The “Plot Twist” of Youth With AtHeart
AtHeart
“Don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone,” is the looping intro of AtHeart’s title track, “Plot Twist”, off the extended play of the same name. The line repeats over and over as the track builds into an electronica-esque sound, the tempo becoming more bouncy over lethargic vocals. The lyrics are the contradictory statements common in teen angst- “sweet one minute, bitter the next/high highs come with low lows,” capturing the juvenile yet relatable feelings of young love. The emphasis in AtHeart’s music seems to be a kind of recherche du temps perdu, meant to capture the softer parts of adolescence. It’s a cutesy kind of melancholic sound that’s become increasingly popular in K-pop, with members Michi, Arin, Katelyn, Bome, Seohyeon, Nahyun, and Aurora (on hiatus as of writing) bringing their own twist on contemporary trends.
AtHeart’s music calls to mind girl groups like ILLIT and NewJeans, known for eerie visuals and wistful sounds. Their debut mini album explores many different musical trends that are currently popular in the scene, including Afrobeats in the track “Push Back,” R&B in “Dot Dot Dot” and “Knew Me,” and pop-punk in “Good Girl (At Heart),” which was also released as a predebut single. “We want to use that traditional K-pop sound with our fresh newbie energy and combine it to create these amazing songs we have. What really helped was experimenting with so many genres during this album,” Michi explains. Bome elaborates further: “In our album alone, there is a variety of emotions and stories that we just tied together into one album. We are trying really hard to show you that plot twist overall in our album and overall in our concept as well.”
The video for “Plot Twist” explores this further, using an ironic effect in an attempt reminiscent of NewJeans’ “OMG” music video. In a teaser featuring Girls’ Generation member Sooyoung, the concept is set up as a kind of therapy session, with each girl showcasing contrasting elements of love in a kind of “plot twist.” Michi describes it as “each member had their own concept in the music video. Mine was that for 'love', I wore a gas mask because the person I love likes perfume...each of us has a story similar to this, which really contradicts each other and our inner conflicts. This brings out the point of the song and the message we want to bring across.” Themes included Arin as a “Love Storm Chaser,” a cross between The Wizard of Oz and Pearl, and Katelyn as “Hopeless Romantic,” in a wedding by the sea gone explosive. Each of the concepts takes the tropes of romance and adds an unexpected angle, contrasting the straightforward nature of the song in a way that keeps the viewer engaged. The choreography of the video is also surprisingly innovative, mixing popular steps from other groups with more experimental movements. There is a specific move in the dance where two of the girls grip each other’s faces and twist their bodies to mirror each other- the plot twist element is always present, even in the performance itself.
After freshly debuting, the girls have embarked on their first event in the United States, The AtHeart Experience in Santa Monica. Each of the members displayed excitement for this opportunity to meet new fans and connect with their American audience. “The hardest part is definitely the language, but music surpasses language,” Arin adds, and Nahyun chimes in, “Their eyes would glisten as they looked at me. Going forward, I wanted to see so many more of these people and work so much harder as well.” Further promotions in the United States include radio show appearances on iHeartRadio and a photoshoot with tmrw magazine.
Above all, the girls want to use their music and fresh energy to resonate with their listeners. It’s Michi again, who summarizes it the best: “One of the keywords of this debut is 'butterfly effect.’ With one small action, we can create a huge ripple effect. Similarly, we want our song to affect a lot of people. As we continue to release more music, we want people to find relatability and connection with the feelings we place into each song.” The feelings of bittersweetness within AtHeart’s music are in themselves a kind of plot twist, one that resonates with many young people coming of age and discovering life isn’t what was to be expected. “Even when I’m dizzy, I can’t help but love it,” Nahyun sings on “Plot Twist,” with the overall message encouraging listeners to spend less time chasing clarity and instead to enjoy the ride.