Kiss of Life returns with sultry R&B flair in new mini-album ‘224’
K-pop girl group Kiss of Life performs their new song “Lips Hips Kiss” during a press showcase for their fourth EP “224” at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
K-pop girl group Kiss of Life returns to heat up the summer, this time with a deeper and sultrier R&B sound that marks a new chapter in their musical evolution.
The group held a media showcase Monday at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their fourth mini-album, "224."
Following the bright, sexy energy of their past summer hits “Sticky” and “Igloo,” "224" explores the journey of selfhood and emotional liberation through the flow of time — “today, tomorrow and forever.”
The group uses their signature bold yet sophisticated sound to send a message of self-discovery to those who’ve lost touch with their inner identity.
More confident than ever
Julie opened the event by saying, “We’re now in our third year since debut, and it’s been eight months since our last release. We worked really hard on this album, so please show it lots of love.”
Fresh off their first world tour, which ran from last October through May, the group says they’ve grown significantly as performers.
“We learned so much from meeting our global fans,” said Natty. “We’ve come back with more maturity, and we’re excited for everyone to see it.”
This album also marks Kiss of Life’s first without creative director Lee Hae-in, who had shaped their concept since the debuted. Instead of stepping back, the members took a more hands-on role in the creative process.
“We’ve always been involved in our albums, but this time we were even more engaged in communication and direction,” Julie said.
Kiss of Life performs their new song “Lips Hips Kiss” during a media showcase for their fourth EP “224” at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Monday.
New sound, same confidence
The title track “Lips Hips Kiss” draws from early 2000s R&B and hip-hop, delivering a sensual mood that captures the intensity of mutual attraction. With sleek vocals and feminine yet fierce tones, the song taps into a modern Y2K vibe that’s both nostalgic and fresh.
“We always go through a lot of thought when choosing a title track,” said Belle. “Each member can handle so many genres, so we had a lot of strong options. We chose ‘Lips Hips Kiss’ because it aligns perfectly with the direction we wanted to take — and we’re confident in it.”
After back-to-back summer comebacks, the group is proud of their growing reputation as “summer queens.” “We’re really happy to have that title,” said Natty. “This time, it’s a different kind of heat — stickier, more intense — and I hope people love it.”
Belle added, “Summer has become my favorite season since ‘Sticky.’ I want Kiss of Life to be the group people think of when they think of summer.”
As for why they took a different approach this time, Julie said, “We wanted to surprise people. It’s a new challenge, but also a genre and sound we’re confident in. We wanted to show how versatile we are.”
Kiss of Life performs their new song “k bye” during a media showcase for their fourth EP “224” at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Monday.
Reaching for the top
Asked what recognition they hope to gain with this release, Belle said, “We want to be called the queens of R&B.” She added, “It’s also our goal to win No. 1 on music shows — and to climb high on digital charts, all the way to the top three.”
Julie also said, “I hope people say, ‘Wow, this is so cool, and the music is amazing.’ We’ve always experimented with genres, but this album is especially high in quality. I hope listeners are pleasantly surprised.”
Kiss of Life’s new mini-album "224" was released Monday across major music platforms.
Kiss of Life members Natty, left, and Haneul perform the new song “k bye” during a media showcase for the group’s fourth EP “224” at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Monday. Yohhap
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.