INTERVIEW: IS:SUE Talks KCON LA, Upcoming Tour, and Shining Goals
- Aliyah Hinckley
- Sep 10
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 17
IS:SUE, the four-member Japanese girl group under LAPONE GIRLS, a subsidiary of LAPONE Entertainment, performed for the first time in the United States at KCON LA 2025. Consisting of former finalists from the survival audition show Produce 101 Japan The Girls, NANO, RINO, YUUKI, and RIN made their debut on June 19, 2024, with their first debut single, 1st IS:SUE. They plan to embark on their first tour in December.
RIN is currently taking a break from her music activities.
Following their debut, the girl group performed twice at KCON Japan, given the exciting chance to connect with existing fans and reach new audiences. At 2024's KCON Japan, the girls performed at the Showcase with their debut track “CONNECT” and a cover of aespa’s “Drama.” It was a perfect performance choice, matching the vibe and style that IS:SUE embodies—NANO even revealed in this interview that a collaboration with aespa is one of her dream projects. Then, a year later at KCON Japan, the girls opened with a cover of “Pink Venom” by BLACKPINK, “SHINING,” and “Love MySelf” on the M COUNTDOWN STAGE. A sweet new memory was made on the DREAM STAGE as they performed their debut track “CONNECT” with fans dancing alongside them.
August's KCON LA 2025 stage proved an important milestone for the girls, with YUUKI explaining her admiration of the stage since predebut. At the Los Angeles Convention Center, the members even made a fun appearance at the McDonald’s activation area, handing out chicken wraps to fans who won a game challenge.
KCON LA marked IS:SUE’s U.S. performance debut, and they took over the stage at Crypto.com Arena on Day 1. Their set, which was live-streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch, featured stylish yellow, black, and white outfits as they performed two tracks: “SHINING (Korean Ver.)” and “Breaking Thru the Line (English Ver.)” from their second EP Welcome Strangers ~2nd IS:SUE~.
The songs are an undeniable anthem, emphasizing the importance of living as your true self—unapologetically and unabashedly. “Breaking Thru the Line,” a bold pop-rap track, reflects IS:SUE’s journey from survival show contestants to a group confidently navigating the industry. It makes a clear statement: reject labels, embrace authenticity, and push through fear, because life is yours to shape. Their live performance brought this message to life, showcasing their cool, confident energy through sharp choreography, powerhouse vocals, and explosive rap.
“You’re the only you. No one could be you. Nothing can shut me down. I’m breaking through the line.”
-Lyrics from “Breaking Thru the Line (English Ver.)”
Mido had the chance to learn more about the members through an email interview, discussing KCON, their fans called REBORNs, artist collaboration stages, and what’s next.
Q: So, can you tell us a little bit about who IS:SUE is, and one by one, share a fact about yourself that you’d like fans and new listeners to know?
NANO: The name IS:SUE means “a fascinating and unique presence that constantly draws attention and creates buzz.” And I’m NANO, the leader of IS:SUE! Among the group, I’m the most positive and energetic—full of confidence!
RINO: I think IS:SUE has a big contrast between our on-stage performances and our everyday selves. I support the group through vocals, and I absolutely love live performances!
YUUKI: The name IS:SUE plays on both "issue" (as in something noteworthy) and “異種” (which means “different species” in Japanese), representing a uniquely captivating presence! All four of us have surprising contrasts that you wouldn’t expect from how we look, so please keep an eye on that!
As for me, YUUKI, I’m the tallest member and have the shortest hair in the group! I’m confident in my dynamic dancing, so please watch for that during our live shows!
Q: If people are listening to IS:SUE's music for the first time, what kind of impression or feeling do you want to give the listeners?
NANO: I hope people listen to our songs when they’re feeling down or lacking confidence. Many of our songs are filled with messages of self-affirmation, so I’d be really happy if they could give listeners confidence and hope.
RINO: Our songs often carry the message that it’s okay to be yourself, so I’d be glad if people can feel that. But honestly, I’d be happy even if people just think, “This is cool!”
YUUKI: Our music shares stories about ourselves, and I think those stories can gently connect with listeners’ hearts. While the sound itself is powerful and unique, the lyrics are warm, honest, and down-to-earth. I hope people dive into the lyrics and fully experience our world.
Their answers speak volumes about the heart behind IS:SUE’s music—honest, empowering, and deeply personal. That message is especially clear in the track “SHINING” from their recent EP EXTREME DIAMOND, which they performed at KCON:
“I don't want to be faded / I don't wanna be fake / 解き放て ready? (I'm 'bout to shine)”
From their shimmering discography to their live performance, “SHINING” captures the essence of IS:SUE: stepping into their own spotlight, embracing who they are, and taking full ownership of their journey. If you’ve ever felt boxed in or misunderstood, this song will remind you: your individuality is your power, and you can shine with it.
Q: So this is your first time at KCON LA, what was the group's reaction after hearing you would be attending, and what does being a part of a big music event like KCON mean to you all?
NANO: I remember being so happy—I literally jumped for joy! Haha! Being on a big stage like KCON LA means we also have to carry a sense of responsibility to help make the event a success. At the same time, it’s a big chance for more people to discover us, so we’re approaching the stage determined to leave a lasting impression!
RINO: I really wanted to go to LA and was full of curiosity, so I was super excited that our first time setting foot there would be through a performance at KCON LA!
Every time we join KCON, we get inspired by other artists and also get to meet people who aren’t yet our fans, including so many KCONers. It always feels like a place full of energy and connections.
YUUKI: We’ve admired this stage since before debut, so we all literally jumped for joy together! KCON brings K-POP fans from around the world together, so it’s a valuable and meaningful chance for people who don’t know us yet to discover IS:SUE.
NANO, RINO & YUUKI
Photo Courtesy of (c)LAPONE GIRLS
Q: By attending KCON, this is your first time getting to meet your U.S. fans! For each member, what comes to mind when you think of your fans, REBORN?
NANO: Fans in LA are so high-energy, it’s amazing. I’m pretty energetic myself, so I’ve always felt like we’re vibing on the same level, haha!
RINO: I never thought we’d get to meet our overseas REBORNs so soon, so I’m just full of joy!
YUUKI: This is pretty much our first international activity, so I do feel a bit nervous, but everyone has been super friendly so far. I’m really excited to meet such bright and positive REBORNs!
Q: For each member, if you could create a special 'Artist x IS:SUE' collaboration stage, which artist(s) would you want to do a music or dance collaboration with?
NANO: I want to collaborate with aespa. I really admire them and love their work, and since our concepts are quite similar, I feel like we’d be super compatible.
YUUKI: I really respect LEE YOUNG JI. Her performances and personality are both things I admire, and I’d love to work with her someday!
Q: What can fans expect from IS:SUE for the rest of 2025?
NANO: We’re preparing new songs, live shows, and more! A tour is coming at the end of the year, and we’re spending each day excited for it. I hope everyone feels the same way!
RINO: We have a tour in Japan this winter, so please look forward to that!
YUUKI: We’re holding our very first national tour starting at the end of the year, so I hope people look forward to seeing an even more leveled-up IS:SUE! We’ll also have new, unreleased content and events during that time, so please follow us on social media to stay updated!
Q: Any final messages for your fans?
NANO: REBORN, I’m always always so thankful to you. We’ll keep doing our best to show you how much we’ve grown as IS:SUE, so please keep your expectations high! Love you! ♡
RINO: REBORN, thank you so much for always supporting us!! We’ll keep working hard so that our music and charm reach not only Japan but fans overseas too, so keep following us! LOVE YOU!♡
YUUKI: REBORN~ thank you for always supporting us! ♡
No matter what, I feel like we’re able to keep moving forward because REBORN is always warmly watching over us and walking forward with us. Let’s keep connecting more and more through performances and other opportunities!! Love you~♡
As the members shared, they’ll be heading out on their first tour—the 2025 IS:SUE 1st TOUR—traveling to six cities across Japan, beginning this December in Kanagawa. For more information, visit their official website here.
Just before attending KCON LA, they released a single titled “Ko-é." The track is heart-wrenchingly honest about loneliness, showcasing their beautiful vocals intertwined with gentle piano and strings. This is the group's first theme song for a Japanese drama titled Renai Kinshi, also known as Forbidden to Love. ☆Taku Takahashi, a Japanese DJ and record producer from the hip-hop group m-flo, produced, wrote, arranged, and composed the song.
From the lyrics, the track tells the story of someone who has spent so long pretending to be okay—hiding their pain, crying out for help, yet going unnoticed. Over time, they begin to forget how to cry or even ask for help. But a flicker of hope starts to appear as they slowly realize that showing vulnerability is okay, and begin the journey of rediscovering themselves. The light drums at the beginning gradually build, mirroring the emergence of that hope. This single contrasts with their previous releases like "SHINING," showcasing the group's versatility—proving they can deliver both hard-hitting pop-rap tracks and emotional ballad songs.
The girls are just at the start of their journey, but one thing’s for sure: they're going to shine for themselves and for their fans on their own terms.
Which IS:SUE song resonates with you the most? What was your favorite part of their KCON LA performance? Let us know by commenting below or by reaching out to us on Instagram or X.
*Translations of responses were translated from Japanese to English by IS:SUE’s team.
Edited by Michelle Leung
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