Today, Tomorrow x Together (TXT) unveiled their seventh mini album, The Star Chapter: Sanctuary, made up of six new tracks that take listeners on a heavenly sonic journey.
The members of TXT—Yeonjun, Hueningkai, Soobin, Taehyun, and Beomgyu—have come a long way since 2019, when they first arrived on the scene as teenagers, attracting a following with pop songs like “Crown” and “Blue Orangeade.” Now that they’re in their early 20s, not only does their new music feature more mature lyrics—some of which were written by the members themselves—but the album also leans into an R&B sound, heard perhaps most plainly on the song “Danger.” In that way, The Star Chapter: Sanctuary could be likened to Justified, Justin Timberlake’s first album outside of NSYNC, which featured raunchier songs like “Rock Your Body”—except, in the case of TXT, the members are exploring who they are as adults all together.
As Taehyun tells Vogue, “The 2000s music scene was filled with incredible hits and legendary R&B artists. While preparing for this album, we explored a diversity of R&B songs, which allowed us to capture a groovy rhythm in our recordings.” Adds Soobin, “The Star Chapter: Sanctuary opens a new chapter in a unique narrative, delving into the universal language of love.”
But while the group members spent some time looking into the past for their latest record, they also wanted to stay true to the infectious modern sound that has so resonated with their fanbase. As Beomgyu puts it, “Instead of simply reinterpreting the sound [of R&B], I wanted to create something fresh that still carries a hint of nostalgia for everyone to enjoy.” When you put two and two together, you get an album from TXT that can be appreciated across generations.
With the new album, we can also expect the members to show off their finely honed dance skills, both in TikTok challenges and across their music videos. For anyone wondering how long it takes a professional boy band to learn their choreography, Yeonjun and Hueningkai let us into the process a bit: “Typically, learning brand-new choreography takes about five hours and around eight days to look fully perfect,” Yeonjun says. “This was the case for mastering the choreography for [the lead single] ‘Over the Moon.’” At other points, Hueningkai explains, “There are times when we need to learn modified choreography for specific tracks, if we’re performing a special remix for our tour or music festival appearances.”
Needless to say, we can’t wait to see TXT take this record on the road—but until then, find a track-by-track review of The Star Chapter: Sanctuary below.
“Heaven”
A great opening song for the album. The gentle instrumental intro makes it feel as though the listener is entering the gates of heaven, where five beautiful angels known as the members of TXT wait. It’s also definitely the most pop-sounding song on the album; the catchy disco beat and lyrics like “You make it, you make it feel like heaven” make it hard to get out of your head.
“Over The Moon”
This is where the R&B influence really kicks in. The falsetto used in the lyrics “Over the moon, over the stars, now all I want is to bring you in my arms,” coupled with that guitar riff, feels very early 2000s R&B. It’s amazing how well-suited to the genre each member’s voice is.
“Danger”
This is probably my favorite song from the album. For your first listen, I’d suggest using headphones; the production is so incredibly layered. Also, Yeonjun, Taehyun, and Bemogyu all contributed to the lyrics, and I want a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process ASAP! If the early 2000s had Justin Timberlake and the Black Eyed Peas, 2024 has TXT, who can do it all.
“Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)”
Here, heartfelt lyrics (“You’re my one and only, I can’t exist without you”) pair nicely with a fun and catchy acoustic guitar.
“Forty One Winks”
After the build-up of energy over the last three songs, we return now to a gentler sound, reminiscent of the way the album opened. This is fitting: “Forty One Winks” riffs on the phrase “40 winks,” an old idiom for a short nap. The 41st wink in this song refers to waking up for a “heartwarming reunion.” How sweet!
“Higher Than Heaven”
Taehyun also contributed to the lyrics for this song. Can we expect a solo rock or R&B-inspired album from him in the near future? We can certainly dream!
Here, revisit TXT’s set at Lollapalooza last year:
