KISS OF LIFE won Billboard’s December K-Pop Newcomer Award

True to their name, KISS OF LIFE are breathing new life into the K-pop scene.

Debuted with first mini album kiss of life Starting from July 5, 2023, the group’s awareness and sales volume in the Korean market have steadily increased. Their first single, “Midas Touch”, debuted on the Billboard Global 200 chart, peaking at No. 165 and staying on the chart for two weeks. In the Korean pop music industry, which is increasingly dominated by large companies, KISS OF LIFE has been called the “miracle of medium-sized companies.”

Regarding the growth of the team, Belle shared: “We used to only dream of moments like this, and now we make our dreams come true. Our favorite song “Sticky” won our first music show trophy, which made us feel good about our efforts. And faith in music finally paid off.

The band’s uniqueness is evident both in the mini-album’s concept and tracks kiss of life. They chose to present their album in a “zine” format, showcasing their visuals in a unique way. In addition, from the beginning, all members had included solo songs on the album, with Natty’s “Sugarcoat” achieving greater success than the title song “Shhh”, cementing KISS OF LIFE’s name in the public mind.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of this group is their nostalgia. Songs like “Bad News” are impressive, incorporating elements of ’90s and 2000s hip-hop, including such signatures as “ain’t no diggity” and “from the east side to the west side” Sexual phrases. Their latest single, “Get Loud,” is reminiscent of the Neptune-era sounds of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. However, the orchestra’s music is not limited to these influences. Their summer anthem “Sticky” brought them their biggest success to date, while “Igloo” marked their return to the Billboard 200 with its stripped-down production and powerful choreography. These different approaches continue to raise expectations for the future.

By seamlessly blending elements of American hip-hop/R&B with K-pop, KISS OF LIFE has become an emerging group to watch. They broke out of the traditional path to success, proving that K-pop can still offer fresh sounds and styles. Just over a year after their debut, they successfully completed a North American tour and are now preparing for a European tour – an impressive feat for such a young band.

The following is a Q&A between Billboard Korea and the emerging group.

It seems that KISS OF LIFE is really busy this year!

Beauty: It’s been a very busy year. Thanks to everyone’s love, we were able to come back multiple times, hold our first concerts, and even complete our first tour in such a short period of time. It definitely feels like a year of tremendous growth – both as a group and as individual artists exploring our own paths.

Hanur: I think last year was busy, but this year it really feels like we put all our youth into it. [Laughs]

As mentioned, you’ve had many accomplishments this year, including re-entering the Billboard Global 200, your first world tour, and your first music performance win. What is the most memorable moment for you?

Beauty:Winning our first music show trophy is something I will never forget. This was a dream we’d been talking about for a long time, and to make it happen with our very favorite song “Sticky” felt like all the hard work and faith in the music had finally paid off.

Hanur: Amazingly, even after our next album was released, this song continued to chart!

julie: Every moment of our accomplishments feels memorable and precious, but for now, I’d say our trip to the United States stands out the most. We gained a lot of experience and grew up a lot, and I already miss those memories!

Natty: I’m happy to see so many overseas fans recognize us and sing along to our songs!

Many artists say that after their first world tour, their horizons broadened and they began to see things they hadn’t noticed before. WHAT HAPPENED TO KISS OF LIFE AFTER THE KISS ROAD TOUR?

julie: It’s hard to pick just one thing, but I would say our attitude towards the stage. I started thinking more deeply about the mindset I bring to each show.

Beauty: I realized I didn’t need to be nervous on stage. People love seeing me having fun and relaxing when I perform, and I love the connection we share with the audience – it’s musical fun at its best!

The upward trajectory is often considered the most beautiful shape. This is the response to “KISS OF LIFE”. From mini album 1 to mini album 3, sales and response have steadily increased.

Beauty: We’re constantly doing comebacks and events, but I think the key is focusing on what makes us unique and keeping the fans engaged. Most importantly, I believe our genuine love for music has resonated with people.

While “Get Loud” from Lose Yourself didn’t get the response you’d hoped for, “Igloo” got a warm response, especially for its performance. Who came up with the concept of sunglass performance?

Beauty: It was the idea of ​​our show director, who has been with us since our debut. They know us very well and always come up with unique performances that highlight the individual charm of each of us. The moment we put our sunglasses on it felt like a Super Bowl show, cool and fun.

Hanur: The company was worried about covering our faces, but we all agreed to go ahead and it worked out perfectly.

Natty: We were all a little worried at first! This was our first time covering our faces at a show so there were some concerns, but we believed in our vision and the response was amazing! Now fans even come to our concerts wearing sunglasses!

Compared with previous KISS OF LIFE music and performances, “Igloo” presents a different atmosphere.

Hanur: I thought it would be cool, but I didn’t expect the response to be so enthusiastic. [Laughs]

julie: This is the style I’ve always wanted to try and I personally feel the most confident in, so I’m sure people will recognize it and I’m glad we’re getting so much love!

Beauty: When we first started practicing, we had a feeling that the choreography of “Igloo” would be very popular. The song is based on trap hip-hop, with sophisticated and fun choreography that feels like it will stand out in a new way.

KISS OF LIFE, which has previously shown a “summer” atmosphere, presents a new side with “Igloo”. What new things can we expect?

Beauty: We will continue to develop and show more new sides of ourselves. Although the future is uncertain, we will definitely bring fresh music and performances to keep fans entertained!

Each member participates in songwriting and composition. How do you want to express yourself through the music of KISS OF LIFE?

Beauty: I believe that only those who fully understand the music they create can create a certain vibe. We always want to show our fans real, honest music.

Hanur: Music is like a diary to me, recording my emotions and experiences. When I’m sad, I listen to music and cry. When I travel, I listen to music and feel more excited – music becomes a way to preserve these personal experiences.

Natty: I am particularly confident in R&B. If I have time, I would like to explore multiple styles!

You always come up with the concept of “magazine” for your albums, and even shoot magazines. What’s the difference between the two?

Beauty: The focus of the album photo shoot was to show KISS OF LIFE’s personality, but in the actual magazine shoot, the focus was more on showing a new side of me. Both were a pleasure!

julie: I think magazine concept photo shoots are less stressful than our albums. Since these photos were taken for our KISS OF LIFE album, we are even more motivated to push our boundaries!

tome: Very similar! I absolutely love photo shoots, so whether it’s an album or magazine shoot, I always have a great time!

Finally, what can we expect from KISS OF LIFE in 2025?

Beauty: It will be a leap. I believe we will achieve greater growth and take a big step forward!

Hanur: In addition to the planned European tour, we will have more opportunities to see KISSY overseas, and KISSY in Korea will also see many new sides of us.

julie: We will achieve amazing things! We plan to fill 2025 with even better music and incredible stages!

Natty: We are going to do something big!