Review
Background
KINO (키노) is a versatile singer, songwriter, and composer known for his creative boundary-pushing. After his success in K-pop group PENTAGON, KINO departed Cube Entertainment in October 2023 following the expiration of his contract. Taking full control of his artistic vision, he established his independent NAKED, in December 2023. Since then, KINO has focused on crafting music that reflects his authentic self, using art to express complex emotions and messages to his global audience.
On April 1st, 2026, KINO released his self-produced EP, Lost and Found. The project features four tracks, "Taxi," "Big Hoodie," "Hennessy," and "All Love", each exploring different facets of the human experience through a musical lens.
1. TAXI (Title Track)
"Taxi" is a high-energy Electropop track driven by a retro-funky baseline and club influences. Beyond its addictive chorus, the song explores the concept of stepping outside the "frame" of social expectations to rediscover one’s authentic self.
It serves as a rebellion against social conformity, embracing the idea that life, while unpredictable and risky, is not a game that needs to be "won." KINO rejects the pressure to be "okay" at all times, with lyrics like “한 번쯤 미쳐야지” (You’ve got to go crazy at least once) acknowledging that releasing sanity is a human need. "Taxi" lyrics can be seen through a different lens whether academic and career anxieties of the modern age, it acts as a reminder to listeners that joy should be found in the process of living, not just in endurance.
2. Big Hoodie (feat. Mikey Angelo)
Featuring American artist Mikey Angelo, "Big Hoodie" is the EP’s anthem for autonomy and self-love. Musically, it leans into a nostalgic 2000s Synth-pop sound, reminiscent of the bright energy found in hits by Icona Pop, Owl City, and Carly Rae Jepsen.
The track celebrates the simple comfort of withdrawal as an act of self-preservation rather than isolation. With relatable lines like “My house, my couch, and a PlayStation” and humorous slang “I don’t want to touch grass,” KINO connects with the universal desire to opt out of performative social energy in favor of personal peace and recharging.
3. Hennessy (feat. Lee Yun-jung)
For the third track, KINO collaborates with Lee Yun-jung of the well-known Korean experimental rock group Pippi Band. Underneath a heavy EDM and club beat lies a heavy exploration of the "reward and burden" of success.
KINO weaves in references to artist Frida Kahlo, using her legacy of expressing pain through art to mirror the struggle of maintaining one's identity amidst the pressures of status. The lyrics question whether luxury and indulgence provide true autonomy or a cycle of self-destruction, touching on the hidden emotions that often accompany the pursuit of materialism.
4. ALL LOVE
Closing the EP is "All Love," a seamless blend of Dance-pop, tropical house, and EDM. The track draws inspiration from the "PLUR" (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) culture from the rave and clubbing scene to create an intentional "safe space" for listeners.
KINO emphasizes emotional resilience and mutual care, framing love, care and support as a crucial element to create a safe environment. With lyrics like “if we face it together and 똑바로 봐 (look at it straight),” the song delivers a powerful message: while life is inherently messy and people are flawed, shared support makes the hardship meaningful
Kino will proceed with his world tour, <FREE KINO>, in the United States this month. The tour will take place from April 19th to April 26th and will include performances in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Columbus, Ohio. American fans will have the opportunity to experience the immersive EP ’Lost and Found’ through his tour.