The trajectory of the group TWS resembles that of Richard Linklater's film 'Boyhood.' Just as the film captures the brilliant yet immature growth of a boy over 12 years, TWS has documented the excitement, awkwardness, and nervous confessions of youth through their unique genre, 'Boyhood Pop.' With a promise to share 'every moment,' the six boys now unveil their most intimate diary. Their new single, 'TO US,' released on November 2, encapsulates the genuine concerns and resolutions of the six members, serving as a heartfelt response to their contemporaries.
The journey began with their debut song, 'The First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned.' Emerging from the clumsy excitement of youth, 'Boyhood Pop' has matured alongside the members, now expressing the trust and vulnerability of fully committing to someone. The youngest member, Kyungmin, has also become an adult. Having crossed the threshold of boyhood, the members reflect on their growth alongside the evolving genre.
"I believe 'Boyhood Pop' is a unique genre that only TWS can sing, and we take pride and responsibility in that. From our debut song 'The First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned' to 'Call My Name,' we have become more proactive, and I think 'Boyhood Pop' has grown with us." (Youngjae)
"I'm happy that the range of messages we can convey to our fandom, 42, has broadened significantly. In the early days, we struggled to express certain messages due to a lack of experience and time together, but I believe this single contains messages we can share now. With Kyungmin becoming an adult, it's also a visible change that all members are now adults." (Jihoon)
"I think we've grown a lot personally, as a team, and in our relationship with 42. I feel like we are showing a more mature excitement in this song compared to what we've shown before. I want to deepen that excitement even more in the future." (Kyungmin)
This mature excitement is fully captured in the title track 'Call My Name.' The song features the piano of jazz pianist Yoon Seok-cheol, layered with the driving rhythm of drum and bass and rich strings. It tells the story of finding courage to take a step forward when someone calls your name, even when you struggle to believe in yourself.
"I want to say that this song fits well with the winter season while being full of TWS's energy. When someone calls my name, I believe it gives me the courage to leap, even if I don't believe in myself. We are grateful to our fans, the 42, for giving us that realization, and we prepared to amplify that emotion on stage." (Jihoon)
Having previously embraced a refreshing sound, TWS has now shifted to a winter theme. The mood has become calmer and heavier, reflecting their deeper inner selves. The song's emotional intensity builds throughout, with Jihoon translating the piano's essence into their performance.
"When I first heard it, the piano sound evoked a winter image. The addition of the jazz pianist's performance made the song more delicate. In our performance, I tried to express the piano sound through movements of my upper body and arms. I was surprised to learn that the actual pianist's performance was included, and I felt honored to be able to move in sync with it." (Jihoon)
The lyrics were crafted by members Shin-yu, Do-hoon, and Youngjae, who infused their sincerity into the song.
"When I heard the keywords for the title track, many ideas came to mind, and I wanted to participate in the lyrics. I actually got involved and tried to write sincerely without embellishing it, in line with the album's purpose." (Shin-yu)
"The theme of this title track is about 'trusting you and fully entrusting myself,' so I thought trust and faith were the most important. I pondered how to express the invisible trust and faith well." (Do-hoon)
"I drew a lot of inspiration from the 'name' called by those who believe in me. Both the members and the 42 give me strength by showing me how many people believe in me. I think this can be seen as a fan song. I see it as a response to the call from the 42." (Youngjae)
From the first meeting that didn't go as planned to the first moments of courage and the first heartbreak, 'Boyhood Pop' has turned the pages of a boy's 'firsts.' Now that they have all crossed the threshold of boyhood, where will this genre head next? The members have left the answer open rather than predetermined.
"'Boyhood Pop' has never left our side since our debut. If we try to implement a specific concept or color, we might feel trapped, but 'Boyhood Pop' allows us to tell our growth story, making it a broad and unpredictable genre. I want to continue developing it as the most suitable genre for introducing TWS's music in the future." (Jihoon)
"It's hard to say definitively how far we can show, but just as we have all become adults from boys, I think we can share our changing appearances through various music over time." (Youngjae)
Like the name 'Boyhood Pop,' TWS has always shared their 'firsts' with fans. From the thrill of their first stage to the cheers of their first tour, those firsts have accumulated, and the boys have grown into adults. What stories will the next chapter of TWS hold? The members have identified the stories they want to share with the world and the hands that will write them.
"I think we are a team that not only grows from being students to adults but also conveys the stories we want to tell the world. If our messages are kind and can empower someone, and if they are stories we genuinely feel and have encountered in our growth process, I believe we can express them through music without hesitation." (Jihoon)
"I think we can show our growth as artists. While we may not have participated much in the early days, I believe we can gradually show ourselves participating in songwriting and eventually in both composing and writing lyrics." (Youngjae)
This year, TWS met a wider audience with their first Asia tour. Starting at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, they performed 15 shows across eight cities, including Fukuoka, Hyogo, Kanagawa, Macau, Bangkok, Singapore, and Kaohsiung, drawing over 115,000 fans. Youngjae shared that not every performance went as planned, but the support from 42 helped them move forward.
"I felt a lot of regret performing while injured at the start of the tour, but I learned a lot. The perfection we envision might be a flawless execution, but I learned that even if something is slightly missing, it can still be perfect. The 42 are my 'self-esteem guardians.' They recognize my charm, even when I don't, and they keep reminding me. I tend to overthink, but they have told me, 'You shine just as you are, without needing to think too much,' which makes them a presence that protects my self-esteem." (Youngjae)
Since their debut in January 2024, TWS has now entered their third year. Yet, on stage, they still maintain the spirit of newcomers. Their dedicated performances and unwavering attitude have garnered consistent praise from fans and industry insiders alike. When asked about the driving force behind their enduring enthusiasm, the members pointed to their unfulfilled goals and their support for one another.
"I think we are working hard because we believe we haven't achieved our goals yet, focusing on that one goal." (Do-hoon)
"I believe the mindset of the members is the most important. Everyone has a strong desire to rise higher, and that collective ambition creates good synergy. Additionally, we are grateful for the environment provided by our practice rooms and staff, which fuels our desire to work harder and reach greater heights." (Kyungmin)
The fact that there are still many stages they have yet to perform signifies that there are still many pages left to fill. The next scenes envisioned by the six members are both distant and close.
"I want to perform in stadiums and receive grand prizes at year-end award ceremonies. I believe there are many stages we have yet to experience, and I want to stand on those stages. For this activity, I think our biggest goal is to achieve first place on music shows." (Kyungmin)
"I hope that one day we can become a team that can receive awards that everyone can agree on." (Do-hoon)
* This article has been translated by AI.
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