[Sportschosun Reporter Baek Ji-eun] HYBE's youngest act, TUIDE, is making its debut.
On the afternoon of the 24th, TUIDE held a showcase at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul to celebrate the release of its first EP, "Tune & Play."
At the event, Seah said, "I am thrilled to be making the debut I have dreamed of. I am in charge of healthy energy and versatile charm. I want to delight the public's eyes and ears with an exciting performance." Elena said, "I came from the United States, and I have loved singing since I was young, which made me dream of becoming a singer. I have always enjoyed R&B, so I will show my own groovy tone." Seoyeon added, "I want to be like a carbonated drink. People around me often say I am expressive. I will fill the performance with a sparkling charm."
Jia said, "On stage, I try to express the emotions and atmosphere of a song with intense eyes. Off stage, I bring a playful, puppy-like charm. I want to grow into an artist who can handle many different sides of herself." Seohee said, "I handle the clear and unique vocals, as well as clean dance lines. As the eldest sister, I also have a dependable, capable older-sister image." Saki said, "I am from Japan. I have dreamed of debuting in Korea since I was young, and I am happy to debut with such wonderful members. My soft cheeks and solid dancing on stage are my charms." Yi Hani said, "I am the youngest member and have a distinctive tone. I want to become an artist who can bring a little happiness to fans' day."
TUIDE is a multinational seven-member group consisting of Seohee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah, and Yi Hani. The group is drawing attention because Han Sung-soo, who once led Pledis Entertainment, home to Seventeen, is overseeing production. It is also the largest group introduced by a HYBE label, which houses top K-pop acts such as BTS, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), CORTIS, ENHYPEN, and ILLIT. Another point of interest is that Seoyeon is the younger sister of Twice's Jihyo.
Jia said, "Our difference lies in the fact that we present a style of music called soultronic. The tracks on our debut album are bright and energetic, yet also relaxed and dreamy. Our music combines vitality and ease." Seohee said, "Producer Han Sung-soo advised us to be grateful to everyone who helps us. We are approaching every step with that sense of gratitude." Elena added, "He also told us that it is important to find fun even during practice. We believe that if we enjoy the stage, our energy will reach the audience, so we are doing our best at every moment."
Seah hinted, "We met through challenges with our HYBE seniors. They told us they hoped we would stay healthy and enjoy many stages."
In fact, the pre-released video "Meet My Girls, TUIDE," which features the performance for "Girls," entered the top ranks of YouTube Korea's daily popular music videos and trending music charts. It also landed in the top 10 of Spotify's global music video chart.
Seohee explained, "Our team name means that we tune the many currents of the world and create our own joy. We can be described with the keyword 'vivid.' Each of the seven members has a distinct and clear personality. We are a team that brings those individual colors together in harmony. We have not chosen a role model because our goal is to build our own color well from here on." Seoyeon said, "We want to present our own genre, soultronic. It is the kind of music that makes you want to keep listening and naturally move to the rhythm. If I were to sum up our album and team in one word, it would be joy. The entire process of preparing for the stage was enjoyable, and we want to pass that energy on to the audience."
"Tune & Play" is an album that captures TUIDE's identity and musical direction. It conveys the joy found when different generations and cultures meet in music and are tuned into one rhythm.
The title track, "Sun Kiss," is a soultronic song that combines soulful melodies with sleek electronic sounds. It highlights each member's unique personality as it is, singing about their unadorned, natural charm.
Jia said, "This album best reveals the color of each of the seven members. It captures a free energy and a pleasant feeling under sparkling sunlight." Elena said, "I thought it was very unique and fresh. It had a clear hook that stayed in my head, making me want to listen again and again. I was confident it would be a song I could add to my playlist if it were released." Seohee explained, "The producers at GroovyRoom helped us make sounds freely. They told us that since each member has a different and distinctive vocal tone, our team's charm would come through more clearly if we expressed ourselves freely as we are, rather than trying to create something new. I thought those words really captured our identity."
On the performance, Yi Hani said, "When I first saw the choreography draft, I was so moved because the performance was amazing and felt like a gift that suited us perfectly. All the members ended up in tears together." Seoyeon said, "We paid close attention so that viewers could feel the lively energy. We prepared the performance with the hope that the movements would naturally come across as if we were running freely under the sunlight. We carefully considered every expression, gesture, and breath." Saki added, "There are many freestyle parts. They reflected our usual gestures and expressions, so I think our individuality comes through even better." Seohee said, "While each member moves freely, we also maintained the overall balance through delicate control of intensity."
The album also includes five tracks with diverse charms, including "ABD," "Echo," "Flap Flap Girl," and "Girls."
TUIDE will release "Tune & Play" at 6 p.m. and begin full-scale promotions.
Jia said, "Our first goal is for many people to get to know us. I want us to receive good reviews, be loved, and win a rookie award." Seah added, "I hope people enjoy our music and performances. Our goal is to be the kind of team that people want to add to their playlists and look forward to hearing from again."
Baek Ji-eun
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
