TXT dives into realities of youth in new album

The members of K-pop act Tomorrow X Together (TXT) pose during a press event held at Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in northeastern Seoul's Dongdaemun District, Thursday. Courtesy of HYBE

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Oct 13, 2023 5:18 PM KST
• Updated Oct 14, 2023 3:49 PM KST

K-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) dropped its third full-length album, "The Name Chapter: FREEFALL," Oct. 13.

The album serves as a thematic sequel to the quintet's chart-topping fifth EP, "The Name Chapter: Temptation," delving deeper into the outside temptations young people face while pursuing self-growth.

Building on the success of their previous work, the latest album develops the concept further, portraying a growing awareness of reality as they resist temptations.

The quintet ― comprising members Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Huening Kai ― held a press event at Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in northeastern Seoul's Dongdaemun District, Thursday.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the members took the stage, each one thoughtfully articulating the essence of their new work with sincerity.

"It's been two years and four months since our last full-length album. We aimed to infuse the new album with our unique identity once again," Yeonjun said, kicking off the event by acknowledging the significance of the moment.

Huening Kai, an American member of the group, explained the album's thematic progression. "In contrast to our previous album, which depicted youths grappling with temptations and reluctance to grow up, this album tells the story of young individuals who conquer those temptations, embrace reality and pursue a brighter future."

Beomgyu provided additional context for the album's title.

"Our previous album concluded with the track 'Farewell, Neverland.' This new album signifies our transition from the realm of 'Neverland' to the stark realities of life, symbolized by the theme of 'freefall,'" he said.

The album's opening track, "Chasing That Feeling," aptly embodies the themes shared by the members, capturing moments of challenges with its dynamic retro rhythms.

Beomgyu reminisced fondly about his first impression of the track, saying "I cannot forget the day I was introduced to the title song. I played it on repeat three times consecutively. It's incredibly catchy, and you can sing along almost instantly. I found it so captivating that I thought it would be a perfect tune for a drive."

Following the critical and commercial success of their previous album, which claimed the first No. 1 in TXT's career on the Billboard 200 chart and debuted atop the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart, the members expressed their excitement for the new release.

Taehyun exuded enthusiasm on the new album during the press event.

"We have confidence in the quality of every album we produce. We believe the public will once again resonate with the sincerity we've poured into this release, and we're certain it will showcase a distinctive charm," Taehyun said, revealing his personal preference for the new album over the previous one.

As TXT continues to evolve, offering a more nuanced exploration of youth and self-discovery, the members' confidence in interpreting any concept with their signature touch remains unwavering.

Soobin, the group's leader, noted, "For this release, we've dedicated ourselves to embracing novel concepts and blending those with our artistic flairs, so we encourage everyone to anticipate the upcoming surprises."

Concluding the event, Taehyun summed up the group's identity with two words: "youth" and "empathy."

"Our story naturally mirrors the experiences of today's youth, and I believe our distinctive style will once again generate resonance with our generation," he said.