AtHeart Brings a “Plot Twist” in Surprising Debut
Photo: AtHeart Official X
On August 13, U.S.-based K-Pop label TITAN CONTENT launched their first group, AtHeart. Crafted by seasoned professionals of the K-Pop industry, this new company and group adds to the expanding global aspect of K-Pop. With members hailing from South Korea, Japan, America, and the Philippines, AtHeart hopes to resonate with listeners all around the world. The group’s name also reflects the “connection and love” AtHeart will create with their fans.
TRACKLIST:
“Plot Twist”
“Push Back”
“Dot Dot Dot…”
“Knew Me”
“Good Girl (AtHeart)”
How TITAN CONTENT Formed AtHeart
The name TITAN CONTENT accurately reflects its company’s influential founders. TITAN CONTENT markets itself as the first American-based entertainment company prioritizing K-Pop, with studios in Los Angeles and Seoul. Its staff include former SM Entertainment CEO Nikki Semin Han as chairman, former head of SM Entertainment’s artist planning and producing committee Katie Kang as CEO, DAZED KOREA editor-in-chief Guiom Lee as chief visual officer, 1MILLION Dance Studio co-founder and choreographer Lia Kim as chief performance officer, and former senior vice president and head of SM Entertainment US Dom Rodriguez as chief business officer.
After the company’s establishment in 2023, they hosted auditions across North America, Australia, and Asia in 2024. The group was formed around Michi, AtHeart’s Japanese-American member, who was first cast in Hawaii. Bome, Seohyeon, Nahyun, and Arin come from South Korea, Aurora comes from Japan, and Katelyn comes from the Philippines.
The Pre-Release: “Good Girl (AtHeart)”
Released on May 29, AtHeart unveiled “Good Girl (AtHeart)” prior to their debut. This bubblegum-pop song asks the audience to look “deep” to discover AtHeart’s personality. They describe themselves as a “plot twist type,” alluding to their title track.
The music video’s schoolgirl concept and nature-filled scenes sets up AtHeart with a teen concept, matching with the group’s age range. “Good Girl (AtHeart)” is the only song on AtHeart’s debut EP to feature Aurora, who went on a health-related hiatus on July 2. Other promotional activities include the group’s temporary six-member lineup.
The Title Track: “Plot Twist”
Contrary to their pre-release, AtHeart shows a mysterious concept in “Plot Twist.” The song describes how emotions constantly teeter between different moods, resulting in unpredictable situations. Its acapella introduction repeats the line, “Don’t know what you got ‘till it’s gone,” an immediate negative tonal shift from “Good Girl (AtHeart).” This EDM and pop mix creates more of a moody, contemplative sound compared to the confident, teasing tone of the previous song.
The music video also reflects this change. Instead of spending time outside together, the AtHeart members sit inside contemplating. Mostly filmed indoors in dark sets or using solo close-ups, this debut music video surprisingly goes in a somber direction. Any outdoor shots eventually turn into chaos: tornadoes form and fires erupt. “Plot Twist” ends with an eerie feeling absent in “Good Girl (AtHeart).”
With the two previous tracks creating an element of surprise, listeners can also expect the rest of AtHeart’s first EP to vary. The B-sides bring back positivity. The dance track “Push Back” comes inspired by Afrobeats, the R&B ballad “Dot Dot Dot…” focuses on AtHeart’s vocals, and the dreamy pop song “Knew Me” continues an easy-listening experience. While not wholly distinct yet, AtHeart’s debut shows promise and creates anticipation for their future releases.
Edited by Clark Royandoyan