This cover story appears in VMAN50, now available to order
Who knows what tomorrow may bring? Well, no one really. But according to one of Korea’s most raved-about pop acts, we won’t have to face the realities of a new day alone.
Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and HueningKai of TOMORROW X TOGETHER had a monumental year in 2022, during which their fi first world tour, “ACT: LOVESICK” saw them perform for hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe. Officially one of the biggest acts to come out of the ceaseless K-pop craze that has consumed the world over, the five idols have captured the hearts and imaginations of millions with their music about youth, camaraderie, and navigating our way through life together.
In January of this year, TXT dropped their new EP, The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION. The project should be listened to in order, telling a coming-of-age story about youth entering adulthood, and how growth is accompanied by growing pains. In March, they’ll be kicking off their second world tour in Seoul, Korea. But before they hit the road, VMAN asked singer-songwriter LAUV to interview the boys about their first impressions of each other, the meaning of masculinity, and how they were inspired by other performers, including BTS.
LAUV: You guys have worked together now for a few years. What were your first impressions of each other when you met?
YEONJUN: I think BEOMGYU’s personality is what really shines through. He’s one of the brightest and most energetic people I know. It was funny though because he seemed very quiet and shy the very first day he joined us. It turns out he was just assessing everything because less than 24 hours later, he’d already settled in and we were all on his turf. He can be calm and poised when he wants to, but he sure knows how to enliven the atmosphere.
BEOMGYU: SOOBIN is a kind soul. It’s easy to say that about people, but SOOBIN has always been consistent in the way he looks out for others, ever since day one. I appreciated it a lot, especially since I was new to the city, and I know the others also really value him for his character. At first glance though, I guess he just stood out a lot because we were all young but he was still really tall.
SOOBIN: HUENINGKAI was a “baby” when we first saw him. I guess we all were, but he seemed especially young since one or two years makes all the difference in your teens. I thought he was adorable. He was always in his flashy printed tees and we could catch him dozing off [during] his free time. Admittedly, it was a little difficult to imagine that I’d be on the same team as someone so young and cute, but it’s funny how younger brothers mature into friends so fast.
HUENINGKAI: TAEHYUN had the biggest eyes ever. He still does. He was such a good-looking kid that the other members and I kept commenting about it. He was good at things—the usual stuff like math and some martial arts too, but also random things like magic tricks, which isn’t a talent you see every day. TAEHYUN’s very clever and is a great conversationalist. We still stay up late nights to talk about basically everything in life.
TAEHYUN: We all say the same thing for YEONJUN. He was famous among K-pop trainees for being good at everything. There was even a moniker for him: “BIGHIT Legendary Trainee YEONJUN CHOI.” He was a real jack-of-all-trades and was confident about it too, in an admirable and somehow also endearing way. He also always gave his all for everything, which is a great quality to have in a teammate.
L: How did you make sure that TOMORROW X TOGETHER stood out and was unique in comparison to other groups?
Y: I think our priority has always been to be genuine in our music alongside, of course, sounding good. We want to address issues and experiences that are relevant to our contemporaries, as well as to anybody who has lived through this period in life before us.
B: Each of our albums and chapters are generational narratives of our youth. Each album is a reflection of the experiences and emotions we have at that period in life and, often, they’re sentiments that are shared with our peers. I think we can credit a lot of the love we receive to the stories we tell.
S: We had so many different concepts with each song we’ve released, so far. I feel like they’re songs that only we could have done at that time; in fact, I don’t think it’ll ever feel the same if we were to perform our earliest songs like “CROWN” again now in our 20s. It’ll be different—in a good way—but I think we did have something fresh and special. That said, we’re really getting into polishing our sound as a band and I’m very proud of it. I can’t wait to see what our discography will look like in five years’ time.
H: We want to make sure we can give audiences the full TOMORROW X TOGETHER experience. We want to put on a show that sounds and looks great, with all components coming together for a more immersive experience.
T: One of the other components that is really important to us, collectively, is conversing and connecting with our fans. We obviously talk about our music but we also want to talk about what we did or what they did that day, how they’re feeling, and just normal routine things like that. There’s a lot we can relate to and vice versa.
L: This issue is about the evolution of masculinity. How do you believe masculinity has evolved over the past ten years?
Y: I’ve never seen one set definition for masculinity that everybody in the world agrees with. In the same way, I don’t think there’s a set standard that we, or anybody, should have to follow. In terms of interpretations of the terminology, I think there’s going to be a lot of generational, social, and cultural context. That said, I think people probably define it in broader terms than before. If anything, concepts about conduct or self-expression should be about confidence, freedom from scrutiny, and feeling comfortable to just be yourself.
L: You’ve been fortunate to work with BTS, the only other boy band from BIGHIT MUSIC prior to you. How did they inspire you all as band members?
S: To have a dream of reaching the world with music and seeing someone close to you actually living that dream is great motivation. They’re incredible role models who actively give us advice and we’re very thankful for it.
H: They’re great performers and a great band of brothers. We really admire that. It’s one thing to know your own musical tastes and develop them, but it’s another to practice building synergy with your group. It’s enjoyable, of course, but it also takes effort from every member of the team and this is something we truly appreciate.
L: Do you feel proud to be bringing Korean pop music to the rest of the world? What is the best part of it for you?
T: We feel very proud, of course. I feel like there’s still more room for K-pop to grow and expand in this world and we’re honored to be part of that movement. That potential alone gives us even more motivation to do better and put out more good music.
S: The best part of it is definitely when we hear people sing along to our lyrics. It’s a moment that really stands out for us because most of our lyrics are in Korean. It’s another example of why music is so brilliant—it can deliver emotions and messages, and helps people connect, no matter where they’re from or what languages they speak. It’s a blessing that we can put out music in this period of time where media is accessible and can be enjoyed by so many [people across the world].
H: I really enjoy seeing the world. Last year, we had our first world tour and we visited 13 cities and performed at a festival (LOLLAPALOOZA). Our debut was in 2019, but COVID-19 meant that it took us a while to be able to fully experience performing live in front of large crowds and in international settings. Visiting city after city and experiencing various cultures gave me memories I’ll never forget.
B: We’re in this industry because we love music. Hearing people all over the world cheer our name and sing our songs feels incredible beyond words. They’re sharing their passion and love for music with us through our songs, and that’s something I’ll forever be grateful for.
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