Kudai

Young and good looking, Chilean pop group Kudai is being hailed as the next RBD. But the eyeliner-loving quartet says it's not trying to ride anyone's coattails with its sweet pop tunes and matching outfits: "We're not plastic figures nor are we fakes."

Originally named Ciao, the group performed europop covers of Italian songs before becoming Kudai. Named after the Mapudungun word "kudau," which means "young worker," the foursome was founded by Pablo Ernesto Holman Concha, Tomás Andrés Cañas Manzi, Bárbara de Lourdes Sepúlveda Labra and Nicole Montserrat Natalino Torres.

In 2003, Kudai released its debut, Vuelo, featuring winsome tween pop hits like Sin Despertar and Escapar. Three years later, the group embraced rock on its second album, Sobrevive, and unveiled a new emo-ish look: angular haircuts, eyeliner and all-black threads. But in the middle of an international tour in support of Sobrevive, Nicole left Kudai, citing fatigue and later suing its management for compensation. She was quickly replaced by María Gabriela Villalba Jervis from the Ecuadorian pop group Kiruba.

Their latest, Nadha, is the first to be released widely in the U.S. Now shockingly cool-looking scenesters, Kudai maintain their edgier look is a sign of maturity. Newcomer Villalba explains: "If you do the same thing you did before, you'll get pigeonholed as the teen group that doesn't want to grow up."