Before the conversation even began, KickFlip were holding up handmade signs that read “WE LOVE HASAN”. It was a fitting introduction to a group whose off-stage energy proves every bit as infectious as their performances. Throughout our conversation, the members cheer one another on, erupt into laughter, and jump at every opportunity to celebrate each other. There is an unfiltered sense of joy to being around them that feels entirely consistent with the energy they bring to the stage.

Formed under JYP Entertainment, KickFlip are a seven-member K-pop boy group comprising KYEHOON, AMARU, DONGHWA, JUWANG, MINJE, KEIJU and DONGHYEON. Several members first came to public attention through the SBS audition programme LOUD, before the group officially debuted in January 2025 with their first mini-album, Flip it, Kick it!. Since then, they have built their identity around youthful irreverence, rock-influenced sounds and high-energy performances, gradually establishing themselves as one of the newer acts to watch within K-pop's latest generation. Their fandom, WeFlip, has grown alongside them as the group continues to develop its sound and stage presence.

But while the fun remains, KickFlip are entering a new chapter. Their fifth mini-album, KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1, signals a conscious shift away from the youthful image that has defined much of their journey so far. As the members explain, the transformation extends beyond a change of wardrobe. With a more mature aesthetic, a willingness to experiment with unfamiliar sounds, and a growing interest in expressing themselves through their music, the group are beginning to explore what lies beyond the identities they first introduced to the world.

That evolution is particularly evident across the album's contrasting sounds. On “Drop In”, KickFlip ventures into hip-hop, embracing Auto-Tune and a genre that sits outside their established rock-influenced sound. Meanwhile, “Puzzle Piece” offers something softer and more introspective. Its dreamy production provides space for the members to reflect on their lives since debut, the uncertainties of growing up, and the questions that come with finding their place in the world. Together, the songs capture a group willing to experiment without pretending to have everything figured out.

Uncertainty becomes an unexpected throughline in our conversation. Discussing the closing lyrics of “Puzzle Piece”, the members acknowledge that they do not always have the answers to their anxieties or questions about the future. Their response, however, is characteristically optimistic: keep moving forward, try new things, and trust that they can work things out together.

For KickFlip, growth does not mean leaving their youthful exuberance behind. If anything, their increasing confidence as performers has given that energy somewhere new to go.