As they gear up for the European leg of their Kiss Road tour, Wonderland catches up with the rising global sensations to talk evolution, experimentation, and the road to pop dominance.
With their latest mini album Lose Yourself, KISS OF LIFE proves they’re not interested in sticking to the status quo. The album comes together as a musical snapshot of a group unafraid to push their sound in every direction, while keeping their identity rooted in the same place: confident, unapologetic, and fiercely original. Where some artists might play it safe, KISS OF LIFE is carving out their own lane, blending everything from R&B to electro-pop, and even a touch of Latin flavour, with the kind of ease that suggests they’ve been doing this for decades, not just a few short years.
Their evolution has been nothing short of impressive. From their early days in the K-pop scene to the global sensation they’re becoming, KISS OF LIFE has slowly and steadily turned every head in the room. Lose Yourself—and its breakout tracks like “Get Loud” and the viral “Igloo”—cements their place as one of the most exciting acts to watch. The album’s sound swings effortlessly between genres, a playful push-and-pull that underscores the group’s limitless potential. But even as they experiment, there’s one thing that remains constant: their ability to balance individuality with cohesion.
“It feels like I’m playing a role of blending well as part of the team with my own transparent colour, among the three members with deep colours,” Haneul explains. That dynamic is the cornerstone of their artistry, and it’s easy to hear the individuality each member brings to their tracks. Yet, it’s the way their voices and styles come together that creates something greater—a sound and identity that’s unmistakably KISS OF LIFE.
That balance extends beyond their music. KISS OF LIFE’s visual style is just as impactful as their sound, with a meticulously curated aesthetic that perfectly complements each comeback. Their passion for fashion, hair, and makeup, paired with their active involvement in the creative process, ensures that every detail feels authentic. As a group, they’ve mastered the art of synergy, creating a cohesive identity that feels as fresh as it does deliberate. They’re not interested in living up to anyone else’s expectations; they’re building their own empire.
For all their international success, the group remains hungry for more. They’ve explored everything from nostalgic R&B to fiery electro-pop and even ventured into gritty hip-hop rhythms, but they’re not done pushing boundaries. “I think doing punk-rock would be really cool,” says Haneul. It’s clear that KISS OF LIFE isn’t just riding the wave of trends—they’re actively steering their own course, unafraid to experiment with what comes next.
Their late 2024 North American headline tour, Kiss Road, cemented their reputation as powerhouse performers, with sold-out venues and additional dates added due to overwhelming demand. The energy they brought to the stage—and the connection they forged with their fans—demonstrates the group’s commitment to their craft.Now, as they prepare to captivate European audiences by bringing Kiss Road to fans across the continent, it’s clear that KISS OF LIFE is poised to move even closer to dominance, solidifying their place on the global stage far beyond the boundaries of K-pop.
Before they hit Europe for their Kiss Road tour, KISS OF LIFE dives deeper into the making of Lose Yourself, their creative process, and the dreams they’re chasing for the future. Whether they’re reflecting on their global journey or imagining new sonic landscapes to explore, one thing is certain: KISS OF LIFE is a group that refuses to stand still.
Congratulations on the release of Lose Yourself, your third mini album! How does Lose Yourself fit into KISS OF LIFE’s overall musical evolution?
BELLE: For this mini album, Lose Yourself, we took it as an opportunity to explore a different range of musical genres from our past albums. It was an exciting process for us to try different styles of vocals creatively, which I believe helped us evolve a bit more musically.
“Get Loud” stands out as the title track for Lose Yourself. Were there any other songs in the running for this spot, or was “Get Loud” always your top choice? What made it the perfect fit for the title track?
BELLE: Yes, there were some songs in the running, but considering the whole visual direction and concept, “Get Loud” was perfect for the title song. A mixture of hip-hop rhythms, Latin melody, and a rap in the bridge seemed like a perfect representation of us as a group.
Lose Yourself leans into R&B but also touches on pop-rock with “Back to Me” and electro-pop on “No One But Us.” What would you say is the core element of KISS OF LIFE’s sound that stays consistent, even as you experiment with different genres?
HANEUL: I think where we bring our consistency is in how we blend our individual styles together. The genre of music might differ per song, but it’s the balance of our vocals that really help bring out the best result.
“Igloo” has captured significant attention both at home and abroad, going viral with fans worldwide. In your opinion, what is it about “Igloo” that you think is resonating so strongly?
JULIE: This is definitely my opinion but I just really think the song and performance together really gives off a “cool” energy. I think what resonated the most with fans was the confidence that the song portrays, which has been a message that we’ve always tried to relay with our listeners. The sunglasses and the adlibs to the song definitely helped, making you wanna follow along and give it a try yourself!
Your fashion and visual aesthetics are just as impactful as your music. How do you ensure your style complements the message and vibe of each comeback?
JULIE: We always take a significant role in the whole process for our visual aesthetics. We think it’s very important for our style to feel comfortable and real. We have a lot of interest in fashion as well as hair and makeup, so we have a lot of fun giving ideas. We always make sure we fully understand the message of each comeback so we can really compliment the music with everything else!
2024 was a great year for KIOF, especially with the global success of “Midas Touch” and “Sticky”. How have fan reactions to these two tracks shaped your artistic direction moving forward?
HANEUL: Before releasing “Midas Touch”, showing our unique style felt like a huge challenge. I remember worrying and wondering if the fans would love it. Thankfully, it received a great response, which boosted our confidence a lot. With “Sticky”, we wanted to capture that breezy summer vibe while staying true to our colour, and we had so much fun working on it and performing. I think that’s why it resonated even more! We’re so grateful that both songs were well-loved, and moving forward, we feel encouraged to keep exploring and showing a range of music that expresses our unique style without losing confidence.
You hit the US and Canada in November and December 2024 for your first headline tour. Can you give us a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes in preparing such a major event?
NATTY: Not only were we preparing for the US/EU leg of our tour, at the same time we were also getting ready for our first concert in Korea and our comeback! We were just working so hard that we literally lost track of time, the day before our comeback we were all talking to each other like “Oh my god! Are we doing this tomorrow?” It was a funny moment.
Additional tour dates were added and venue upgrades were made due to high demand. Did you feel this added pressure to meet fan expectations, or did it fuel your excitement even more?
NATTY: Rather than feeling pressured, I think it’s more excitement and a bit of nervousness! We’ve always wanted to meet Kissys from all over the world. We were already looking forward to the U.S. tour, and we’re so grateful that more dates were added. It meant we got to meet even more Kissys and had an amazing time together, which made all of us so happy!
The European leg of the tour is just around the corner—such an exciting milestone! How did your experiences on the US tour help you grow as performers and prepare for your European fans?
JULIE: The US tour helped us grow as performers in so many ways! We are so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to go to so many places and feel everyone’s energy! We learned about what kind of mindset to have on stage, consistently trying to give 120% every stage and song! We learned to control and take care of our bodies to be able to give good energy, as well as interacting more with the audience to just create a fun and amazing time for everyone!!
You made your European stage debuts for Music Bank Madrid, as well as KCON Germany. How did it feel to connect with fans from a new continent for the first time, and what were some standout moments from these experiences that you’ll carry forward in future international performances?
JULIE: It really was an honour to be able to perform in front of so many fans! As a group, we really feed off the energy our fans give us and the energy really has been off the charts. I think we learn something new with every performance, thus helping us become better performers. We just hope that we can continue to grow and really show our fans the best version of ourselves.
Looking ahead, how do you see KISS OF LIFE shaping the future of the music scene, particularly in relation to evolving global pop trends?
JULIE: I hope at one point we can reach a position to shape the future of the music scene which I believe a lot of our seniors have paved the road for us, but for now we just really want to focus on giving everything we can to our music. Just really pushing ourselves to explore diverse genres of music, while making sure we spread as much positive and confident energy to all our global fans.
Words — Hasan Beyaz
