EP LOW KIK goes beyond simply setting where KIK stands as a band. As artists continue to grow, the way they deal with emotions cannot stay the same, and this release is once again completed in a way that clearly reflects “KIK at this moment”.

For those who may not be familiar, KIK is a South Korean collaboration project band consisting of three artists: Wooseok (a member of the K-pop group Pentagon), Minhyuk (a member of the band Lacuna), and Myungseok (a member of the band SURL).

KIK’s first EP, KIK, carefully placed unrefined impulse on top of a polished texture. In some tracks, rough edges surfaced, and overall, there was a sense of steady power as the band searched for its identity. That album was a starting point, showing the foundation on which “KIK as a band” began.

If KIK was about exploring that foundation, LOW KIK draws a much braver and more flexible route. The way emotions are expressed is less sharp, and in their place comes a far more honest attitude. While it cannot simply be called bright or light, the EP is filled with a more open mindset and a clearer sense of self than before.

The opening track, 3333, reasserts the band’s wild identity from the very first moment with hard riffs and strong rhythms. That intense opening makes the following track, Sun even more striking. The song builds emotion gradually over a mid-tempo groove, delicately portraying the feeling of moving forward while carrying loss and longing, rather than offering comfort. It is also the track that most clearly shows how KIK is currently looking at the world.

piece of peace softens the mood of the EP for a moment. Created in collaboration with Thai band Dept, it gently combines pop textures with the warmth of pop-rock. Centered around the message of “a small peace we give to each other,” the two bands offer a brief pause from the pace of reality, along with a subtle comfort that is hard to put into words. DIAMOND is a strong statement. The repeated lines show the will to get stronger, believing that pain makes you strong and being broken makes you whole. bella exposes feelings of confusion and collision in their bare form. Over repeated choruses and sharp guitar loops, suppressed emotions finally burst out. Emotions that never fully reach the other person, the cracks and desires formed within that space, spill out without suppression. The song ends with the words “I’m okay,” but the voice still sounds a little shaky underneath.

Close is the fastest-moving track on the EP. From the intro, it moves forward with bright, scraping guitar. Even under a collapsing sky, the repeated cry of “I won’t crack” reflects a heart that no longer hesitates. Jung Minhyuk’s guitar solo cutting through the middle adds sharp drive, pushing the entire song toward even firmer resolve. After passing through anxiety and resignation, it reveals an attitude that says it’s okay not to believe, and okay to be shaken.

LOW KIK is all about a state of being. A point in the middle of the run, past the starting line. Still evolving, but clearly on a set path. And this EP shows that KIK has a great future ahead of them.

LOW KIK is available on all streaming platforms now.

Image courtesy of MPMG MUSIC

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