What would it look like if the “Avengers” of the K-pop industry came together to create a single team? And what if that team was not launched in Seoul, but by the first-ever K-pop label founded in the United States? The answer is AtHeart, who made their dazzling debut in August this year.
The group’s label, Titan Content, was founded by a powerhouse lineup: former SM Entertainment CEO Han Se-min, former SM casting director Kang Jung-ah, world-renowned choreographer Lia Kim, and Dazed Korea founder and current editor-in-chief Lee Guiom. With each of them standing at the top of their respective fields, Titan Content’s establishment in the U.S.—a first for K-pop—made global headlines even before AtHeart’s debut. Media outlets such as Variety and Teen Vogue spotlighted them early on, and Billboard named AtHeart one of the “‘Next-Generation’ K-Pop Group,” further fueling anticipation from fans and industry insiders alike.
The group name AtHeart is a fusion of “Heart” and “At,” symbolizing their aim to grow alongside fans around the world through connection and sincerity. All six members were born between 2007 and 2009, making them a full teenage lineup. Korean members Seohyeon, Arin, Bome, and Nahyun naturally nurtured their idol dreams in environments where K-pop was already part of daily life, from school band stages to music shows. Meanwhile, Katelyn from the Philippines and Michi, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Japan, represent the new generation of global K-pop kids—those first inspired to pursue idol dreams after being captivated by performances from BTS and BLACKPINK.
Though they started from different places, the girls now stand together as one under the name AtHeart. Their multinational makeup is another defining strength. “It’s fun to learn and respect each other’s traditions,” Katelyn says. Bome adds, “Our different cultural and linguistic backgrounds actually make our teamwork stronger,” recalling the day she watched Michi and Katelyn see snow for the first time in Korea, laughing like children at the sight. “Little moments like that made us closer,” she says.
AtHeart officially signaled their arrival on May 29 with pre-debut single “Good Girl (AtHeart),” followed by their August 13 debut EP ‘Plot Twist’. Its title track was produced and written by Jonah Shai, known for working with Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, while Rob Kinelski, who has mixed for Billie Eilish, brought sonic depth to the record. The dreamy EDM track thrives on its layered reversals and is elevated further by powerful choreography from 1MILLION’s Lia Kim, Titan Content’s CPO. Together, the package showcases the kind of performance and musical polish that K-pop fans have come to expect—and AtHeart delivered from the start.
From the outset, their extraordinary path drew global attention—but their story is only just beginning. “Someday, I want us to perform on stages like Coachella or SoFi Stadium,” Katelyn shares, while Bome fondly remembers the purity of seeing the first snowfall with her teammates as trainees. It’s this mix of youthful honesty and global ambition that positions AtHeart as one of K-pop’s most exciting new possibilities. Billboard will be following their flight closely.
Before debut, what first inspired each of you to dream of becoming a K-pop idol?
Arin: always loved dancing, and at first, I dreamed of becoming a dancer. I started with belly dance at a community center, then learned ballet, broadcast dance, and street dance. Eventually I thought, “If I want to share the dances I love with more people, shouldn’t I become a singer?” and my path naturally shifted.
Bome: I was in the school band and often had chances to perform. Each time, I realized I received even more energy from the audience than I gave, and that’s when I thought, “This is truly meaningful to me.” That’s when I decided I wanted to be a singer.
Seohyeon: Singing and dancing were part of my daily life since I was young. Watching idols shine on music shows, I started to think, “I want to be like that someday,” and the dream just kept growing.
Nahyun: My parents love music, and naturally I grew to love it too. I even formed a little idol group with my classmates in elementary school and practiced together. That’s when the dream started to become clear.
Michi: I began training in dance at age three—ballet, tap, hula, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary—and naturally got exposed to a wide range of music. I discovered a passion for singing in middle school through musicals. Then I encountered K-pop and was fascinated by the creative direction of music videos. Seeing BLACKPINK in concert was a turning point in my life. The powerful energy of that performance shaped who I am today.
Katelyn: Being on stage was always a dream, but I never had the chance to attend academies or formal training. During the pandemic, I watched a BTS concert for the first time, and it gave me the courage to tell my mom, “I really want to become a singer, please support me!” From that moment, I began seriously preparing to become an idol.
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AtHeart
Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content From left: Seohyeon, Katelyn, Bome, Nahyun, Michi and Arin of AtHeart
What kind of memories do you hope to create together?
Michi: Since we’re all from different countries, we often talk about touring each other’s hometowns someday—America, Japan, the Philippines. Just imagining it is exciting! To return to our roots and meet local fans there would be such a meaningful moment.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content What’s been the most memorable moment since your official debut?
Nahyun: Hearing our name shouted in the audience during our first music show stage. Seeing the lightsticks waving made me realize, “I really am an idol now,” and also gave me a new dream—to meet fans at our own concert one day.
Michi: Our showcase and first music show are unforgettable. When I first heard fans cheering for us, it felt like the world had changed. During “Plot Twist,” I tried to capture its dreamy and emotional mood, but seeing the fans so close, I couldn’t stop smiling. The excitement lingered long after the performance ended.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content As a multinational group born from the first U.S.-based K-pop agency, how has that shaped your music, performance, and connection with fans?
Arin: Being from a U.S.-based company gave us a more global perspective when preparing our music and performances. Those efforts are reflected in our debut EP ‘Plot Twist’ so please check it out! And being multinational really helps us connect with fans all over the world.
Katelyn: It’s a huge advantage to learn and respect each other’s cultures in our daily lives. Growing up in the Philippines, I was always surrounded by diverse traditions, so learning Korean language and culture felt natural and exciting as I trained to become an idol.
Bome: Our different backgrounds make our teamwork stronger. I still remember Michi and Katelyn seeing snow for the first time in Korea and reacting with childlike joy—it was special because they came from countries without four seasons. Moments like that brought us closer. And having different sensibilities and styles makes our onstage expression even richer.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content Of the songs you’ve released so far, which are your personal favorites?
Nahyun: “Push Back.” We trained on it the longest, so hearing the final recording felt extra special. Our voices blended beautifully, and its Afro-piano groove feels perfect for summer.
Arin: “Plot Twist,” our debut title, is dear to me. The a cappella at the beginning and end stands out, and the lyrics carry a relatable message that makes the song even more meaningful.
Michi: “Good Girl (AtHeart).” It came out in May as our pre-debut track, and its high-energy rhythm lifts my mood every time. It’s also a performance piece that shows our strengths on stage.
Seohyeon: “Knew Me.” The sleek melody line matched my taste perfectly, and I loved it since the demo. Hearing the final version with everyone’s voices blended together moved me deeply.
Katelyn: I also choose “Push Back.” I love Afro-dance, and this song’s vibe immediately made me want to dance. The rhythmic sound fits my taste exactly.
Bome: “Dot Dot Dot…” It caught me from the intro with its intensity, and as an R&B track, it let me show my vocal color in a way that felt authentic to me.
What dream stages or festivals do you want to perform at?
Katelyn: My first dream is to perform in the Philippines, my home country, to show my family and fans how hard I’ve worked. And someday, I want us to stand on stages like Coachella or SoFi Stadium, sharing that moment with fans around the world.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content What are some “first milestones” you hope to achieve this year as AtHeart?
Seohyeon: Winning first place on a music show. It would mean so much for our sweat and hard work to be recognized with results.
Michi: Touring the world and meeting fans in person is my dream. And as a rookie group, being named “Rookie of the Year” would be such an honor. It will take a lot of work, but AtHeart will keep growing and showing our best, so please keep supporting us!
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content Billboard named AtHeart one of the “K-pop Girl Groups to Watch in 2025” even before your official debut. What did that recognition mean to you?
Bome: Hearing that news while preparing for our debut gave us so much strength. It was a moment of reassurance—“We’re on the right path, people are noticing.” We want to keep living up to those expectations with consistent growth and show even better sides of ourselves this year.
At your debut showcase, you said you wanted to grow from a ‘group to watch’ into ‘great artists.’ What does a great artist mean to AtHeart?
Michi: For us, a great artist begins with teamwork. Respecting each other’s individuality while looking toward the same dream creates synergy. We’re still learning and have a long way to go, but if we can sing and dance sincerely on stage and give strength to fans, maybe that in itself could be called “great.” We hope to become that kind of team.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Titan Content You’ve cited Girls’ Generation as role models, and Sooyoung even appeared in your music video. What do you remember most from that experience?
Nahyun: Meeting her in person felt like a dream—I almost cried because it didn’t feel real. We were so nervous, but she came to us and said warmly, “Don’t worry, you’ll do well. Just work hard on the things you want to do.” That one sentence gave us so much strength and made the shoot much more comfortable.
The choreography for your debut album’s title track was created by 1MILLION’s Lia Kim, who also serves as Titan Content’s CPO. We heard she gave you a lot of advice during preparations—was there a particular piece of advice that stayed with you?
Arin: She told us, “Don’t dance as if you’re trapped, but show yourselves and enjoy it.” That advice really empowered me, and I kept it in mind throughout rehearsals and performances.
