TOMORROW X TOGETHER aren’t your typical K-pop act — they’re worldbuilders. The five-member group brings intentionality to every song and music video, creating stories that fans can easily get lost in. A tribute to their storytelling abilities, TXT are beginning the year with The Name Chapter: Temptation, a new EP inspired by the story of Peter Pan set for release on Jan. 27.
Much like their Peter Pan influence, The Name Chapter shows TXT examining their impending adulthood with more than a hint of reticence. As they enter the new era, TXT turn up the heat and experimentation. The five-song EP employs previously unexplored genres like Afrobeats ("Tinnitus"), features rapper Coi Leray ("Happy Fools") and ends emphatically with "Farewell, Neverland."
TXT's discography has followed a highly curated storyline since their debut as fresh-faced teens in 2019. Each release, or chapter, has reflected a different phase of youth and is filled with encouraging and uplifting messages. Their debut The Dream Chapter: Star chronicled TXT's journey of finding love and friendship. They bridged the gaps in between albums with "minisode" EPs, flexing their ability to adjust to their audiences’ needs and moods. Their 2020 EP minisode1: Blue Hour featured songs about the pandemic, while their 2022 minisode 2: Thursday’s Child EP explored romance in a darker way. TXT were more involved with the songwriting and production on the edgier The Chaos Chapter: Freeze and its repackage, The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape, released in 2021.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER turned a new leaf in 2022, and set their sights on the U.S. In a whirlwind year, TXT collaborated on two English singles with rapper Iann Dior and singer Salem Ilese, embarked on their first world tour and were the first K-pop group to perform at Lollapalooza. They also became the only Korean artists (outside of labelmates BTS) to make the top 10 best selling albums list of 2022 with their EP minisode 2: Thursday’s Child.
Throughout it all, they’ve dabbled in genres like R&B, rock, and disco, proving the complexity of their signature sound. In the spring, they’ll begin a world tour ACT: SWEET MIRAGE, and seem poised for further global domination.
GRAMMY.com caught up with all five members of TXT — HUENINGKAI, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN, YEONJUN, and SOOBIN — via Zoom to discuss their plans for 2023, the creation of a new narrative in The Name Chapter: Temptation, and how the rest of their story unfolds.
Last year was a big year for TXT. What did you learn in 2022 and what are your resolutions for this year?
SOOBIN: I was really grateful that so many people came to see us in Korea and even overseas.We want to continue to make good music and put on good performances with good people this year as well.
YEONJUN: I hope we can meet more fans and more people in even bigger venues. I feel more committed and more affectionate to my job even more.
The Name Chapter is a new series. How does it connect to The Dream Chapter and The Chaos Chapter?
TAEHYUN: So, our music contains this one story of growth and so we basically talk about the process of growth. So, in The Dream Chapter we talked about friendship, in The Chaos Chapter we talked about love and heartbreak, and we even went bad in our minisodes.
And so, in this Name Chapter we are going to say farewell to Neverland and we know that we have to grow into adulthood. But we also talk about the thoughts and emotions of the youth, who just want to settle for now and do not want to grow up anymore.
HUENINGKAI: it is an album that contains our musical color and identity, and I think it is the most TXT-ish album ever. So, it also contains our ambition to make a name for ourselves all across the globe.
What does the word "temptation" allude to?
BEOMGYU: So, it talks about how youth knows that they have to grow, but they [have] this temptation where they just want to live the moment freely and not grow up.
SOOBIN: The title track talks about a boy who fell into this temptation. So, temptation might be really pleasing and fun but it's ephemeral, so it’s like a temptation of a devil. And since it is a very sweet temptation, we called it "Sugar Rush."
TAEHYUN: I think fans will love our performance because we expressed how we fall into the temptation. But also, how we try to tempt the others as well.
How did you guys contribute to the album and is there anything you’re most proud of?
BEOMGYU: For "Happy Fools," all the members contributed to the writing and the lyrics are based on our own experiences. So, when MOA listens to the lyrics they will think Oh! So, these are the experiences of our boys! And also, Yeonjun wrote the top line in, which contains our team color really, really well.
What should fans pay attention to when listening or watching the music video?
TAEHYUN: I really want to emphasize this: The order of the tracks of this album is very, very important and meaningful.
YEONJUN: The title track itself, [and] the songs themselves are really, really good. But I think the vibes are maximized when you watch the [music video] and the performance together with the music. So, I think the song is visually pleasing as well.
Were there any special collaborations on this album that you particularly enjoyed?
TAEHYUN: For “Happy Fools,” Coi Leray did a very, very wonderful job in rapping with her beautiful voice.
SOOBIN: It was very, very cute.
Do you guys have a favorite lyric from any of the songs on the album?
TAEHYUN: So, there’s these Korean lyrics in the song, “Tinnitus”: “Oh, just erase the star of rockstar. Just the rock.” I tried to express how I’m more of a rock than a rockstar. So, I thought that was a pretty fun wordplay.
Have there been any challenges that you’ve faced, either as a group or individuals, that have helped you become better artists?
BEOMGYU: When we first met, we were really, really different individuals. But as we got to know each other more and better, we got along. We became considerate to each other and we supported each other, which contributed us to become one team. Our different voices and our different charms bring us into being one team, too.
You guys have demonstrated a lot of versatility with previous releases with both youthful and more mature concepts. Is there any concept you haven’t tried that you would like to?
TAEHYUN: In “Tinnitus” we said “I’m not a rockstar quality,”but within just a few years we went to performed in big venues. So, I think it will be really fun to talk about the life of a rockstar.
For anyone new to TOMORROW X TOGETHER, what is important for them to know?
TAEHYUN: I really want to tell them that we make really high-quality albums. And I think it is really cool that we tell stories [that continue] from album to album. So, I would just like to emphasize that we are such a cool team.
YEONJUN: Our songs are really great. So, I hope that many people listen to our songs and recognize us through our songs.
Is there any message you would like to give to your fans?
TAEHYUN: Soobin this is for you.
HUENINGKAI: Of course, some challenges will come your way. But I want to tell them you have to give it a try with courage. If you don’t start, you won’t know if you will succeed or not. But once you try you will think that this is doable, this is manageable. So, if you try you will ultimately overcome your limits and that’s the process of going one step further.
SOOBIN: We started our first world tour last year, but starting this year, we’re looking forward to touring with more countries, and putting on great performances at bigger stages for our fans around the world. We’re so excited to show our fans the fresh, new concept and performance from the upcoming album. Please look forward to it!