#it was in fact minisode 3: tomorrow

[goldennika]

WDYM THE LAST TRACK IS A REMIX

[hueshy]

𝒜 DREAM WITH A BASEBALL PLAYER

₍⁠₍⁠◞⁠(⁠ ⁠•⁠௰⁠•⁠ ⁠)⁠◟⁠₎⁠₎ hueningkai x f!reader

genre: idol!au, strangers to friends to lovers, smau+written, fluff.

feature: newjeans and txt!

warnings: swearing, ill add them on the chapters if needed!

you have always been a proud txt and hueningkai bias, you've never hidden that fact to anyone, so, why should you now as an idol? it's not like your company is stopping you from doing so.

(extra info: youre in newjeans except you’re not in hybe or ador, you’re in another company! in the other hand for txt let’s pretend their japanese comeback (we’ll never change) comes first before minisode tomorrow just for this smau).

(you're older than all newjeans members, its up to you on how much amount)

newjeans profiles ๑ txt profiles

chapters:

1. same music show schedules?! 2. best txt stan 3. damnit practice. 4. nervous 5. finally..!

please send an ask if you wanna be in the taglist! ^_^

[tomorrowxtogether]

Tomorrow X Together’s Yeonjun to release solo mixtape later this month

'GGUM' will mark the first solo release from a TXT member since their debut

Tomorrow X Together (TXT) singer Yeonjun is slated to release his first solo mixtape later this month.

The K-pop idol’s solo debut project was announced yesterday (September 8) with the release of a “mixtape intro film” by his label Big Hit Music. The trailer features Yeonjun against city night lights, as he embodies a sombre, rebellious streak that seems to hint at the concept of his upcoming mixtape.

Revealed to be titled ‘GGUM’, Yeonjun’s first-ever solo track is due out on September 19, although it remains unclear whether the song will be part of a larger body of work from Yeonjun.

The upcoming release of ‘GGUM’ will mark the first time any TXT member has branched out to solo projects since their debut in 2019. The group – completed by Taehyun, Huening Kai, Beomgyu and Soobin – last released music as a full unit earlier this year in April with the mini-album ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow’.

In an interview with NME, Taehyun said of the record: “At the end of the day, we thought of tomorrow or the future – the fact that you always get a new tomorrow seemed like another miracle to us”.

TXT are currently in the midst of their 2024 ‘Act: Promise’ world tour, with their latest show being at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium on September 8. They have since completed both the US and Japan legs of the tour, and are set to continue the Asian leg in cities such as Jakarta, Taipei and more in the coming months.

The quintet also have their first-ever virtual reality concert, dubbed ‘Hyperfocus’, showing in five cities in the US, with the movie now currently showing in Houston, Texas through to September 22. The concert will then move Chicago and New York in order, with a final show date on November 10.

[sonkitty]

Timestamp Notes for Episodes 2-5

(For reference: Timestamp Notes and Theory for Episode 1: The Arrival)

This post was last updated 08/29/2024.

(Theory)

...

Episode 2: The Clue

The present day scenes of this episode are all on Tuesday.

Minisode scenes happen for A Companion to Owls.

...

Aziraphale starts us off in the present day, seeming to have been thinking of the minisode events. Gabriel approaches and asks, "What comes after 'K'?" The main bookshop clock is at 10:35AM. Gabriel's been given some clothes to wear.

Crowley and Shax with the car. "You're in trouble." Crowley's turtleneck is his clothing indication that the day is Tuesday. In fact, it's Turtleneck Tuesday. Shax references last night's miracle.

Aziraphale goes to the record shop to talk to Maggie. Aziraphale references his previous scene with Gabriel by asking about the song though the lyrics he sings are different. Maggie references the previous night with getting locked in the coffee shop with Nina. Her watch has no clarity but trying to guess at what its vague, blurred hands might be saying is inconsistent. She gives Aziraphale a copy of the record.

Michael, Uriel, and Saraqael arrive in the street. Aziraphale is holding the record Maggie gave him.

Gabriel exits the bookshop to greet the group.

Aziraphale agrees to let the angels inside.

...

"Let the book selling commence!" The main bookshop clock reads as 10:45AM. The angels reference the huge plume of miraculous activity from the previous night. Aziraphale maintains touch on the record during the scene. Saraqael says they'll send someone to log and verify the miracle tomorrow morning.

...

Aziraphale playing record and examining newspaper clippings, 11:59AM.

Pub visit, Mr. Brown says the meeting will be on Thursday night, just after closing, then leaves. Crowley references last night's miracle. Aziraphale references it as well, specifying it was their Gabriel miracle. He tells Crowley about his lie to the visiting angels earlier. He tells Crowley about the record that might be a Clue.

Crowley and Aziraphale cross the street after exiting the pub, Aziraphale references Gabriel singing this morning.

...

After Crowley and Aziraphale enter the bookshop, Gabriel is putting books away. When the clock becomes visible, it is 4:28PM. The clock looks consistent throughout the scene.

Minisode scenes happen for A Companion to Owls.

...

Aziraphale after finishing Job memory up to restoring Job's children, bookshop main clock is at 6:30PM, indicating recollection was 2 hours long. Instead of seeming to have an ornate hand and a non-ornate hand, the clock looks like it has two ornate hands. They even look like one reflecting the other.

Crowley, pocket trickery (which does involve reflections by the way), talks to Nina. The coffee shop is closed. The record shop is open.

Aziraphale shows up at car with the record and proposes he borrow the car.

Crowley accepts this proposal through how he touches the thresholds.

Gabriel solo scene in the bookshop, organizing books.

Minisode scene happens for A Companion to Owls.

...

Episode 3: I Know Where I'm Going

The present day scenes of this episode are all on Wednesday.

Gabriel with hot chocolate, seems to be morning since I think he's supposed to be wearing pajamas.

Coffee shop, Mrs. Sandwich and Nina, Muriel visible from the window. Nina's clothing confirms we are on a new day.

Aziraphale in bookshop, listening to record and presumably working on his sketch of Gabriel.

...

Muriel visit, mostly 10:51AM. Note on the clock: For how most analog clocks are read, the hour hand is too close to the 10 for where the minute hand is. The hour hand should either be not quite at the 10 or closer to the 11, but it's neither. For now, I read this position as the clock trying to make itself easier to read for Muriel since Muriel's so unfamiliar with Earth.

...

Crowley entering with his box of plants has other clock at 1:20PM. All other contextual clues suggest the characters are in the same timeline. Crowley is bringing in his plants, brings up trains again for an option instead of Aziraphale borrowing the car. Muriel is seated and holding tea cup. The clock by Aziraphale's desk will consistently show the 10:51AM time during the rest of the scene. It's one of the clearest times given in the story.

Possible interpretations are that the plants think it's 1:20PM or the plants, usually inhabiting Crowley's car, have been in the supernatural zone so aren't adjusted to the standard Earth time other characters are experiencing. As such, the plants warped that clock. It is only when the plants are on screen that the clock time is so off.

Crowley has changed his sunglasses. His sunglasses are his door to himself, so this change is Crowley's way of acknowledging a big step in his relationship with Aziraphale by giving his door a new finish. It also just so happens to help out his Earthly Objects play during the story. These sunglasses are supposed to be another cue from the story that its events are happening mostly in the implied order given to the audience.

Another visual cue for this day is that Crowley isn't wearing a vest that looks like leather.

...

Private room scene #2. Aziraphale says he told Gabriel bookshops are always closed on a Wednesday, to indicate this episode's given day is Wednesday. That means the previous day was Tuesday, and most of episode 1 was Monday. Aziraphale says "the other night" instead of last night when referencing the miracle. Crowley's red streak makes itself known when Crowley comments on the measurement of the miracle.

Muriel intrusion to the private room.

Muriel at coffee shop, talks to Nina.

Aziraphale leaving in car for Edinburgh.

Crowley watching from window.

Aziraphale still leaving in car for Edinburgh.

Minisode scenes happen for The Resurrectionists.

Returned to present day, Aziraphale in the car on the drive to Edinburgh, "Now you're getting it," talking about the music. Daytime.

Hell, "Any news about Gabriel yet?"

...

Bookshop, "Gravity." 3:30PM.

Minisode scenes happen for The Resurrectionists.

Edinburgh, car parked, walk to The Resurrectionist, framing suggests Aziraphale walked around for a bit before actually going to the pub. The place is not busy. The sketch he shows has Gabriel with a different hairstyle and clothing than the sketch he was working on in the previous episode.

Aziraphale talks to pub owner or manager and leaves.

Minisode scenes happen for The Resurrectionists.

...

Returned to present day, graveyard, Aziraphale borrows a phone. The borrowed phone says 17:30 (5:30PM).

...

Bookshop, Crowley picks up phone, 5:28PM. Because of how the camera moves, the time is blurred. It also looks like the clock is doing that thing with looking like it has two ornate hands again. The coffee shop across the street is shown as still open.

Crowley's special windows sequence with the rain for Maggie and Nina happens. He uses the word tempest, and that triggers another reaction from Gabriel.

Shax shows up. Crowley exits the bookshop to interact with her.

Crowley returns to bookshop and holds door open for awhile.

After Shax leaves, Crowley shows frustration at Gabriel, stops short of threatening him. "It's always too late."

...

Episode 4: The Hitchhiker

The day is shifting from Wednesday to Thursday.

Aziraphale and Shax in car, middle of nowhere, guessing midnight. Shax exits.

Minisode happens, Nazi Zombie Flesheaters.

Returned to present day, Shax in Hell, talks to Beelzebub, gets command for attacking the bookshop.

Aziraphale drives up to park near the coffee shop.

...

Nina arrives on bicycle. Once she is inside, her phone shows 6:47 (assumed to be AM) as the time.

Crowley exits bookshop, passes box of plants to Aziraphale. Both carry plants to car, then are shown to be going in the direction of the bookshop by the end of the episode.

The episode ends on Thursday.

...

Episode 5: The Ball

The episode starts on Thursday.

Hell, Shax, "I'm requisitioning some demons."

Aziraphale exits bookshop. He has a clipboard and pen.

Crowley arrives in car. He shortened his sideburns through the drive. These events are timed to happen together due to the sound effects.

Mr. Arnold invitation. Crowley has longer sideburns as part of a Threshold Trick (the Single of The Bigger Thresholds Trick). Aziraphale has the clipboard and pen as clues that this scene takes place in the order being shown during the story.

Aziraphale and Crowley crossing street toward record shop for Maggie invitation.

Hell, Shax eventually accepts the 70 available demons.

Aziraphale and Crowley crossing street toward magic shop.

Mutt invitation.

Mrs. Cheng invitation.

Hell, Shax with microphone addressing demons, tells them of plan to storm a bookshop.

Justine invitation.

Hell, "So you can guarantee no angels, then?"

Nina invitation.

Hell, Shax says, "We leave at nightfall." These words confirm that the events in Hell have been happening during the day as Aziraphale and Crowley have been conducting their invitations. They show the demons intend to show up at night.

Crowley invitation.

Coffee shop, Nina with chalkboard, weird event of text messages showing up on chalkboard, Nina either doesn't notice or doesn't care.

Bookshop upper floor, Crowley interrogates Gabriel.

Heaven, Matchbox Muriel Scene #3. Muriel references Aziraphale's assistant, seeming to recall a memory we haven't actually seen in this draft of the story. Muriel was not shown as seeing any assistant for their visit on Wednesday.

Bookshop upper floor, Crowley gives Gabriel hot chocolate.

...

Aziraphale making preparations for the ball as Crowley enters from the stairs. Clock shows 6:00PM. The clock is still 6:00PM as Aziraphale brings down the big chandelier.

...

Mrs. Sandwich arrival at ball, 6:30PM.

Crowley knocks on window to record shop, informs Maggie the meeting is starting now.

...

Mr. Brown arrival at ball, 6:30PM.

Mrs. Cheng visible before entering ball, heavily implied to be touching a pillar.

Crowley approaching Nina outside coffee shop, senses something is wrong, eventually forcefully tells Nina to go to the bookshop.

Nina enters ball, everyone is acting weird.

Demons in street, now dark outside, Maggie entering ball, Crowley stopping the demons and talking to them before he enters the ball.

Mrs. Cheng and Mrs. Sandwich talk.

Maggie and Nina start dancing.

Crowley tries to talk to Aziraphale but can't just yet. He drops a platter and looks out the window.

Gabriel talks to some humans.

Aziraphale agrees to talk to Crowley while they dance.

Shax arrives through elevator into the street.

Maggie and Nina talk some more while dancing.

Crowley and Aziraphale talk while dancing.

The demons throw a brick through the window.

Gabriel tries to surrender; the demons do not accept.

Crowley convinces Shax to let him get the humans out first.

Mr. Brown tries to call emergency services but is instead pulled out of the ball for a forced exit and probably killed.

Crowley instructs humans on preparation for escorting them out. Then he escorts them out.

Aziraphale talks to Maggie and Nina about Crowley coming back with a plan.

Crowley finds Muriel. They leave for Heaven.

Shax is shown watching the elevator go up. The bookshop doors to are shown as still open.

The time is unknown, but I suspect this episode still ends on Thursday.

...

Episode 6: Every Day

I think this episode starts on Thursday.

Shax eyes the bookshop. The doors are shown as closed, instead of open like the end of the previous episode. I'm guessing Gabriel closed them since he's shown to be helping clean up and closest to the doors when everyone inside is first visible.

Aziraphale talks to Maggie and Nina about the dancing.

Shax probably kicks the doors open though the camera doesn't confirm the action. In any case, that's supposed to indicate the bookshop doors are opened while Crowley is in the elevator going up to Heaven.

Heaven, Crowley and Muriel talk as they enter Heaven, Muriel convinces Crowley to change his appearance.

Earth, demons throw trash into the bookshop. Maggie supposedly accidentally invites the demons inside.

Heaven, Crowley and Muriel pass by Michael and Uriel. No dialogue is exchanged. Crowley and Muriel arrive at Muriel's office. Crowley opens the Gabriel file.

Earth, demons in bookshop are entering the circle and being discorporated.

Heaven, Crowley and Muriel watch the plans for Armageddon and Gabriel's refusal to it. My guess is that this meeting took place on Saturday. My reasoning is very loose, but it's that the meeting is about ending the world. In season 1, the world was supposed to end on Saturday at 5:30PM, based on estimates from the clues given.

The story indicates that sometime in the previous scenes, the day has switched from Thursday to Friday because of the clock time below.

...

Maggie and Nina are using fire extinguishers against the demons, the bookshop clock most likely says 2:30AM.

Heaven, Saraqael arrives to talk to Crowley and Muriel.

Earth, Aziraphale charges Shax to leave. Shax taunts him about Crowley and sushi.

Heaven, Gabriel's trial, Gabriel is informed he will be demoted and have his memory of his time as Gabriel wiped. I think this part of the trial happened on Sunday. Again, I am referring to season 1 as a loose clue because Sunday in season 1 was when Crowley was put on trial in Hell.

Earth, Maggie and Nina start throwing encyclopedias at the demons.

Heaven, Gabriel footage is being watched to show his exit from Heaven. Given clues of my theory based on episode 1, these events happened on Sunday. They are after Gabriel's first visit on Saturday and before Gabriel's second visit on Monday.

Earth, Aziraphale uses his halo. When the halo lands, the bookshop clock does not show its full face, but based on the position of the visible hands, it's 2:31AM, which doesn't add up for how much time is implied to have passed since the last time the clock was shown. Nothing in the story indicates a time stop happened otherwise.

Heaven, alarms go off. Crowley, Saraqael, and Muriel exit, eventually joined by Michael and Uriel.

...

Crowley and angels enter bookshop, 6:01AM or 6:02AM.

Gabriel recovers his memories.

...

Maggie commenting, "That's really sweet." 7:59AM.

Crowley escorts Maggie and Nina out of the bookshop. Nina's comment about being open half an hour ago suggests opening time is supposed to be 7:30AM. That would match being past her 6:47AM arrival the previous day and the bookshop clock showing almost 8:00AM.

The Metatron is in line at the coffee shop.

Crowley resurrects Mr. Brown.

Nina opens the coffee shop. Maggie offers to help. Nina sends her to pick up some items from the mini-mart.

...

Angels and demons arguing. Crowley quietly returns to the bookshop. Due to the blur and lack of a minute hand anywhere else, my guess is at 8:39AM.

Gabriel and Beelzebub leave.

In the coffee shop, the Metatron orders coffee. Maggie arrives with items from the mini-mart.

Michael starts to threaten Aziraphale. The Metatron arrives in the bookshop.

...

The Metatron asks if Crowley knows him. The clock, again, does not quite work the way most analog clocks work. The hour hand is between the 8 and the 9, but the minute hand is at the 12. The hour hand should be more decidedly on the 8 or the 9 then, but it's not. Either way, story is implying the time is between 8:00AM and 9:00AM. It's probably supposed to be 9:00AM.

The Metatron tells the angels to leave, except Muriel. The angels leave. The Metatron and Aziraphale exit the bookshop.

...

Crowley stands up from chair, now the hour hand is more decidedly at the 9 to indicate 9:02AM.

Crowley and Muriel talk with Crowley eventually kicking out Muriel.

...

Crowley tidying bookshop, 9:24AM or 9:25AM, the minute hand seems to go missing in one cut that's a closer view of Crowley near the clock.

Maggie and Nina enter. The other clock in the bookshop, behind Maggie at first, indicates 9-something as well but does not give the minute it's on. They talk to Crowley.

The Metatron tells Aziraphale to tell his friend the good news.

Aziraphale crosses street and enters the bookshop. Maggie and Nina leave.

...

Crowley removes sunglasses. "Look, um..." The clock by Aziraphale's desk says 9:26AM and stays at that time whenever it is shown clearly until Aziraphale walks closer to Crowley.

The other clock behind Aziraphale is also shown, but I cannot confirm where its minute hand is to my satisfaction. I can only gather that it's indicating the hour hand at 9.

Once Aziraphale draws closer to Crowley and says, "Come with me," the clock by his desk is too blurry for me to confirm its minute hand to my satisfaction. It does at least read to me as still indicating the hour is at 9.

...

When the Metatron enters, the clock by Aziraphale's desk is 9:41AM.

...

While Crowley is standing at the door to his car, his watch seems to read 9:15AM.

Aziraphale and the Metatron leave the bookshop, eventually enter the elevator.

Crowley looks through windows and starts to drive.

Muriel enters the bookshop.

Crowley drives away.

Crowley is shown driving while Aziraphale is in the elevator during the closing credits.

The story ends on Friday.

The End.

[thefringespod]

Happy #AudioDramaSunday wanderers! It's once again time for a weekly round up of listens! Starting things off with the @tellnotalespod minisode which was wonderful as always. I love getting to hear Riley and Julia's little adventures they're an excellent duo

New @camlannpod was the perfect mix of heartbreaking and terrifying. I adore the little bits of world lore that are peppered in every episode. People like Arthur and Gwen being able to manipulate? 10/10. Gwen using that power how she did? 10000/10. I'm absolutely adoring Camlann

New @woebegonepod was. Wow. I don't have anything to say other than wow. I'm still so concerned and will remained concerned until Nobody is dealt with. Dylan's detached Mike voice that he used for Nobody haunts me (affectionate)

@innbetween was wonderful as always. Max is one of those characters where I'm like "well they kinda deserved this" but Rukes makes me go "okay but maybe they don't deserve *all* this". I'm still wondering why they stay with the group and cant wait for them to get found family-d

The Technomancy Project season finale did irreparable emotional damage to me and I do mean that as a compliment. This has been and will remain one of my favorite shows and if you're looking for something to listen to I highly recommend it. It will hurt you! And you with thank it!

@souloperatorpod early access also did irreparable things to me. I regret saying that Tot can do whatever she wants forever because she *is* using that power to hurt me. Yall are in for a treat tomorrow, every episode of this show is better than the last!

I'm still very far behind but a massive welcome back to @hellofromthehallowoods who kicked off their new season this week! I look forward to getting caught up!

Surprising no one, I did a full @thegrottopod relisten this week. I also got a Grotto themed tattoo. If my words of endorsement have not worked so far, please consider the fact that i have a quote from this show tattooed on me. Thats how good the show is. Listen to The Grotto PLEASE

Here on the Fringes we released episode 22 to the public and have released our penultimate episode of the season over at patreon.com/PineTreePods! The upcoming episode is one of my favorites, I can't wait to scream about it some more after its properly released. Our lovely cast has also received the scripts for season 3 which means the final season is officially underway! I'm still writing the finale but the other 11 episodes are written and in the hands of this wonderful cast. I can't wait for y'all to see what's to come!

Thats all for this week! I've got some fun things in the works both for the Fringes and for Forged Bonds that I'm excited to share when the time comes. Until then I'll be listening to so many podcasts and probably also the grotto again because i got a tattoo and already wanna relisten

*Edited because I got Ruke's pronouns wrong the first time! They're they/them and they're gonna get found family-d so hard I'm so excited

[bearmgyu]

the devil said ha ha gimme, gimme more gimme, gimme more

Basic Information

Full Name: Choi Beom Gyu

Stage Name: Beomgyu (범규)

Nickname(s): Bamgyu, Cookie & Beomttomeok

Age: Twenty Three

Date of Birth: March 13th, 2001

Hometown: Daegu, South Korea

Current Location: Seoul, South Korea

Ethnicity: Korean

Nationality: Korean

Gender: Cis Male

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Orientation: Heteroromantic & Heterosexual (or is he idk maybe he's bi )

Occupation: Singer

Living Arrangements: Shares a dorm with Soobin

Language(s) Spoken: Korean, English, Japanese

Physical Appearance

Hair Colour: black

Eye Colour: dark brown

Height: 5'11

Weight: ~130

Tattoos: no

Piercings: no

Favorites'

Season: spring

Colour: pink & white

Movies: August Rush

Sport: -

Beverage: tea

Family, Relationships & More

Family: mother, father, two older brothers

Relationship Status: Single

Love Interest: tbd

Past Relationships:  tbd

Extra

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor

Discography

The Dream Chapter: STAR Mini Album March 4, 2019

Cat & Dog (English Ver.) English Digital Single May 3rd, 2019

Our Summer (Acoustic Mix) Digital Single May 21st, 2019

The Dream Chapter: MAGIC Full Album October 21, 2019

Magic Hour Japanese Single Album January 15, 2020

The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY Mini Album May 18, 2020

Drama Japanese Single Album August 19, 2020

Minisode 1: Blue Hour Mini Album October 26, 2020

Live On OST Part.1 OST Single November 24th, 2020

Still Dreaming Japanese Full Album January 20th, 2021

Doom At Your Service OST Part.2 OST Single May 24th, 2021

The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE Full Album May 31st, 2021

0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) ft. pH1, Woodie Goodchild, Seori Digital Single July 4th, 2021

The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE Repackage Album August 17th, 2021

0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) ft. MOD SUN Digital Single September 10th, 2021

Chaotic Wonderland Japanese Mini Album November 10, 2021

Minisode 2: Thursday’s Child Mini Album May 9, 2022

Valley of Lies English Digital Single July 22, 2022

君じゃない誰かの愛し方 (Ring) Japanese Digital Single August 24, 2022

Good boy Gone Bad Japanese Single August 31, 2022

Free Falling The Star Seekers OST September 19, 2022

The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION Mini Album January 27, 2023

Goodbye Now (Love Revolution x TXT) OST February 22, 2023

Sugar Rush Ride (Japanese Ver.) Pre-Release Single June 28, 2023

紫陽花のような恋 (Hydrangea Love) Pre-Release Single June 30, 2023

SWEET Japanese Album July 5, 2023

Do It Like That with Jonas Brothers English Collaboration Digital Single July 7, 2023

Back for More with Anita English Collaboration Digital Single September 15, 2023

Back for More (More Edition) English Collaboration Digital Single September 18, 2023

The Name Chapter: FREEFALL 3rd Full Album October 13, 2023

minisode 3: TOMORROW Mini Album April 1, 2024

minisode 3: TOMORROW Remixes April 5, 2024

誓い (CHIKAI) Japanese Single July 3, 2024

Open Always Win Collaboration Single (Samsung) July 17, 2024

Fun Facts

was the school president, class president, class vice president, hall monitor and school vice president when he was in school (in elementary and high school)

hates the texture of octopuses and gets grossed out and showed this when they played the guess what’s in the box game

calls himself a Tiger because ‘Beom’ means ‘Tiger’

is shy and quiet to people at first but when he warms up, he can’t stop talking

he has a parrot named Toto

he learned guitar from YouTube

he is an early bird

[lattedecoffee]

Sara and Kurumada Minisode Thoughts

So I just played both minisodes and have to spout my thoughts somewhere. Spoilers for YTTD below, the new minisodes ofc but also anything up to 2-2 (I’ve played up to 3-1B but only stuff up to 2-2 ended up being relevant to the post really)

I’ll start with Kurumada’s because I have more thoughts on Sara’s than his

I love my boy Kurumada. One of my favorites of the dummies (alongside Mai and Anzu). And getting to see his idol and his journey through boxing was great! Couldn’t find anything lore-wise that was interesting, but loads of great character moments of my guy. Beating up the guy who sent Kuboshi to retirement was so satisfying, and realizing Kurumada was basically shunned from the boxing world now was so sad.

Just a great little story, not much to say.

NOW SARA’S ON THE OTHER HAND

Okay so there are actually two endings to this one: normal and red. I’ll start with the normal end.

First, that opening cutscene of the email between Kai and Sara’s dad. Most of it is text we’ve seen before, but I find it interesting that Kai could tell Sara wants some space from her dad. He decides that’s too much and deletes it, but the fact that he noticed in the first place is interesting nonetheless.

The little minigame was pretty fun imo, but then again I love most of yttd’s minigames. Plus Sara’s different opponents were interesting given we know some of them. Opponents 4-6 are Anzu’s friend from her minisode, Ursheen from Samurai Yaiba, and Shin respectively. Pretty interesting that Sara + Joe and Shin have apparently already met. Although it’s possible that wasn’t actually Shin, as I could see it being Midori in disguise. No way to prove either way, but it’s interesting to think about.

Joe was amazing the whole way through and I love and miss him. And that comment about his dad being dead, and Joe barely having any memories of him (implying Joe was very little when his dad died) makes the “Mr Policeman is Joe’s dad theory” stronger than ever.

As for the normal ending, we got to see Ryoko! Seeing the ever so famous Ryoko x Joe date was very wholesome and I almost cried at the end with Ryoko being worried about Sara and Joe and wondering if she’ll even see them tomorrow.

And then there’s the red ending. Holy shit the red ending. A presumably post Joe’s death Sara wonders if things could’ve been different. She ponders about a world where Joe is voted and he and Sara escape, leaving everyone else to die. It’s reminiscent of the massacre ending (aka lesbians ending), with Sara being horrified and Joe/Nao trying to comfort her. But then we cut back to current Sara who, as it turns out, often worries if she might drag those she’s close to into some sort of darkness. The fact that she has this worry, even if she considers it irrational, makes me wonder. Is it because of Kai that she’s worried (at this point she thinks he’s just a random stalker)? Or does she have a hunch that her family is not as it seems? No way to know yet, but very cool to think about

Wow that was a lot of thoughts. I kinda just rambled but hopefully some of it was interesting lol. Can’t wait to see what others have to say on these in the coming weeks!

[miztrixx]

KIMI GA SHINE - THE MASTER ANALYSIS - Chapter 1-1: Introduction of Sara and Joe! (SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 3-1B)

So you know what I said about this being a daily thing..? I broke the streak on day 1. Well, I’ll try to keep a better record from here on out. Because now we’re gonna analyse the scene that introduces our protagonist, Sara Chidouin! And her best friend, Joe Tazuna!

Right from the get-go, without any much deliberation we are introduced to the protagonist, Sara Chidouin! Sara is probably the most important character in the game, as any protagonist should be and is a great character in her own right! Although Sara appears as a model student/uptight, we do learn that her inner monologue is slightly sarcastic talking about how the pond could be a useful thing for a loner.. and we’ll see a lot of this characterisation, a representation of her more light-hearted and kind side rather then the fierce and leadership side of her that is less present in this early characterisation of her. But we do see a glimpse of it!

Sara’s ID No. is “SAMURAIONNNA” which translates to “samurai woman” and is also her main theme. This small little thing is just a sprinkle towards Sara’s defining character trait of being very leaderlike and a strong person! There is an extra N, possibly to make the ID No. be an anagram for “MINNA ASUNARO” which means “everyone is asunaro” which is another bit of foreshadowing to how the participants are connected to the Death Game from their pasts. But no time to dwell on the future cause here comes Joe Tazuna!

From the very moment you meet him, Joe’s character design, his sprites and the way he talks to Sara very obviously conveys the tone and vibe of his characters. He’s a laid-back, upbeat guy who always tries to lighten the mood! It’s interesting how Sara is initially paranoid seeing his shadowy figure near the entrance of the school. Probably mistaking it for Kai/the stalker which this as well as the fact that Joe decides to walk Sara home is some small hints at the fact that Sara probably has a stalker, something which is revealed in the next scene. Although Joe tries to mask this with light-hearted banter about how he came to back to brag to Sara about his date with Ryoko.

Speaking of Ryoko! The whole conversation between Joe and Sara about Sara introducing her [Ryoko] to Joe is fun to watch in hindsight with the extra knowledge of how that all went down in the Sara minisode. For now, though, that’ll be it! I’ll see you all tomorrow…

Also, a small detail to mention is that when Sara sees Joe's silhouette at the gate not knowing that it's Joe. We get to see a bit of her red text inner monologue with the line "Someone's there...". This is the first introduction we get to the other aspect of Sara, her self-preservational and distrustful side. This aspect's dichotomic nature with Sara's more selfless aspect creates one of the main focuses of Sara's character (and the themes of the game in general), throughout the game. We'll see more of it later...but for now, I'm signing off.

[halfseoulco]

#GeniusLabListens 2022 Top Spins

Published Sunday, December 25th, 2022 —  As 2022 comes to an end, I want to remember all the amazing music that came out this year. With the KPOP industry growing more and more competitive as months go by, we saw 2022 give birth to a multitude of notable full-length albums and EPs; and some artists even released more than one record this year. Being a multi-stan, I end up listening to a long list of releases every year and it was a little difficult to narrow it down*—but here we are.

Merry Christmas everyone. This is Genius Lab USA and here are the #GeniusLabListens 2022 Top Spins.**

1. DISHARMONY : FIND OUT — P1Harmony (EP)

Release Date: January 3, 2022

P1Harmony has this quirky tendency to make an entire EP full of bangers—except for the last track, which is a ballad. I can’t pick a favorite song, so I’m not going to, although I will say that of the six, I listen to “Before The Dawn” the least.

2. THE SECOND STEP : CHAPTER ONE — TREASURE (EP)

Release Date: February 15, 2022

Short and sweet. “DARARI” was used in a lot of Instagram Reels and TikToks around the time of release, but “JIKJIN” will always be the star of this EP to me—and rightfully so.

3. YOUNG-LUV.COM — STAYC (EP)

Release Date: February 21, 2022

STAYC have been huge favorites for me this year, not just among girl groups but in the general KPOP soundscape. “YOUNG LUV” makes me cry ugly tears every time and “RUN2U” deserved better than what the general public gave her.

4. Love Pt.1 : First Love — WEi (EP)

Release Date: March 16, 2022

WEi is another group who I personally think got paid dust this year and I would really love it if more people appreciated them because they are going places. “Too Bad” may be a song about confessing to someone you like but it got me through a lot of stressful times since the EP’s release, since I chose to interpret the chorus in a different way.

5. ODDINARY — Stray Kids (ALBUM)

Release Date: March 18, 2022

The album itself is a little odd in its experimental nature—hence the name ODDINARY—but I enjoyed the overall flow from song to song and the group’s willingness to play around with their sound. Favorite tracks are “MANIAC” and “FREEZE”.

6. Glitch Mode - The 2nd Album — NCT DREAM (ALBUM)

Release Date: March 28, 2022

NCT DREAM being the most active sub-unit was one of the biggest surprises of 2022 and I really enjoyed this album a lot. Big winners for me are “Fire Alarm” and “Saturday Drip”.

7. memeM — PURPLE KISS (EP)

Release Date: March 29, 2022

No one’s doing it like PURPLE KISS, in my opinion, because no one else has Swan in their group. This EP was delightfully eerie and I found joy in “Pretty Psycho” and “memeM”. Honorable mention: “Hate me, Hurt me, Love me”.

8. SERIES 'O' [ROUND 3 : WHOLE] — VERIVERY (ALBUM)

Release Date: April 25, 2022

I still have mixed feelings about this particular album because of the fact that “Childhood” sounds like a carbon copy of ATEEZ’s “Dancing Like Butterfly Wings”—but it has a lot of good songs on it. Favorite tracks are “Wish U were here”, “O”, and “Fine”.

9. FLASHBACK — IKON (EP)

Release Date: May 3, 2022

I did not see this EP coming but I’m so thankful because “BUT YOU” hurts so good. That’s all I have to say about it—that’s all I need to say about it. I hear “I’m in love again” and my emotions are toast.

10. minisode 2: Thursday's Child — TOMORROW X TOGETHER (EP)

Release Date: May 9, 2022

The best birthday present HYBE has ever given me. The entire EP is perfection, cohesive and artistic perfection. “Good Boy Gone Bad” is what I would consider an outlier amongst the other songs, but she still serves and keeps serving. I love “Opening Sequence” with all of my heart.

11. Drive to the Starry Road — ASTRO (ALBUM)

Release Date: May 16, 2022

This album is very true to ASTRO’s established sound and style, but the solo songs were a nice touch. “Candy Sugar Pop” is a fun, light summer bop but my picks are “Something Something”, “Light the sky”, and “Like stars”, plus Sanha’s solo track “24 Hours”. It was also the last album MJ participated in before enlisting.

12. TRICKSTER — ONEUS (EP)

Release Date: May 27, 2022

Listen, ONEUS have never released a bad record. That’s the truth and more people need to recognize that. This EP is pretty kooky but it’s great. Good things come in pairs, as with “Intro : Who Got the Joker?” and “Bring it on”.

13. GOT7 — GOT7 (EP)

Release Date: May 23, 2022

The single most beautiful thing to have happened to the KPOP industry this year if only because GOT7 look so happy to be making the music they want and out of reach of JYP’s claws. I love the entire vibe of the EP but my queen is “Drive Me To The Moon”.

14. The Story — KANGDANIEL (ALBUM)

Release Date: May 24, 2022

I wasn’t too crazy about him prior to this year, but I think that KANGDANIEL really understands vibes. Favorite tracks are “Don’t Tell (feat. Jessi)”, “How We Live (feat. sokodomo)”, and “Mad (feat. Chancellor)”.

15. 4th Album 'Face the Sun' — SEVENTEEN (ALBUM)

Release Date: May 27, 2022

Need I say anything? It’s a perfect album from start to finish and I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite song because I love them all, although “Darl+ing” and “’bout you” have joined the ranks of SEVENTEEN favorites. I hope they’re very proud of this album because I’m proud of them.

16. Story Written in Music — OMEGA X (ALBUM)

Release Date: May 31, 2022

What happened to them this year was really unfortunate and infuriating, but in spite of what SPIRE ENTERTAINMENT put them through, OMEGA X really put out a fantastic summer album. They have fun, party music but also sweet romantic songs, of which “DANCE WITH U” and “LOVE” are my absolute favorites.

17. DOUBLAST — Kep1er (EP)

Release Date: June 20, 2022

I know they put out another EP after this, but for me, this one hit me in more of the right places and the line distribution (I think) was the best it’s been so far. Released during the peak of summer comeback season, it has a wonderful dreamy feel to it. Favorite track is “LE VOYA9E”.

18. MANIFESTO : DAY 1 — ENHYPEN (EP)

Release Date: July 4, 2022

I haven’t forgotten about the recurring bullying incidents within this I-LAND disaster group but I have to admit that ENHYPEN knows how to keep people’s attention. This EP packs a powerful punch and “Future Perfect (Pass the MIC)” is a top-tier hype song.

19. HOLIDAY — WINNER (EP)

Release Date: July 5, 2022

Like IKON’s EP, I didn’t see this one coming either but “I LOVE U” has me by the throat. I mean, do you hear those high notes? Crisp, clear, stable. Check, check, and check. “10 MIN”, “HOLIDAY”, and “FAMILY” are also bops.

20. THE EARTH : SECRET MISSION Chapter.2 — MCND (EP)*

Release Date: July 7, 2022

Arguably one of the most fun releases of the summer—and this year, quite honestly—this EP proves that no one should be sleeping on MCND. I love every single song but I especially thrive off of “W.A.T.1″. It’s just so good.

21. THE WAVE OF9 — SF9 (EP)

Release Date: July 13, 2022

I’m not sure what they put in this EP but it’s definitely something. Every track is so completely addictive and perfect for the summer mood they were trying to set. My top track for this release, however, is “OK OK”.

22. CHECKMATE — ITZY (ALBUM)

Release Date: July 15, 2022

I know it’s their title track but I like every other song on this album except “Sneakers” and personally, I think it would’ve been a perfect album without it. Cringe-y TikTok song aside, this record is pretty solid and not as bad as people were making it out to be. Top tracks for me are “RACER” and “365″.

23. 4th Album Repackage 'SECTOR 17' — SEVENTEEN (ALBUM)

Release Date: July 18, 2022

Ah, here we are again. Not counting the songs from the original release, this album is still perfect. “Circles”? Tears. “_WORLD”? Cute and catchy. “Fallin’ Flower (Korean Ver.)”? Gorgeous. But the winner that takes all is the SEVENTEEN Leaders unit song “CHEERS” because it’s playing all day everyday like rent is due.

24.  Geekyland — PURPLE KISS (EP)

Release Date: July 19, 2022

This EP feels like a continuation of “memeM”—in a good way, of course—and again, no one else is doing it like them. It’s a shame they haven’t done anything to promote it but the stand out of this record for me is “FireFlower” with an honorable mention for “Love Is Dead”.

25.WE NEED LOVE — STAYC (SINGLE)***

Release Date: July 25, 2022

STAYC stays destroying my emotions and the difference between “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER” and “I LIKE IT” gives me whiplash but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Also, “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER” is up there with “YOUNG LUV” in making me shed tears.

26. Grown Ass Kid — ZICO (EP)

Release Date: July 27, 2022

I may still be channeling my love for BLOCK B through ZICO but this EP was really something special. Experimental, edgy, and expressive, I love all the different styles he explored in just five songs. Standout song for me is “OMZ freestyle”.

27. THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT — ATEEZ (ALBUM)

Release Date: July 29, 2022

Holy hell. If you read my very in-depth analysis of this album when it first came out, you’ll know that I spent a lot of time ruminating over the themes and messages; and if you’re an ATINY, you know that there is an entire universe contained in ATEEZ’s discography. The dystopian evil government takeover they were describing in this album was brought to life so flawlessly, I could almost believe that they’re really fighting for something. I am a “Sector 1″, “Cyberpunk”, and “The Ring” enthusiast.

28. 7TH MINI ALBUM [BE AWARE] — THE BOYZ (EP)

Release Date: August 16, 2022

I think THE BOYZ always put out fun records but that people usually miss out on the more poignant or softer tracks because of the ones they choose to promote instead. I really like “C.O.D.E” and “Timeless” but “Survive The Night” is my dearly beloved of beloveds.

29. 5th EP Album 'OK' Episode 1 : OK Not — CIX (EP)

Release Date: August 22, 2022

This EP only has four songs but they’re all great. CIX has been going in the direction of softer, more R&B-style songs recently, which I’m all here for, especially since Bae Jinyoung’s voice is very suited for that genre. I really, really, really love “Without You”.

30. BETWEEN 1&2 — TWICE (ALBUM)

Release Date: August 26, 2022

I would say that I’m someone who generally likes everything TWICE puts out but obviously there will be albums I like more. Conceptually, BETWEEN 1&2 is more mature, which is indicative of the girls getting older, and I think that’s a great thing. I am a superfan of “Queen of Hearts” and “When We Were Kids", although I also really like “Gone”.

31. MALUS — ONEUS (EP)

Release Date: September 5, 2022

This release had me by the throat throughout the entire fall season. In fact, it still has me by the throat. I can’t even tell you how often I listened to “Same Scent” and I definitely watched every single time they performed it. I also have a very special place in my heart for “Gravitation” and “STUPID LOVE”. This EP is also very bittersweet to me because it’s the last Korean release RAVN worked on before he left RBW and I can definitely say that their future records will not sound the same without him.

32. THE SECOND STEP : CHAPTER TWO — TREASURE (EP)

Release Date: October 4, 2022

The timing of this EP happened to coincide with Yedam and Mashiho leaving YG, which is still quite sad to me—but on the plus side, the songs are very catchy, moreso overall than their previous release. I really enjoyed the unit songs, namely the rap line’s “VolKno”, but “HELLO”—like “JIKJIN”—was the star.

33. MAXIDENT — Stray Kids (ALBUM)

Release Date: October 7, 2022

MAXIDENT is really everything I wanted in a Stray Kids album. For one thing, they gave me the Korean version of “CIRCUS”, which I had been begging for. For another, it has “CASE 143″, “CHILL”, “3RACHA”, and “TASTE” on it. But nothing—I repeat, nothing—beats the “nyaooooom”s in “SUPER BOARD” because it’s so unserious.

34. ANTIFRAGILE — LE SSERAFIM (EP)

Release Date: October 17, 2022

If you had told me that in 2022, a KPOP group would be releasing a genuinely authentic reggaetón song, I probably would’ve laughed at you but here we are. I will probably never get over “ANTIFRAGILE”. Ever. And “No Celestial”? Oh my God, someone give those girls a raise.

35. YOUTH — KIHYUN (EP)

Release Date: October 24, 2022

This EP only reinforced what I already thought about Kihyun: that he’s really a KPOP vocalist by day, indie rock singer by night. I love that for you, sweetie. You do you, Kihyun. Song I fell in love with the hardest is “STARDUST”.

36. Choice — VICTON (EP)

Release Date: November 15, 2022

VICTON had a release earlier this year that also has a lot of songs that made it onto my personal playlists but I did very much prefer this one, especially since it has “Time Chaser” because “Time Chaser” is such a beautiful song. So beautiful. Please love it.

37. 'The ReVe Festival 2022 - Birthday' — Red Velvet (EP)

Release Date: November 28, 2022

I don’t know what people’s issue with this EP is but it’s definitely my favorite out of Red Velvet’s more recent releases. Personally, I haven’t liked a release so much since their “Red Flavor” era. Top pick from this EP is “ZOOM”.

38. HARMONY : SET IN — P1Harmony (EP)

Release Date: November 30, 2022

Twice in one year, P1Harmony made an EP full of winning hype tracks and one ballad—but “Back Down” is on an entirely different level from the rest of the record. It’s so hard-hitting and powerful, the kind of song you’d play in your car with the windows down so that the cops might think about pulling you over for disturbing the peace.

39. Indigo — RM (ALBUM)

Release Date: December 2, 2022

This album is a vibe. A vibe! If you want to know more of my thoughts on this particular release, please read my review. My favorite songs are “All Day (with Tablo)”, “Closer (with Paul Blanco, Mahalia)”, “Hectic (with Colde)”, and “Wild Flower (with youjeen)”, which is inevitably the song that made me sob like my heart was shattering. Anyway, stream Indigo.

40. SKZ-REPLAY — STRAY KIDS (ALBUM)

Release Date: December 21, 2022

I didn’t think we were going to get anything else this late in the year but Merry Christmas and happy holidays to Stays from Stray Kids with this two-side record consisting of 25 tracks that include solo songs, sub-unit songs, and songs performed by the group. Top picks are “Fam”, “Limbo”, “Deep End”, and “#LoveStay”.

Feel free to share some of your favorite releases from this year! Did some of them make it onto this list?

*Releases were chosen based on how many songs from each release are currently on my personal playlists.

**Please note that this list is in order of release and does not include singles or anthology albums.

***WE NEED LOVE by STAYC is categorized as a single by Spotify but since there are three songs that are not remixes on it, I’ve chosen to include it on this list.

[albumstrackbytrack]

Minisode 3: TOMORROW is a story of a boy who remembers a past promise and goes in search of “you” who he made the promise with. The boy recalls the innocent aspirations that he dreamed of with “you” in his youth and decides to find “you” and move forward to tomorrow. The boy says that tomorrow with “you” is hope and salvation.

1. I'll See You There Tomorrow

is an ordinary greeting and an expression of promise. However, as promised, reuniting with the other person tomorrow is actually a magical thing in everyday life. Tomorrow by Together expressed their desire to keep the words "Let's meet tomorrow" through a song. Yeonjun, Huening Kai, and Taehyun participated in writing the lyrics to convey a nostalgic feeling.

2. "- --- -- --- .-. .-. --- .— (TOMORROW)"

'TOMORROW' The Morse code used at the time of debut appeared again, such as in the introduction of 'CROWN'. The song name 'TOMORROW' represents the future we will create together and the hope and positivity that the future will exist.

3. https://youtu.be/DiHUEWBRQEI?si=5kyS_SFv9UFawj8R

explores themes of longing, reunion, and the cyclical nature of love. The lyrics depict a narrative of running away out of fear, but ultimately finding solace and clarity in the familiarity of a deep connection. The concept of “deja vu” reinforces the idea of a love that feels destined and familiar, as if their bond transcends time and space. Overall, the song beautifully illustrates a relationship that endures through trials and tribulations, finding strength in shared experiences and a mutual understanding of each other’s emotions., The boy says that just like the promise we made in the past, you and I will definitely meet again, and the moment of our reunion will feel like 'déjà vu'.

4. "Miracle (기적은 너와 내가 함께하는 순간마다 일어나고 있어)" -

It is based on the members' autobiographical stories, and Subin, Yeonjun, Taehyun, and Huening Kai participated in writing the lyrics to add authenticity. We say that we will not take for granted the fact that we are by each other's side and that we will move forward into tomorrow, cherishing this miraculous relationship.

5. The Killa (I Belong to You)

The longing for affection that cannot be expressed simply by saying 'I love you' is conveyed by saying 'Please tame me as yours.' While powerful lyrics such as "Tame me," "I'll just follow you," and "I belong to ya" are impressive, the catchy and addictive chorus melody that captivates the ear is the highlight. Taehyun and Yeonjun participated in writing the lyrics., is Soobin and Yeonjun's unit song, is about someone willing to give themselves up to their ‘lover’ (if I can even call them a lover) or do anything for them. The person is obsessed and wants to be ‘tamed’ by their ‘lover’

6. Quarter Life

conveys youthful energy in the chorus melody.This song contains Tomorrow by Together's attitude toward dealing with the existential crisis (quarter-life crisis) felt at the one-quarter point in one's life. Even though it feels like being trapped in a tunnel with no exit, the will to live without giving up is heartwarming. Taehyun and Subin participated in writing the lyrics., is a unit song by Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai

7. Deja Vu (Anemoia Remix)

Like the lyrics 'Anemoia' (nostalgia for a time not experienced), the speaker's anticipation of meeting what feels like an old future is conveyed

Sources ; https://txt.fandom.com/wiki/Minisode_3:_TOMORROW

[channiesfavoritefanboy]

i'm totally not stress buying shit like i totally don't have 13 kpop albums right now

i have:

1. 5-STAR (skz)

2. ROCK-STAR (skz)

3. Orange Blood (enha)

4. FML (svt)

5. Get a Guitar (riize single, bought it bc why not but it technically doesn't count)

6. The Name Chapter: Freefall (txt)

7. Minisode 3: Tomorrow (txt)

8. D-Day (Agust D)

9. Golden (Jungkook)

10. Melting Point (zb1)

11. Youth in the Shade (zb1)

12. Ep. Fin: Will (atz)

13. Maxident (skz)

i *might* need help

edit:

14. Memorabilia (enha)

15. Born To Be (itzy)

16. Ep. wtv: Outlaw (ateez)

17. Fact check (nct 127)

[94erz]

"minisode 3: TOMORROW" - Tracklist Song Length

Track #1: I'll See You There Tomorrow (3:16) Track #2: - --- -- --- - - --- *-- (0:07) Track #3: Deja Vu (2:51) Track #4: Miracle (2:43) Track #5: The Killa (I Belong To You) (2:42) Track #6: Quarter Life (2:29) Track #7: Deja Vu (Anemoia Remix) (2:50)

I'll never forgive the damage Tik Tok has done to the music industry 'cause what the fuck, only one song is just over 3 minutes...like I get it's an EP so there are already not that many songs (there are 5, not 7) but the fact that all the tracks are also short as fuck is awful.

Now I understand why they were able to come back so fast after FREEFALL...

[tomorrowxtogether]

Tomorrow X Together: “The fact that you always get a new tomorrow is a miracle”

On their sixth mini-album ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow’, the Big Hit boyband continue their group mission to create a better future, while looking back on their story so far

Tomorrow X Together (aka TXT) have always been a group that looks to the future. That forward-looking essence is built into their name, which stands as a promise to work as a team to create “a better tomorrow”. On their sixth mini-album, fittingly titled ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow’, they take that approach and feed it into a narrative that looks forward to a new day when they can reunite with a long-lost companion from their past.

It’s a record that’s full of optimism, and as singer Taehyun tells NME two weeks before its release, the boyband hope its story will “make people excited about the future and their tomorrow”. On ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow’, the idea of the future is both a motivating force and a notion filled with anticipation. In the bright, energetic ‘Quarter Life’, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai use it to keep themselves going through a quarter-life crisis.

‘Deja Vu’, meanwhile, looks forward to reconnecting through an intriguing concept. “Not knowing the reason of my tears, my anemoia,” they sing in its first verse and that last word – a reference to a nostalgia for a time you’ve never known – crops up again in the title of the remix that closes the mini-album. “[The lyrics] say that the expectation of meeting ‘you’, which feels like a far-off future, is really big,” Taehyun explains. “But we’re so anticipating and excited for that moment of our reunion.”

As our protagonists look forward to that reunion, they take stock of what they already have on ‘Miracle’ – a sublime piece of glimmering electronic rock – and take a moment to remind themselves and us not to take those around us for granted. Soobin, Yeonjun, Taehyun and Hueningkai participated in the lyric writing – although Taehyun is quick to point out all five members worked on the theme of the track – filling it with reflections from their own experiences over the years.

“We mostly focused on two overarching themes – the little miracles that we face in life and what’s invisible to the eye but is still important,” says Taehyun, ever keen to dive into the discussion. The second, he notes, was harder than the first because “everything seemed like it was visible”. Eventually, though, it was this release’s title – and their band name – that provided inspiration.

“At the end of the day, we thought of tomorrow or the future – the fact that you always get a new tomorrow seemed like another miracle to us,” he added. To the 22-year-old, there’s something almost magical about the group experiencing those new tomorrows together, too: “The fact that all five members are always together to this day seems like a miracle to me.”

If there’s one thing you can rely on TXT to do as they move forward, it’s to always be creating something new. Across their journey so far, they’ve made it their M.O. to tackle a broad spectrum of genres – from acoustic ballads to raging emo-rock and almost everything in between – and make them feel distinctively, inimitably their own. That’s an approach that extends to ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow’, charting new ground in UK house and Afrobeats. The mini-album also offers up new combinations of sub-units, the three youngest members taking on ‘Quarter Life’, while Soobin and Yeonjun share ‘The Killa (I Belong To You)’.

The stories behind these songs embody the passion and hard work that Tomorrow X Together put into their music, with each team having to adapt to new sounds and arrangements. “I had to fit my key to the other two [members], which was a little higher compared to my most natural range,” Beomgyu recalls. Rather than complain or be easily defeated, he adopted a determined attitude to help him: “I approached it with the mindset of, ‘I’ll make it happen in my 101st attempt if not [on] my 100th’.”

Soobin had his own struggles on ‘The Killa’. “It’s not my go-to genre, so I had some trouble singing the song in the beginning, and it took me quite a while to wrap my mind around the vibe of it,” he shares candidly. In the studio, the producer suggested he use what Yeonjun had recorded to guide him in creating his own take on the track. “In a way, he was like my bible, my reference, so I think I learned a lot from him this time,” the group’s quiet leader says, gesturing to Yeonjun with a small but grateful smile on his face.

‘Minisode 3: Tomorrow’ might form another commitment from TXT to keep looking to the future, but it also throws its gaze backwards. Its plot line references back to the promise shared in the video for ‘Nap Of A Star’ to “meet again, even if we part ways”, while the record’s second track brings back the morse code that’s appeared in the band’s work since their debut. ‘Deja Vu’’s lyrics, too, call back to songs from throughout their story so far, with nods to the likes of ‘Run Away’ and debut single ‘Crown’.

Diving back into the past wasn’t just a nostalgic exercise, though, but a tool to help them push on. “As we were preparing for this album, I did look up many of our past performances from our albums,” Hueningkai says. “I was inspired a lot while listening to our songs from the past as well.”

Now is a perfect time for TXT to review everything they’ve done since they first introduced themselves to the world in 2019. Just a few weeks before we speak, the group celebrated the fifth anniversary of their debut – a milestone moment that follows plenty of big achievements over the last half-decade. As the five members indulge NME in reflecting on their time together so far, the overarching mood is not one of boastful pride but of immense thankfulness.

“I never expected that I would make it this far, so I only feel a huge sense of gratitude for the fact that I’m standing here right now,” Hueningkai says as his bandmates nod in agreement around him. “I just want to do my best to make sure that I live up to everybody’s expectations.” Next to him, Yeonjun casts his mind back to their pre-debut days. “Our trainee days were rough,” he begins, causing Hueningkai to throw his ashy blue hair forward in gentle laughter. “But we went through challenges together as one team, so I’m grateful for what I have right now. I will never take anything for granted and keep on doing my best.”

Of all that TXT have experienced in the last five years, it’s some of the stages they’ve been given the opportunity to perform on that have surprised them the most. “Like Lollapalooza, or our stadium concerts and dome performances,” Taehyun lists. “I never imagined that would happen, so I have to say those moments kind of blew my mind.” After the translator finishes conveying his words, he switches to English: “Seeing crowded stages was really special.”

Last year’s Lollapalooza headline set, in particular, felt like all of the group’s drive, appetite and raw talent all brought to fruition wider recognition of a very special act. It was TXT’s second performance at the Chicago festival, seeing them level up from a late-afternoon slot on a small stage to main stage-topping glory in just one year came with much more positive feelings than their Lolla debut.

“The only thought in my mind was just happiness – I was so, so happy throughout,” Beomgyu recalls of their time on stage in Grant Park last August. “I could see this never-ending wave of light flashes that people were radiating with their cellphones, and it just gave me the feeling that we were the stars of the evening, which hyped me up so much.” Even after the performance was long over, that warmth remained: “I kept on having this lingering happy feeling with me.”

Over their first five years together, TXT have earned themselves many other titles than just bona fide festival headliners. They’re regularly referred to as the it boys and leaders of K-pop’s fourth generation, and now, no longer new faces on the scene but established stars, they’re thinking about what they might mean to those who follow in their footsteps.

“We had our own role models in our minds from the beginning, so we know how much that means to somebody,” Yeonjun says thoughtfully. “I just hope that we will become positive influences and hopes for up-and-coming artists.” Meanwhile, Hueningkai adds that “as an artist, I want to become someone who can be respected and admired by other people. Just becoming somebody else’s role model itself would be great.”

As TXT continue to look to the future and move forward with their adventurous music and affecting storytelling, they have other ambitions they hope to fulfil, from small but important things to grander aims. “As a group, our biggest priority is always to remain healthy and happy at all times,” Taehyun notes. “We have our third world tour coming up, so we just want to enjoy those moments fully. I just want to impart messages of hope and positivity to everybody and just fill everybody’s head with optimism.”

Tomorrow X Together’s new mini-album ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow’ is out now

[tomorrowxtogether]

Tomorrow X Together are rebels with a cause in first-look photos for Minisode 3: Tomorrow

From rebellious rockers to fairytale princes, there’s no concept that Tomorrow X Together can’t pull off. 

The K-Pop group (pronounced ‘Tomorrow By Together,’ or TXT for short) is officially back with its sixth mini-album Minisode 3: Tomorrow, and to celebrate, Entertainment Weekly is exclusively revealing five never-before-seen concept photos that highlight Soobin, Huening Kai, Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Yeonjun’s versatile style. 

The snapshots are part of the group’s "Ethereal" and "Romantic" photo concepts for the album, each of which, Taehyun tells EW, “distinctly encompasses a unique story and emotion that we wanted to deliver visually through Minisode 3: Tomorrow.”

They’re also completely different from one another aesthetically. The "Romantic" photoshoot draws upon Snow White-inspired imagery with the quintet's dreamy outfits, while their "Ethereal" snapshots turn TXT into modern-day rock stars — complete with their own winged guitars, amps, and big rig. Minisode 3: Tomorrow's final two concepts — "Light" and "Promise" — further expand upon the group's artistry as they're seen outfitted in ballet slippers, angel wings, and crowns.

“We wanted to [experiment] with a diverse range of fashion styles,” Yeonjun says. “I think, at this point in time, one of our greatest strengths as a band is our versatility, not only in music and performances but also in aesthetics, which we always aim to absorb and make our own.” 

And yes, in case you were wondering, those winged guitars were seriously hefty. “During the 'Ethereal' version concept shoot, I was surprised by the weight of the guitar!” Beomgyu recalls. “It was quite cold on set, and I thought it was so cute how we would huddle around the heater during breaks, which added a heartwarming touch to the experience.”

TXT fans, called MOA (short for 'moments of alwaysness'), will also spot that the concepts directly relate to the group's past albums. “The props like the truck and guitars are reminiscent of our previous releases ‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ and ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER,’” Taehyun says. “I hope MOA enjoy the throwback!”

That connection can also be heard on Minisode 3: Tomorrow. Leader Soobin says the group is “connecting the dots from our previous releases" with the record, especially on their title track, “Deja Vu.” He adds, "Including lyrics such as ‘I ran away countless times,’ and ‘be my eternity,’ from ‘Run Away’ [from their 2019 album The Dream Chapter: Magic] added a nostalgic touch that I think our fans will enjoy rediscovering."

While TXT is honoring its past, the album still has its own story to tell. One of EW’s concept photos (below) features the group sitting on a truck that reads, “We made a promise when we were young. That’s the reason I have to live for tomorrow.” 

“The phrase hints at the underlying story of Minisode 3: Tomorrow,” Soobin explains. “It means that we will remember our past promises and embark on a journey to find 'you' to charge forward and face a hopeful 'tomorrow' together.”

Beomgyu describes the seven-track album as a “treasure trove of diverse sounds” that “represent the stories of today's generation.” Throughout their careers, TXT has never been afraid of openly and honestly discussing the physical and mental hardships that come with adolescence and, now, young adulthood — the 23-year-old’s favorite track on the album, “Quarter Life,” is actually about navigating a quarter-life crisis.

“Taehyun, Huening Kai, and I participated in the lyric writing to express the inner thoughts that we have at this point in our lives,” Beomgyu says about the song. “I love the track's mood and melody, too!” 

In fact, four of Minisode 3: Tomorrow's tracks were penned in part by the members of TXT. Yeonjun — who co-wrote “I’ll See You There Tomorrow,” “The Killa (I Belong To You),” and “Miracle” — says that the album’s lyrics “have greater depth and uniqueness” this time around because they’re framed through the members' worldview. 

“We have collectively been improving in our lyric writing, and I think it shines through in this album,” he says. “As we aim to give voice to the common experiences of our generation, we tried to focus on applying our own stories in the lyrics.”

And, just like in their "Ethereal" concept photos, TXT will soon find themselves hopping aboard a tour bus and hitting the road when their upcoming Act: Promise tour kicks off stateside next month. The 11-date concert series will see the members perform across the country, including two nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“We are visiting even more cities across the U.S. this time around, so I'm thrilled to meet and interact with more MOA!” Huening Kai says. “Our fans will be able to see some brand new performances of tracks from our new album, so I hope they can look forward to it. Just like our album's opener, ‘I'll See You There.’”

Minisode 3: Tomorrow is available now.

[tomorrowxtogether]

Watch TOMORROW X TOGETHER Bring ‘Deja Vu’ to ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’

The South Korean boy band performed the lead single from their just-released minisode 3: TOMORROW.

Days after dropping their minisode 3: TOMORROW EP, TOMORROW X TOGETHER performed the project’s lead single “Deja Vu” on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

The K-pop boy band — made up of Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun and HueningKai — brought a cinematic performance to the daytime show on Wednesday (April 3), marking the first U.S. TV performance of their latest single. After being introduced by Clarkson as “one of the biggest K-pop groups on the planet,” the quintet performed in front of a cave-like backdrop, with fabric blowing in the wind around them, bringing precise choreography to their striking surroundings.

minisode 3: TOMORROW, the group’s sixth mini album, was released on Monday. The previous two minisode projects hit the Billboard 200 albums chart, with minisode 1: Blue Hour peaking at No. 25 in 2020 and minisode 2: Thursday’s Child hitting No. 4 in 2022. The group boasts one Billboard 200 chart-topper, with their The Name Chapter: Temptation EP hitting No. 1 early last year.

The Kelly Clarkson Show has been a steady supporter of K-pop, hosting performances by Seventeen, ENHYPEN, Monsta X, TWICE, aespa, ITZY and NCT 127 over the years. In fact, TXT were making their return to Clarkson’s show, after stopping by in May 2022 to perform “Good Boy Gone Bad.” As Clarkson pointed out in her introduction at the time, TOMORROW X TOGETHER had blown up into “ginormous” K-pop stars ever since their 2019 debut with BIGHIT MUSIC.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER will embark on the U.S. leg of their ‘ACT : PROMISE’ world tour starting May 14, scheduled to perform 11 shows across eight cities.