Interview: K-pop Group AtHeart is the ‘Plot Twist’ of 2025 that We Needed

Photo Courtesy of TITAN CONTENT

“When we stood on stage, something that I definitely think was a true experience for me was listening to everyone’s screams and support, and their applause for me,” says Nahyun of the K-pop group AtHeart (앳하트) about her favorite ‘AtHeart Experience’ moment held at TITAN HQ in Los Angeles on November 1. “And also their eyes would just glisten as they would look at me. And it made me think, ‘Wow, like moving forward, I want to see so many more of these people, and I also want to work so much harder for them as well.’” Nahyun’s comments offered a glimpse into the emotional exchange between artist and audience, revealing how moments on stage can leave a lasting impression on performers as much as on fans.

The event also featured photo opportunities, and the leader of the group, Arin, shared that the girls performed “Knew Me” for the first time. Fans were able to sing along, which she described as one of her favorite moments. As the girl group, which debuted in August, made their way around the United States for promotional activities, these live interactions became a new and meaningful part of their journey. Katelyn added that she feels most confident on stage.

Before promoting in the U.S., the girls released their debut EP titled Plot Twist and were already named Billboard’s ‘K-pop Rookie of the Month’ and Apple Music’s Korea ‘Up Next Artist’ in August. The group is made up of seven members—Arin, Michi, Nahyun, Katelyn, Seohyeon, Bome, and Aurora—and was formed through the U.S.-based K-pop company TITAN CONTENT. During this time, Aurora is on hiatus and has limited participation in the group's music and promotional activities due to health reasons, as stated by the company. The members bring together diverse backgrounds from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

While in the U.S., the girls made their American television debut on the morning show Good Day New York on FOX5, performing their title track “Plot Twist.”

Just a few days after the girl group's performance and pop-up experience in Los Angeles, the girls held a press conference with media outlets to introduce the group and talk about their debut EP.

During the press conference, the girls shared that Plot Twist was the perfect title for their debut EP, as it encapsulates a variety of emotions and stories. Their group name, AtHeart, reflects a similar theme. “It means showing different versions of ourselves,” Bome explained. Michi added that “At” can also represent the @ symbol, highlighting the group’s global connection with fans, while “Heart” represents the passion and love they put into their music. Most members raised their heart-shaped hands, with Michi noting, “I also think that this name [AtHeart] really fits us, which is why we chose it, because we really want to just show who we are at heart and be ourselves.” 

Building on the themes behind their name and album, the group’s songs explore a range of emotions and styles. The title track, “Plot Twist,” captures the unpredictability of falling in love and realizing its value too late, portraying emotional highs and lows while maintaining a catchy beat. ”Push Back” incorporates afrobeats with a lively, danceable rhythm, while “Dot Dot Dot...” blends pop and R&B with dreamy vocals, telling the story of not waiting in a relationship like the actual pauses and three dots in a text message waiting for another person to respond. “Knew Me” reflects the album's title, featuring the lyrics that declare, “If you think you knew me, no, you didn't 'cause I'm on a new level.” The pre-debut single ”Good Girl (AtHeart),” is a playful electro-pop track that closes the album, emphasizing to look “Deep, deep, deep, deep” to realize this group is literally good girls at heart. During the press conference, the members shared that they are excited to explore a variety of musical concepts. While fans might see them as bright and energetic, the group emphasized that they also want to be recognized for their charisma and cool concepts or stage presence. As Bome explained this, the members demonstrated cool poses and flexed their arm muscles, laughing as they expressed their personalities through gestures.

Michi shared that one of the key concepts behind their debut album is the “butterfly effect” and that it will create a big ripple effect. “So similar to that, by releasing 'Plot Twist’ we want our song to affect a lot of people and hope they can relate to our music as well,” she explained. “And as we continue to release music, we hope that people can find relatability and connect to the feelings that we carefully put into each song, as they are all different.” 

When asked by Mido Media whether AtHeart aims to expand beyond K-pop and become global artists, Arin responded, “For us, it is truly an honor that all of us were able to come together with such different, variety of backgrounds, and coming from different countries to be here, and to debut as AtHeart and even that alone is such a great experience for us. So yes, it is definitely a big goal for us to one day grow as a global artist and to be at the top one day.” 

The group emphasized that their diversity is a strength, and while this is just the beginning of their journey, they hope to connect with audiences worldwide. Katelyn and Michi noted the importance of authentic interactions with fans, both in person and through their music. Navigating what to share as public figures, the members also highlighted the balance between personal privacy and openness, with Katelyn describing herself as “an open book” while respecting family and friends. The group also mentioned creating English versions of their songs to make their lyrics more accessible and relatable to a global audience.

When asked about the challenges of creating music for a global audience, Arin said, “I would say the hardest part is definitely the language, but, however, music definitely overrides all of that, and all the issues in regards to that. It surpasses language. And music in itself is a communication effort as well and has a lot more deep meaning behind that. So I think that’s what comes out of it.” 

Speaking on their diversity, the members revealed a variety of personal interests and styles. Katelyn has 20 dogs and enjoys Formula 1, while Seohyeon likes to play video games with Arin, including Roblox and Battleground. Michi wore a sweater that read "I am Super Lazy Whatever," layered with a cute tank top tied with a bow, reflecting a relatable and lighthearted spirit. Despite their different hobbies and fashion choices, the members' individual styles complement one another, contributing to the group's cohesive identity.

What is your favorite song from AtHeart? What plot twist did AtHeart show you with their 2025 debut? Let us know in the comments below or by reaching out to us on Instagram or X.

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Translation by NadiaC

Questions and Edited by Michelle LeungONTENT