심선아
| 2026-04-13 17:07:09
TXT-media showcase
TXT opens new chapter with deeply personal album after contract renewal
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) returned Monday with its eighth EP, "7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns," offering a candid reflection on its career following the recent renewal of its contract with BigHit Music.
Departing from the broader conceptual narratives of youth and growth found in its past projects -- which include "The Dream Chapter," "The Chaos Chapter," "Star Chapter," and the "minisode" series -- the group's new release takes a deeply personal turn since its 2019 debut. Set to drop at 6 p.m., the EP marks the quintet's first project since all members renewed their contacts in August 2025 after spending seven years with the agency.
According to the agency, the word "Thorns" in the title symbolizes the inner unease and uncertainty experienced by the members over the last seven years.
During a media showcase at Korea University in Seoul, the members detailed the introspective focus of the new record.
"This album focuses on the honest emotions we've felt leading up to the renewal process," member Hueningkai said during the showcase for the new release.
The group had long conversations with the production team about their thoughts these days and what kind of music they wanted to make before creating the album.
"We asked ourselves what the most honest story we could tell at this point was, and we agreed it should reflect the emotions we've felt over the past seven years," Taehyun said.
Elaborating on these struggles, Yeonjun and Taehyun opened up about the hidden anxieties behind the group's success, noting the gap between early ideals and reality, as well as the constant pressure to reach higher.
The six-track EP is fronted by the electro-pop lead single "Stick With You," alongside B-sides "Bed of Thorns," "Take Me to Nirvana (feat. Vindina Weng)," "So What," and "21st Century Romance."
Soobin described "Stick With You" as a track about the desperation of clinging to a fading love, while Beomgyu added that the theme also serves as a metaphor for TXT's resolve to continue chasing its dreams.
Addressing the swift contract renewal, Taehyun revealed that it took less than an hour for the members to agree to stay together, driven by a shared desire to continue as a team.
"It's hard to believe it's already our seventh anniversary, but when I look back, I think we've come this far because we've spent happy times together. There's still a path ahead of us to climb, and I'm even more excited for that," he said.
Yeonjun said he also had firm faith in the team. "Back when we were rookies, I never imagined we'd become artists who would renew our contracts. Above all, I'm thankful to MOA for making this possible," he said, referring to the group's fan base.
Soobin added, "Going through the renewal process made me realize even more how precious my members are to me."
When asked what kind of changes fans could expect in TXT's second chapter after the renewal, Taehyun answered, "We've tried so many different things over the years, and the spectrum of what we can do keeps expanding. I'm already looking forward to our next album."
Yeonjun said what he wants to remain at the end of TXT's musical journey is the team itself. "I hope we can continue to stay together and make music for a long time," he added.
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