"This time, I want to hear the words 'King of R&B' and 'Queen of R&B'"
The 'Summer Queen' KISS OF LIFE has returned with 'R&B'. The summer of KISS OF LIFE, which has come back with a stickier and new 'hot' vibe, has just begun.
On the afternoon of the 9th, a showcase for the release of KISS OF LIFE's mini album '224' was held at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
KISS OF LIFE, which has carved its own path with distinct concepts and diverse music in every album, is taking a leap with their new mini album '224', singing about a new identity as an artist. Celebrating their 3rd anniversary this year, KISS OF LIFE confidently presents '224', an album that intuitively expresses the keyword 'Today, Tomorrow, Forever', encapsulating the narrative of a person's self moving from oppression to liberation through the passage of time in various genres such as R&B hip-hop, disco, and acoustic ballads.
Juli, who said, "It's been 3 years since our debut," urged, "As we have returned after 8 months, please look forward to and love this album," while Natti also mentioned that it has been a while since their comeback, saying, "I learned a lot while touring."
The album '224' sheds light on the dullness of modern life in a repetitive daily routine, which may seem like a life conforming to set rules and flows, but within it, it highlights the journey of asking and finding answers to 'Who am I?' and 'How should I live?'. Continuing their journey under the keyword 'freedom' since their debut album, they have maximized KISS OF LIFE's unique charm that cannot be defined by any modifier beyond 'hot girl'. The message that the eternal and true 'self' must be earned through someone or something, not given, is contained within the album, which includes a total of 7 tracks, including the title track 'Lips Hips Kiss'.
In particular, this album is the first result of working without their creative director Lee Hae-in, who had been involved until now. KISS OF LIFE filled Lee's absence by participating in the album production themselves. Natti added her own charm and authenticity by participating in the lyrics of 'Tell Me' and 'Painting', while Juli emphasized the hopeful message of the song by participating in 'Heart of Gold'.
Juli said, "As this album is about finding oneself, we enjoyed working while discovering various aspects we didn't know in terms of music and performance," and added, "As always, we try to participate in many aspects of the album production. This time, it became a preparation process where we grew a lot by sharing more communication and expression."
As Juli mentioned, "If we were looking for a refreshing and sweet summer vibe, we tried something different this time," '224' is somewhat different from the songs KISS OF LIFE has shown before. The title track 'Lips Hips Kiss' is an R&B hip-hop song reminiscent of the early 2000s, singing about the emotions of falling for each other in the moment. With a sophisticated melody and sensual lyrics, this song highlights a feminine mood, captivating listeners with a development that is neither excessive nor boring.
Regarding the selection of 'Lips Hips Kiss' as the title track, Bell said, "We struggled and pondered over the song selection. We were happy to have many options to choose from," and added, "Choosing the title track is about considering the direction. There is a song called 'k bye' in the album. That song also has a performance, and I think the public will like it in a different way from the title track, like 'Igloo'."
Juli explained, "I wanted to show KISS OF LIFE's ambition as a summer song that no one expected. It's a new challenge, but I also wanted to show our ability to handle it well. Since it's a song and genre we are confident in, we decided to make 'Lips Hips Kiss' the summer title."
With 'Lips Hips Kiss', KISS OF LIFE is challenging heel choreography. Sky, who said she felt the members were sexy while preparing for the activities, stated, "Since it's the first time doing it properly, I learned a lot and discovered new things." Natti expressed her hope, saying, "In summer, we will show a sticky and new hotness different from 'Sticky', so I hope many people will like it."
In addition to the title track, the album includes 'Tell Me', which captures the contradictory feelings of wanting to escape from a false relationship but being attracted to the other person, 'k bye', which showcases a cool and chic charm, 'Painting', which captures the deep excitement of a summer day, 'Slide' with a lively and catchy melody, 'Heart of Gold', which immerses listeners in the R&B sentiment of the 2000s once again, and 'Think Twice', which gently unravels the regrets of a changed relationship, showcasing a deeper musical depth.
Through this activity, they expressed their desire to be called "King of R&B, Queen of R&B." In particular, Bell emphasized, "Our big goal is to rank first in music shows. It would be nice to rise high on the music charts as well. We want to be number 1, 2, and 3."
Finally, Juli confessed, "I hope many people say, 'KISS OF LIFE is really cool and their music is really good.' We are trying to include good songs while trying various genres in every album. I hope you are surprised to see our different side."
Meanwhile, KISS OF LIFE's '224' will be released today (9th) at 6 PM through various online music sites.
[Geum Bitna, MK Sports Reporter]
