By Shim Sun-ah
K-pop sensation Tomorrow X Together (TXT) has unveiled their deeply personal new EP, “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns,” marking a significant departure from their previous conceptual narratives like “The Dream Chapter,” “The Chaos Chapter,” “Star Chapter,” and the “minisode” series. This highly anticipated TXT comeback, available at 6 p.m. KST, is the quintet’s first major project since all TXT members successfully renewed their contracts in August 2025, solidifying their seven-year journey with their agency.
According to the agency, the evocative word “Thorns” in the album title directly symbolizes the profound inner unease and uncertainty that the Tomorrow X Together members navigated throughout their initial seven-year career, adding a layer of raw introspection to this latest TXT album.
During a recent media showcase held at Korea University in Seoul, the TXT members delved into the introspective focus of their new record, “7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns.”
“This album primarily focuses on the honest emotions we’ve collectively felt leading up to our contract renewal process,” shared TXT member Hueningkai during the special showcase for the new release.
Before creating the album, the K-pop group engaged in extensive conversations with their production team, discussing their current thoughts and the type of music they aspired to create for this significant TXT comeback.
“We continually asked ourselves what the most honest story we could convey at this critical juncture, and we unanimously agreed it should authentically reflect the emotions we’ve experienced over the past seven years,” added TXT’s Taehyun.
Elaborating on these deep-seated struggles, Yeonjun and Taehyun openly discussed the hidden anxieties that often accompany a K-pop group’s success, highlighting the challenging gap between early ideals and the harsh realities of the industry, alongside the relentless pressure to constantly achieve more.
The six-track TXT EP is notably fronted by the electro-pop lead single “Stick With You,” alongside a compelling collection of B-sides, including “Bed of Thorns,” “Take Me to Nirvana (feat. Vindina Weng),” “So What,” and “21st Century Romance.”
TXT leader Soobin described “Stick With You” as an emotionally charged track about the desperation of clinging to a fading love, while Beomgyu further added that this poignant theme also serves as a powerful metaphor for Tomorrow X Together’s unwavering resolve to continue passionately chasing their collective dreams.
Addressing the remarkably swift contract renewal process, Taehyun revealed that it took the TXT members less than an hour to unanimously agree to stay together, largely driven by their shared, powerful desire to continue as a united team.
“It’s truly hard to believe it’s already our seventh anniversary, but when I reflect on our journey, I believe we’ve come this far because we’ve consistently spent incredibly happy times together. There’s still a significant path ahead of us to climb, and I’m even more excited for that future,” he expressed.
Yeonjun also conveyed his firm faith in the Tomorrow X Together team. “Back when we were rookies, I honestly never imagined we’d evolve into artists who would renew our contracts. Above all, I’m immensely thankful to MOA for making this incredible milestone possible,” he said, referring affectionately to the group’s dedicated global fan base.
Soobin added, “Going through the renewal process for our TXT contracts made me realize even more profoundly how precious my members are to me.”
When questioned about the potential changes fans could anticipate in TXT’s exciting second chapter following the successful renewal, Taehyun confidently answered, “We’ve consistently tried so many different things over the years, and the spectrum of what we can achieve keeps expanding. I’m already eagerly looking forward to our next album as Tomorrow X Together.”
Yeonjun emphasized that what he truly wants to remain at the ultimate end of TXT’s musical journey is the team itself. “I sincerely hope we can continue to stay together and create inspiring music for a very long time,” he added.
