THR exclusive photo of TWS for their new EP, 'Play Hard.' Pledis Entertainment Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment For K-pop boy group TWS, it all comes back to youth. The six-member group has carved out a sound that's consistently energetic and undeniably youthful - music that celebrates the highs, thrills and chaos of being young. It makes sense for the group - consisting of members Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin - who range in age from 18 to 21. Their latest EP, Play Hard, continues that tradition. "For this album, the most important key phrases are 'you drive me crazy' and 'youth drive me crazy,'" Youngjae tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Zoom from the Seoul headquarters of Korean music giant Hybe. It's nearing 11:30 p.m. in Korea, but the six members of TWS show no signs of fatigue. They're engaged in the conversation, seemingly excited to chat about their new music. Related Stories TV Resilience Earns Raucous Applause at MIPCOM's Women in Global Entertainment Power Lunch Music Taylor Swift 'Eras Tour' Docuseries and 'Final Show' Concert Film Coming to Disney+ The boy group, coming up on their second anniversary in January 2026, hails from Hybe sub-label Pledis Entertainment - home to another group that spent much of its catalog exploring the highs and lows of youth, Seventeen. But TWS, pronounced "two us," has forged their own path as a group. The group found early domestic success in a constantly evolving music ecosystem, not an easy task. "Plot Twist," the lead single from their debut EP, Sparkling Blue, released in January 2024, is still charting on the Korean Melon music chart nearly two years later (at the time of publication, it sits at No. 58). On Play Hard, the group's fourth EP, TWS ventures into new sonic territory with several songs, including their pre-release single, "Heads Shoulders Knees Toes." The album's first track, which takes its name from the classic children's nursery rhyme, goes harder than most TWS singles, despite its sweet title, and has allowed the group to explore an edgier side as they transition into young adulthood. The album's lead single, "Overdrive," is a guitar-heavy, energetic pop song about young love, and it feels right at home in TWS' discography. "Is this how it's supposed to feel? / You're makin' my heart go boom boom / Can't resist you / Oh, my / You make me overdrive," TWS sings on the song's chorus. TWS spoke with THR about creatively contributing to Play Hard, what they've learned from each other and what message they'd like to send to their U.S. fans. How are you feeling about the album? JIHOON We think this album is a big and important step. We can express [ourselves] more deeply and try different music types. We discussed a lot of things to prepare this album, so Play Hard is precious to us. Jihoon, 19, of TWS in a THR exclusive photo for the group's EP, 'Play Hard.' Pledis Entertainment Some of you were creatively involved with the album, whether it be the lyrics or choreography. What was that experience like? JIHOON Me and Dohoon wrote some lyrics, and also I did a little bit of choreography. During this experience I learned a lot. I also learned about our team, and [about] how deeply I love my team. That was one of the most precious moments in my life. What a big honor. DOHOON This is the first time for me to actually contribute [creatively to the album], so it was a big honor. If the opportunity is available again, I hope that all of our members can actually pitch ideas, whether it's in the form of lyrics or to make songs with our ideas. What makes "Overdrive" a perfect fit for you as a group? What makes it a signature TWS song for you? KYUNGMIN I think this song maintains the refreshing vibe of TWS, yet it also captures the passion that we have towards the things that we love the most. I think this song has a really strong impact overall. Kyungmin, 18, of TWS in a THR exclusive photo for the group's EP, 'Play Hard.' Pledis Entertainment What's everyone's favorite track on the album? HANJIN My favorite song is actually "Overdrive," the song that you just mentioned, because it's a song that does well at expressing the passion that one has towards something they love. I think TWS, in general, we're a really ambitious team. We work really hard, and we try to do well at anything we do. I think it's a song that defines us well. KYUNGMIN My favorite song is "Here for You" because it's about waiting for you [the fans], who I love so much. I love this song. JIHOON My favorite song is "Caffeine Rush" because it's one of the acoustic songs [on the album]. I [tend to] like something instrumental, like a piano or guitar drums. SHINYU I like "Hot Blue Shoes" because it's a song where you can actually see the passion of TWS with the vocals because that's how we recor