As a K-Pop group, PENTAGON has always strived to stand apart from the crowd. The group has earned recognition for their out-of-the-box ideas when it comes to music videos and concepts. Over the years, the group’s members have participated in songwriting and composition for the group’s EPs and albums, showcasing their skills as an individual entity. 

PENTAGON member KINO has pursued several notable solo projects alongside his group activities. This past month, KINO made his official solo debut with the release of his fresh and exciting new EP. From the first concept photo, the vision of KINO’s solo debut EP was clear — it would be something unique, something new, and something quintessentially KINO. 

Titled If this is love, I want a refund, KINO presents a quirky, acerbic, and quite unconventional vibe with this EP. As one of the most highly anticipated releases of the month, KINO did not disappoint. The singer-songwriter explores themes of love, heartbreak, and loss, underscored with a comic tone. The album art provides a glimpse of what’s to come: a somewhat bruised KINO in oversized clothing and sporting a Y2K look that hints at the EP’s content — emotional expressions that resonate with the youth of today. This EP contains five tracks, with most barely reaching two and a half minutes in length. Given that this marks KINO’s first solo venture in a long time, fans and listeners alike had anticipated more music, with some thinking KINO’s artistry could have flourished even more had each track been longer. Some may have viewed this as a missed opportunity, but KINO's album embraces the current trends of fast-paced media consumption and track virality.

January marked the inception of KINO’s EP with the release of the first single, “Fashion Style.” Soon after, the release was followed by “Freaky Love” in March. The If this is love, I want a refund EP begins with the title track “Broke My Heart,” featuring American rapper Lay Bankz. Sporting a funky vibe from start to finish, KINO belts out a comic expression of his heartbreak. For the BLACKPINK fans out there, you might have noticed the BLACKPINK references in KINO’s verse (and the title)! Lay Bankz’s rap verse adds a spicy touch to the song, especially with the rapid beats that pulsate in her lyrical flow.

Then comes the second track “Solo,” a track that expresses how spending time apart would be better than staying in a relationship. After this, we have “Freaky Love,” the funkiest of all tracks. When you look closer at the lyrics, you will find they sport the most delusional ideas out of all the other tracks in this EP. The rapid rhythm highlights an urgency but the sudden drop in pace at the bridge steers the song in a new direction. This freaky single is followed by “Valentine,” a bilingual track in Korean and English. In “Valentine,” KINO sings about a lover’s lament; it is a sad request from one lover to another to make up and be back together. Lastly, we have “Fashion Style”, the aforementioned pre-release single, bringing this EP to an artful conclusion. “Fashion Style” is a song about a newfound attraction. It seems purely physical at the moment, signaling that once the protagonist loses the high, it is going to result in another heartbreak. Again, the name-dropping was tastefully done here. 

This EP is not KINO’s first venture as a soloist. Before making an official debut, KINO was working on shaping his solo identity by producing and sharing songs on SoundCloud under the name Knnovation. As a member of PENTAGON, he frequently participated in songwriting and composition, further solidifying his artistic skillset. Prior to unveiling his EP, KINO released a single titled “POSE,” a sultry pop number that expressed a suave side to the singer and held a promise that he would pose to be a promising soloist.

If this is love, I want a refund artistically uses ample acoustics much to KINO's benefit. The soundscape features synths complemented by hints of hop-hop and R&B, presenting a sonically indulgent experience with this release. It feels that this EP is straight out of a modern-day comic caper about dating and relationships, making it truly different from what we have seen him present so far. This EP successfully heightens our anticipation for what the artist will deliver next!

What do you think of KINO’s debut EP If this is love, I want a refund? Tell us in the comments below or connect with us over Instagram and X (Twitter).

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Edited by Zoe Selesi & Martina Yee