Courtesy of Starship Entertainment
In “404 (New Era),” KiiiKiii counts down the minutes until the new year over a candle-lit cake. “What are you wishing for?” one member asks as the screen cuts to black. Then the beat — aughties U.K. house-slash-garage — drops. “404, not found in the system / 404, the new era, era,” they chant.
It’s been nearly a year since KiiiKiii debuted as Starship Entertainment’s latest K-pop girl group and the quintet — composed of members Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya — has been on a steady upward trajectory. Their first mini album, Uncut Gem, racked up 14 domestic music awards in South Korea. But they’re hungry for more. Their six-part sophomore EP, Delulu Pack, out now, ushers in a clean slate — though of what it’ll entail they’re not quite sure yet. “We can have it all,” Leesol croons on the bridge of “404 (New Era)” while dizzy in a trance. “Let’s run into the unknown.”
If there’s anything guaranteed with KiiiKiii, it’s that the girl group will be giving us something different in a cookie-cutter K-pop ecosystem. Since Uncut Gem, the fan reception to their concept has been explosive: not only because of their heavily drenched kitschy aesthetic (think Gen Z subversion, with a side of nostalgic brainrot), but also because of the undeniable confidence they breathe into each release. “We reinterpreted the image of a diva through our perspective,” Leesol says of the new album. “[‘404 (New Era)’] represents the idea of creating your own meaning rather than chasing something that is already defined,” Haum adds.
Ahead, read our conversation with KiiiKiii as they unpack their growth as artists, the meaning behind Delulu Pack, and what they’re manifesting in the new year.
Courtesy of Starship
The FADER: Congratulations on your (almost) first anniversary as a group. How do you all feel about your evolution as artists?
Leesol: We’re just starting out, but I feel we’re continuing to build our own world. Like what our song “404 (New Era)” says, there is no right answer in life. As KiiiKiii, we want to keep walking our own path without comparing ourselves to others.
Haum: So far, we’ve had the chance to experience many new things. Through our experiences, especially our performances, I’ve come to understand myself better [as an artist], and I think we’ve been able to [solidify] KiiiKiii’s identity more clearly as a team.
Jiyu: Since our debut, I realized that growth isn’t about copying someone else’s path. Instead, we have to focus on carving our own path and becoming more confident in expressing that. We want to contribute a sense of confidence and freedom to the K-pop scene by showing people that we are all different. I hope our music encourages people to feel comfortable in being themselves.
What does “delulu” mean to you?
Jiyu: Delulu Pack uses the word “delulu,” which obviously means delusional or imaginative. But it also portrays KiiiKiii’s quirkiness, and even our fantasies. Through our imagination, we wanted to show KiiiKiii as a group that exists freely anytime, anywhere, beyond reality.
Kya: For me, it means that fantasies can become reality if you plan them out. Also, we wanted [our music video] to capture us becoming the “divas” we’ve always set out to be since our childhoods. Now, we’re living our dreams.
You mention wanting to convey a sense of freedom. How do you embody that feeling on and off stage?
Jiyu: We enjoy ourselves freely on stage while delivering the message we want to share. Our music videos show that, too. There are scenes where we’re running around freely without restraint, laughing and genuinely having a great time with each other. That feeling of not being restricted by anything is the freedom we always want to feel as artists.
Leesol: I feel the freest as an artist when I’m practicing in the studio. I’m always dancing, even in my most natural state, and that makes me feel alive. That can also be seen in our music video as well, as some scenes were taken at our actual practice room. That’s where I learn new movements and expressions. I love discovering more ways to express the things that I want to convey as a musician.
How did you channel that energy in the music video for “404 (New Era)?”
Sui: There’s a scene in the music video where Leesol throws off her wig, and we all run away together. We were so energetic, and I feel like those moments really capture [who we are]. Instead of trying to fit into other people’s standards and expectations of us, we want to run freely and be ourselves, just like you see in the video.
Haum: I also thought of the scene in our music video where we’re all running around. It shows how, as artists, we can choose our own paths to run on while still enjoying ourselves and having fun with each other as a team.
Kya: I’m not sure I can say I have extraordinary talent or something untouchable [just yet], but I always strive to be a better version of myself. I believe in growing a little every day, recognizing what I need to improve, and continuously working on that. Freedom is moving at my own pace while chasing my own dreams—the way I want to.
I’m not sure I can say I have extraordinary talent or something untouchable [just yet], but I always strive to be a better version of myself. —Kya
How do you all deal with the pressure?
Kya: Anxiety isn’t an emotion that disappears just because you decide not to feel it. However, I think the size of that anxiety depends on taking care of that feeling, whether that’s through reflection or simply trusting in yourself more. Even though self-doubt doesn’t ever truly disappear, you can still move forward by making it much more manageable.
Jiyu: For me, there are honestly countless moments of self-doubt. I especially feel bad when I break a promise to myself, and I start doubting myself and my judgment. But I realize that those moments are what make me stronger. Instead of falling apart, I’ve been trying to turn that doubt and anxiety into trust. That’s what [our concept], “wanting to become someone” means to me—it’s not about becoming extraordinary overnight, but rather, a version of myself who keeps moving forward despite uncertainty.
Sui: I don’t think it’s easy for anyone to always feel completely confident in themselves. But what matters the most is how you move forward and the attitude you show when doubt arises. When I feel self-doubt, I try to put in more effort and try my best to move past those emotions towards a clearer direction.
Leesol: I think everyone experiences doubt or anxiety throughout their life, and that also includes me. Like our lyrics for “404 (New Era),” sometimes we can feel doubtful when handing in a blank page, but when you feel confident and learn to be stronger, it will be handed back to you as a perfect score. It’s about trusting yourself more.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.