This summer, the K-pop scene is packed with releases from seasoned and rising artists alike โ including the girl group KISS OF LIFE. Signed under S2 Entertainment, KISS OF LIFE consists of Natty, Belle, Julie, and Haneul. Despite their fresh debut on July 5, the quartet has already gained a lot of traction. Leading up to their self-titled mini album, each member had her moment under the spotlight with their solo tracks. Additionally, with their distinct visual identity, the girl group stands out when it comes to incorporating the coming-of-age genre into their concept. Read on to discover seven things about KISS OF LIFE, from the concept to the members.
Breathing Air into KISS OF LIFE
The phrase โkiss of lifeโ may remind one of something fresh and replenishing. According to S2 Entertainment, the groupโs name refers to the act of giving vitality by artificial resuscitation. Not only does a โkiss of lifeโ revitalize someone, it also takes them to new places. By bearing this name, KISS OF LIFE aspire to โbreathe new life into the music industry with their music and charm.โ
Reflecting their name, KISS OF LIFEโs concept centers around the stages of life, particularly adolescence and early adulthood. With the membersโ ages ranging from 18 to 23, their joys and struggles are captured in their cinematic pre-debut releases. Released on May 12, the groupโs trailer intimately portrays the members in four different states of hardship, typical of youth their age. However, one thing unites them: the desire to be their best, true selves.
Stealing the Crowdโs Attention with โShhhโ
KISS OF LIFE debuted with the lead single โShhh,โ written by Rick Bridges and Strawberrybananaclub. The dance and hip-hop song contains lyrics that talk of proclaiming the membersโ freedom and confidence. Mirroring the trackโs spirit, the members took part in producing the song: Natty, Belle, and Julie helped with the composition and lyrics.
As seen in their pre-release songs, the โShhhโ music video follows the quartet as a group of friends. After overcoming their personal struggles, they bonded over their shared dream of performing onstage. Not only do they have fun, but they also save themselves from danger โ like confronting an invasive stranger at a skating rink. At the end of the music video, as the credits roll, KISS OF LIFE perform as a group for the first time.
โBye My Neverland:โ Leaving the Past Behind
The other group track on KISS OF LIFEโs self-titled mini album is โBye My Neverland.โ In contrast to โShhh,โ it has a more laid-back feel, combining mellow synths with acoustic and electric guitars. Just like in โShhh,โ some of the members contributed to this pop rock song: Julie with lyrics and composition, and Haneul with composition.
Lyrically, the quartet sings about wanting to grow up and leave things typically associated with childhood, like sandcastles and merry-go-rounds, behind. This includes โburningโ their own Neverland: a place where no child has to grow up. Although adulthood can be terrifying, their decision is final โ theyโre ready to embrace everything life has to offer. As they proclaim in the songโs bridge, โโAnd they all lived happily ever afterโ / Thereโs nothing like that / I donโt want obvious happiness / So I wonโt stop my time / Even if it hurts, I wanna grow.โ
Natty: Born to Be a Star
Twenty-one-year-old Natty is no stranger to the K-pop scene. The Thai artist formerly participated in Sixteen (2016) and Idol School (2017), which gave rise to TWICE and fromis_9 respectively. After her appearances on idol survival shows, she made her solo debut in 2020 with NINETEEN. The release was followed by another single album, Teddy Bear, in the same year.
Compared to her previous releases, Nattyโs solo track as a KISS OF LIFE member displays her more mature, sensible side. โSugarcoatโ draws strong influence from first-generation K-pop songs, sporting R&B beats and sultry vocals. Complementing the songโs vibe are lyrics that express her dream to reach the top as her authentic self. โIโll just be me / Just move, as I desire / Dancing a more splendid dance,โ she sings. In the accompanying music video, she does just that: struggling to make ends meet as a street dancer, she decides to audition for a musical project. As she leaps onto the stage, she moves one step closer to reaching her dreams.
Belle: Shining On and Off-stage
Before debuting as an idol, Belle had a remarkable musical portfolio as a producer. She contributed to the composition of multiple K-pop songs, including the LE SSERAFIM and Nile Rodgersโ hit โUNFORGIVEN,โ as well as (G)I-DLE member Miyeonโs โSoftly.โ The 19-year-old also provided backing vocals on NCT member Markโs debut solo, โChild.โ Aside from writing for K-pop artists, Belle uploads her original works to her SoundCloud page.
In โCountdown,โ Belle solidifies her identity as a multihyphenate. She co-composed the song with Royal Dive, a producer team that has collaborated with Red Velvet, GOT7, and NCTโs Taeyong. The track seamlessly weaves pluck-heavy verses with deep bass-filled choruses. Belleโs soft yet powerful voice sings of accepting herself, including the good and the bad. While she may stumble at times, she doesnโt dwell on it and is always ready to rise again. And as portrayed in the trackโs intense music video, she proclaims: โI want to reach beyond that level / I want to go anywhere I desire.โ She breaks free from the expectations of others, paving her own path instead.
Julie: The Fierce Performer
KISS OF LIFEโs eldest and resident rapper, Julie, hails from Hawaii. After moving to Korea to pursue her dreams of becoming an idol, videos of her rapping gained attention online. Under an idol academy called DEF Dance Skool, she honed her performing skills and eventually found a place in S2 Entertainment.
Her solo track, โKitty Cat,โ further showcases her alluring charm. Notably, compared to the other membersโ solos, the song leans towards hip-hop with percussion-heavy beats. Rapping both in Korean and English, Julie tells her listeners thereโs more to her no-nonsense attitude. โYou know I be the baddest in this town / But I want to be loved for just a day,โ she sings. The trackโs music video portrays her as the life of a party, her presence attracting the eyes of many. However, beyond the stares and the chit-chat, she longs for a deeper, more meaningful relationship.
Haneul: Crystal Clear Voice
Born in 2005, Haneul is KISS OF LIFEโs maknae (youngest member). As shared in her profile post, she understands Korean, English, and Japanese. She also cites Olivia Rodrigo as her role model, with โgood 4 uโ being one of her favorite songs. Her name, which means โskyโ in Korean, reflects her bright voice โ as showcased in her โapplication videoโ and her solo track, โPlay Love Games.โ
The music video for โPlay Love Gamesโ follows Haneul as a teenager in search of recognition from her peers. Once she discards her โnerdyโ clothes and starts uploading dance videos online, her classmates begin to find her interesting. However, after an encounter with a young man, she soon realizes thereโs more to her sudden popularity. The song itself draws a contrast from the music video, as it is a cheerful synthpop track which interpolates the 1908 song โTake Me Out to the Ball Game.โ
To stay on top of their activities, connect with KISS OF LIFE on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and their YouTube channel!
Interested in rookie K-pop girl groups? Read our coverage of Lapillusโ latest comeback with โWhoโs Nextโ here!
