PENTAGON’s KINO on Balancing K-Pop Idol & Indie Label Proprietor Roles

Whilst many musicians recognize isolating their on and offstage character, KINO breaks his existence into 3 portions and tries to reside their truths via his personal fair expression.

There’s Kang Hyung-gu, his delivery title that represents his maximum unique self that pals know. Beneath his level title KINO, he’s a member of chart-topping K-pop boy band PENTAGON with Dice Leisure, and in addition a soloist underneath his independently introduced NAKED label. In spite of the 27-year-old pronouncing he has issue sharing himself all the time, the one who requested strangers to charge his unmarried at Coachella closing 12 months is identical pleasant, made up our minds face strolling right into a New York Town studio sooner than the kickoff of his first U.S. solo excursion. KINO briefly stocks which footage he likes easiest, units up his telephone to document b-roll and behind-the-scenes content material, and has his outfit and an meeting of equipment decided on to mirror the colours and temper of his present musical generation.

Launched on the most sensible of 2025, KINO’s newest unmarried “Skyfall” is a stirring, string and piano-led ballad with a hovering refrain paying homage to the stand-still second of JVKE’s breakout Billboard Sizzling 100 hit “Golden Hour.” Accompanied by means of a black-and-white shot of him making a song in live performance as the duvet artwork, “Skyfall,” and November’s gritty guitar minimize “Everglow,” display a noticeably much less produced model of the famous person in comparison to the electro-pop, viral-ready bop “Broke My Center” that includes TikTok Billboard Most sensible 50 chart-topper Lay Bankz. But it surely’s all a part of showcasing the individual he’s presently and the kinds and sounds accompanying it. KINO says it’s all resulting in a undertaking that “would be the maximum fair album in my existence.”

KINO’s I Suppose I Suppose Too A lot Excursion is an perception into his thoughts, naming the trek — which hit 8 towns in 12 days for its U.S. leg — off what actually assists in keeping him up at night time. Along the personalised title, KINO says he was once assured that audiences had to revel in his new track reside. “The theme of this live performance is emotion,” he tells Billboard. “Once I wish to categorical my feelings to the target market, I must be in entrance of them, so it’s essential to satisfy them in individual.”

KINO’s selection to near the live performance with the unreleased, racing rock-pop anthem “Again in Time,” entire with a call-and-response bridge very best to singalong to at the radio or at track fairs, appears like his instinct at paintings. This ultimate impact KINO makes throughout this intimate live performance appears like the primary steps in sending him down a trail to obtain a world pop hit of his very personal — one he’ll be capable to say was once a real expression of himself.

You named this excursion I Suppose I Suppose Too A lot and your album If This Is Love, I Need a Refund. Those aren’t standard titles. Are those all belongings you’ve individually thought of?

That’s proper; that’s the most important path of this corporate, too. As a result of as a solo artist, I may no longer assist however to not proportion my tale. It’s essential to me that I’m appearing myself and appearing my thoughts inside of. So, I used to be searching for the ideas I’m interested by essentially the most just lately and located that “I feel I feel an excessive amount of” is the only. Once I introduced this corporate and debuted as a solo artist, I’m at all times pondering issues time and again until the night time, so I Suppose I Suppose Too A lot is hooked up from a dialog I had.

The explanation why I sought after to deliver this live performance to every other nation and extra towns was once as a result of I feel my track is excellent to hear, however I consider my track isn’t entire with simplest listening. My track is entire when folks concentrate and watch the efficiency in combination. The theme of this live performance is emotion and once I wish to categorical my feelings to the target market, I must be in entrance of them, so it’s essential to satisfy them in individual.

You launched “Everglow” and “Skyfall” with softer and extra emotional tones than If This Is Love, I Need a Refund. What are you sharing now?

“Skyfall” is a breakup track that captures the feel sorry about of affection taken as a right. And it’s very best for this season, so, if listeners can relate to this tale, that will be superb. And “Skyfall” was once additionally impressed by means of the 007 [James Bond] movie. “Skyfall” was once a spot the place loving recollections and regrets linger, so when the speculation got here up, I assumed it will be the very best phrase to explain the sound. So, Billboard, I’m hoping you find it irresistible. Please invite me to every other interview once I’m at the Billboard charts.

However I don’t wish to display KINO the fame. I wish to display the human Kang Hyung-gu. I feel that I will not be outlined by means of one individual: I’ve a large number of feelings and persona in my thoughts. However I’m identical to a human like everybody: I fail, I feel sorry about, I worry, I cry, I smile. All the ones feelings and all the ones persona sides make me and completes me, proper? That’s why I don’t wish to outline myself as a one-genre artist. I’ve many track genres and feelings for the other track in me. I’m converting each second, each unmarried day! And I’m going to switch sooner or later too.

Are those singles resulting in a brand new album?

We’re making plans a large number of issues for this 12 months, however an important factor is, after all, the album. I’m writing the songs, and as I advised you, I’m nonetheless working out who I’m. I feel this would be the maximum fair album in my existence. It’s very arduous to be courageous, however I’m difficult myself to be an artist who can discover and succeed in the following long run. It is going to be completely other [in terms of] the genres and kinds of track. I’ve some tracks I wish to break, however not anything is ready at this second. I’m running with a large number of other artists at this second — possibly some who lovers would possibly know, some from completely other scenes — however one spoiler is “digital sound.”

Why was once it vital so that you can release NAKED? You should have simply stayed the place you have been for longer.

Certainly one of them is to distinguish from my paintings within the band and as a solo artist. After which I’ve one more reason, which is to problem myself. I like to problem myself and I consider that may deliver me to every other more or less higher long run. If I don’t problem myself or keep in a at ease process, I think like I’m lifeless. It’s arduous to give an explanation for, but when I keep in my convenience zone, I think like I gained’t be capable to trade or develop. However I additionally didn’t get started this simply to take the danger itself, proper? I think like by means of taking those dangers, one thing will pop out of it in go back. I don’t know what it could be, however that’s additionally the explanation why I’m doing it.

I went via your track sooner than the excursion and located “POSE” from 2022. That was once the primary time I bear in mind seeing you solo. I’m curious what you call to mind that track nowadays?

I’ve two other functions as a member of PENTAGON and as a solo artist. At the moment, I used to be just a member of PENTAGON, so I sought after to achieve success as a result of that’s your objective as a member of a staff. However once I introduced this corporate and debuted formally as a solo, I wish to discuss private and person issues via my solo track. So, it’s completely other. At the moment, I used to be making “POSE” only for the good fortune.

What are your objectives or successes nowadays? What do you need to manifest to occur in 2025?

In truth, um, I wish to be at the Billboard charts. For actual, it’s no longer like I’m no longer joking. Whilst seeking to be myself, that’s additionally my largest objective as a result of I’m making track with my one hundred pc fair emotions. I think like I misplaced myself for a very long time, so I’m searching for the true me and working out who I’m. So, once I’ve discovered that and made some track with the fair KINO, I wish to be at the Billboard charts with that track. That’s my objective.

 When had you felt such as you had misplaced your self?

It was once after the I Suppose I Suppose Too A lot display in Seoul in September. Round that second, I used to be questioning, “What do I’ve to turn for myself to the sector?” After which I noticed that I’ve by no means proven myself one hundred pc. After all, I’ve shared some tales, however I don’t assume I mentioned myself totally. Once I discovered that, I sought after to be fair. It’s very arduous to be courageous to turn myself, together with the portions I didn’t wish to display.

You stated it’s additionally vital to stay your goal with the crowd intact. Are you able to proportion extra about together with PENTAGON on your thoughts?

I feel I exist on account of them. As a result of I’ve a staff and contributors of a staff at the back of me, I will nonetheless exist for 20, 25 [years] as KINO. After all, it’s essential to me to be my very own artist, however as I discussed, I’ve a large number of functions. PENTAGON is essential in my existence. They saved me alive and that’s how I stay going mindfully. It’s about loyalty and friendship, however in reality, for me, it’s extra like a “family-ship.” They’re at all times subsequent to me, the most important supporters, and I will lean on them. We at all times join up, communicate at the telephone, and, after all, have a bunch chat, although we’re simply sending a meme or GIFs.

Past your band buddies, I truly like your How I Met KINO collection on YouTube and seeing new aspects and those surprising friendships. The place did the speculation come from?

Prior to we introduced the display, I puzzled, “What KINO have I no longer proven to my lovers but?” All of the folks round me inform me, “You’re very Kang Hyung-gu while you’re with your folks, the true you.” So, I’ve by no means spotted that, however after, I noticed, “Oh, it’s very best to turn my moments of friendship to the target market.” And I think like every my lovers truly love the moments once I’m with my pals. I’m so in poor health of the digital camera turning on and desiring to take a seat up and be very best. I changed into extra at ease in entrance of the digital camera and that was once a great trade.

Pictures and Inventive Course by means of Lauren Nakao Winn

Assisted by means of Jovita Tedja