Dancing in the dark with KINO | amNewYork

"Since stepping out as a soloist in 2023 and launching his one-man agency, NAKED, Kino has traded the polished confines of idol life for something far more personal: freedom. Not the glamorous kind often associated with fame, but the hard-earned freedom that comes from confronting fear, uncertainty, and self-discovery head-on. I became more confident and expressed my feelings, Kino told amNewYork. Now I don't care about opinions. I just care about myself, promoting my songs, and meeting my fans."

"That freedom has become the heartbeat of his music. Whether he was shouting about his single Skyfall from the dizzying heights of the Empire State Building's spire catwalk or gazing toward the Statue of Liberty while walking the Brooklyn Heights Promenade discussing his Free Kino tour, Kino carries himself with the kind of cinematic intensity that makes his artistry feel less like a discography and more like an unfolding television saga. Each release arrives like another season in a deeply personal coming-of-age story."

"I think it's like a series, he explained. This is season three of Lost and Found.' After I released my last EP, I overcame a hard time because I put all the negative feelings and emotions into that music. That became my therapy. If you feel negative emotions, you have to shout them out. That's how I express my feelings through music."

"KINO focuses on writing songs that reflect his life. Like chapters documenting survival and rebirth, Kino's solo catalog traces an emotional evolution. If This Is Love, I Want a Refund served as a raw confession. EVERYBODY'S GUILTY, BUT NO ONE'S TO BLAME wrestled with pressure and blame. Lost and Found focused on acceptance and a realization that healing does not mean erasing pain but learning how to move"

Kino, a South Korean singer-songwriter, moved from idol life into solo work in 2023 and launched his one-man agency, NAKED. He describes freedom as hard-earned confidence gained by facing fear, uncertainty, and self-discovery. He says he no longer cares about opinions, focusing on promoting his songs and meeting fans while continuing to learn who he is. His music centers on writing songs that reflect his life, using negative emotions as a form of therapy. He frames releases as connected seasons in an ongoing coming-of-age story. His catalog traces emotional evolution from confession and pressure to acceptance, emphasizing that healing involves learning to move forward rather than erasing pain.

Read at www.amny.com