KINO reflects on touring, creative freedom and vision for the future
KINO reflects on touring, creative freedom and vision for the future
KINO knew what he wanted to do, but by joining another company, he may not have the creative control he would like, so he decided to start his own. "Before I established my own company, I was looking for a good direction for my musical journey, and then I realized that there's no company that could take more risks than me, so I decided to run my own," he tells FOX 13.
KINO has been in the K-pop industry for a long time and has made a name for himself over the years with K-pop boy group, PENTAGON.
The group debuted in 2016 and produced popular songs like, "Shine," "Daisy," and "Feelin’ Like."
Members, including KINO, decided not to resign their contracts with their company, Cube Entertainment in 2023, but the group has not disbanded.
With that decision, he decided to pursue a solo career.
However, for an artist who has had so much experience in the industry, KINO knew what he wanted to do, but by joining another company, he may not have the creative control he would like, so he decided to start his own.
"Before I established my own company, I was looking for a good direction for my musical journey, and then I realized that there's no company that could take more risks than me, so I decided to run my own," he tells FOX 13.
That company he would name, NAKED.
"I really love the word naked, because I love the two different meanings it has. Naked is bold, but at the same time, it's beautiful and very honest," KINO explains.
While he is his own boss, starting a company by himself was a scary experience, but because of his team surrounding him, he was able to be brave, he says.
With that team, he would begin producing his own music.
In 2024 he released his first solo EP, "IF THIS IS LOVE I WANT A REFUND," that featured the title "Broke My Heart feat. Lay Bankz."
The song had its own viral success online after fans made a dance challenge to it.
He says the album was about love and relationships, but for the next release he is hoping to show a whole new side of himself.
"For the upcoming EP, I want to show another emotion, which I didn't showcase to people before. So it will be totally different," he says.
But before he can release that EP, he has to finish his first solo U.S. tour.
KINO made his first stop in Seattle in five years on January 29, playing at El Corazon, on the second to last stop of his solo tour called, "I THINK I THINK TOO MUCH."
"I prepared for this tour for around seven months. I spent four months arranging music and making stories for this concert, and I spent another three months just venue booking, operational stuff, and band auditions," he says.
He split his concert into sections describing different emotions, and through his storytelling on stage, he was able to show his fans, called Universe, the fandom name for PENTAGON, who KINO the soloist is.
"I felt a lot of pressure to run the show in English all by myself. It makes me so nervous, and since my fans waited five years to see me, I felt that I really had to be perfect," he explains.
The stage was filled just by KINO and his two band mates, performing to a crowd of fans who had waited for his Seattle return for five years.
His final show on this tour is in LA on January 31, and he says he will miss the fans here in the states, but he has a lot of plans and goals for this year, including his biggest goal for 2025.
"I want to be on the Billboard chart this year. I believe in my team and myself. We're doing great," he says.
With the release of his next EP, not scheduled yet, he is hoping to make that goal a reality, and assures fans this album will be something new and an album you can enjoy with friends.
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