Kiss of Life Buka Musim Panas dengan 'Sweat'

For most K-pop groups, a four-month gap between releases would be considered a rapid comeback. For Kiss of Life, it was simply too important not to miss the summer.

The quartet returned Tuesday with its third single, "Sweat," just four months after releasing its second single, "Who is She." During a joint interview in Seoul on Wednesday, the members said they deliberately accelerated preparations to capitalize on the season that has become synonymous with the group's identity.

"We've always released music that fits the summer, so we wanted to prepare quickly and return with something everyone can enjoy during the season," Belle said.

Summer has become a defining season in Kiss of Life's career. "Sticky," released in July 2024, became the group's breakthrough hit. It earned Kiss of Life its first music show win and helped the group secure the Korean Music Awards’ rookie of the year honor while cementing its reputation as one of K-pop's emerging "summer queens." Even its debut single "Shhh," now one of the group's most successful releases, arrived in July 2023.

That seasonal identity shaped the group's latest musical direction. "Sweat" combines Afro-house with Latin pop influences, drawing on rhythms the members felt best matched Kiss of Life's performance style.

"We thought the passionate feel of Latin pop really suits our color," Belle said. "The rhythmic groove of Afrobeats is also something we can express well."

Beyond its upbeat sound, Belle said the song carries a personal message inspired by the group's own journey.

"The phrase that best sums it up is 'Don't let them see you sweat,'" she said. "We worked incredibly hard to get where we are today, and that's what I kept telling myself throughout our trainee years."

"Of course we want to show only our best side, but we're not perfect. We also have moments of uncertainty. We wanted to say that even those imperfections can be beautiful, and we hope people can relate to that," Belle added.

Saat ini, single 'Sweat' dari Kiss of Life sudah banyak digunakan di festival-festival dan konser-konser di Korea Selatan.

Haneul mengajak fans untuk mendengarkan lagu 'Sweat' saat mereka berkunjung ke pantai pada musim panas ini.

B-side 'What!' merupakan lagu EDM yang cocok untuk didengarkan di festival-festival.

Member Kiss of Life dari Thailand, Natty, berharap lagu 'What!' ini dapat menyesuaikan dengan suasana perayaan Songkran di Thailand.

Sebuah pertanda bagi fans bahwa Kiss of Life akan terus berkembang dan menciptakan musik yang inovatif.