Entertainment.

Their manager does shady business, used me for my music.

I love Rania, I just don't like their company business.

That's why they are not getting bigger.

They don't do business upfront.

They used my name every where then back door me on the group.

It's ok if they will regret it.

If they leave that company, I will sign them up quickly.

Please know the facts before attacking me.

Attack their company.

Such great talent will be wasted if they don't get better support.

The group released their second EP, Time to Rock da Show, on November 16, 2011.

The music video for its title track, "Pop Pop Pop", written by Brave Brothers, was revealed four days later.

On 30 May 2012, Rania performed a new song named "Killer" at the Dream Concert.

In June 2012, Joy announced that she left the group, but DR Music claimed she was on hiatus because her parents' house in Thailand had been affected in the flood that occurred around the time of the release.

Joy deleted her official Rania Twitter account soon after, but not before writing a post saying:

To everyone, I’m sorry I let you guys down so many times, but I’ve been thinking about it for months.

I think I can’t go back to stand on that place anymore.

I can’t go back anymore.

Thanks for all of your love and all of your hope, thank you so much and I feel so sorry that I [am disappointing beloved fans]…From now…I think I can’t be in the Entertainment [industry] or back to be a singer anymore since I was sick…But I haven’t got any confidence to go back to do it.

I’m sorry that I made you all have to wait for me…and I made you all feel confused.

Thank you so much for gifts, kindness, love that you give me.

Thank you.

In December 2016, the group rebranded as BP Rania (BP 라니아, acronym of Black Pearl Rania) and released two EPs, Start a Fire and Refresh 7th. The group returned to promoting as Rania in 2018 before rebranding as Blackswan in October 2020 with the album Goodbye Rania.