KINO is a man of many talents. He is best known for being a member of the boy group PENTAGON under Cube Entertainment since 2016. Within PENTAGON, KINO is the mastermind behind the group’s music production and visuals. He’s also written and produced songs for other Korean groups and artists including A.C.E, WOODZ, fellow PENTAGON member Wooseok, and more. As of January 2024, he has 67 songs under his belt. Aside from music, KINO is an active painter as well. He showcased his work at the World Art Expo 2024. He also attended New York Fashion Week 2024 for the Concept Korea fashion show.
On December 15, 2023, the artist announced the opening of his agency, NAKED, and the start of his solo career. KINO wants to get close to his listeners with music they can relate to and feel closer to their hearts by having no boundaries with his music style and genres. On January 27, 2024, he went on his first solo tour, BORN NAKED, visiting multiple cities across Asia including Seoul, Taipei, and Hong Kong, and finished in Japan last month.
KINO released his first EP ‘If this is love, I want a refund’ on May 2, 2024. The singer states, “It represents a full cycle of a relationship. It is also a collection of songs revealing genuine feelings about love; The good, the bad, the ugly. Love is not always as nice as it’s been portrayed, nor our feelings towards it. It’s a story about me, you, and us all: The diary of us.” This EP includes five songs, all of which he participated in the lyric writing and composing.
Broke My Heart
“Broke My Heart” reveals the anger someone feels when being betrayed by a loved one. The track features Lay Bankz, an American singer-songwriter and rapper. She is known for her songs that went viral on TikTok, such as “Tell Ur Girlfriend,” which is currently trending on the video platform. Her other songs include “Left Cheek (Doo Doo Blick),” “Na Na Na,” and “Ick,” which all trended on TikTok last year. KINO and Lay Bankz worked together flawlessly while filming the music video to “Broke My Heart.” They even created the choreography for the chorus on the spot during the shoot.
Solo
“Solo” tells the story of a couple that has decided to break up after accepting their differences and wishing each other the best for the future. It touches on the themes of independence, self-discovery, and moving forward. “Solo” is a positive break-up song versus the usual sad break-up song.
Freaky Love
“Freaky Love” was released as a single on March 21, 2024. It describes a moment when a person becomes lovestruck for someone. KINO took inspiration from the slang “delulu,” a social media term used to describe someone as delusional. The singer made a TikTok video on the process of how “Freaky Love” was made. He describes it as “a casual love song that’s not too serious.”
Valentine
KINO aims to recharge the listeners with courage whenever they feel like giving up on relationships and love with “Valentine.” This song shows the themes of nostalgia, longing, and the desire for a past love to return. It captures the bittersweet emotion of nostalgia for a past relationship, the desire to return to simpler times, and the recognition of the nature of life and love.
Fashion Style
“Fashion Style” was also released before the EP on January 8, 2024, and is the first single released under KINO’s new label. The song has a message for the listeners stating that they are beautiful just the way they are and should not try to be anyone else but themselves.
What do you think about KINO’s newest release? Let us know on Instagram and Twitter! You can stream ‘If this is love, I want a refund’ on Apple Music and Spotify!
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Featured Image Credit: NAKED
