Kang Hyung-ho
Born (1988-03-08) March 8, 1988
Busan, South Korea
AgentArts & Artists
Musical career
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active2017–present
LabelsUniversal Music Korea
Member ofForestella
Korean name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationGang Hyeong-ho
McCune–ReischauerKang Hyŏngho

Kang Hyung-ho (born March 8, 1988[1] ), also known by his stage name Pitta (stylized in all caps), is a South Korean singer and member of the crossover quartet Forestella. A former chemical engineer, Kang had been an amateur singer and rose to fame after participating in the singing competition Phantom Singer 2.[2]

Early life

Kang is a native of Busan. He aspired to be a musician since childhood but his parents had been against it. Instead, he focused on his studies and was admitted to Pusan National University on a scholarship, eventually graduating with a degree in chemical engineering.[3]

After completing his mandatory military service and graduating from college, he worked for Lotte BP (now Lotte INEOS)[4] in research and development.[5] During his tenure at Lotte, he co-authored at least one chemical patent.[6] He co-authored several research papers, as well.[7][8]

Singing career

While juggling his career at a major corporate company, Kang continued to pursue his musical interests as the main vocalist and guitarist with PITTA, a rock band he had formed together with his friends as college students. They continued to play even after graduating and working. In 2016, they gained local celebrity status after winning the Busan Employees' Band Competition for amateur musicians.[9]

Phantom Singer

Kang heard about JTBC holding auditions for the second season of Phantom Singer and decided to apply. Of the 32 contestants who passed the preliminary screening, he was the only one without any formal training in singing or the performing arts.[3] He sang "The Phantom of the Opera" for the televised audition in front of the panel of judges and sang Christine Daaé and the Phantom's parts himself in both the countertenor and his natural tenor registers.[10] The video uploaded to Naver went viral immediately and garnered several million views by the final. Initially he commuted back and forth between Seoul and Busan during filming but ultimately took a year-long sabbatical from his job with the option of returning should Phantom Singer 2 not work out.[11]

Debut with Forestella and solo activities

Prior to the final of Phantom Singer 2, Kang was grouped together with Bae Doo-hoon, Cho Min-kyu and Ko Woo-rim to form Forestella. He had never been grouped with any of the other members up until the random quartet stage. They eventually won the competition and debuted on March 14, 2018.

Kang signed as a solo artist with Arts & Artists, which had also managed Forestella as a group until June 2021.[12] In October 2020, he made his debut release with the digital single "Universe" under the stage name PITTA. It was the name of the band had been part of from his amateur days and he chose to use it as a homage to his members. In November 2021, he released the self-composed extended play ID: PITTA, his first non-single release as a solo artist.[2]

He participated in various televised music competitions, like King of Mask Singer, where he was eliminated in the first round, but showcased a wide vocal range.[13] He finished 5th overall in the celebrity singing competition Lotto Singer, despite receiving the highest score from judges.[14]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[15]
Be Free
  • Released: April 19, 2023
  • Label: Arts & Artists, Universal Music Korea
  • Format: CD, digital download
 36

Extended plays

Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[15]
ID: Pitta
  • Released: November 10, 2021[17]
  • Label: Arts & Artists, Universal Music Korea
  • Format: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "The Nation"
  2. "Be the One"
  3. "Persona"
  4. "Prayer"
  5. "Icarus"
  6. "Not Alone"
 26

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[19]
"Universe" 2020 —[upper-alpha 1] Non-album singles
"Dandelion" 2021 —[upper-alpha 2]
"The Nation" —[upper-alpha 3] ID: Pitta
"Carpe Diem" 2023 — Be Free
"Wave on the Sea" (해무)
(featuring Dawool Park)		 2024 165 Non-album single

Notes

  1. ↑ "Universe" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 88 on the Gaon BGM Chart.[20]
  2. ↑ "Dandelion" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 97 on the Gaon BGM Chart[21] and position 89 on the Gaon Download Chart.[22]
  3. ↑ "The Nation" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 44 on the Gaon BGM Chart[23] and position 72 on the Gaon Download Chart.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Profile" (in Korean). kanghyungho.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  2. 1 2 "From gentle countertenor to masculine rock star". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "[IT'S MY LIFE] "인생은 한 번뿐, 아무 의미 없는 시간은 없어"" (in Korean). Pusan National University. April 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ "bp agrees to sell its petrochemicals business to INEOS". BP. June 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ "가족초청 문화공연" (in Korean). Lotte INEOS. October 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ "(19) 대한민국특허청(KR) (12) 등록특허공보(B1)" (PDF) (in Korean). Google Patents. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  7. ↑ "학술대회 발표논문집" (in Korean). CHERIC. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  8. ↑ "'복면가왕' 산삼 정체 포레스텔라 강형호, 화학공학과 출신?…'전직장까지 화제'" (in Korean). Topstarnews. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  9. ↑ "[제3회 부산직장인밴드 경연대회] 직장인 '樂 에너지' 대폭발… 시민회관이 들썩들썩". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). December 4, 2016.
  10. ↑ "'팬텀싱어2' 첫방, 직장인 강형호 "현실과 타협했다"". Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). August 11, 2017.
  11. ↑ "포레스텔라 "포디콰는 명품, 우린 개성 강한 디자이너 제품"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). November 7, 2017.
  12. ↑ "'팬텀싱어2' 포레스텔라, 소속사 전속계약 종료 '강형호만 잔류'[전문]" (in Korean). mk.co.kr. June 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "'복면가왕' 포레스텔라 강형호, 1라운드 탈락 '충격'...소름 유발 '고음'" (in Korean). Tenasia. 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  14. ↑ "'로또싱어' 최재림 반전의 1위…가장 뜨거웠던 4%" (in Korean). Star Today. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  15. 1 2 Circle Album Chart positions:
  16. ↑ Cumulative sales of Be Free:
  17. ↑ "[EP] ID: PITTA". Melon Music. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ "2021년 11월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (Korea Music Content Association). Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Digital Chart – Week 1 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  20. ↑ "2020년 44주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (Korea Music Content Association). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  21. ↑ "2021년 30주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (Korea Music Content Association). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ "2021년 30주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (Korea Music Content Association). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  23. ↑ "2021년 44주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (Korea Music Content Association). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ "2021년 44주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (Korea Music Content Association). Retrieved October 9, 2021.
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