The fifth generation of K-Pop has been filled with standout idol groups who have taken the industry by storm. The roster of new artists that currently grace the stage have noticeable presence under the spotlight and in behind the scenes footage. They're able to showcase that the individuals who decide to pursue a career in the K-Pop scene only get better as time goes on, even earning acknowledgement from legendary sunbae artists.
Without a doubt in anyone's mind, one pleasant surprise has been KISS OF LIFE. Despite being from a smaller company, the four members in Julie, Natty, Belle, and HaNeul, have made a sizeable impact within their debut year alone. Considering their accomplishments and overall stage presence, they certainly do not feel like newcomers who just started their career.
But it must be said that KISS OF LIFE has had a steady rise to stardom, shaped by their consistent hard work and perseverance.
KISS OF LIFE's Unique Pre-debut Experiences
While they might be new to the scene as a group, most of the members have been deeply involved in the K-Pop industry for quite some time. They were not only known to the general public within Korea, but were names that floated around international K-Pop communities prior to debut.
Julie
KISS OF LIFE Official
Julie first made waves as a trainee at THEBLACKLABEL. Netizens were initially captivated by her outstanding hip-hop presence. Even then, her rap skills were filled with the potential to reach the highest level and stand toe to toe with the best idol rappers in the industry. Building upon such a core foundation of skills, it seemed only a matter of time before she was deemed ready to make her explosive debut.
Natty
KISS OF LIFE Official
Natty's career within K-Pop is rich with both history and consistent hard work. Being involved in two idol competition programs certainly set her up for success, despite not making the final debut lineup for either one. Through her experience, she was able to make a bold debut as a soloist, truly embodying her bright-eyed innocence at the time. Fans believed that her solo career would only take off, but Natty decided differently, pursuing music as a girl group member instead.
Belle
KISS OF LIFE Official
Originally, Belle believed she would remain behind the scenes as a producer. She's worked with artists like PURPLE KISS, (G)I-DLE's MiYeon, rapper Kid Milli, and LE SSERAFIM. If she continued down this path, there's no doubt that Belle could have become a celebrated producer, praised by the artists she would have worked with. However, now she can channel that talent to creating songs for her beloved group.
HaNeul
KISS OF LIFE Official
HaNeul's history isn't as deep, however, there's still stories of how she made an impact prior to debut. Most notably, it was revealed that the other three members were asked on their opinions on who should be the last member. Seeing her skills now, it may come as no surprise that they all recommended HaNeul due to her immersive charms in both singing and dance, as well as her captivating visuals.
Undeniable Monster Rookies
KISS OF LIFE's self-titled debut album received immense praise from netizens for including four incredible solo songs. Showcasing the members' spectacular individual talents early on, anticipation for their success only continued to grow for the new girl group. Their title track 'Shhh' accumulated similar praise, putting them on every K-Pop fans' radar of groups to look out for.
More than anything, their performances truly solidified their status as monster rookies. All of their skills combined produced live stages that far surpassed the expectations first set forth by netizens. They all had amazing vocals, magical stage presence, and an all-powerful charisma that commanded the spotlightat every step of their budding career. Everything from their concept to sound were unique and remained at the forefront of K-Pop fans' minds for weeks to come.
A Steady Rise In Popularity And Hanteo Sales
Hanteo Charts
As artists, KISS OF LIFE's primary concern is their music and how they can improve in terms of live performances and stage presence. They hone their dancing and vocals to no end, constantly leveling up at various points of their career. This transformation can also be seen in terms of their rising popularity. And in turn, the growing positive reception that they receive from the public is directly translated to album sales.
Although their music can be freely streamed via apps like Spotify or Apple Music, fans try their best to support KISS OF LIFE by purchasing their albums. These purchases count toward the Hanteo charts which logs the sales of albums in real time. And while KISS OF LIFE possess undeniable talent, their debut album recorded 759 copies sold on the first day, reaching up to 5,500 by the end of the first week.
However, after laying such a firm foundation, every release afterwards has slowly ramped up in terms of sales, with "Born to be XX" recording 11,237 copies sold in its first day. Then looking at their most recent release with "Midas Touch", more records were broken with 21,735 first day sales. While a group shouldn't be defined by numbers, this showcases KISS OF LIFE's immense growth. As their upward trajectory continues, fans remain steadfast, cheering for the group's success in whatever way possible.
Are you impressed by KISS OF LIFE's growth since debut? What's your favorite song from the group so far?
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