TXT takes leap with 'The Chaos Chapter: Freeze'
From left, Soobin, Huening Kai, Beomgyu, Yeonjun and Taehyun of K-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) pose during an online press conference, Monday. Courtesy of Big Hit Music
By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is on the up.
The five-piece act's second studio album, “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze,” conquered iTunes's top album charts in 45 countries, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, upon its release on Monday. Given that its 2020 mini-album, “minisode1: Blue Hour,” reigned atop the same chart in 30 countries, the group's latest musical feat can be seen as a clear sign of its growing popularity beyond Korea. In addition, as of Monday, the number of pre-orders for the album hit 700,000, the highest-ever volume for the group so far.
The new album's lead single, “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You),” is also going strong ― the trendy hybrid pop track dominated iTunes' top song charts in 31 countries and is grabbing the top spots on local streaming charts like Genie.
“This time, we strived to showcase the music that only TXT can pull off,” the group's leader Soobin said during an online press conference, Monday. The event was initially set to take place at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, but TXT's record label Big Hit Music moved it online after a staff member from an outsourced company tested positive for COVID-19. All TXT members tested negative, Big Hit Music said.
Soobin elaborated on the making of the album, “All of us participated in the creative process of the album and showed our own 'colors' in the numbers, without completely ditching TXT's style.”
Soobin took part in penning the lines of “Ice Cream,” while Yeonjun, Taehyun and Beomgyu contributed to the lyrics of “Balance Game.” For the first time since TXT's debut in 2019, member Huening Kai participated in producing the track, “Dear Sputnik.” The members also have writing credits on the pieces “No Rules” and “Frost.”
“In the beginning of our careers, we were just happy to sing our songs,” Taehyun said. “But now, we have changed ― we actively put forward our ideas when gearing up for an album.”
The lead single, “0X1=LOVESONG,” is a song about a boy who becomes “frozen” because of the chaotic world.
“The boy runs into a savior and comes to realize love is the only definite thing on earth,” Huening Kai said. “The song brings dramatic melodies to the fore, and the lyrics remind people of a teen movie. But above all, I hope people pay attention to the ways we express our emotions in a song.”
RM of BTS, a K-pop juggernaut also represented by Big Hit Music, made its lyrics in collaboration with the company's founder Bang Si-hyuk and other acclaimed lyricists. During the event, TXT members showed their appreciation to the BTS leader and revealed the behind-the-scenes stories.
“I heard Bang asked RM for help after struggling for three weeks to come up with good lyrics,” Soobin said. “RM also helped us decide on the title of the track.”
“The Chaos Chapter: Freeze” offers the quintet's first English-language song, “Magic," too.
“We focused on our pronunciation while recording 'Magic,'” Beomgyu said. “We also tried our best to make it sound groovy. I hope a lot of people will like it.”
The group ended the session by disclosing their collective ambition.
“We want to be a group that best speaks for teenagers around the world,” Huening Kai said.
Soobin added, “It would be great if we can clinch the No. 1 spot on music shows, but above all, we hope our followers love our music and performances.”