KISS OF LIFE Performance
KISS OF LIFE‘s very first appearance in front of the press: its debut begins today!
Today, on Wednesday, July 5th 2023, the group “KISS OF LIFE” from S2 Entertainment agency officially debuted at a showcase in Seoul with its first mini-album, “KISS OF LIFE“, and the MV for their title track, “Shhh”.
“KISS OF LIFE” (KIOF) is a new girl group consisting of four members: NATTY, BELLE, JULIE, and HANEUL.
JULIE explains the group’s name : “KISS OF LIFE” is based on the concept of “artificial respiration” or the “revitalization center”, expressing their ambition to bring fresh and revitalizing energy to the Korean music industry through their music and charm.
Fans eagerly anticipated their debut as promotional videos, photos, and solo MVs were released on social media. The solo clips portrayed the individual stories of each member, showcasing their defiance against oppression and the hardships they have faced. The group’s “Shhh” and “Bye my neverland” MVs depict their journey of growth and overcoming difficulties. Finally, the day of their debut has arrived!
The showcase begins with a VCR, followed by the MC’s introduction and the members taking the stage. A photo session and member introductions are conducted to familiarize the attending journalists with the four singers.
JULIE, the leader and rapper, born in 2000, is Korean-American. She possesses excellent musical and linguistic skills, a strong presence, and impressive charisma.
NATTY, the main dancer, born in 2002, is Thai. She exudes a chic aura and showcases versatile artistic abilities, having been recognized previously as a soloist.
Next is BELLE, the main vocalist, a Korean-American born in 2004. She has elegant and charming visuals and is a talented singer-songwriter.
Lastly, HANEUL, the maknae (youngest member), born in 2005, has a gentle smile, luxurious visuals, and a mysterious aura. She expresses,
« The day we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived, my heart is pounding of excitement” – HANEUL.
The four singers take turns expressing gratitude to the journalists for their presence and convey their excitement about stepping on stage today, hoping to receive love and support for their music.
The MV for “Shhh” is then played—a song that combines hip-hop styles.
As part of their music videos, “KISS OF LIFE” aims to promote the idea of following its personal freedom and desires. They do not want to conform to others’ expectations or societal norms. Additionally, they seek to showcase new and diverse stories and video productions.
The members return to the stage to perform “Shhh.” Their voices come together perfectly, creating a captivating musical harmony. Their performance exhibits remarkable synchronization, both in their voices and choreography.
They later join the MC to discuss and present their album.
JULIE introduces the album, which contains a total of six tracks, including the title track “Shhh (쉿)” co-produced by BELLE, “Bye my neverland (안녕,네버랜드)“, and the four previously released solo songs: “Sugarcoat” (NATTY’s solo), “Countdown” (BELLE’s solo), “Kitty cat” (JULIE’s solo), and “Play love games” (HANEUL’s solo).
“‘Bye my neverland (안녕,네버랜드)’ is a song that expresses not a breakup, but a separation and the beginning of a new journey.” – BELLE
They each take turns presenting their solo songs.
NATTY’s ‘Sugarcoat’ is a mix of R&B and hip-hop. “I wanted this track to showcase my personality,” says NATTY.
“‘Countdown’ has a warm atmosphere, and it’s a song I’ve wanted to release since my childhood“, explains BELLE.
“‘Kitty cat‘ shows, as the name suggests, a cute cat, but which can fight and defend itself in difficult situations. I wanted to introduce myself through my rap.”, says JULIE.
” I wanted ‘Play love games‘ to be a lively song that makes you dance and play along,” HANEUL shares.
Next up are the journalists’ Q&A session.
First, NATTY explains that the most challenging part to prepare was the dance break, which is the highlight of the song “Shhh.”
JULIE then talks about the group’s goals : “We want to show our diverse and different colors alongside our seniors. We want to be KISS OF LIFE that you eagerly anticipate.”
They continue to discuss their individual goals:
« We want to show our fans the synergy we have as a group”, adds JULIE
BELLE, who is a music producer and co-producer of “Shhh”, expresses that since she was little, she wanted to show her true self through her music production. She also mentions that becoming a member of a group is a challenge for her, transitioning from being just a producer, but it’s a significant turning point in her life.
“It’s a great honor to perform alongside such impressive artists. I still can’t believe it”, shares BELLE
BELLE’s father, a greatly appreciated singer in the early 90s, was present at the showcase. BELLE mentions that he challenged her and provided a lot of feedback on her creations. He was happy for her and wishes to collaborate with her in the future.
NATTY, who had already debuted as a soloist before, is excited to debut with the members. She expresses that she will do her best and show her best self.
When asked about their role models, BELLE explains that their role models are primarily international pop music singers.
A question about international development is posed. JULIE responds that because they come from an international background, it is natural for them to plan future activities in their home country and in other countries around the world.
To conclude the Q&A, JULIE, the leader, addresses their international fans, saying, “To all our global fans, we are debuting today, (…) I hope you will look forward to what we will do.“
The MV for “Bye my neverland” is then played, followed by the group’s first performance of the song.
“Even though we’re not perfect yet, we hope to show you beautiful performances in the future”, says JULIE.
With this final performance, the showcase comes to an end.
Words from our reporter : “KISS OF LIFE has completely charmed me. I am very impressed by their charismatic auras and vibes, unique to each member, as well as their voices and synchronization. I didn’t expect to become such a fan after this showcase. I highly recommend their album! I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter of their journey!“
Journalist: Léo
Translator: Shawn
Photos: Léo
Source: KSTATION TV
