Project Group TDYA Spreads Hope in Debut Song “Keep The Light”

Photo: Spotify

At a festival celebrating Korea’s 80 years of liberation, project group TDYA performed their debut song “Keep The Light” for the first time. Created specifically for this festival, the song honors those who fought for Korea’s freedom from Japanese rule and carries on their legacy for future generations. Content creator FRIENDSHIPING (우정잉) formed the group, which consists of her, choreographer Amy, rapper Mirani, and Hyunjin of LOONA and Loossemble fame. This unlikely combination came together to celebrate national sovereignty for years to come.  

Creating TDYA 

In July, content creator FRIENDSHIPING (우정잉) set out to create a temporary girl group specifically to perform at South Korea’s 80 Years of Liberation: Building the Future through National Sovereignty festival. Though FRIENDSHIPING does not consider herself an idol, she has released two digital singles since 2023. The variety show Another Day of Debut Training (오늘도 데뷔조) captures TDYA’s preparation for this special performance. 

Production company Bound Entertainment partnered with YouTube channel Studio USOG and South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to make the project possible. The show brought on professionals specialized in different areas of the entertainment industry as group members: choreographer Amy, known for participating in Street Woman Fighter 2, soloist and rapper Mirani, and Hyunjin from LOONA and Loossemble. Aside from Hyunjin, the rest of the members never performed as part of an idol group before. The name “TDYA” (pronounced as “Today-ya”) comes from a ChatGPT suggestion Mirani received for a kitschy way of expressing Oneul (meaning “today”) in English. 

“Keep The Light” 

“Keep The Light” was created to celebrate 80 years of Gwangbokjeol, Korea’s National Liberation Day, on August 15. It commemorates the efforts of Korean activists who pushed for independence during Japan’s annexation of the country from 1910 - 1945. Since Gwangbokjeol translates to “the Day of the Restoration of the Light” in English, “Keep The Light” signals hope that current and future generations will carry on the idea of peace and freedom. The title pays tribute to those “who sacrificed everything to protect the light of freedom during [Korea’s] darkest days.”  

Produced by singer-songwriter EJAE, now known globally for her work on KPop Demon Hunters, “Keep The Light” features a prominent modern trap beat with a message that echoes across generations. TDYA’s members helped shape the song’s final iteration in other aspects: Mirani wrote the lyrics herself and Amy choreographed the dance. Though the digital single came out on August 14, the day before the festival, the official music video was released on September 5. All proceeds of “Keep The Light” will go to the “descendants of independence activists.”

Edited by Clark Royandoyan