The group TWS has made a bold comeback with their refreshing new mini album. TWS (Shin Yoo, Do Hoon, Young Jae, Han Jin, Ji Hoon, Kyung Min) held a media showcase on the 27th at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their fifth mini album 'NO TRAGEDY'.
The title track 'You, You' is a song that openly confesses feelings towards a destined partner who appears like a dream. The track blends R&B vibes with house sounds, groovy bass, and unique chord progressions to enhance its trendy appeal. Do Hoon participated in writing the lyrics, which are noted for their honesty.
While their previous work depicted the hot yet clumsy aspects of youth, this album steps into the deeper realms of love. Ji Hoon explained, "We pondered a lot on how to show a fresher side while maintaining TWS's existing image. This album challenges various genres, making each track enjoyable to listen to." He added, "The youthful energy that fans and the public love about TWS is still present. The courage to move forward is a new point in this album, showcasing TWS's growth."
Before the concept change, there were changes among the members. Kyung Min shared, "This is the first mini album I'm presenting as an adult. Now that all members are adults, we can show a lot of diverse sides." He also hinted, "The members have started working out. You'll see a more mature side of us."
TWS received a positive response on short-form platforms with the 'Aegyo Challenge' from their previous comeback 'Overdrive'. Young Jae humbly stated, "We never expected the 'Aegyo Challenge' to receive so much love. We collaborated with various artists and promoted in many ways. It seems the public recognized our efforts." Kyung Min expressed gratitude, saying, "It feels like TWS's energy reached many people."
All eyes are on whether they can shine as challenge masters again. Ji Hoon mentioned, "This time, there's the 'Follow Challenge' using the addictive choreography from the latter part of the song. I wanted to film the challenge with a Ttareungi bike while ensuring safety from the album preparation stage," bringing laughter.
As interest grows in which artists they will collaborate with for challenges, Han Jin expressed his admiration for senior artist IU. Han Jin said, "I really love IU's songs and dramas and would love to do a challenge with her."
TWS is expanding the realm of 'refreshing' in their unique way. Young Jae shared, "We wanted to show that 'refreshing' can be viewed from various perspectives." Ji Hoon added, "We've had many discussions about the musical color of 'refreshing'. We always focus on the message and broaden our spectrum. Our growth process naturally connects with music, and we've consistently included hip-hop-based tracks in our albums to showcase diverse sides."
Though TWS is known as a representative of 'refreshing', they aim to demonstrate their strength in various genres. Kyung Min expressed, "We want to remain a team that can handle not only refreshing but also various genres."
The pre-order volume for the new album surpassed 1.16 million copies as of the 24th, nearly double the final pre-order volume of their fourth mini album (648,182 copies). There is anticipation over whether TWS will achieve their first 'million-seller' title with this album. Shin Yoo shared, "We were surprised and delighted to hear that pre-orders exceeded 1 million copies. We see it as motivation from our fans and will work even harder." Kyung Min added, "We were shocked by the numbers, and it made us realize how much interest people have in TWS. We will work hard to ensure this activity leaves no regrets."
TWS's fifth mini album 'NO TRAGEDY' will be released on various music sites at 6 PM today.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr