The group TNX is proving itself as a team with a more honest and fierce image. With a comeback filled with determination, desperation and passion, they proved TNX's value.
TNX (Choi Taehoon, Jang Hyunsoo, Cheon Junhyuk, Eunhui, Oh Seongjun) made a comeback by releasing their third digital single "Die Another Day" on the 27th of last month. It is a new song about seven months after the single "CALL ME BACK," released in January, and member Eunhui participated in writing and composing, collaborating with former producer Ryan.
Through "Die Another Day," TNX attempted a strong transformation with intense and explosive energy. It deepened the song by honestly capturing the anxieties, competition and fear of failure that 20s youth—also TNX's story—face, and the pressure to prove one's own worth. It was a song that honestly brought out the stories that the members can tell now and those most connected to them, increasing immersion.
In particular, during the seven-month hiatus TNX repeatedly spent time practicing and working hard, and they are proving their growth through "Die Another Day," which makes this promotion more noteworthy. They showed improved skills and stage presence through explosive live performances completed by a large amount of practice and effort.
The overwhelming live skills they are showing on music shows these days are the fruits of TNX's efforts and also their desperation and will for a rebound.
We met TNX, now in their third week of promotions with "Die Another Day," and asked them about their activities.
Q. How do you feel after successfully finishing the second week of promotions following the comeback with "Die Another Day"?
Choi Taehoon "While practicing I was just waiting for this song to come out into the world. I practiced imagining ourselves performing. I feel proud because I believe we are doing well as much as we have confidence, and I think we are doing well in a good way."
Eunhui "Because we focused on preparing the live performance, when we stepped on stage I felt a lot of pride and felt a lot of pride as singers; it was an activity that made me feel proud."
Oh Seongjun "While preparing this time we thought it would be good to come back and promote quickly. At the end of the second week I feel like we are gaining more confidence. We have become more relaxed and have a stronger desire to show more, haven't we?"
Jang Hyunsoo "We practiced live a tremendous amount in the studio. What we do in the studio and what we do on stage after a comeback are different, so on stage it felt like the real moment to show and to prove. It seems we are showing what we prepared diligently."
Cheon Junhyuk "I think it was a rewarding promotion. For the first time I felt on music shows that "you can perform live like this." There was a taste in doing things one by one."
Q. Since you prepared carefully, you must feel proud that the stage reactions to "Die Another Day" are good.
"I think that feeling is conveyed in each of the stages during this promotion. After watching the videos and our performances, colleagues and people involved have said we look 'cool' a lot. At music shows there are teams performing after us. They are wearing in-ear monitors too, so they can hear everything. When we come off stage there has always been a reaction saying 'cool.'"
Q. How did you spend the seven-month hiatus before the comeback mentally?
Choi Taehoon "As the hiatus lengthened, what we focused on most individually and as a team was raising our skills and capabilities. We paid a lot of attention to and increased our practice amount. While we were in the position of waiting, fans were also waiting for us, so there was awareness that when we reappeared we had to show growth or a changed appearance, so we approached it with a growth mindset. We wanted to show an upgraded appearance. There is definitely something that comes from the time we poured in."
Q. Eunhui participated in writing and composing; how was the process of working on "Die Another Day"?
Eunhui "The message contained in this song is a mindset of not giving up and trying to collide harder. Ultimately we had to come back with what we want to say in our current situation, and we wanted to show a sincere side. If you think of it as the last time, the idea was to think of a message you can deliver without regret and unfold the story about our situation."
Q. Was there a reason you chose the theme "anxiety and fear faced by 20s youth" for the song?
Eunhui "Even with previous promotions we came back with good songs and enjoyed the stage. Realistically, when preparing this song I felt strongly the desperation we wanted to convey given our situation at the time. Everything aligned and this song matched that content. It can be deep or provocative, but it is about speaking honestly."
"Because the song itself had to contain the five members' thoughts in one set of lyrics, I thought there was a convergence point in expressing the concerns as artists. Since the five of us share common worries from trainee days to now, we each organized our thoughts and worked on it."
Jang Hyunsoo "During this promotion and late-night studio sessions we talked a lot. Sincere feelings come out. Seeing friends of a similar age around us settling down can make you anxious. The members often told each other 'once you start worrying there's no end. Let's focus on what's in front of us.' Being with people who have the same concerns gave us a lot of support, and we were able to let go of such worries."
Choi Taehoon "Talking about the same things helps untie things. With people who share the same goals, even if it's not a perfect solution, sharing thoughts, empathizing with concerns, giving opinions and having healthy conversations brought a lot of psychological healing. We had many times to talk like that during late-night practice."
Q. How was working with former producer Ryan?
Eunhui "It was the first time meeting him when former brother Ryan came to the company and introduced himself, and he played a demo first. Company officials also reacted that it was unusual. Former Ryan was in charge of writing lyrics and rap making. 'Show your dream and then we'll sort it out afterward.' I felt inhibited if I incorporated someone else's opinion from the start, so I wanted to do it my way first and then align with the producers. I think we adjusted afterward while talking."
Choi Taehoon "He didn't participate in song production, but while living with us he helped a lot mentally. There was no time to have low self-esteem; even during the music video shoot he said 'you can do it' the most."
Q. After 'anxiety and fear faced by 20s youth,' is there a message TNX wants to convey in their next work?
Eunhui "We haven't talked about the next step, but there is something we have clearly proven this time, and I think we will speak about what we have proven and how we have changed with confidence."
Q. While preparing the comeback, what encouragement or advice did CEO Psy give?
Cheon Junhyuk "After the comeback and seeing the music show stage, I don't know exactly what his reaction was yet, but I think he must be very proud. He came to see our comeback preparations, and we were preparing really hard. We showed the live performance, and he said, 'You're good. You can do it.' He's not the type to speak affectionately, so that was huge praise. I was very proud, and it made me think 'I can do well.'"
Choi Taehoon "It became the driving force to prepare harder and show more. His feedback became a benchmark while preparing, and I was able to find more confidence and prepare diligently."
Q. You're already in your fifth year since debut; compared to the beginning, how do you think you've grown?
Jang Hyunsoo "As a team, the chemistry from the processes we've gone through over five years has improved. There was an atmosphere where we know things without saying them. While preparing this comeback we exchanged even trivial stories and had many deep conversations. Pride could be hurt and feelings could be hurt, but by facing things frankly instead of avoiding them, I think we've achieved more growth. We have become a group that can talk about more things without hesitation. Personally, mentally and professionally, as I know and experience more, I've had a lot of growth. I want to achieve more goals and have become more ambitious."
Cheon Junhyuk "The thing that has changed the most is the mindset. At debut and as a trainee I felt chased by the song on stage. I felt like I was forced to match it and follow the song... Now I think I should show a more artistic vibe to the fans. I thought about an artistic vibe and believe I should show myself within a song. Instead of being chased on stage, I approach it feeling that I am riding the stage with the music. Gaining composure and being able to show my own style are parts of the growth."
Choi Taehoon "When we debuted we were so new and knew nothing. I didn't know who I was, and whether on stage, in front of cameras, or even in the practice room, I was at the stage of starting to find myself. With more years, experience and time accumulated, figuring out who I am and how to be cool on stage and when I'm doing well changed everything. It was a time of finding myself."
Q. What is the goal of this promotion?
Choi Taehoon "From practice to promotions we really gain and learn a lot. With these good thoughts we want to make a new leap and move to the next stage. With a healthy mind, spirit and skills, the five of us want to become one and move to the next step. If you act like it's the last time then it won't be the last time. Because we are putting everything on the line, if we can go to the next step with that all-in mindset I think we can do better."
Oh Seongjun "What I hoped for most while preparing this comeback was that we diligently prepare and show what we prepared, what we can do and what we can show. We prepared the live performance to maximally show our strengths, and we are performing to the point where we think 'you can really do live performances this well on music shows.' I think performing this stage is cool and I feel proud."
Q. Are there any nicknames you want to earn as TNX or any goals the team is aiming for?
Choi Taehoon "It's something I've wanted since debut: I have a huge desire to really do well. In my view our team is good, but I want more people to recognize that. I want to show that we can do even better. I want to instill the perception that 'they perform on stage like P NATION artists.'"
Cheon Junhyuk "I think something has changed during this promotion. I want to become an artist people admire. Just as we admired Big Bang seniors, grew our dreams, debuted and became singers and are now active, I strongly want to become seniors that future debuting juniors can admire. During this promotion, when performing on music shows the reactions from peers and industry people were good. If previously I monitored alone, being recognized by colleagues we perform with planted new feelings. Just as I admired someone, I want to be someone others can admire."
Eunhui "The simplest but grand goal is to become a 'cool team.' The goal is to be a team that anyone would see as cool."
Oh Seongjun "I also thought of 'coolness.' I think the word cool contains many things, and I want to hear that multifaceted meaning of being cool."
Jang Hyunsoo "I hope we are a team where each individual shines. If each person shines and when combined they shine even more, like Eunhui said, if every single member shines then wouldn't we become a 'cool team'?"
Q. Plans or goals you want to achieve in the remaining four months of this year.
"What we want every year is year-end stages. We dream each year of big stages like 'MAMA,' 'MMA,' and the Golden Disc. I don't know if we can achieve it this year, but we will hope for next year as well. And what we always want is to hold a solo concert since we've never had one, so we want the opportunity to meet fans that way. As a team, holding a solo concert is what we want most."
[Photo] Provided by P NATION.
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