"Singing the Spirit of Twenty": Kickflip Hits the Sweet Spot with Refreshing New Energy

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“We’re moving beyond ‘Gye-ral’ to show you the ultimate ‘Kick-ral’ experience.” (Gyehun)

The group Kickflip is back to serenade the beginning of adulthood. Standing on the boundary between boyhood and manhood, the members have captured the most radiant moments of youth in their latest release, delivering a blend of fluttering excitement and bold courage through their signature "refreshing" energy.

The transformation is daring. Moving past the shy boy persona seen in their previous title track, "The First Song I Ever Sang," the group has evolved into a more proactive and straightforward representation of youth.

On the afternoon of the 6th, Kickflip held a media showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the launch of their fourth mini-album, 'My First Kick'.
A First Love at Twenty

My First Kick explores the theme of first love arriving at age twenty. It captures the clumsy yet honest emotions of youth experiencing "firsts." The album features a total of seven tracks, including the lead single "I Wanna Be an Eyesore," followed by "Twenty," "Stup!d," "Upside Down," "Scroll," "Roar," and "My Direction."

With the youngest member Donghyun officially reaching adulthood, all members are now in their twenties. "I feel more like a man now," Donghyun remarked. "We want to show a more mature side while maintaining our bright, signature energy."
The "Kick-ral" Sentiment

The title track, "I Wanna Be an Eyesore" (눈에 거슬리고 싶어), is a hyper-punk-based dance track. It serves as a "straight-talk" confession song, typical of Kickflip’s style, directed at a first love.

The group’s unique "Kick-ral" (a portmanteau of Kickflip and bal-ral, meaning bubbly/vivacious) sentiment is dialed to the max. With lyrics like "Is it annoying? Good, keep thinking of me anyway" and "You can chew me out, I’m sticking to you like gum," the song stands out for its aggressive, playful flirting.
100% Live Performance

During the showcase, the members opted for handheld microphones, effortlessly handling a 100% live performance that bridged deep rap verses and powerful high notes. Their choreography also caught the eye—incorporating a "peeking" motion to represent being an "eyesore," and a "flower cup" hand gesture during the chorus to express the desire to be noticed.
Artistic Growth and Credits

The members demonstrated significant musical growth, with all of them appearing in the album credits. Leader Gyehun participated in the lyrics and composition of the title track.

"When I submitted the lyrics, the reaction was that it was 'so Gye-ral' (Gyehun-style eccentricity)," he recalled. "Producer J.Y. Park cheered us on, saying many people would love it."

Other members contributed heavily:

Donghyun: Co-composed "Twenty" and wrote "Stup!d," reflecting his real-life transition to adulthood.


Donghwa: Worked on "Stup!d," "Roar," and "My Direction," sending a message of self-empowerment.


Minje: Handled the melody for "Scroll," capturing the feeling of checking a crush’s social media, complete with notification sound effects.
The Road Ahead

Since their debut in January last year, Kickflip has proven their mettle on global stages like Lollapalooza Chicago and Summer Sonic (Tokyo/Osaka/Bangkok). Having just wrapped their first fan-concert tour across five cities, the group is hungry for more.

"We want to be known not just for our variety show appearances, but as a group with top-tier performance and live vocal skills," said Juwang. Member Keiju added, "Our goal is to hold our first solo concert soon."

Kickflip’s new mini-album My First Kick drops today at 6:00 PM KST on all major streaming platforms. 

https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2341007