How AtHeart finds its confidence through ‘Butterfly Doors’

When K-pop girl group AtHeart debuted in August 2025 with its first EP “Plot Twist,” the title track captured the emotional swings of teenage life. Crushes felt mysterious, feelings were confusing and the members leaned into the carefree brightness of youth.

Seven months later, the group says it has found something new — confidence.

Returning with the paired singles “Shut Up,” released Feb. 26, and “Butterfly Doors,” set to follow Wednesday, AtHeart is presenting what the members describe as a more “self-assured side” of the group. The back-to-back releases mark the group’s first comeback since its debut and form a connected story about growth.

“When we debuted, all of us were teenagers, so the concept naturally reflected that youthful energy,” member Arin said in an interview at The Korea Times office Monday. “This time, some of us have become adults, so we naturally wanted to show a more mature side. It feels like our atmosphere as a team has developed.”

The new era is also visually anchored by a symbol the group calls “The Black Heart.” Ahead of its comeback campaign, AtHeart unveiled a new logo built around the motif, which represents the different personalities of the members coming together into a single identity.

The shift is especially clear in “Shut Up,” a track the members describe as an anthem of instinct and self-belief.

“Before, we often showed the image of smiling and cheerful girls,” Bome said. “But with ‘Shut Up,’ we wanted to show a girl who is confident and able to say what she thinks. It’s not just cute anymore. It’s a little more grown.”

If “Shut Up” represents confidence, its companion single pushes the story further. The title evokes the upward-opening doors of a luxury sports car, an image that mirrors the group’s attempt to push forward beyond the excitement of its debut.

“‘Shut Up’ shows the moment of certainty,” Arin explained. “‘Butterfly Doors’ shows what comes after that certainty. It’s like opening a new door and entering a new world.”

The comeback also brought heavyweight choreography talent into the fold. The performance for the comeback was developed under the direction of Lia Kim, the renowned choreographer and co-founder of 1MILLION Dance Studio, who currently serves as chief performance officer at Titan Content, the label behind the group.

“Kim told us not to be afraid on stage and to show more of ourselves,” Bome said. “Instead of just focusing on doing everything perfectly, she encouraged us to relax and express our own energy.”

AtHeart’s development has also been shaped by its unusual production structure.

Titan Content is a company with teams based in both the United States and Korea. That system plays a significant role in how the music is made.

“When we select songs, the A&R (artist and repertoire) team in the U.S. and the team in Korea communicate constantly,” Bome said. “They bring us many demos and even ask our opinions. They ask what kind of sound we like or what genre we’d like to try.”

Sometimes that collaboration becomes extremely detailed.

“I remember recording a line where we spent a long time fixing the pronunciation of just two words,” Bome said with a laugh. “To me it sounded almost the same, but the U.S. team kept pointing out the subtle difference. At the time it felt difficult, but now I realize those details help improve the final result.”

The company’s presence in the U.S. has also helped the group navigate overseas promotions. The members recently traveled to Los Angeles for music video filming and promotional activities tied to the new releases.

“When we went to the U.S. for filming and promotions, we felt surprisingly comfortable,” Arin said. “There’s a team there supporting us, so it almost feels like a second home base.”

The international environment also mirrors the group itself. AtHeart’s lineup spans several countries, including Michi, who grew up in Hawaii, Filipino member Katelyn, Japanese member Aurora — currently on hiatus due to health issues — and Korean members Arin, Bome, Seohyeon and Nahyun. During overseas promotions, the group often relies on that diversity to navigate language barriers.

“When we did interviews in the U.S., the members who speak English helped guide the conversation,” Bome said. “And in Korea, the Korean members support the others. That teamwork is one of our strengths.”

For Michi, the cultural mix has created a strong sense of mutual support.

“When we go to different countries, we always help each other,” she said. “That makes us more confident.”

Despite the changes in sound and image, the members insist that one principle has remained constant.

“One thing we always tell each other is not to lose our original mindset,” Arin said. “Even if we gain more popularity or more experience, we want to keep the same passion we had at the beginning.”

Seohyun hopes that mindset will define the group’s future.

“I want AtHeart to be known as a group with endless potential,” she said. “We want to keep challenging ourselves, trying new things and showing new sides.”