KISS OF LIFE
The girl group KISS OF LIFE from S2 ENTERTAINMENT sat down with us for an interview to talk about its upcoming comeback with the single “SWEAT”.
Consisting of JULIE, BELLE, NATTY, and HANEUL, the group debuted in 2023 and has already released several tracks that have left its mark on the Korean music scene, such as “Sticky,” “Midas Touch,“ and “Igloo.” The quartet has also established itself among international audiences, performing on multiple occasions overseas, including in the United States and Europe.
This time, KISS OF LIFE returns with the single “SWEAT,” a new summer track that promises to reignite the excitement surrounding the group, which earned the nickname “Summer Queens” with “Sticky.” This comeback provided KSTATION TV with the opportunity to meet the group for a special interview held at a café in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The interview begins with the diffusion of “Sweat,” an energetic song featuring electric and Latin-inspired sounds, built around an afro house style. The track is described as representing the group’s unique “attitude.”
“The first time I heard ‘Sweat,’ I immediately thought, ‘This is us.’ It was a song that truly represented us, and I loved it.” – BELLE
The group begins by expressing its love for this new song, drawing comparisons to “Sticky” while emphasizing that it showcases a different side of KISS OF LIFE. NATTY likens “Sticky” to a summer song that perfectly suits an outdoor lunch under the sun, whereas “Sweat” is more reminiscent of dancing on the beach in the evening, facing the sea. The members also take the opportunity to once again thank everyone who has supported them so far, especially during the promotional period for “Sticky,” which became a hit in Korea.
The group’s main dancer, NATTY, reveals that part of the choreography in the music video is performed barefoot in the sand, echoing the way she had previously described the song. For KISS OF LIFE, performance is what matters most, and they hope that everything they have prepared for this promotional period will delight fans, both vocally and through their dancing. The song revolves around the theme of sweat, using it to highlight a person’s charm by showing either the effort they put into a task or the enjoyment they experience during an activity, such as dancing.
This comeback was prepared with the goal of retaining their title as the “Summer Queens,” with summer having been at the heart of their music for several comebacks now. The members admit they never expected “Sticky“ to receive so much love, which allowed them to fully enjoy the promotional period without putting too much pressure on themselves. They are determined to stay grounded and not see the title of “Summer Queens” as a burden, choosing instead to have fun once again with “Sweat.”
“For ‘Sticky,’ the key point of the choreography was twerking. For ‘Sweat,’ it would be more along the lines of belly dancing.”. – NATTY
Although for this comeback the members did not take part in writing the lyrics or composing the songs, JULIE highlights the girls’ involvement, as they discussed together to select the songs that made up this single, namely “Sweat” and the title track “What!”. Being fitting for the season, they look back on their past participation in Water Bomb, a popular summer festival in Korea where artists perform on stage while the audience sprays each other with water guns, sometimes joined by the artists themselves. Water Bomb is a festival they particularly enjoy, as it is an opportunity to spend time with fans and have a fun and friendly moment together under the warm summer sun.
Talking about “Sweat,” they hope that the new choreography will lead to challenges and that fans will enjoy trying to recreate it. During the discussion session with their agency to select the tracks for this single, NATTY reveals that she strongly recommended “Sweat,” already imagining herself “shining with sweat” on stage and in the music video. However, it was difficult for the members to choose between this track and “What!” for the title track position, as they loved both songs very much.
“What!” is a more R&B-oriented song, which highlights KISS OF LIFE’s confidence. This duality has been observed with previous songs, alternating between summery and sexy sounds like “Sticky” and stronger, more charismatic performances like “Igloo.” The group concludes that these two sides are what make up the essence of the group, as they cannot separate these two identities, just like the two sides of a coin. They therefore plan to promote both songs on stage, something that will delight their fans.
“‘What!’ is a track that I would define as ‘fresh, refreshing,’ showing a more ‘cool’ side of the group, just like ‘Igloo’ did.” – JULIE
Regarding their goal with this comeback, the singers say they hope to enter the music charts and, if possible, achieve first place on a music show. They look back on the first time they obtained first place, expressing that they were of course very grateful for the opportunity, but that they also cried a lot of tears of happiness, promising themselves that they would continue working hard in the future.
Looking back on their three years of career, NATTY begins by saying that they have been so busy that the years have flown by very quickly. Between comebacks and tours, they still feel as though they are at the beginning of their career, but after finding their musical identity, it has now become easier to know which direction they want to pursue as artists and as a group. Receiving compliments saying that they work well and work hard remains one of their main goals, as they want to ensure the positive growth of KISS OF LIFE.
For the continuation of their career, the members express their desire to participate in international festivals, as they have already had the opportunity to do, enjoying meeting both their Korean and overseas fans. Speaking of fans, while the interview is taking place in a café, fans gathered around the building, exchanging a few greetings with the group before the journalists arrived. A moment that helps maintain the bond between the group and their fans.
With each comeback, the singers make sure to stay in shape, emphasizing the importance of exercising regularly and eating healthily. They express the need to be healthy themselves if they wish to encourage their audience to do the same, although they admit that staying disciplined with exercise can sometimes be difficult, but that one has to hold on and keep going. Therefore, what is essential during each promotional period is to remain healthy, but also to avoid injuries.
“I think the biggest change since last year is our fandom, which has grown. We are very grateful for that.” — JULIE
When they spend time alone, they enjoy relaxing, taking time to rest, and reading books, for example. HANEUL went viral online last year through videos, particularly during the promotions of “Igloo,” and hopes that the group will be able to benefit from another positive buzz that will highlight both themselves and their music. If they had to choose a new title to replace “Summer Queens,” they consider “Wannabe,” or, making the journalists present laugh, “Your fan,” creating a wordplay with “fan” in English, meaning a ventilator, which is perfect for summer. In the future, NATTY wishes to spend a summer in Hawaii, where JULIE is from, while HANEUL would like to go to Thailand to eat watermelons.
A journalist points out the group’s relatively frequent comebacks, which generally take place twice a year, wondering whether the workload is not too demanding for the group. BELLE does not see it that way, saying that each promotion is an opportunity to explore new songs, performances, and above all, to have fun. Nevertheless, they pay particular attention to all the feedback they receive, in order to make sure they continue to improve. They therefore seek to incorporate important messages into their songs.
“‘Sticky’ is a warm track, but with a fresh breeze passing through our bodies, whereas ‘Sweat’ represents a more overwhelming heat.” — HANEUL
Looking back on their first vacation, HANEUL says that she went to the Japanese countryside, while NATTY reunited with her family and paid for a meal for them, a first for her, as she had previously always used their credit card. The fact that she paid for the meal earned her compliments from her family, especially the words “our daughter has grown up well,” which deeply moved her. All these opportunities and positive remarks motivate them to push themselves further every day.
The interview concludes on these positive words, with the quartet having shared many smiles throughout this question-and-answer session. KISS OF LIFE ends by saying that before “Sticky” was released, the group was somewhat anxious about the public’s reaction, and that having received so much love and attention taught them that they should not worry too much while preparing a comeback, because no one knows how the public will react, and it can lead to many positive and enjoyable experiences.
Our reporter’s words: “A pleasant moment spent alongside them, a renewal of the Summer Queens title in sight?”
Journalist: Pillet Anaïs
Photos: S2 ENTERTAINMENT
Source: KSTATION TV
