ICHILLIN’ Delivers Sweet and Spicy in Third EP Feelin’ Hot
After teasing their comeback for two months, ICHILLIN’s third EP Feelin’ Hot dropped on March 7. The group spent the beginning of 2024 unveiling their fourth and fifth singles, “BITE ME” and “DEMIGOD,” which were included in this EP. Also within the album is the group’s 2024 rendition of their song “La Luna,” first seen in their 2022 EP Bridge of Dreams. The song was re-recorded with the vocals of the current lineup with E.Ji, Jiyoon, Jackie, Joonie, Chaerin, Yeju, and Chowon.
Track list:
“BITE ME”
“DEMIGOD”
“ON MY LIPS”
“La Luna 2024 Ver.”
“ON MY LIPS (Inst.)”
The First Pre-Release: “BITE ME”
ICHILLIN’ released “BITE ME” on January 4, two months before the comeback. The song is a dance track that taunts listeners with the hook. The call “BITE ME” is not food-themed, but rather akin to saying, “here’s a piece of me.” Like the lyrics say, “I’m a diamond.” ICHILLIN’ presents themselves as strong-willed. The song’s music video stays entirely in a vertical orientation, choosing to focus on ICHILLIN’ dancing and running in the city.
The Second Pre-Release: “DEMIGOD”
Released on February 5, “DEMIGOD” is a rap-focused track. Though the track sounds serious and fierce, the music video plays with comedy. I doubt many expected a track named “DEMIGOD” to have a music video showing ICHILLIN’ running a Korean fried chicken restaurant, but that’s what it delivers. No choreography, but some hilarious moments while a hip-hop track plays. It’s the contrast between the song’s cool atmosphere and the silly visuals on screen that makes “DEMIGOD” stand out from “BITE ME.”
The Title Track: “ON MY LIPS”
After finishing their shifts at the restaurant, ICHILLIN dresses up in glamor for “ON MY LIPS.” All new songs in Feelin’ Hot all sound lowkey, and “ON MY LIPS” follows that. Though the music video shows a party, “ON MY LIPS” is not an energetic song. There still lies a hint of playfulness with the trap beat and the light piano notes following the first chorus. The lyrics go with a flavor theme, describing sweet and spice, with the repeated saying of “hot sauce.”
The New Version: “La Luna 2024 Ver.”
Originally released on ICHILLIN’s first EP Bridge of Dreams in 2022, a re-recorded “La Luna” emerges in 2024. This 2024 rendition isn’t the first version “La Luna” has received: it got a “dance break remix version in 2023.” For the 2024 version, the song was re-recorded to fit the group’s current lineup. Former member Sohee left the group in July 2022, and Jiyoon joined the group that November.