TXT Released Newest Album, “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns”

On April 13, the K-POP boy group Tomorrow X Together released their first album after contract renewal: “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns.” Consisting of six songs, the album has a total runtime of 16 minutes. 

The group debuted on March 4, 2019, with their album ‘The Dream Chapter: Star.’ Tomorrow X Together, otherwise known as TXT or Tubatu, consists of five members: Choi Soobin, Choi Yeonjun, Choi Beomgyu, Kang Taehyun, and Huening Kai. The group’s recent comeback has charted No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes album chart; the title track placed No. 1 in the iTunes Top Song chart in at least 17 regions; and the album sold more than 1.3 million copies on the first day of release.

The name of the album also has deep significance to the group. Undoubtedly, the ‘7TH YEAR’ in the title refers to the group’s time together, as it is their seventh year together. “Thorns” serves as a metaphor for the uncertainty and emotional conflict members have faced along the way since their debut together. The phrase “A Moment of Stillness in Thorns” represents a brief pause among these emotions, that a moment of calmness amidst continuous movement and pressure is present. 

Furthermore, something unique to this album is how involved the members were in the process of creating the music. Members Choi Yeonjun and Kang Taehyun both have writing credits on the track “So What”; leader Choi Soobin has a writing credit on “Dream of Mine”; and Huening Kai has writing credits on “21st Century Romance.” Another member, Choi Beomgyu, is also credited in composing the album, contributing to the overall production and sound. Their involvement in writing and composing reflects the groups involvement in not only typical group activities but also in music production, showing the mutual goal of reflecting their standards and values in music.

Thirteen days after release on April 26, the group won the “Grand Slam” award, which signifies a track winning first place on all five major domestic (South Korean) weekly music shows during a single promotion cycle, those being Show Champion, M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo. The award was won for the lead track “Stick With You” and is the group’s first receipt of this award in their seven year history together.

Their achievement marks a turning point in Tomorrow X Together’s career, not only commercially but also artistically. Securing a “Grand Slam” for the first time demonstrates how far the group has come since their debut, evolving from rookies into artists.

Each of the six tracks within the album contributes to a narrative that is centered on reflection, pressure, and fleeting peace.

Looking ahead, “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns” may be remembered as a defining chapter in TXT’s career – one where they fully stepped into their roles not as performers alone but also as creators.

As the group moves beyond their seventh year together, this album serves as both a reflection of their journey and a foundation for what comes next.