On June 24, HYBE and Pledis Entertainment's new boy group TWS made its awaited comeback with 'SUMMER BEAT!'.

Hours ahead of the album release, the six-piece group held a media showcase where they talked about the success of "plot twist" and their second mini-album. Before they performed the pre-release single "hey! hey!" and "If I'm S, Can You Be My N?" on stage for the first time and answered some questions from the local press in Seoul, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude for receiving attention with both their debut and latest record. "plot twist" did well on local and international charts, topping major Korean charts, while 'SUMMER BEAT!' exceeded 500,000 copies sold in pre-order.

Youngjae: "First of all, we were grateful for the surprising amount of attention and love we received from our first mini-album. While we were working on our second mini-album, I was determined to prepare perfectly for the performances with my fellow members. We will do our best to live up to our fans' expectations."

Jihoon: "We are happy to meet and greet many of you with our second story. We worked hard to better showcase our strength from our first album and this second one. We will make sure to win the hearts of many with good quality of music."

Hanjin: "This album is another new beginning for both me and my members. Everyday, we are striving to create better performances on stage, so stay tuned!"

Dohoon: "Our first album received so much love and attention, so we thought we'd prepare something even better this time around. So, we put in even more work and effort."

Kyungmin: "After making this comeback, we are putting the best show with our best performances for our fans who have waited for us."

Shinyu: "Continuing from our first mini-album, we strive to show more of our unique colors of TWS to the audience."

On what Shinyu thinks why the audience liked "plot twist," he said it's because a lot of people told them that they could feel the excitement of one's first encounter. "I couldn't believe what was happening. I was absolutely amazed and grateful that so many people appreciated our song for such a long time," said Youngjae.

One reporter asked if the attention they received with "plot twist" put an additional pressure to them. Youngjae answered, "First off, we think that this is a responsibility with good feelings. So, we did our best preparing for this album. The unexpected love and support were the motivation for us to practice even harder."

'SUMMER BEAT!' is TWS's second mini-album, and it features six tracks that are perfect for the summer season, "YOU+ME=7942," the focus track "If I'm S, Can You Be My N?", "hey! hey!", "Double Take," "Keep On," and "Fire Confetti," which showcase their 'Boyhood Pop' genre. 

The pre-release single "hey! hey!" tells a story of a lonely boy who finds friends who have a shared dream and forms a team with them. It depicts boys (TWS) sprinting towards their shared dreams, "It captures our beginning, present, and future, showcasing our unwavering determination and teamwork," they said.

While the title song is a hybrid pop track blending the elements of funky rhythms and vivid synth sounds, coupled with heart-fluttering lyrics. "The song metaphorically likens our relationship to the South and North poles of a magnet, expressing the lively excitement of discovering why opposites attract," Kyungmin said. "It perfectly captures the bright and refreshing vibes of TWS just like 'plot twist'."

The accompanying music video captures TWS's idea of a perfect summer filled with summery vibes according to Jihoon. "The camera follows us through school, railways, and many other places while we are busy chasing our dreams. The highlight to watch for is us standing together on a rooftop with water splashing everywhere. I'd like to pinpoint that as a standout part." He added, "I've always dreamed of dancing in water, and it was incredibly fun to finally make it happen."

Youngjae said that compared to their first mini-album, 'Sparkling Blue,' they explored multiple genres, including rock, boom bap, and Jersey club beats this time, which was quite challenging. But they saw it "as an opportunity to learn and take a significant step forward."

Dohoon added, "We tried to infuse our unique style through endless practice. We are thrilled to showcase different sides of ourselves." "We still have so much more in store for you, countless charms that we haven't revealed yet," said Kyungmin.

When asked which event was the most memorable for them, Dohoon replied, "For me, it was performing on stage with amazing sunbae (senior) artists in front of many K-Pop fans. It was a meaningful experience, and I learned a lot from it. Also, I can't forget going to the stadium where Seventeen performed. We promised amongst ourselves to work harder, so we can also perform on bigger stages."

"I've actually had numerous first experience," Hanjin shared, "but the most memorable time was when we first performed in front of our fans. I don't think I've ever been that nervous and excited before."

For Youngjae, it is their first award ceremony performance: "I was very nervous, but it was our first award ceremony so it was a huge honor to receive 'Rookie of the Year' award," adding that they practiced a lot for that performance and that they were proud of it, leaving them with no regrets. "It's still a very vivid memory," he said.

"I'd like to hear that we've definitely grown since our last album. We've worked so hard for this album, so we can blow you away once again," Youngjae added.

As for their goals, Kyungmin said, "Within three years, we want to win the Grand Prize (Daesang) at an award show."

[Photos courtesy of Pledis Entertainment]