[INTERVIEW] Get to Know AtHeart: The Rising K-pop Group Stepping Into a New Era

Following their debut with “Plot Twist”, AtHeart return with a track that feels more confident and a little more playful, both in sound and in style. Rather than leaving their identity behind, they’re leaning further into it; growing more authentic as they try new things while still holding onto the charm that first drew fans, known as “Heartbeat” in. As the first half of a double-single project leading into “Butterfly Doors”, this comeback sets the tone for a broader story still unfolding. Standing at the start of this next chapter, AtHeart are embracing contrast, growth, and a clearer sense of who they are becoming as a group.

We caught up with members MICHI, SEOHYEON, KATELYN, AURORA, NAHYUN, ARIN, and BOME to talk stepping outside their comfort zones, evolving their sound, and what this era represents for them and their Heartbeat.

Compared to “Plot Twist”, what pushed you out of your comfort zone the most during this comeback?

MICHI: I think the visual changes, like the concept, styling, and music, played a big role in setting us apart from our debut album Plot Twist. The lyrics in Shut Up are strong and playful, which really pushed us to explore a bolder tone while recording. As we were encouraged to try new things, we also felt it was important to show this transformation with confidence. Butterfly Doors feels closer to the dreamy style we’re used to, but it becomes brighter and more energetic toward the bridge. Overall, we felt the need to approach the song with more maturity to really show our growth in this comeback.
BOME: I think I changed a lot visually this time. I had only ever dyed my hair brown before, so trying platinum blonde for the first time made me a bit nervous about whether it would suit me. But our fans really loved it, which made me feel so proud, and I think this experience helped me push past another limit.

The lyrics seem to focus on confidence and instinct over hesitation. How does that message reflect where you are as a group right now?

SEOHYEON: To show how diverse and amazing we are, we try to be more confident and bring even more energy on stage than usual. I think what really defines our confidence is how every member approaches everything with sincerity and confidence. It almost feels like second nature to us.
KATELYN: I think when we first debuted, everything was new to us and we didn’t really know how things would turn out. But as we’ve gained more experience and grown, the lyrics of this song really resonate with us. They reflect how we’ve learned to trust ourselves more and grow from our past experiences.

Compared to your previous track “Plot Twist” and other releases, what new musical or performance challenges did “Shut Up” present?

ARIN: Since the performance is more challenging this time, we really focused on practicing bolder, more confident expressions and movements that match the energy of the song. Compared to our previous title track Plot Twist and our other songs, this track pushed us to show a more bold and confident side on stage, so we put a lot of effort into bringing that attitude out through both our facial expressions and choreography..

How did you approach building the performance for “Shut Up” so that it feels both powerful and uniquely “AtHeart”?

NAHYUN: We put a lot of effort into understanding the meaning of the song so we could better convey the message of Shut Up. We also paid close attention to our expressions and performance details to bring out our own unique color.Through this song, we hope many people can relate to it and feel a sense of happiness.
SEOHYEON: First, we focused on the fun and catchy points of the song, as well as the more intense moments throughout. While practicing, we tried to match the overall mood of the track with AtHeart’s unique color. Because of that, I think we were able to add a more confident and playful touch to those powerful moments.

The music video was filmed in Los Angeles at the Pink Motel; how did shooting abroad influence the visuals and performances?

MICHI: First of all, the locations for both “Shut Up” and “Butterfly Doors” really matched the atmosphere of each song. The weather also played a big role in setting the mood, and we were so happy it stayed clear. For example, we filmed at the Pink Motel and the United Theater, and those locations really helped us get into character for the music videos. The U.S. staff were incredibly helpful, and thanks to everyone, the shoot felt smooth and comfortable, which allowed us to fully express ourselves. One fun story is that on the last day of filming Butterfly Doors, we saw so many butterflies on set! We’re taking it as a good sign that the song will be a huge success.
BOME: I think our songs really matched the vibe of Los Angeles—Shut Up with its free and confident energy, and Butterfly Doors with its dreamy and sophisticated sound. Since the main theme of Shut Up was pink, the Pink Motel was a perfect fit, and it really helped us better understand the concept. Because of that, we had a much clearer idea of how to express ourselves, which made it easier to work on our facial expressions and performance.

If “Shut Up” and “Butterfly Doors” were two chapters of the same story, what would each chapter represent?

KATELYN: For me, Shut Up represents us still being those naive teenage girls, figuring out life and going through all the ups and downs of growing up. It really captures that playful, bold energy of youth. On the other hand, Butterfly Doors shows a more mature side of us—chic, confident, and more grown-up—highlighting how we’ve grown and evolved both as artists and as individuals.

The concept photos and teasers showed a bold and mature look, how do you balance showcasing confidence with staying true to your individual personalities?

SEOHYEON: I think facial expressions are the most important for me. While there have been a lot of external changes, I believe that to maintain our individuality, each of us needs expressions that reflect our own unique color. That’s why we pay close attention to every detail during practice, always thinking about how we can show a more authentic side of ourselves.

Has this comeback changed the way you see yourselves as artists or the kind of music you want to try next?

MICHI: I think this comeback has only made us more excited for future concepts, and we’re always looking forward to new projects. We would love to try something we haven’t done before, like a summer song with a brighter style. Through this comeback, we’ve strengthened our identity as a group that doesn’t stick to just one concept, but can embrace many different styles.
BOME: Since Plot Twist, we’ve always wanted to show a new side of ourselves with each comeback by exploring different genres and not limiting ourselves to just one concept. That idea hasn’t changed. Through this comeback, we realized once again that there are no limits to our musical range, and just like we have so far, we want to keep showing every side of ourselves without holding back.

What side of AtHeart will fans see in “Butterfly Doors” that they didn’t get to see in “Shut Up”?

KATELYN: For me, “Shut Up” has more of a sassy vibe, with a kind of loud confidence that really stands out. On the other hand, “Butterfly Doors” shows a more chic and mature side of us, highlighted by the bold black makeup and stylish outfits. I think both songs really allow us to express different aspects of our personalities and performance styles.
ARIN: In “Shut Up” we showed AtHeart’s confident, bold, and self-assured side, while in “Butterfly Doors”, you can see a more atmospheric and mature side of us. Through this, we were able to showcase our different charms and how much we’ve grown, which made the whole experience even more meaningful.

Is there anything you like to say to your fans, Heartbeat?
ARIN: Thanks to ‘heartbeat’ for always cheering us on and supporting us, we’ve been able to keep going without falling apart. We’re truly grateful. From now on, we’ll keep working hard so that AtHeart can grow even more and show you many amazing sides of ourselves. We hope we can bring comfort and happiness to ‘heartbeat’! Let’s continue to support each other and create many wonderful memories together.
MICHI: Thank you so much for waiting patiently for us and cheering us on as we prepared for this comeback. ‘heartbeat’ gives us the energy to grow as a group and come back even stronger. We’ll continue to work hard, so we hope for your continued support and look forward to many opportunities to meet in the future. Please give Butterfly Doors and Shut Up lots of love! ‘heartbeat’, we love you!

As AtHeart continue to explore new sounds, visuals, and performances, it’s clear that this era isn’t just about a single song or concept — it’s about showing fans, their Heartbeat, who they are becoming. From the bold energy of “Shut Up” to the more mature tones teased in “Butterfly Doors”, the group are embracing growth, contrast, and authenticity with every step. We want to extend a huge thank you to MICHI, SEOHYEON, KATELYN, AURORA, NAHYUN, ARIN, and BOME for taking the time to share their thoughts, experiences, and insights with us. Here’s to their continued growth, their next chapters, and the Heartbeat fans who make it all possible!