Without the comfortability of a group behind him, KINO has more hurdles to overcome than he’s ever faced before, and he’s ready. Real name Kang Hyeong-gu, 26, released an EP and a slew of singles in 2024 and is gearing up for his first solo US tour “I Think I Think Too Much” in 2025. Kicking off in NYC on January 19th, the tour is set to show sides of KINO that he’s been shielding until now. Check out our exclusive interview below!
Your “If this is love, I want a refund” EP dropped earlier this year. How have you felt about the reception of it from your fans?
First of all, I was so thankful to get a lot of love and support from my fans because it was my first solo EP. So I was a little nervous before [it was] released. But they gave bigger love than I expected. So I was so grateful. At the same time, some of my listeners were wondering, “Why did KINO release his songs in English?” I wanted to convey to them that that was the best way to express who I was at the time. In those songs, in those tracks, it just fit with the vibe.
You were able to hear a lot about fans’ broken heart stories through the promotions of your song “Broke My Heart”. Do you have any more advice to people living with broken hearts that you haven’t already said?
If someone broke your heart or if some situation broke your heart, it’s just one of the processes in your life. When you get wounds, when you get scars, and when you try to heal the wounds, you can learn a lot from the process. So it will be okay. I don’t want you to focus on the scar.
“Dancing on the Road” was released shortly after the EP, and “Everglow” after that, as a perfect commemorative release for the live shows. How were the initial Seoul “I Think I Think Too Much” shows for you?
It was hard to make a new show because actually there was a live show that we made before called “Born Naked”, but “I Think I Think Too Much” is way bigger than that, completely. Like, it’s the official concert. So through the making process, we’ve learned a lot. The operations, how I express my feelings and emotions through the music, as well as rearranging all the tracks. As an individual, I’ve learned a lot and I became very confident after the show. So I think that that was the biggest reason why we decided to bring this concert to the global stage. Because it was a really big thing to accomplish, and we improved.
Speaking of, you’re bringing the tour stateside. You haven’t toured the States since Pentagon’s “PRISM” tour in 2019– is there anything in particular that you’re looking forward to with US shows specifically?
I changed some interludes’ narration from Korean from the Seoul concert, to English for the English-speaking audiences. Of course, this is my first tour which is presenting a different style of me, so I’m preparing a lot because they might not be that familiar with my new music because they’re my old fans almost. I’m sure that they will love it. So I want to say that if you guys want to know the new style of KINO, the new KINO, please come to my show.
*After this interview was conducted, KINO announced Latin American shows for the “I Think I Think Too Much” tour– find more information here: instagram.com/kino.tour*
How would you describe yourself as a live performer for people that haven’t been able to see you live yet?
KINO the artist, KINO as a soloist? Now, I became a very relatable and honest artist who is telling my real story through my music. I am really focusing on the feeling of the songs, not the visuals or the performance. Of course the visuals and the performance is so, so important to me, but it’s not everything. What I want to say is if someone wants to know and feel KINO’s music one hundred percent, you have to have to experience all of the journey. For example, how I made this song, why I made this song, and what emotions I put within the song. And lastly, the performances on the stage. I’m sure if they come to my show, we will be connected to each other as a person. And one thing, too– the most important thing is I will never quit dancing.
You’ve explored tons of different genres throughout the single and EP song releases. You’ve gone rock, a little bit of hyper-pop vibes, acoustic songs, too. Are any of your songs getting remixed for the live shows?
I actually rearranged all of the tracks on the setlist just for this tour.
You’ve always been regarded as a fashionable figure. Within K-Pop and the music industry, you have been that figure for people. You have been a fashion inspiration. How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style? If somebody wants to know the specific word or specific name of the category of my fashion, I think I can say that it’s twenty-something or street style. Honestly, I don’t really want to categorize my style. I’m just following, researching and studying the trends, but I never just follow the trends. I make my style and I just wear what I want and what I love.
You formerly had a podcast with Jinjin of Astro. Have you ever thought about doing your own podcast?
Oh, yeah, of course. Of course I want to do that. If there’s time, if there is a good opportunity.
Your new YouTube series, “How I Met KINO” features your old friends and you reminiscing. How’s it been going down memory lane with your besties?
Embarrassing [laughs]. I really love to talk with my friends in front of the camera because before, we were too young to tell the real stories in front of a camera. But now we are not juniors in this industry. So it made me comfortable, and it was funnier than I thought. The reactions from the fans watching are way better than I thought, too. I’m so grateful. I regretted inviting them a little bit because they’re so close to me, they know me well. They know everything. I felt like I became naked. That’s what I wanted to show through this series.
Another series on YouTube that you featured this year was CODED. It had you meeting with different dance crews at different universities and dancing with them. What was it like working with who could be the future of dance? Like you said, that’s a really integral part of you as a performer and an artist. What does that mean to you to be able to spread your knowledge?
I didn’t really try to spread my knowledge because I’m not that good. But I was so happy to get to know that there are a lot of good dancers and passionate dancers in the younger generation. That was the best part of the series, I felt. I received such positive energy from them. So, yeah, I appreciate them. I felt some nostalgia about when I was in high school and university. I used to practice all night, like with no sleep too. Their passion made me more passionate. I was inspired by them.
As an all rounder on the outside, it seems like you’ve got everything on lock. Are there any new skills that you want to work on or pick up?
You know what, actually, honestly, I really want to improve my business skill. Running the business. It’s important in my life. But as an artist, I want to try to act. If I have a chance, I want to practice a lot and do it well. I prefer dramas over movies, and I want to try the positive things. Not just dramatic or serious, because that’s my personality.
You’ve got all of these parts of yourself on display. Is there anything left that you’d really like to accomplish or create for yourself?
Yeah, there are a lot. As I mentioned before, I want to improve my business skills because there are a lot of things to learn. That is one of the biggest, but not the most important of mine. Before that, I have to improve my musical skills.
What are your current pop culture obsessions?
I’m obsessed with digging new music. It was one of my biggest hobbies when I was in school. I quit trying to find new music for three or four years because there were a lot of things to do, but recently I felt, “Oh, I have to do this again!” and it made me happier than before. I’m enjoying it. Like, I’m so into The Dare now. I am listening to his music a lot. Did I tell you I have a lot of obsessions? [laughs] But yeah. Seeing concerts, too. Last night I went to Cho Yong Pil’s Concert. Yeah, he’s a legend. I called him Korea’s Bon Jovi. Korea’s Elvis Presley. Korea’s King. I really love the vibe and his attitude. So I learned a lot last night. Actually, I’m also obsessed with planning traveling, too– because I have a few days of holidays, I felt that this will be my last vacation for a while. If I have some time to watch videos or research [travel plans], I do.
