In the four-plus years since their debut, TXT (Tomorrow X Together) have always embraced eclecticism, but their third full-length album, The Name Chapter: Freefall, takes things a step further.
When they burst into the scene, TXT started weaving a complex story told through the lens of a group of young boys. First, there was The Dream Chapter, which focused on the transition from childhood to adolescence and relied on colorful aesthetics and optimistic lyricism. Then, there came the quasi-Kafkaesque Chaos Chapter, which shattered the illusion of dreams, introducing real-world problems and a looming sense of responsibility that comes full circle in The Name Chapter, the last page (so far) in this TXT's big book.
"The Name Chapter is about a phase where you solidify your identity and your name as you grow into adulthood," Taehyun explained to Teen Vogue earlier this year, when the first installment of this chapter, Temptation, was presented to the world. Temptation looked to Peter Pan for inspiration to depict the longing for lost innocence, but Freefall doesn't have time for more fairytales. The proverbial boys are going from the idyllic grasslands of Neverland to the graffitied streets of a stark reality where you have to fight to achieve your dreams.
As Beomgyu pointed out during a media showcase for the new album, Temptation's last track, "Farewell, Neverland," serves as an explicit connector to Freefall, which kicks off with "Growing Pain," TXT's first venture into heavy metal. The quintet had previously released the Ryan Tedder-penned "Back for More" and "Do It Like That" as collaborations with Anitta and the Jonas Brothers, respectively, though they appear sans company in the final album.
Going from '80s synth-pop on the Rock Mafia-produced title track "Chasing That Feeling" to melodic R&B in "Dreamer" and Jersey club in "Deep Down" and "Happily Ever After," The Name Chapter: Freefall finds TXT diving into uncharted waters across its nine original tracks, plus a digital-only English version of the title track.
Ahead of the album's release, Teen Vogue caught up with the five members over Zoom to chat about working on the album, life on the road, and their own "freefall" into adulthood.
Teen Vogue: Congratulations on another great album. I wanted to start off easy by just letting you pick your favorite songs from The Name Chapter: Freefall.
Taehyun (in English): For me, it changes every day. Today, I'll choose "Deep Down."
Yeonjun: For me, "Growing Pain."
Beomgyu: “물수제비” — or “Skipping Stones,” in English.
Soobin: For me, it's also "Skipping Stones" because it's kind of indie rock style, which I really love, and it's our first foray into such kind of genre, so I really love that song.
Hueningkai: Right now, I choose "Dreamer."
TV: I thought some of you would say "Blue Spring" because it's your ode to MOAs that you all wrote together.
Hueningkai: [Giggles.]
TV: You actually unveiled the track during your last tour, Act: Sweet Mirage, right?
Taehyun: Yes, we actually made "Blue Spring" for the tour because we thought it'd be nice to present it to MOAs live. So, we made it rather quickly right before the tour so that we could fit it into the setlist.
TV: Was it initially just a tour song, or was it always the plan to add it to the album after?
Hueningkai: If the chance presented itself, we thought it'd be good to add it to an album. We didn't yet know which album it would be, but that was the plan, and fortunately, it fitted this album, The Name Chapter: Freefall, so well that it made it in.
TV: In a recent TMI video, which I believe was from one of your lives, Beomgyu said that this is his favorite album ever since your debut, even though you've liked every single album you've put out. Why do you like this album the most?
Beomgyu: Usually, when I listen to music, [though] I like a lot of genres, I typically tend to pick songs that have a kind of similar, very specific vibe to them. This album has a whole array of genres, but I still really enjoyed it. I really like it. I think we have something for everyone, and [because of that] I keep listening to it even to this very day.
TV: It's true. It's very eclectic. You have a really good mix of genres. In that same video, Yeonjun, you said that prepping for this album wasn't particularly easy. What did you mean by that? Was it because of your packed schedules? Was it because it's a full-length album after a while? How is it different or more demanding than your previous releases? Especially The Name Chapter: Temptation because I do think you incorporated a lot of genres into that one as well…
Yeonjun: Yes, schedule-wise, we were writing the lyrics while we were on tour, so it was demanding, and it didn't go as fast as we thought. Also, when we write lyrics, we run them by our label since we all have different ideas and views on the songs and [need to join forces to come up with the best options].
Hueningkai: Because this was our studio album in two years and four months, we wanted to make sure that we had the utmost quality, and that's why we had a lot of people jumping in and sharing ideas and feedback.
TV: Nice, it was a good collaborative process. While listening to the album, I couldn't help but notice that you put in a couple of references to your debut song, "Crown," both in the lyrics for "Blue Spring" and also in the Korean subtitle for "Deep Down"," which is “머리에 솟아난 뿔은 나의 왕관이었다,” meaning “The horn that rose from my head was my crown.” Why did you decide to make it a full circle and call back to your very first song?
Taehyun: This album is about facing reality and showing a determination to grow, which, of course, comes with some pain — growing pains. [This idea just naturally] circles back to our song “Crown” because, in a way, it also talks about those growing pains. There's a horn growing out of my head. I thought it was a pain, but because we have that horn, we could grow. So, it's actually a crown, not a horn. [It was an instinctive callback.]
TV: As you kind of mentioned, the theme of the chapter is growth and hitting reality head-on. I know you have your boys in your story, but personally, what was the moment in your life when you realized that you were not kids anymore? What was your "freefall" in a way?
Taehyun (in English): I think ever since I joined our company. [That] showed [me adult] reality.
TV: I mean, that happens when you get a job, right?
Taehyun: That's right.
TV: Responsibilities.
Yeonjun: Yeah, I totally agree with what Taehyun said. Because we were [objectively] quite young when we started, I think joining the company was like jumping into society and a "freefall" into the [adult] reality.
TV: It must have been a big change, but you are doing great now, so it worked out.
Soobin: Thank you!
Hueningkai: Thank you so much!
TV: Okay, to counteract how serious that question was. One of the other concepts in this album is melancholy. Now that we are all in this adult world, what is something that you miss the most about your childhood? Something that takes you back and brings back good memories?
Yeonjun: I think, for me, it'd be just those normal days when you go to school and you hang out with your friends. Those are the moments I'd love to go back to the most. I think going back would make me even more appreciative of how precious and beautiful those days were.
TV: Yes. For me, it's watching cartoons in the morning during the weekends.
All: [Laugh.]
TV: Applied to your careers, you guys are going onto five years together now, which is incredible because it feels like just yesterday that you made your debut. How do you feel you have changed or grown from the rookies that you were then? What are some of the fears and anxieties that you have now compared to when you were starting out?
Beomgyu: I feel like we have grown a lot both personally and as a team, [and that can be seen] in the big stages we’ve been performing at recently. Personally, when we had just debuted and up until the first half of our career, I don't think I was too nervous about going on stage; but, [as the scale grows], I feel like it’s become a bit more nervewracking for me. I do get a bit more nervous and a bit more anxious lately [despite the experience.] That said, as soon as I am on stage, I [immediately] feel better since I get to rely on the other members.
TV: Why do you feel you've experienced that shift? Why do you feel more "pressured" now when you go on stage? Is it just the scale?
Beomgyu: Yeah, [I think so.] Honestly, I've been trying very hard to figure it out. I still don't know why. I'm trying to [have a concrete answer], but [I just know I get] very nervous [in big stages or with big crowds these days].
TV: You'll figure it out. Do the rest of the members feel the same, or do you feel more at ease when you're on a big stage now that you have two world tours and Lollapalooza twice under your belts?
Taehyun: Personally, [precisely] because we've been on bigger stages, and we've also shown our performance for pre-release songs at such big stages, I think these experiences have piled up and I've gotten to actually enjoy the time [on stage] more. It's fun.
TV: Tell Beomgyu your secret. Make him feel more at ease before going on a big stage.
All: [Laugh.]
TV: As part of Act: Sweet Mirage, you have a couple more concerts scheduled for later in the year in Seoul, and, of course, the end of the year is a big time for big-scale performances. What surprises do you have up your sleeve for the next few performances?
Taehyun: We have the finale concerts left in Seoul in December, so we are going to make them grand finale [worthy]. It's going to be a bit more flashy and we are going to have a very long set list, so people can look forward to that the most.
TV: Long setlist, okay. Bringing it back to The Name Chapter: Freefall. Is there any aspect that you're most excited for fans to see when you perform these songs live? I hear that the choreography for the title track has some voguing in it...
Hueningkai: Yeah, so as you said, there's going to be some voguing involved in the dance break, so I think we can make that into a challenge, and if it becomes a hit, then we'll love it too. It's not that difficult to do, so I think it could go viral.
TV: We'll 100% look forward to that. Though they are not part of the album, you've been collaborating with a lot of new artists these days: Anitta, Coi Leray last year, the Jonas Brothers.... I'm not going to ask you about who you want to collaborate with in the future because I know you've answered that question multiple times, but I am curious to know what have you learned from working with other artists outside of your bubble. Are there any memorable experiences or lessons that they have taught you, or have you ever felt starstruck working with such big artists?
Taehyun: Of course, musically, we learned so much from all of them. Personally, [I was a bit starstruck] when I met the Jonas Brothers. I thought, "They're such big stars, but they're so humble. They're so nice and gentle and such nice people." So I thought that I want to become like them. Even when I become a bigger star, I want to be humble and nice like them. Plus, they're still so handsome.
TV: Well, they also started around the same age that you started, so...
Hueningkai: Correct.
TV: On a more playful note, and since the album is all about falling, have you fallen down any rabbit holes recently? Do you have any new obsessions? I know for Soobin, it's probably anime...
Soobin: [Laughs and nods].
TV: What are the things that you've been enjoying the most when you're not working?
Yeonjun: I'm very into listening to and collecting vinyl records, so when it was my birthday, I even asked my members and my friends to give me a vinyl of their own choice, of their own taste.
TV: Did they follow through? Did they commit and gift you the records?
Yeonjun: Yes. All the members gave me a vinyl.
TV: Nice. Does anyone else want to share something that you've been enjoying outside of work?
Soobin: For me, as you said, I love watching TV dramas and anime after work. But if we have a day off, I've taken a liking for just strolling without a destination in the past year. I pick an area — Gangnam, Itaewon... — and just go there with my maps and walk around. If I see a cafe or a clothing store that catches my eye, I just go in and see what's there. That's the kind of thing that I like to do these days; spending the day just walking aimlessly without a destination, going for whatever I like.
TV: My social anxiety would not let me roam around without a purpose, but proud of you for that. It sounds lovely.
All: [Laugh.]
TV: Music-wise, what's on your playlist these days? Or better, what are some songs that you have been listening to these days that you feel will pair well with The Name Chapter: Freefall?
Taehyun (in English): Recently, I've been listening to a lot of rock. A lot of Bon Jovi. Guns N' Roses, they are my favorite.
TV: Old school.
Soobin: I think the members already know this, but "Skipping Stones" is my favorite song from this new album and [one of] the writers of the song is called Hanroro. She is a singer-songwriter. I've been a big fan of her for a long time, but especially recently, I've been listening to a lot of her songs again. I really like her music. One of her songs is named "정류장," and I think that goes really well with our album. They have really similar vibes.
TV: A full circle moment again.
Soobin: Yes. [Laughs.]
TV: The album is dropping on a Friday the 13th, which is notoriously a very spooky and unlucky day. Hopefully, you don't get the unlucky part, but do you have any superstitions? Do you believe in any of that?
Taehyun: I don't think this is a superstition, but [I'll turn it around]: I hope that people listen to our songs so much that it's almost spooky.
TV: Okay, nice, you are putting a spell on people to like the album.
Hueningkai: [Laughs.]
TV: I think that will work.
Hueningkai: I think superstitions are fun; I'm very much interested in superstitions.
TV: To wrap things up. Do you want to describe the album in one word each?
Hueningkai: Massive.
Taehyun: Masterpiece.
Beomgyu: Favorite.
Yeonjun: Best.
Soobin: Youth.
TV: They all go together: your best and favorite masterpiece of youth on a massive scale.
All: [Laugh.]
Taehyun: That's right.
