"A Letter of Comfort to Youth"… TEMPEST Takes on "Sentimental-dol" Challenge (Showcase)

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"This is a story about the courage to break through walls and move forward." (TEMPEST)

TEMPEST has opened a new chapter. The group has shed its bright, energetic image, transforming with a more emotional and restrained mood.

They are delivering a message of courage and comfort aimed at today's youth. They plan to melt the hearts of their fandom, iE, with warm songs this cold winter.

Member LEW shared, "We are now in our 4th year since debuting. We wanted to honestly unpack the worries and anxieties we have felt from our pre-debut days until now."

TEMPEST held a media showcase on the 27th at the Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their 7th mini-album, 'As I am.'

'As I am' is an album that records faith in oneself and courage for "us." It focuses on the 'process' of self-growth rather than the 'results' defined by the world.

The new album includes a total of five tracks: the title song 'In the Darkness,' along with 'Nocturnal,' 'Chill,' 'Silly Kid,' and 'How Deep Is Your Love?'.

They highlighted the differences from their previous work. Hyeongseop explained, "This album depicts the internal anxiety and wandering we faced. It's a story about overcoming those challenges through our solidarity with one another."

'In the Darkness' captures the narrative of youth striving to move forward despite confusion and fear. The members added authenticity by incorporating their own autobiographical stories.

LEW shared, "Early in our debut, I was happy even if I only had a single transportation card. But as time passed, an unseen anxiety began to box me in."

The song captures the courage to break through that wall. The performance also unfolds this emotional narrative; a sense of wistful emotion is infused even within the sharp, controlled movements.

Taerae and Hanbin personally demonstrated the point choreography: a move during the chorus where they dance and then abruptly freeze like mannequins. The brief pause created a moment of intense tension.

Hyuk confided, "We approached everything differently, from minor movements to vocal techniques, emotions, and pronunciation. We wanted to express far more genuine emotions than we have before."

The group demonstrated their advanced musical capabilities. LEW and Hyuk were listed in the credits for 'Chill.' LEW, in particular, contributed lyrics again, following his work on a B-side track in their previous album.

LEW shared, "I incorporated memorable phrases of comfort that I've received into the lyrics. I wanted to open up about the anxieties and worries that people in their 20s often feel."

Hyuk recalled his own past, adding, "It reminded me of the emotions I felt during my trainee days when the sun would rise after practicing all night until dawn."

They have confronted the youth of that era again through their music. Eunchan recommended the song, saying, "There is a lyric that says, 'It's okay to rest if you're struggling.' It's a great song to listen to when you're exhausted or need comfort."

TEMPEST is expanding its reach beyond the domestic market to the global stage. The group recently participated in 'The Spark in Vietnam 2025' held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

On the 15th of next month, they are also scheduled to perform at 'Waterbomb Ho Chi Minh 2025.' Hanbin, who is Vietnamese, shared his thoughts: "It was an honor to be able to perform on stage in my hometown."

LEW added, "I started studying languages to communicate more freely with our international fans. I recently earned a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certification, and I am also learning Vietnamese from Hanbin."

Finally, Hyeongseop expressed his hope: "I wish this album finds a place in the playlists of autumn listeners. We would like to earn the new nickname 'sentimental-dols' (sentimental idols)."

TEMPEST will release 'As I am' on all major music sites on the 27th at 6 PM KST.