K-Pop Group Kiss of Life on New EP ‘Lose Yourself,’ Meeting Fans on Tour: “I Feel Like I’m Going to Cry”
Girl group Kiss of Life burst onto the K-Pop scene with their debut single “Shhh.”
Now, just over a year later, the four-piece group, comprised of members Julie, Natty, Belle and Haneul, is back with their third EP Lose Yourself. “We put extra effort into this album,” Julie tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Saturday morning Zoom from Seoul.
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“We wanted to come back with greater songs and surprise everyone with their musicality,” the rapper and singer continues. “We just had a lot of fun preparing for this album.”
The seven-track EP covers a variety of pop-centric genres. The song’s title track, “Get Loud,” is a quintessential Kiss of Life song, still managing to stay fresh and show a side of the group that hasn’t been uncovered yet. The album’s pre-release single, “R.E.M,” is a dreamy escape. Meanwhile, the album’s fourth track, “Igloo,” is an energetic hip-hop inspired number.
“There’s so many good songs in this album. It’s a debate between us,” Julie, who was born and raised in Hawaii, jokes, adding that her favorite is “Igloo.”
“My favorite is “Get Loud,” the title track, because the song was written by me,” Belle bashfully admits. The 20-year-old Seattle native is credited as a writer and composer on several Kiss of Life songs, even writing for other K-Pop acts before the group debuted. She notes that the new EP explores different genres, giving fans something that everyone can enjoy.
Exploring new genres is not uncommon for the group. The quartet have consistently reinvented their look and sound throughout their year-long career. “Trying new things is really authentic to us. Every album, every song, that we put out really feels like Kiss of Life, so that’s why we were able to just enjoy and have fun,” Julie says. “This album in particular feels extra authentic because we were able to explore a more wide range of music. We’re just exploring.”
The album overall, as Belle puts it, is about the moment they “totally lose” themselves. “Some people might think we’re freaks, we’re weird, but the song [“Get Loud”] is saying that it’s OK to be a freak,” she explains. “It’s OK to be weird, so be creative. Keep on doing what you’re doing. Because it might bring an amazing outcome.”
In the midst of putting out new music, Kiss of Life is also preparing for their first world tour. The 18-stop tour has the group making several stops in the U.S. and Canada, including New York, L.A. and Chicago.
Bucking against the larger trend amongst K-Pop tours in the U.S., the group will be visiting less frequently stopped at cities like Minneapolis, Boston and Montreal. “We’re super excited but nervous at the same time,” Belle says. “We’re practicing really, really hard. I’m also trying to keep my vocal cords healthy because they have to be healthy.”
The group’s youngest, Haneul, recalls the group’s recent trip to KCON Germany. “That was our first time being on a big stage in front of our international fans,” the 19-year-old explains.
“I saw some of the fans dancing to our song and singing along, which really surprised me,” Haneul says. “I feel like I’m going to cry. It’s going to be so touching to see all of those fans from all over the world,” Belle adds.
Natty, known in the world of K-Pop even before the group’s debut due to her appearance in two music competition shows, credits those fans around the world, collectively known as Kissy, for the group’s success. “I’m just super grateful,” the 22-year-old Bangkok native says. “If it wasn’t for our Kissy, we really wouldn’t be able to come this far, and we really wouldn’t be able to come back with so many songs at this pace without all of our fans support and love.”
Coming from a smaller entertainment agency, as Kiss of Life does, can oftentimes add hurdles in a K-Pop group’s path. The group was created by and is currently signed to S2 Entertainment, founded by former CUBE Entertainment and JYP Entertainment co-founder and chairman Hong Seung Sung.
“It would have to be a lie to say that it’s not harder to become big from a smaller company, but I personally think if you put in the effort, nothing is impossible,” Julie says. “I think that’s what we kept on thinking while preparing for our debut and preparing for each comeback. Nothing is impossible if we just enjoy our music and just show everyone what we got.”
Julie says that the group always looks on the positive side and they just genuinely enjoy making music and performing, something the 24-year-old believes attracted fans to them. “I think it’s also because our company always tries to listen to our opinions, so we can make better outcomes together,” Belle adds. “The respect that they have for us makes that possible.”
The singer and songwriter says that the group is very hands on in what shapes them as a group. “Visually, anything, our members are all getting involved in all of the albums coming out,” Belle says. “All of us are always trying to be more involved in our music. Even during our hectic schedules, there are some days that we go to studio and have sessions together and make music.”
Even before Kiss of Life’s July 2023 debut, Julie says the group members were close with one another. The hectic schedules of music shows, recordings and more brought them even closer. “Now we’re just like sisters. We’re just best friends,” she says, noting that the group’s closeness makes them who they are. “We learn so much from each other.”
As the group continues to grow together, they have clear goals going forward. They say they hope to perform on bigger global stages, meet more international fans and get the chance to fulfill all the small goals they have. “We want to make music that could resonate with people from all over the world. Languages are all different, but we hope our music could be the medium that could gather everyone in one place,” Belle says.
Julie jokes that she’s trying not to take the question of how she wants the world to see Kiss of Life too seriously, saying she wants everyone to see how confident the girl group is, imperfections and all. She hopes to spread that confidence around the world and encourages people to embrace their imperfections.
“Nobody’s perfect. We’re not perfect. We’re continuing to grow. This is also a journey for us,” Julie says. “Hopefully everyone around the world sees that, and just goes on this journey together.”
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