KickFlip have been on the rise since their debut. In October, the JYP Entertainment rookies are returning with renewed momentum, powered by the undertaking of a new series with their fifth mini album KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1. This time, that series is set to emphasise their storytelling, multi-faceted approach, and the development of their live skills – ahead of their first world tour of the same name next year.

During our conversation, KYEHOON, DONGHWA, JUWANG, MINJE, KEIJU, and DONGHYEON placed an emphasis on wordplay and narrative as well as on genre transitions, each having contributed to a tracklist ranging across ideas of incompletion and courage and the sounds those feelings produce. Pop-rock is KickFlip’s signature, integrated into their identities as artists with popular songs like “Band-Aid” and “Twenty.” While they told us that their confidence with pop-rock stands out in “Rockin’,” solo member contributions prevent that signature from becoming a restriction.

Instead, they want to show off the various sides of KickFlip, driven by trust in themselves and in each other. As they prepare to embark on their biggest adventure yet – the dates and locations of the KICK OFF THE WALL World Tour coming soon – we sat down with KickFlip to hear about their upcoming release and beyond.

Congratulations on the upcoming release of KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1, and especially the release of the first title track “Puzzle Piece” today. What are your thoughts on having two title tracks for the first time? How does that fit into the narrative of the album?

KYEHOON The first song is “미완성 (Puzzle Piece),” and there is wordplay in the Korean title. “미의 완성” means “completion of beauty,” and the second title is “KICK OFF THE WALL.”

DONGHWA The next song, “KICK OFF THE WALL,” is the answer we came to after a long night of worrying in “Puzzle Piece.” We realised that there might not be one right answer, but that’s the message.

KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1 marks the beginning of a new series. What do you think has changed the most about KickFlip since your two previous series’ and what does this chapter represent to you?

DONGHWA Definitely our live skills, and our dance skills. We can show more various sides of KickFlip in our performances now.

DONGHYEON We’re more mature and can show more various sides with a new series too.

Are there any stand-out behind-the-scenes moments from the creation of this album that you can share with us?

MINJE Actually, all of the members contributed to the songs in KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1. My song is “Drop In.” I worked together with other composers, and one of the composers prepared a track. When I first listened to the music, the flow reminded me of the hip-hop I listen to, and I thought about what I could do with it. The answer was that, since we as KickFlip want to include our freedom and our honest experiences in our songs, I tried to write about fun memories in “Drop In.”

KYEHOON I made the title track “Puzzle Piece.” I really wanted to include wordplay, so I wrote the song thinking about the wordplay in the Korean title, combining “incomplete” and “beauty.”

DONGHWA Honestly, I wanted to make a song about food. Originally I thought about cucumbers, but that was a little bit too weird. So that’s the story of how I chose blueberries for “hate blueberries” instead.

A lot of fans online have really started to associate KickFlip with the signature pop-rock sound in songs like “Twenty.” Where do you see that sound developing with KICK OFF THE WALL?

DONGHYEON I think the rock song in this album would be “Rockin’”. That one is my song, and I tried to push it towards the pop-rock sound that I know KickFlip can do.

Is there anything you want to experiment with, either within or outside of pop-rock?

DONGHWA Definitely alternative rock.

JUWANG R&B.

DONGHYEON I want to try to make a ballad, a sad song.

MINJE After “Drop In,” I want to try more hip-hop.

KEIJU I think I want to try jazz.

KYEHOON I want to try the emo genre.

Now that you are releasing your fifth mini album, what is something that you’d tell your pre-debut selves if you could go back and give them advice?

DONGHWA I would say, “Don’t lose yourself and your mind. Just go your own way.”

KYEHOON “Never give up. Find a way.” Because that’s what winners do.

KEIJU To trust myself.

DONGHYEON And practice more.

ALL Yes!

If you had to introduce KickFlip to someone who has never heard your music using only three songs, which ones would you choose and why?

DONGHYEON I’d say: number one “Twenty,” number two “Drop In,” and third, “KICK OFF THE WALL” – our new song.

DONGHWA “KICK OFF THE WALL,” because we collaborated with iann dior.

KEIJU I want to share “Band-Aid,” because that’s my favourite song.

KYEHOON I like my song, “Puzzle Piece”.

DONGHWA My number one is “Stup!d,” second is “Umm Great,” and third is “Rockin’”.

JUWANG First is “Gas On It,” second is “0 (Young),” and last, “KICK OFF THE WALL”.

When people hear the name KickFlip, what do you want them to think of? How do you want people to think of you as an artist?

DONGHYEON I want to hear “live skills kings!”

DONGHWA Unaffected artists.

KYEHOON A group that is rebellious.

Looking towards the future, the KICK OFF THE WALL scheduler also mentioned that KickFlip’s first tour is coming soon in 2027. Are there any countries that you’re eager to perform in, either during this tour or during future tours?

KYEHOON In London, and especially at Wembley Stadium.

DONGHWA Everywhere! In Korea, the Olympic Hall and the Inspire Arena in Incheon.

DONGHYEON I want to perform at the Half-Time Show.

JUWANG Tokyo Dome in Japan.

MINJE For the country, I want to say Brazil – the Tokio Marine Hall – and also Mexico and the U.S..

KEIJU Tokyo, and Saō Paulo for me too. Vibra Saō Paulo.

ALL First world tour yaho!