One year after their debut, seven-member K-pop group AtHeart returned to LA to showcase their new summer single Say It. Working under TITAN CONTENT, the group has steadily found success as part of a generation of rising K-pop idols. Members include Michi, Seohyeon, Aurora, Katelyn, Bome, Nahyun, and Arin, who merge K-pop performance with sincerity and a modern touch. Their new song reinterprets Lovefool by The Cardigans, blending retro sounds with youthful energy and promising something new and fresh. It is this concept that aptly reflects their shared passion for bringing together the past and the present, in their pursuit of finding novelty through history.
From inspired school sets with colourful uniforms to using party props, and even emergency supplies like an Ambulance. Every element of Say It is uniquely difficult, but there is a clear sense of connection that makes it all come together as Lovefool is reimagined today, through the eyes of the group’s unbridled passion. While there is clear homage to the past, it is the resourcefulness and ability to conjure up a brand new image that really stands out.
It was clear when I spoke to the group that their shared vision built from a mutual understanding and love, is derived from the differences in their culture and language, but ultimately music is the universal language and mode of connection that brings them all together. Timeless, yet timely in approach. AtHeart know exactly what speaks to their audiences and why the power of authenticity can create new, meaningful connections with their music.
1883 Magazine sits down with AtHeart to discuss their formation as a K-pop group, being a new generation of idols, and what they hope to express with their recent single, ‘Say It’.
Who is AtHeart?
Michi: AtHeart stands for heart and connection, and it represents how we communicate sincerely with our fans. I think part of what our group stands for is being authentic, being ourselves, and just showing the fans through our music who we truly are at AtHeart.
What does your new song Say It mean to you all?
Aurora: Say It is a sample of Lovefool by The Cardigans. We brought music from 30 years ago into our version, made it a little more modern, and added our colour. Overall, we love its musicality.
Michi: It’s about being confident and truthful with what you want to say.
How was the creative process for this song?
Aurora: We first started by recording the song. Before we did that, we discussed how we wanted to approach and execute the song. We talked about what kind of music we wanted to share with the audience. After that, we went straight to recording the song, and then we did our choreography. If you saw, we did our little gym ball dance. I think the overall process was really challenging at the start because it was something we’d never done before. It was also the first time after our debut where we all came together and created this piece, but the process was really fun.
Michi: Also, because we were sampling a song from before we were born, we really wanted to make sure we were familiar with it, so we all made sure to listen to it a lot and honour the original song as well. But we didn’t want to be identical; we wanted to add our own colours, so it sounded like one of our songs, not directly referencing others.
One thing that struck me in the music video was the wardrobe and costume choices. What went into choosing these outfits to capture the mood you were looking for?
Bome: We used a school uniform as our costume, and the music video’s storyline is that the girl has a crush on a boy, and we put him on stage later. So we had three different costume parts. First, it was a training uniform and a party costume. Then later, we had another wardrobe change for the ambulance scene. Our costumes are ballet or athleisure, which matched our music video concept well.
How does it feel to be part of a new generation of K-pop?
Michi: Right now in K-pop, we feel like there are so many new ideas being brought to people. What we’re doing now with ‘Say It’ is actually part of our project called the time travel project. So, we’re bringing back older songs and that retro, vintage concept into our music. It’s interesting to tie our concepts to older songs and music and still create something new.
What do you like to do in your downtime when you’re not making music?
Bome: I’m usually listening to music, walking, or reading a book. I have too many hobbies.
Katelyn: I would say going out and window shopping. I also watch movies or read books.
Nahyun: I usually stay at home listening to music.
Aurora: I also listen to a lot of music, and when we’re making music and practising all together, I feel like I don’t have time to explore other genres of music. So whenever I have free time, I try to get more inspiration from different genres so my range gets bigger.
Seohyeon: I play a lot of games, or I spend a lot of time just lying down.
Michi: I like to read some books when I have time. Recently, I’ve also been crocheting.
Arin: I go shopping or watch Netflix.
Your group has a mix of different cultures and backgrounds, from the Philippines to Japan and Korea. How did that difference help to shape the energy of your group and friendship? Did it bring new ideas or inspiration to how you tell your stories for your music?
Arin: At first, it seemed hard for us to come together, but we started teaching each other, and from that we grew as a team and grew close together as well.
Aurora: I feel like what we all have in common is our passion and love for K-pop in general, and I feel like even though we come from different backgrounds and have different cultures, because of that one common element that we all have, we were able to connect and understand each other.
Michi: Our listeners can find each other to connect, which helps when we go abroad and reach a wider audience.
Katelyn: I also think that the fact that we’re very open-minded helps. We’re open to learning new things about each other, even if it seems weird to other people; we’re still down to try it. I guess that helps a lot when we go out together.
What was your childhood dream, and what is your dream now?
Arin: When I was younger, I wanted to be a dancer and learned how to dance, but now that I’m an idol, my bigger dream is to have an AtHeart solo concert.
Michi: When I was younger, I think I knew I wanted to be something in the entertainment industry, or performing or being in front of a camera, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. But now that I’m a part of AtHeart, it feels like my goal is a little clearer, and I know what I want to do, and that’s to have a successful career, or artist’s life, with AtHeart.
Seohyeon: I always dreamt of being an idol, and I put a lot of effort into becoming one. Right now, my dream is to spread the word about AtHeart and let people know about us.
Aurora: I had so many dreams when I was young. I think my first dream was becoming a dentist or something. I wanted to be in gymnastics. But since I was five, my dream has always been to express myself and share my story with other people through music. I think that hasn’t changed, but the difference is that I’m in a group now, so I want all of us to share our stories with people through music.
Nahyun: I’ve dreamt of becoming an idol ever since I was little, but now my dream is for everyone in the world to listen to our song.
Katelyn: Ever since I was young, I somehow knew that I wanted to be on stage performing. For a while, I wanted to be a flight attendant. Now that I’m here, my goal is to help more people know AtHeart and to make us more successful.
Bome: When I was in middle school, I was a vocalist in a band, and that’s when I got cast to become an idol. I was at a fork in the road: whether I wanted to become a singer or an idol, and I realised it would be a bigger challenge for me to become an idol at that age. That’s why I chose that.
How is it to train and practice individually compared to as a team?
Katelyn: I actually like training with other people because when I’m doing something wrong, even if I don’t know it, they’re there to help me out. But also, training solo can be more freeing because you’re alone; no one’s there to judge you. So, there are pros and cons, but I personally like practising together.
What is the inspiration for AtHeart? Any K-pop idols or other artists?
Katelyn: For AtHeart, I think it’s BLACKPINK. But as a personal idol, I think we all have different ones.
Arin: The early generation of groups are our role models because each member is highly skilled, and they all have very different individual characteristics. That’s why I want to choose them as our role models.
What makes you happy?
Arin: Falling asleep in my dorm.
Michi: Being thankful and noticing the little things. Even on hard practice days when I get tired, just being here with the members or practising with AtHeart feels like my dream has already come true. Realising that makes me happy to be able to do what I love. This is what I have thought since I was really little. So even if it is hard, realising that I am doing what I’ve always wanted makes me happy.
Seohyeon: I was happy after taking a shower and lying on my bed, or having a good time with my friends, my family, or my members.
Aurora: I think it’s always been music and being able to do music. I feel like there are songs about love, and sad songs about heartbreak. There are so many different songs in this world, and what’s always right next to me whenever I feel any kind of emotion is music, and it still is for me. I think being able to perform in front of people is important.
Nahyun: It’s my piece, because it gives us a lot of motivation and unconditional love.
Katelyn: Better altogether, just having fun. We have this app with our fans, and whenever I do that, I get happy.
Bome: Performing on stage because this is my dream.
How do you try to make sure your art feels sincere and real when creating your style?
Michi: I think that I focus on what’s important to me; I don’t try to make another image of myself for people. What I really like about AtHeart is that we are all the same people on and off camera, and when we make our music, we put our all into it as well, so I think that’s really important as a group and as artists.
How is it to perform for Western audiences?
Nahyun: So, last year was when I met our Western audiences for the first time. I’ve only interacted with Korean fans. I am happy to see our Western audiences since we waited so long. I’m happy to put on a great performance for them.
Who is your K-pop idol?
Bome: First-generation groups. They’re always so good, and their vocal skills are inspiring.
Michi: I don’t think I’d choose one member, but maybe a group I really like. Getting into K-pop, I learned a lot of choreography, and I love IZY so much, so I feel like when I’m looking for inspiration, I tend to look to them, who got me into this in the first place.
Katelyn: What got me into K-pop was BTS, so I would say they’re my role model.
Nahyun: Jan Won-young from IVE. I’ve been inspired by how she achieved her dream since I was young.
Aurora: Kara got me into K-pop first. They always inspired me.
Seohyeon: The groups that inspired me are TWICE and BLACKPINK. I looked up to them.
Arin: It’s Jennie from BLACKPINK.
How does it feel to return to your group and close friends from your break for your new single?
Aurora: Well, at the start, it was really exciting, but I was also really nervous. I think I was a little scared too because it happened during practice with everybody in the performances. When we came together to start ‘Say It’, my team members helped me a lot. Since everything was new to me, I think they were my teachers, and they taught me a lot. Without them, I think this would have been much more challenging. Thank you to them. Overall, the process and this promotion have been amazing. It’s been really fun and exciting. Just being able to come to LA to perform and get these amazing opportunities. It feels like I’m really accomplishing my dream right now.
What do you all hope for your fans and new audiences to take away from your song?
Bome: Since ‘Lovefool’ is a well-known song, I hope AtHeart’s ‘Say It’ gets the same kind of love and support. Fans will enjoy it more if they focus on the different aspects of ‘Lovefool’ and AtHeart’s translation.
From the lyrics of the song, how important is it to say and show that you love in your everyday life?
Aurora: I feel like everybody has different ways of showing their love, and I guess it’s a curiosity to people, but for me. I like to express my love verbally because I think saying and showing my love through words is important.
Nahyun: I was trying to express my feelings, but after meeting the members, I learned how important it is, and because we live together, expressing that definitely brought us closer.
Arin: On the other hand, I was more of an expressive person before I met the members. But after meeting them, I could feel the love even without saying anything, so I realised you can feel love without saying much.
It’s been a year since your debut with ‘Plotwist’. What have you learned working together as artists that made ‘Say It’ the perfect collaboration?
Michi: I think one of the things that helped a lot, which we’ve been doing since trainees, is just having conversations, as communication is something we think is super important. Since our last comeback, we’ve been coming together a lot and talking about our goals, or any different opinions we want to clear up. We go straight to talking it through. So that’s why I feel like there’s little to no disagreement in our group, I find. It also helps because we know what we all want our artistic direction to be as a group; we always discuss it with each other, and being together and practising every day, 24/7, has really helped our teamwork.
Arin: Our ‘Say It’ choreography keeps you guessing. You never know what’s going to happen on stage, and learning how to react or problem-solve on stage shows our growth.
When those disagreements do come, how do you work through them together, stay respectful, and try to understand everyone’s perspectives?
Bome: So we have a lot of conversations, and since our training days, through our conversations, we grew respect for each other. And since our debut, we always try to listen to what each other is saying, and that’s become a good practice.
Michi: Also, I think going back to the idea of how we’re all coming from such different backgrounds, there are definitely a lot of things we had to get used to or kind of understand about each other. As Katelyn mentioned earlier, being open-minded helps a lot, and we’re ready to accept each other’s ideas and opinions and how we want to go forward as a group.
Have you managed to introduce your Filipino food to your team?
Katelyn: Not yet. I haven’t made them try any of the actual food. But I think they tried snacks, and they like it. I think that there’s this coconut cracker that Michi loves, so whenever my parents come, they always bring some for Michi now. But then we go back to the Philippines; for sure, I’ll bring them to my house, and my family will cook for everyone.
How was it being in LA? Are you excited? What are the nerves like?
Arin: So I feel like the time is going very fast because we’re having so much fun. Even though it’s our third time in LA, it feels new every time; I think that’s the charm of LA.
Michi: Also, we’re coming here for our iHeart AtHeart event this time. Last time we were here, we also performed. So I’m looking forward to tomorrow when we perform because I’m sure it’ll be just as memorable.
Seohyeon: So, because I became an idol and I got to come to LA, I got to meet so many global fans and make memories and grow together with my members; it’s a great experience.
Aurora: It’s my first time coming to LA with all of the members, so that just by itself means a lot to me. I think being able to meet our fans here for our iHeartRadio performance, and having this opportunity, and having a place where we can showcase our performances and music. It’s something we should all really be grateful for.
Nahyun: I’m also looking forward to the iHeart AtHeart stage tomorrow, and honestly, I was a bit nervous at first, but because of my members’ support, I feel at ease, and I’m able to have fun here in LA.
Katelyn: I’m also very excited for our event tomorrow. This is our third time coming here, but every time, it’s like a new experience. Yeah, I’m very excited for tomorrow because it’s our first-ever event, as with Aurora, and I’m excited to show what we’ve got as a seven-member group instead of just six.
Bome: As a global idol, I feel like we get to come to LA often, and I feel like we have a good experience every time. We’re coming back for a good time, and I’m glad that we’re making more good memories with the members.
‘Say It’ by AtHeart is out now.
Interview Zakariya Ahmed
Photography TITAN
