Kill My Doubt (stylized in all caps) is the seventh extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group Itzy, released on July 31, 2023, through JYP Entertainment, Republic Records, and Dreamus, eight months following the release of Cheshire (2022).
Inspired by the conversations shared by the members and their company following the release of Cheshire, Kill My Doubt lyrically revolves around the message of overcoming adversity and self-doubt. The EP comprises six tracks and is supported by the lead single "Cake". The release of the EP was preceded by music videos for B-side tracks "Bet on Me" and "None of My Business".
Background
In 2022, Itzy released their fifth and sixth extended plays. Checkmate, their fifth EP, was released on July 15 and was accompanied by a world tour of the same name, which ran from August 2022 to April 2023. While on tour, Itzy released their sixth EP, Cheshire, on November 30.
While both releases were met with commercial success, "Sneakers", the lead single of Checkmate, was subject to criticism and contention, in contrast to positive reception received by the album's B-side tracks. Meanwhile, Cheshire was seen as a "mature update" to the quintet's sound, though the pre-release single "Boys Like You" was criticized by media outlets such as NME, for having "painfully juvenile" lyrics.
Following the release of Cheshire, the quintet began working on their next release. Such plans were first revealed by member Chaeryeong in an interview with the American morning program Good Day New York on May 22, 2023. On June 18, Sports Chosun reported that Itzy would release new music in the summer, which would mark their first release in over seven months. The following day, fans sent trucks bearing protest messages to the headquarters of JYP Entertainment demanding better treatment and promotion of the group. Soon thereafter, JYP Entertainment announced the group's seventh extended play, titled Kill My Doubt, through a teaser trailer. The trailer was followed by the release of the EP's track list and details of the promotion schedule. Amid the promotions for the EP, the protests continued.
Music and lyrics
Kill My Doubt has runtime of 17 minutes and 41 seconds and consists of six tracks. Thematically, the album revolves around the message of overcoming adversity. In an interview with W Korea, member Lia explained that the EP was derived on conversations from the one-on-one interviews between the members and the company's production team during the post-production phase of Cheshire. Member Yuna added that the EP intends to "deliver the message that we should overcome and regain our confidence".
A variety of songwriters were involved in the writing of the extended play, including Black Eyed Pilseung, who had previously worked with Twice, and Park Jin-young.
Songs
The opening track, "Bet on Me", is a pop song inspired by Park's conversations with the members. The song departs from the quintet's characteristic powerful style and delves into a vulnerable approach, exploring themes of anxiety, confidence, and empowerment. "Cake", the second track, serves as the EP's lead single, and is characterized by the use of energetic brass and drum sounds, expressing the members' confidence. The third track, "None of My Business", is a pop song that expresses apathy towards a former lover characterized a mellow, rhythmic sound.
Release and promotion
Marketing
An "album spoiler" video with audio snippets of the EP's songs and their corresponding choreographies was released online on July 16. Featuring only Yeji and Ryujin, the video prompted online debate regarding the absence of the remaining three members. The music for the lead single, "Cake", was promoted through teaser trailers released on July 26 and 28.
The EP was released on July 31, in conjunction with the music video for the "Cake". The quintet held a showcase at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in support of Kill My Doubt on the day of the EP's release. A pop-up store at the Hyundai Seoul was opened in support of the EP from July 27 to August 9, where visitors were given pre-access to the EP's six tracks.
The production of the EP was chronicled in three "album documentaries" released on YouTube; the first was released on July 19.