K-pop Girl Group KiiiKiii on DANCING ALONE and Rising Fame
by Tayah Fox
In February of 2025, the K-pop scene turned its attention to a mysterious social media teaser titled #WhoIsKiiiKiii. The unpredictable nature of the teaser not only surprised but also charmed netizens enough to support the rising five-member girl group, KiiiKiii. After amassing more than 10s of millions of streams and views on their debut music video and EP, the quintet is back to show off their musical prowess once again.
KiiiKiii's new digital single, DANCING ALONE, features the title track of the same name and the lively B-side "Strawberry Cheesegame." This release serves as a public diary for the group, giving a platform for their raw emotions and encompassing topics including girlhood, jealousy and freedom. "DANCING ALONE," the leading song, is a city-pop-inspired tune featuring retro synths, adding to the authenticity and KiiiKiii's airy and dreamy vocals, making it a wonderfully delicate summer tune. Alongside the retro pop sounds of "DANCING ALONE," the girls illustrate the complex emotions behind a friendship riddled with jealousy in "Strawberry Cheesegame." The playful tone of the song captures the lighthearted approach the group takes to explain these heavy feelings. With KiiiKiii giving fans a glimpse into their sentiments, Sweety High chatted with the group to dive a little deeper into the release and their rise to fame. Read our interview with the them below.
Sweety High: The group made a surprise debut after going viral with a mysterious teaser. What role do you think this played in your group's success?
JIYU: We were honestly just excited to try something a little different! Instead of doing it the usual way, we wanted to make people genuinely curious about who KiiiKiii is.
LEESOL: It felt like more people were genuinely curious about who KiiiKiii is and what kind of message we wanted to share with the world. We're really thankful for that, and we hope people keep watching us as we continue to try new and fun things as KiiiKiii!
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SH: Your pre-debut social media campaign was titled #WhoIsKiiiKiii. Who is KiiiKiii to you?
SUI: KiiiKiii feels like joy. When the five of us are together, we naturally make each other laugh and bring out the bright and positive energy. We hope we can be that kind of comfort and joy for others, too!
HAUM: When we first heard the name KiiiKiii, it reminded us of the sound of giggling. Since then, it's kind of become our little power source. Being KiiiKiii has made us laugh more. We think people associate the name with a fun, warm vibe, and to us. So, KiiiKiii gives us that extra energy to keep on going!
(Photo credit: STARSHIP Entertainment)
SH: "DANCING ALONE" is a retro dance track, inspired by the city pop genre. What are some of your favorite city pop songs?
KYA: I love "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi.
JIYU: My favorite is "Violet Fragrance" by Kang Susie!!
SH: Can you tell us a standout lyric from "DANCING ALONE" and why it resonates with you?
LEESOL: I love the line, "네 미소가 나에게 기쁨 (Your smile brings me joy)." My mom always tells me that my smile makes her happy. Her words remind me that when someone you love is happy, that happiness can be your happiness too. Since friendship is also a form of love, I think that lyric really captures the heart of "DANCING ALONE."
SUI: My favorite line is "두 번 다신 안 올 찬란한 순간을 느껴 (This splendid moment comes once in a lifetime Just feel it)" It repeats throughout the song, and every time I hear it, it reminds me that right now is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. It perfectly reflects the message we wanted to share with this track.
SH: Your new title track, "DANCING ALONE," transforms a lonely act into a symbol of connection and freedom. Would you say your connection is strong as a group?
HAUM: For sure. We didn't know each other before becoming trainees, but training and debuting together really brought us close. We live and work together now, and I think we've grown into a real team.
KYA: As we go through this journey together, our bond just keeps getting stronger. We've been through so much together—laughs, tears, everything. That's how we've become a team—KiiiKiii.
SH: "Strawberry Cheesegame" captures complex emotions like envy toward friends who seem better at everything. What is your advice for people who may feel this way in their everyday lives?
JIYU: Feeling a bit jealous or conflicted is totally normal! It doesn't mean something's wrong with you. Instead of pushing it away, try to just accept those emotions as part of being human.
LEESOL: The more you value and love something, the more emotions you'll feel—it's natural! When you feel that mix of emotions, it's usually because something or someone really matters to you. So don't be too hard on yourself—just feel it, and then let it pass when you're ready.
SH: What is the meaning behind the title of the song "Strawberry Cheesegame"?
SUI: The song kind of turns complicated feelings you might have toward a friend into a game. The lyrics really capture our playful and offbeat side.
HAUM: It's a song that captures fleeting emotions and friendship in a sweet way. The title "Strawberry Cheesegame" adds such a unique and playful twist to the song, which I love.
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SH: What is the story you want to tell with these two tracks?
KYA: We wanted to tell a story about friendship, told in KiiiKiii's own style! It's about the sweet and sometimes complicated emotions that come with that time in life.
JIYU: The album is kind of like KiiiKiii's diary of emotions. So we just wanted to be real about what friendship feels like!
(Photo credit: STARSHIP Entertainment)
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to share with Sweety High readers?
LEESOL: Our focus track "DANCING ALONE" is such a great summer drive song! It captures KiiiKiii's new sense of freedom and a story of friendship, so we'd love for you to check it out!
SUI: We're back with "DANCING ALONE," and we hope our warm, heartfelt message of friendship brings you comfort and joy. It's the perfect song for summer—so give it a listen when you're feeling free and sunny!
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