Kara is the name of several artists, including a French hip-hop female singer from Paris, a South Korean girl group, a solo artist called Kara Williamson, a UK rock band, and a Finnish metal band.

KARA (카라)

KARA is a South Korean girl group formed by DSP Entertainment. The group debuts in 2007 with the single “Break It” and the album The First Blooming. Their line-up includes Park Gyuri, Han Seungyeon, Goo Hara and Heo Youngji, with former members Kim Sunghee, Nicole Jung and Kang Jiyoung. The group starts as a four-member act and is initially marketed as the second Fin.K.L. Kim Sung Hee later withdraws and is replaced by Jiyoung and Hara.

KARA becomes known for the “butt dance” in the choreography for “Mister”, and for hit songs including “하니 (Honey)”, “Pretty Girl” and “Lupin”. In 2010, the group shifts to a darker concept with “Lupin”. In Japan, the group is signed to Universal Music.

In January 2011, four members, all except Gyuri, file a lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contracts with DSP Entertainment, although Hara later does not join Seungyeon, Nicole and Jiyoung in ending her contract. DSP Entertainment suspends Korean group activities after the dispute, saying it no longer manages the three members. Nicole leaves in January 2014, and Jiyoung does not renew her contract, which ends in April 2014. After leaving the group, she goes to London for language and acting classes. In January 2016, DSP Media announces that Gyuri, Seungyeon and Hara leave the group when their contracts expire, and that Youngji continues as a solo artist.

Kara Williamson

Kara is also a mononym used by Kara Williamson, whose releases under this name include an album titled Kara.

Other acts

The name Kara also refers to a UK rock band with a female vocalist called Kara and musical backing by Graham and Andy of Avalon, and to a Finnish metal band that was previously called Ankara until early 2006, before changing its name because of a demand from the Finnish band Ancara.