K-Pop Rookies ATHEART on BLACKPINK Dreams and Stadium Ambitions

K-Pop Rookies ATHEART on BLACKPINK Dreams and Stadium Ambitions /TITAN CONTENT

Rookie K-pop girl group ATHEART wants to follow BLACKPINK onto the world's biggest stages. The group, signed to small-to-mid-size label Titan Content, says its long-term goal is to perform in stadiums, just like the role models it grew up watching.

ATHEART sat down with KPOPIT on March 10 to talk about its new digital single "Butterfly Doors," released the next day.

Member Arin said the group cried together after wrapping the music video shoot in Los Angeles. "We barely had time to learn the choreography before we left for the shoot," she said. "One of the members had been unwell during prep, so once filming ended safely, all the tension just broke and the emotions came up. During the shoot, I didn't feel anything. I was only thinking, we have to make something good."

She added that the group's sense of purpose has shifted since debut. "When we were preparing to debut, debut itself was the only goal," she said. "Now we really want to show people who we are. The members talk about it constantly, telling each other we have to succeed."

K-Pop Rookies ATHEART Bom, Arin /TITAN CONTENT

Bom said the group filmed for about four days in Los Angeles, covering both "Butterfly Doors" and the pre-release track "Shut Up." She used the moment to thank the staff. "There were people who flew in from Korea and people based in the U.S., all working hard for us," she said. "It was overwhelming in the best way. They took such good care of us that it gave us energy on set."

Bom credited the team behind the scenes for "Shut Up" reaching No. 1 on YouTube's daily Shorts popular songs chart. "I really think the level of our music is high," she said. "We have A&R teams in both Korea and the U.S., and they talk to each other and study what songs suit us. They always ask the members for our opinions, too. That kind of effort has made a huge difference for us."

Member Caitlin, who is from the Philippines, spoke about what her debut means for fans in Southeast Asia. "I got interested in K-pop during the COVID-19 pandemic and started preparing with my mom's help," she said. "I'm really proud to have become a K-pop idol from the Philippines. I hope more Filipinos get the chance. I got my opportunity, and theirs will come too." She added, "I want to be a role model for people like that. Even if you're from a small country, I hope you don't give up."

K-Pop Rookies ATHEART on BLACKPINK Dreams and Stadium Ambitions /TITAN CONTENT

Nahyun named her goals for this promotion cycle plainly: a win on a Korean music show and a strong showing on the digital charts. "I'd love to get into the upper ranks of the music charts, ideally No. 1," she said. "A music show win is recognition for the music itself. I hope the day comes when our music gets that kind of recognition." Arin jumped in: "I want us to do well this time and end up on a year-end stage or at an awards show."

Bom pointed to the group's comeback stage in Tokyo as a starting line. "We're doing this comeback stage in Tokyo, and I think of that as our real beginning," she said. "I hope we get more chances to stand on bigger stages. Stadiums, domes. Places like Sangam, or somewhere in LA."

The members named BLACKPINK and Girls' Generation as their role models. Nahyun, a longtime Girls' Generation fan, said she cried meeting Sooyoung, who appeared in the teaser for ATHEART's debut song "Plot Twist." "She told me to do what I want to do," Nahyun said. "She cheered us on for our debut."

"Butterfly Doors" is a pop and R&B track about the moment a gaze fixed on one's own world starts to open outward toward others. It is built around a heavy 808 bass and detailed synth work. The pre-release single "Shut Up," out on Feb. 26, is a pop and R&B song with a retro funk feel, carrying a confident message about trusting a split-second instinct and moving forward.

ATHEART's digital single "Butterfly Doors" was released on March 11 across major music platforms.

Minkyung Lee lmk@k-popit.com