심선아
| 2026-08-24 18:07:26
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Tuide, a new girl group from Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind global superstars BTS, made its debut Monday with its first EP, "Tune & Play."
It is the first girl group presented by ABD, a new label under Hybe, and the first from Hybe in two years following the U.S.-based group Katseye.
Tuide consists of seven members -- Seohee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah and Yi Hani. Seoyeon is a younger sister of JIhyo, a member of top-tier girl group TWICE.
During a media showcase in Seoul, group leader Seohee explained that the group's name is derived from the phrase "Tune the tide," reflecting its ambition to "harmonize the diverse flows of the world to create our own joyful flow."
Member Seoyeon introduced the group's unique musical style as "Soultronic," which combines the warm sensibility of soul music with the sophisticated, sleek sounds of electronic music.
"It has a charm that makes you want to keep listening and spontaneously move to the rhythm," she added.
The members, born between 2006 and 2011, come from varied cultural backgrounds, including South Korea, the United States, Britain and Japan.
When asked about what sets Tuide apart from existing groups, the band again singled out its "Soultronic" musical style.
"Although the specific genres of the five tracks on our debut album differ, they all share a bright, energetic yet relaxed and laid-back vibe," Jia said. "This coexistence of vitality and leisure is what defines Tuide's Soultronic style."
"Tune & Play" consists of five tracks -- "ABD," "Sun Kiss," "Echo," "Flip-flop Girl" and "Grls."
Jia described the lead single, "Sun Kiss," as a track that most clearly showcases the team's distinct color, as well as the individual charms of the seven members.
"It is a song filled with the free and pleasant energy of being under the shining sunlight, fully captured through the voices of the seven of us."
The track is about trusting and expressing one's own voice and sensibility, encouraging listeners to follow their own rhythm and emotions rather than conform to others' standards, according to the agency.
The energetic theme of the song is brought to life through its choreography.
Seoyeon emphasized that the performance was prepared to project "lively energy."
"We worked hard to ensure that our movements, resembling seven people playing freely under the sun, would naturally reach the audience," she said, adding that because the choreography relies heavily on groove-focused movements that highlight individual personalities, the members put intensive thought into every facial expression, gesture and breath.
Looking ahead, the rookie group expressed high hopes for its debut activities.
"I think our first goal is for many people to remember and recognize the name Tuide," Jia said. "We want to receive a lot of love and positive reviews to win a Rookie of the Year award."
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