K-pop group Tomorrow X Together has returned with their newest full-length album,The Star Chapter: Together. The five-member boy group, commonly known as TXT, has spent the past six years since their 2019 debut concentrating on development – whether it’s about becoming individuals in their early to mid-20s, or musically, progressing from their initial energetic tracks such as “Crown” and “Blue Hour” to more sophisticated recent releases like “Love Language” and “Deja Vu.”
Togethersees TXT – consisting of members Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai – embracing their characteristic sound. “Upside Kiss,” which Yeonjun helped write, is a synth-driven pop song, while the album’s highlight, “Beautiful Strangers,” is a piano-and-synth pop track that would fit seamlessly among TXT’s classic songs.
The album officially marks the end of the group’s Star Chapter, which has provided both thematic and visual direction for this and their previous release. They have previously issued albums titled “Chaos Chapter,” “Name Chapter,” and “Dream Chapter.”
With Together, the group also explores uncharted ground: individual tracks. It’s not acompletelynew idea – Yeonjun and Beomgyu have both released solo works – but this is the first time each member will have an individual song on an album.
TXT spoke with The Hollywood Reporter regarding their new album, the decision to feature solo tracks and the reason they are stepping into “version 2.0 of Tomorrow X Together.”
How are you feeling about the new record,The Star Chapter: Together, and the lead single “Beautiful Strangers”“
BEOMGYUThis album and this song truly wrap up the Star Chapter [series of albums]. We concentrated heavily on the message we aim to express through this track.
HUENINGKAI The seventh mini album, The Star Chapter: Sanctuary, was focused on our ability to transform ourselves because of your love [the fans]. This time, we are utilizing the love and strength you have given us, and we’re using that to save you—save us and the world. I found that very romantic.
Considering this marks the conclusion of an album series, do you approach it in a different way compared to other albums?
TAEHYUNYeah… I believe I’d like to discuss the last track [on the album], titled “Song of the Stars.” I think this track truly represents our complete development, and it clearly reflects who we are as Tomorrow x Together and the journey we’ve experienced over time. While recording this song, I felt a wide range of emotions inside me.
Do you have any preferred tracks on the album?
TAEHYUN “Song of the Stars.”
HUENINGKAI I agree.
SOOBINI would also mention “Song of the Stars.” It simply resonated with me.
BEOMGYUI would select “Upside Down Kiss” since I believe the performance will be extremely impressive.
This is the first instance where you’ve incorporated a solo track for each member on an album. While some of you have pursued individual projects, what inspired you to add these songs?
HUENINGKAI I believe it was a very logical decision because MOA [the official name for the group’s fans] consistently desire solo tracks. We felt it was the appropriate moment for us to release our own songs featuring only our voices, making it a very natural choice.
TAEHYUNWhen we are [performing] at concerts and tours, it brings a fresh element to the songs we play, so I’m excited about our upcoming tour featuring all the solo tracks.
Did you notice any differences in the process since you usually record songs as a group? Was it more thrilling or more stressful to do it by yourself?
BEOMGYUAs you mentioned, it was the first time we included our individual tracks on the album, and it felt quite unfamiliar to us. We were able to completely express our unique styles and viewpoints, so I believe it was a very enjoyable experience for us.
TAEHYUNI found it fascinating to experience the entire emotional journey on my own within that single song, as when we perform a group song with five of us singing different parts, the emotions shift naturally with each member’s section. I made certain not to make it dull for the audience. My goal was to ensure they could track my emotional progression—from the start, the verse, and gradually intensifying the feelings leading up to the chorus—that was truly enjoyable for me.
Yeonjun and Taehyun, both of you were involved in writing for this album. Could you share some details about that experience and explain why you wanted to participate?
YEONJUNThe reason I wanted to be involved in writing the song is because there are solo tracks [on this album], so for my solo track, I wanted to help with the lyrics.
TAEHYUNI was involved in both the lyrics and the composition of the song’s melody. We had the whole song completed except for the pre-chorus, and the producer along with the A&R team felt that the pre-chorus needed more work – would you like to take a shot at it? I created three different versions, and one of them was well-received by everyone, so that’s what we used as the pre-chorus.
How do you believe you have evolved since your first release, regarding developing your unique style and how you combine with others?
TAEHYUN The reason we’re concluding [this album series] is due to the significant progress we’ve made. I believe it’s important to wrap it up because we’ve gone through and gained so much growth, not just as individuals and members of this group, but also as a collective. Now that we’re transitioning to version 2.0 of Tomorrow X Together, I think there will be new obstacles, but we need a fresh leap forward.
As this album marks the end of a phase for you, what’s something you haven’t done yet that you’re looking forward to trying in the near future? Whether it’s related to style or genre.?
HUENINGKAINo matter the genre or style, we can master it. I believe our group has the [strength] of creating songs that people can truly connect with, especially those of our generation. I think we will continue to focus on the emotions that we and our generation experience as we grow up, and we will work hard to create a better future for all of them.
In what ways has your collaboration developed as you’ve matured?
BEOMGYU We’ve become a family.
SOOBINWe have become a group of individuals who don’t require words. We simply make eye contact and understand each other’s emotions. Our collaboration truly stands out when there’s an issue during a stage performance or something needs to be clarified. You can clearly see our teamwork excel during those challenging moments.
Do you think that happened on its own over time, or did you all put in a lot of deliberate effort?
TAEHYUNA significant amount of effort is required.
HUENINGKAI I mean, naturally, time plays a role, but each of us has put in significant effort to develop our teamwork, which is why we’ve achieved what we have today.
As public figures, you unfortunately have limited influence over how people view you. However, you are putting in a lot of effort to create music and develop your career, so I assume there’s a certain image you would like to project as artists. Who do you want Tomorrow X Together to be? Do you feel that’s already the case?
HUENINGKAI I just hope that Tomorrow X Together remains a group that stays in the hearts of fans for a long time. I hope our music allows people to feel understood, and that they experience something meaningful in their hearts when they listen to our songs.
Anything else to mention regarding the new album?
BEOMGYUThis is an album that truly provides a sense of completion to our story, and for that reason, it holds a lot of significance for us. I hope MOA continues to follow along and appreciates the album.
