Exclusive: KIIRAS Reveal How BLACKPINK Inspires Them, Managing Hectic Schedules, And More!
In an exclusive interview with Hauterrfly, KIIRAS talked about balancing hectic schedules, finding inspiration in BLACKPINK, and more!
KIIRAS debuted in 2025 and have quickly gained love for their fierce energy, raw talent, and genuine bond with fans. As one of K-pop’s newest girl groups, these girls feel like the most relatable best friends you can’t help but root for. They recently joined us for an exclusive conversation about balancing hectic schedules, finding inspiration in BLACKPINK, and more!
1. Your debut song “KILL MA BO$$” is all about breaking free from rigid societal expectations and finding individual freedom. As young women entering a highly competitive industry, what personal message of independence do you hope young female fans draw from your music?
Ling Ling: The message we want to share most is, “Trust yourself more than the standards other people set for you.” We think it’s important to rediscover your true self, especially when it can be easy to lose sight of who you are because of society’s expectations and judgements.
There are so many moments when trying to meet other people’s expectations can make you wonder, “What do I really want?” We’re still growing and learning ourselves, but whenever you listen to KIIRAS, we hope our music gives you the courage to confidently choose what you want and believe in your own potential.
2. You all come from different countries and cultures, but what was that one moment where it suddenly clicked and you realised, “Oh wow, we’re actually so alike”?
Harin: From our trainee days to now, a little over a year since our debut, we’ve spent so much time eating, practising and joking around together that we naturally realised we have a lot more in common than we expected. We all get equally excited when we eat something delicious, and as our teamwork has grown stronger, I’ve realised that even though we come from different countries and cultures, the emotions we share are really the same. Now, I think our different cultural backgrounds actually make our team even more fun and special.
3. Since your producer, Saay, started out in a girl group herself, she really knows what it is like to be in your shoes. Did she give you any real, honest advice on what mistakes or traps to avoid to survive and succeed in this industry?
Kylie: Producer SAAY told us that being a great artist isn’t just about singing well or trying to look perfect onstage. She taught us that it’s more important to genuinely connect with the performance and enjoy being onstage. Because of that, rather than focusing only on being “perfect”, we always try to ask ourselves, “How can we show KIIRAS’s unique colour through this performance?” That’s something we continue to keep in mind whenever we go onstage.
4. The ‘Rascal’ part of your name implies a playful, rule-breaking attitude. What kind of change do you actually want to bring to the K-pop industry, and what do you aim to do differently to make that happen?
Doyeon: We want to show new possibilities in K-pop through our own style and approach. Rather than staying within one specific sound or image, we want to keep challenging ourselves with different genres and concepts. Ultimately, we hope to create our own path — a path that isn’t limited by existing expectations and feels uniquely KIIRAS.
5. K-pop idols deal with a lot of hectic schedules, and many have talked about burnout — how do you personally deal with it?
Ling Ling: Each of us has a slightly different way of recharging! I love listening to music or watching dramas while doing PIPO painting. I also really enjoy taking walks around the sunset. And honestly, just being around the members gives me a lot of energy too!
Kurumi: I’m happiest when we’re all together in the living room, playing games or just talking. On our days off, eating something delicious together also makes me really happy and helps me recharge!
Harin: I’m happiest when we all gather in the living room at our dorm and just talk. We open up about how we’re feeling, listen to each other and relate to what everyone is going through, and that naturally gives us energy. I think we’ve become one another’s strongest source of support.
Kylie: I have the most fun when we all get together in the living room to play games or talk. Eating delicious food with the members always puts me in a good mood too, so those moments really help me recharge!
Doyeon: Talking and playing games with the members instantly lifts my mood! And whenever I eat my favourite food, I feel like my energy comes right back.
Roah: I recharge by eating good food with the members, having relaxed conversations and playing games together. But more than anything, I think I get the biggest boost of energy whenever we get to meet KIIVELY!
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6. Is there a female artist whose work ethic or mindset you try to learn from when things get tough?
Kurumi
There are so many senior artists we admire, but BLACKPINK especially inspires us because they’ve maintained their own unique identity for such a long time while continuing to show new sides of themselves.
We hope that, like them, we can continue performing for many years while constantly growing as artists and showing people new sides of KIIRAS.
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First Published: September 17, 2026 5:27 PM
