With a breakout hit throughout worldwide charts this summer season, KISS OF LIFE is able to take an explosive 12 months to the subsequent stage with their first-ever world tour.
The lady group’s forthcoming Kiss Highway World Tour continues the momentum Julie, Natty, Belle and Haneul gained on the worldwide stage with the infectious single “Sticky,” serving to the Okay-pop act debut onto a number of Billboard charts: The Afrobeat-inspired summer season single peaked at No. 7 on the South Korean Songs chart to this point, entered the U.S.-based World Digital Track Gross sales chart at No. 10 in July, whereas additionally spending a stable six weeks on the Billboard International 200 after hitting No. 87, and 10 weeks on the Billboard Glocal Excl. U.S. chart after a No. 47 peak.
With promising outcomes early simply over a 12 months into their profession alongside the quartet’s worldwide make-up and vary of trade experiences, KISS OF LIFE is proving they’re greater than only a rising Okay-pop rookie—they’re turning into a global-pop power all their very own.
“We love the music ‘Sticky,’ so it was actually an honor for it to get into the charts,” says Julie, the group’s dynamic chief who was born in Hawaii, chatting with Billboard for his or her first-ever interview with a global outlet. “We actually put numerous effort into the choreography and likewise the music itself, so it’s thrilling to see our arduous work paying off. All of us had been simply hugging one another once we came upon the information.”
Seattle-raised Belle, who beforehand labored as a songwriter for different high Okay-pop teams, believes their authenticity performs an enormous position in why international followers hook up with them: “We truthfully attempt to be ourselves in all of the music we launch. By being genuine, I believe our followers and listeners are capable of resonate extra with the thrill we really feel once we sing and carry out.”
Youngest member Haneul, born and raised in Korea, provides that the KIOF members’ various backgrounds gasoline their artistry. “We simply respect one another,” the 19-year-old says. “We acknowledge our variations and the trail we went by way of to get right here, in order that makes us study from one another and develop.”
The upcoming Kiss Highway tour kicks off in Seoul with two live shows on Oct. 26 and 27 earlier than coming to North America for an intensive, 18-date trek starting in Minneapolis, Minn. on Nov. 10. “We’re fairly assured in our performing means,” teases Thailand-born Natty, whom Okay-pop followers have watched develop up on Okay-pop competitors reveals like Sixteen and Idol Faculty earlier than formally debuting onto the Okay-pop scene as an artist. “Followers can count on a present with excessive power and we’re excited to carry our greatest to the stage.”
Get to know KISS OF LIFE’s Julie, Natty, Belle, and Haneul because the members share extra about their course of, viewpoint, world tour plans and messages to their followers affectionately referred to as Kissys, alongside unique images under.
I wish to start by congratulating you on incomes your first Billboard chart entries with “Sticky.” What had been your reactions?!
Julie: We couldn’t imagine it! We love the music “Sticky” so it was actually an honor for it to get into the charts. We had been so joyful that folks had been liking it as a lot as us and we felt so grateful! We actually put numerous effort into the choreography and likewise the music itself, so it’s thrilling to see our arduous work paying off. All of us had been simply hugging one another once we came upon the information; as arduous as we labored, we additionally know that we actually couldn’t have carried out it with out the help of our followers—love you, Kissys!
KISS OF LIFE has been rising since your debut final July, however “Sticky” has been an actual breakout: Prime 10 in Korea, charting within the U.S., your greatest hits on Billboard‘s International charts. What do you assume are some elements that made this such a success?
Belle: I believe we truthfully attempt to be ourselves in all of the music we launch. By being genuine, I believe our followers and listeners are capable of resonate extra with the thrill we really feel once we sing and carry out as properly. I really feel like this music, particularly, actually suited all of the members, and you would really feel that every one the members had been simply having enjoyable and having fun with themselves whereas recording and performing the music. Additionally, regarding the visuals and efficiency, we targeted on simply feeling ourselves and being assured which inserts properly with summer season. I imply, it’s summer season, why not have just a little enjoyable with it?!
I additionally love your newest B-side, “Te Quiero,” co-written by Belle. What did you wish to present with “Sticky” and “Te Quiero” that you just hadn’t proven beforehand in KISS OF LIFE?
Natty: We wished to indicate everybody our translation of summer season! The cool and refreshing facet in addition to the new! We simply wished to ship good vibes and ensure everybody might benefit from the summer season with us. Each “Sticky” and “Te Quiero” are literally our interpretations of summer season: “Sticky” could be the thrilling, enjoyable facet of summer season the place you get pleasure from your self to the fullest; “Te Quiero” could be the cooler, extra chill and stress-free model of summer season that’s equally satisfying. I don’t assume we had some mastermind plan of what we wished to indicate with these tracks. We simply genuinely wished everybody to benefit from the music whereas having fun with their summer season. You’re employed arduous, you play more durable!
“Te Quiero” can also be important as one other English B-side monitor, similar to “No person” with “Midas Contact.” Is there a extra outstanding motive to incorporate these tracks, and even the English model of “Dangerous Information,” in your bigger plans as a gaggle?
Julie: In fact! We all the time wish to hold our worldwide followers a giant a part of our music. For the Kissys all world wide, we wish to proceed to make music that everybody can get pleasure from and take heed to. We’re adamant in ensuring our worldwide followers know that they play a giant position in our music. Once more, we don’t have a grasp plan on how or a bigger image that we’re strategizing for. We actually simply need everybody to really feel included with our music, wherever they’re and whoever they’re. We simply wish to make music that everybody can get pleasure from and take heed to with out overcomplicating issues.
Have you ever begun preparations and rehearsals on your Kiss Highway World Tour? What are you wanting ahead to essentially the most?
Haneul: We’re tremendous excited for the tour. Completely, can’t wait to satisfy our Kissys, who’ve been supporting us all through our journey. We’ve been working arduous with our crew in designing the present in order that we’re capable of give all of our followers a tremendous expertise. There’s just a little little bit of stress to indicate our followers the most effective model of ourselves however we promise we gained’t allow you to down. I believe essentially the most thrilling half about touring is admittedly feeling everybody’s optimistic power!
Natty: Properly, we are literally fairly assured in our performing means so followers can count on a present with excessive power. We love what we do and we’re blessed with so many individuals supporting us whereas we do what we love. In return, we wish to give them the most effective model of us, so I hope they may all look ahead to it.
One thing I all the time revered about KISS OF LIFE is that you just shared yourselves by way of solo songs out of your debut album. Will we get to see extra solo levels on tour?
Belle: Don’t wish to give too many spoilers so…I believe we are able to say, “perhaps?!” We’ve ready some new levels so ensure you keep tuned for it.
With that, KISS OF LIFE has additionally grow to be recognized on your covers. Your Brown Eyed Ladies “Sixth Sense” cowl was even formally launched, and also you’ve carried out songs by 2NE1, Ciara, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, BLACKPINK, Doja Cat, the checklist goes on…any particular or new covers for tour?
Julie: We all the time sing, rap, and dance to so many various artists on a every day [basis], so hopefully, we get the chance to showcase it to everybody on tour. We simply love all completely different kinds and classes of music. For us proper now it’s being versatile sufficient to discover many various kinds of music and to experiment with sounds so we [can] create our personal particular type. There are days we give attention to singing, different days we rap, and days we solely dance, however we’re all the time working to enhance ourselves, so I hope we’ve the chance to showcase it for the world to see!
The 4 of you got here from very completely different backgrounds and debuted as adults. Generally, it may be tough for adults to pursue their desires and even make new pals. How did you all join and study from one another to make KISS OF LIFE work as cohesively as it’s?
Haneul: We simply respect one another. We acknowledge our variations and the trail we went by way of to get right here in order that makes us study from one another and develop! A key level in any relationship is belief and respect. The respect comes from acknowledging one another’s previous experiences that led them on the trail for us to be right here. I imagine that as a result of we’re capable of share our respective experiences with one another, we’re capable of study from one another and develop as a gaggle, not simply individually. All of us have one thing to study from one another and we respect the place that information got here from.
Do you’ve gotten some other messages for worldwide followers ready to satisfy you?
Julie: We all the time wish to say thanks a lot for sending your love and help. Though we could also be far distances, our hearts are all the time close to! We will’t wait to satisfy everybody in particular person and I hope the time comes quick. Love you guys a lot and see you quickly!!!