Tomorrow X Together ‘Don’t Want To Limit’ on ‘Name Chapter: Freefall’

After Tomorrow X Together’s scored a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart in February with The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION, the K-pop trailblazers could have been tempted to recreate a collection of similarly whimsical pop cuts. But the quintet opted to push forward with their story by fusing in new genres and collaborators for a goal greater than commercial success.

TXT’s latest musical journey, The Name Chapter: FREEFALL, showcases an unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries. From serving one of the best choruses of their careers with a side of ‘80s new wave in the lead single “Chasing That Feeling” to dabbling in everything from metal to Latin pop thanks to mixing new and longtime collaborators, FREEFALL ultimately speaks to their group goal of abandoning traditional genre labels altogether.

“We tried to experiment with new sounds and styles on this album,” says Tomorrow X Together vocalist Taehyun, who co-wrote three of the album’s nine tracks. “We don’t want to limit ourselves to one genre and [want to] continue to experiment with a variety of sounds. At the same time, we want to put our own spin on them so that ‘Tomorrow X Together’ can ultimately be a genre of its own.”

Subverting expectations and refusing to limit oneself is not just a sign of courage in an unpredictable music industry, but artistic confidence that one’s messages and story can continue with the fans and listeners willing to open their ears and minds, with Taehyun, Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu and Hueningkai living that motto in their music. Dive into more with the members of Tomorrow X Together for insights into their creative process, album’s themes and aspirations for the future.

Jeff Benjamin: Congratulations on your latest full-length album. Ahead of this LP, you explored genres like rock-pop with the Jonas Brothers and Latin-pop with Anitta. What drives your experimentation?

TAEHYUN: We tried to experiment with new sounds and styles on this album as well. There’s 1980s-inspired new wave track “Chasing That Feeling,” hard rock-driven “Growing Pain,” and “Deep Down” which has a Jersey Club sound. We don’t want to limit ourselves to one genre and [want to] continue to experiment with a variety of sounds. At the same time, we want to put our own spin on them so that “TOMORROW X TOGETHER” can ultimately be a genre of its own.

Jeff Benjamin: You mentioned “Chasing That Feeling” has the ’80s new-wave sound. What made it the proper title track and how did you approach blending in your sound?

YEONJUN: “Chasing That Feeling” is a song that marks a new beginning in reality and an important turning point in the Name Chapter series. It sings of a fresh start away from the sweet but irresponsible past which our previous album The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION dealt with. So it felt right as the lead single for the new album.

HUENINGKAI: I think the retro, new-wave sound of the track works well because it captures a youthful and resilient energy. It’s a youth anthem, but not like the romantic youth anthems people might expect, and lays out the pain and emptiness of reality which I think a lot of people will find relatable.

Jeff Benjamin: The choreography for “Chasing That Feeling” features voguing, which is rare for boy bands. Can you tell us the thinking behind it and how it complements the song?

BEOMGYU: We wanted the choreography to reflect the message of the song. A lot of the movements were designed to visually convey this sense of speed and a feeling of freefalling. We like to experiment and try something different for our performances, so voguing was a new but fun experience. It resulted in a very dynamic performance that I think our fans will enjoy very much.

Jeff Benjamin: Going through some album songs, “Growing Pain” opens and stands out with its hard rock, almost metal sound. Can you share the story behind this track?

HUENINGKAI: “Growing Pain” is about facing reality head-on and feeling that sense of pain in the process. But rather than looking at this pain as an end, the song embraces this as growing pains and a process to mature in the end. I really liked this perspective of looking at reality and tried to reflect that in the lyrics.

Jeff Benjamin: The lyrics and message in “Deep Down” are very intriguing about seeing one’s horns as a crown. Is there a connection between it and your debut single “Crown”?

YEONJUN: There’s definitely a connection. “Deep Down” is about accepting one’s “horn,” something you want to keep hidden, as one’s “crown,” something that makes you who you are. “Crown” is about the discovery of what makes you different and “Deep Down” embraces that difference as a part of one’s true self. So, it’s like a full circle moment, and I think it’s natural that there’s this evolution in the narrative because we have evolved and wanted to share that journey through our music.

Jeff Benjamin: MAX co-wrote “Happily Ever After.” Are you fans of him or have you managed to start a friendship?

HUENINGKAI: He’s one of my favorite artists, and I was genuinely thrilled when I heard the news that he would be taking part in the track. I was also pleasantly surprised when we received the demo because he sang it himself.

Jeff Benjamin: The color blue appears in several TXT song titles: “Blue Hour,” “Blue Orangeade” and, now, “Blue Spring.” What is the significance of the color and connection with your fans, MOA?

HUENINGKAI: The color blue has a part in the cohesive story we’re trying to tell through our music. Therefore, certain imagery reappears and evolves along with the theme of our albums. It also plays a role in further immersing our fans into the story we’re telling.

Jeff Benjamin: The visuals for the album range from dark and to fantastical, how do they fit into the overall album theme or sounds even?

SOOBIN: Since we wanted to talk about reality as we see it in this album, the album’s visuals also reflect this. We intended to recreate the look of the real world as it is to give off this sense of reality seen without a filter. And in this reality, there are moments of both pain and beauty, so you can see that reflected in the melancholy and fantasy-like imagery.

Jeff Benjamin: You worked with Ryan Tedder for two songs “Do It Like That” and “Back for More” on this album. What was the experience like and how did he contribute to your established creative process?

TAEHYUN: We had a chance to meet and work with Ryan in Los Angeles during the U.S. leg of our most recent world tour. He took the time out of his vacation to come to the studio to direct our recording sessions. His dedication and level of professionalism throughout the entire process really inspired me. He’s an incredible musician, and it was such a pleasure working with him.

Jeff Benjamin: The album has a message about “freefalling” into reality. Have there been times when you unexpectedly or suddenly had to face reality head on?

YEONJUN: I’d say the journey of becoming an artist was an experience where I faced reality head on. The path to becoming an artist, and a great artist at that, requires a great deal of hard work and responsibility along with growing pains. Through it all, I feel that I’ve become a better artist by enduring those times.

Jeff Benjamin: The series of “Dreamers,” “Deep Down,” “Happily Ever After” and “Skipping Stones” is strong; I think fans will find inspiration in their messages of identity, hope, and courage. Are there personal sentiments here any of you can relate to?

TAEHYUN: In “Dreamer,” there are lyrics that say, “I’m a dreamer, dreamer, dreamer with memories of stars.” I love the sense of resilience in these lyrics because it’s about choosing to embrace adulthood without abandoning the capacity to dream, rather than giving up on hopes and dreams as an adult in the real world. That’s something that I very much aspire to do.

HUENINGKAI: “Skipping Stones” is another great track that I relate to. It’s about staying strong in the face of adversity. The song compares one’s inner turmoil to the fluctuating water surface from skipping stones. One’s inner turmoil creates this wave of unsettling emotions, but just like skipping stones, the water eventually becomes still—I love the lyrical imagery on top of the track’s raw sound.

Jeff Benjamin: Do you have any specific hopes or goals for this album on the charts?

BEOMGYU: We received so much love on our previous album, and it’d be amazing to continue to garner great results on the charts. Regardless, I’m still very proud of how far we were able to expand our sound once again and artistically grow through this album.

Jeff Benjamin: Now that The Name Chapter: FREEFALL is here and fans have seen yet another side of TXT, what are some other aspects you’re excited about or hope to show?

BEOMGYU: I think our fans will enjoy our #ChasingThatFeeling dance challenge videos that we shot in many different locations. Some of them were shot on the set of our music video at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, which gives a behind-the-scenes look of different promotions we’re doing for this album. We also did the dance challenge with other artists that you might not have expected. So, I’m excited about that and I think our fans will enjoy it too.

Jeff Benjamin: Anything else to add or a message you want to ensure fans know?

SOOBIN: We worked very hard on this album. I hope that many people enjoy it and relate to it in a way that makes tough times a little easier.