Can you imagine what 2024 in K-pop would’ve been like without KISS OF LIFE? Shooting across the industry like a comet with such talent and polish that it was hard to believe they were new to the scene, this new group has blazed through their second calendar year with a brilliance that lit up the skies of every season.

The four members of KISS OF LIFE all have distinct personalities. The strategy for the makeup of idol groups can vary, with some aiming for one unified, cohesive image, while others take a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts approach from the outset by focusing on the unique strengths of each of their members. KISS OF LIFE falls entirely into the second category. Particularly with their compact four-member lineup of exceptionally talented individuals, you can tell with a single look that they’re the select elite.

Typically, such elite or highly skilled groups try to prove their talent and overwhelm the senses with high-energy performances. The so-called “girl crush” approach is common for these lineups, as are powerful vocals. This might mean belting out their lyrics like they’re in a rock band or going for the bright, focused pop singing style of a Rihanna. KISS OF LIFE, though, stands apart with how light they keep their vocals. Even when their dance moves are fiercely intense, the lightness of their vocals and facial expressions make even the most vigorous choreography seem effortless. And it’s all thanks to their vocal style, where no emotion is forced. I personally adore artists like Tinashe, whose soft, emotional vocals blend seamlessly with her expressive dance moves, so for me, it’s impossible not to love KISS OF LIFE.

Spring: “Midas Touch”
The first song the group promoted in 2024 was “Midas Touch,” released in the spring on April 3. Inspired by the Greco-Roman myth of King Midas, where anything he touched turned to gold, the music and thematic elements were a pitch-perfect spin on 2000s American dance-pop, recalling songs like “Toxic” by Britney Spears and “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls. During this time, American pop music went through a trend of looking away from home and Europe to other places like India and Latin America for unique “hooks.” Dance-pop tracks like “Toxic,” which sampled its catchy scale from an Indian film, and “Don’t Cha,” which borrowed its cha-cha rhythm, were popular, even in Korea, thanks to variety shows like X-Man on SBS. “Midas Touch” faithfully recreated the rhythm and vibe of the era while cleverly sandwiching the drums between the other instruments to avoid sounding outdated. The song checked every box—visuals and dance moves that carefully trimmed out the old, and KISS OF LIFE’s previously mentioned light vocals—to successfully capture the Y2K sound without ever feeling tacky.

NATTY’s blond transformation really made waves. Already a proven talent after performing on numerous idol audition shows and debuting with a solo career, NATTY finally had her breakthrough last year with her solo track “Sugarcoat” off KISS OF LIFE’s debut album. Her look, featuring black hair with straight, full bangs and distressed hip hop attire, left both the K-pop fans who follow her closely and casual listeners stunned in a good way. Then she added a twist while promoting “Midas Touch,” going fully blond and drawing eyes in as she sat surrounded by spiderwebs, amplifying the song’s aura of mythology. KISS OF LIFE’s captivating Y2K aesthetic truly found its footing in NATTY.

Summer: “Sticky”
The summer queen crown this year went to KISS OF LIFE’s song “Sticky.” Though a pop song with a clear Afrobeats influence, the single had a nice, clean sound to it, contrary to what the title might suggest. “Sticky” evokes genres like South African amapiano and Nigerian Alté, which, while more rhythmically intricate than house music, are in the same niche as K-pop summer staple genre tropical house with its use of the E.piano, making the song feel at once familiar and new. It’s this bright, balmy impression it leaves that sets it apart from today’s strictly Afrobeats hits.

Analyzing girl group summer songs is becoming increasingly challenging. “Sticky” at once reinforced KISS OF LIFE’s hot-girl image while also giving an idea of how hot girls can be portrayed in the present day. “Hot” K-pop music videos typically use lighting that draws heavy contrast between light and shadows to draw attention to the figures onscreen, but “Sticky” embraced bright natural lighting from above, favoring a look with almost no shadows and focusing on their movement rather than their figures.

“Sticky” never could’ve felt so nice and clean without JULIE. Her fast footwork and twisty legwork as she dances in her sneakers, including the way she twerks, isn’t just sexy—it’s also energetic and liberating thanks to her Bacardi moves, a style originating from South Africa. She exuded her signature radiance with precise power, flexibility, and the signature way she smiles with her eyes, bringing vibrant energy to her performance. It’s the combination of JULIE’s soft, airy singing and dancing that makes “Sticky” feel like it was custom designed to fit her personal color analysis.

Fall: “Get Loud”
In October, KISS OF LIFE released their third mini album, Lose Yourself, experimenting with an American pop sound out of the 2000s and 2010s, when Southern hip hop started to make waves in the genre. They were especially clever to pair it with Hispanic music influences, especially the guitar style and melody in “Get Loud,” the lead single, reminiscent of Spanish flamenco. The lyrics make the inspiration explicit with references to “Havana” and the “cha cha.” The ”Get Loud” guitar sound in the first verse unquestionably sent waves of nostalgia over fans of an earlier era of K-pop when BoA’s 2004 hit “My Name” featured similar guitar.

Confetti features prominently as a symbol in the lyrics to “Get Loud.” In the music video, silver confetti rains down, scattering light in every direction across an already dazzling set, adding to the spectacle. With a backdrop split into radiant shards for exaggerated effect, BELLE is right at home, channeling teen drama main character energy. It’s already impossible not to get caught up in her unshakable vocal talent and the way she jumps between styles with ease, but she absolutely puts her powers on full display in “Get Loud,” alternating between coy and captivating—especially in the pre-chorus, where the music goes silent and the listener is left with nothing but her vocals driving a thirst for more and more excitement.

Originally a songwriter with no background in idol training, BELLE has since become a famous idol star, but her relative lack of time spent as an idol trainee does imbue the artist with a unique flair. BELLE’s character in “Get Loud” feels like a development of this idea. All in all, her presence and voice fitted right into the track’s hip and lively mood.

Winter: “Igloo”
Another track off Lose Yourself, “Igloo” came out alongside “Get Loud” but has just as much to offer, with its mood, theme, and enduring popularity making it a winter hit. The credits also feature a name that jumps right out at you: producer and longtime BTS collaborator Hiss Noise. With a minimalistic beat leaning toward snap music, a subgenre of hip hop, the stripped-down production merges with KISS OF LIFE’s onstage attitude to set a mood that’s at once indifferent yet savage. The simple choreography, perfect for TikTok challenges, became a canvas for their personalities. Styled in sexy winter fur and padded jackets with sunglasses casually thrown on—need I say more? Instant win.

Lee, who served as creative director during KISS OF LIFE's development, describes HANEUL as a chameleon who can make any look her own and has the capacity to absorb any direction she’s given like a sponge. She was already a fan of how HANEUL took to a cyberpunk vibe when covering the aespa song “Next Level” during her trainee days. Of HANEUL’s numerous strengths, what stands out in particular here are her bold and uninhibited movements accentuated by her height, and her reserved, yet chic facial expressions. HANEUL appears to be the perfect embodiment of the track’s frosty, end-of-days ambiance.

As the youngest member of the group, HANEUL became the last piece of the KISS OF LIFE puzzle to fall into place after outshining even the fierce competition in the trainee pool. Even before this album, though, it was obvious her skillset left nothing to be desired. Still, being as young as she was, the group’s hot-girl image had to be approached with some caution. When it came time for “Igloo,” though, HANEUL—now in her second year of being an idol and fully acclimatized to the stage—at last unleashed her full potential in spectacular fashion at end-of-year shows. Her amazing ability to wow in two completely different ways just by putting on or taking off her sunglasses ties into the song’s sense of minimalism, proving that even the smallest touches can impart significant impact.

The past four seasons spent with KISS OF LIFE were truly dazzling. Each and every song and video was meticulously crafted and perfectly flawless. After such an exceptional year of successive bullseyes, it’s impossible not to be excited for whatever’s coming next. As they enter their third year, KISS OF LIFE is bound to grow into an even more extraordinary group. Whatever you think they’re capable of, they’ll no doubt exceed even those expectations.