South Korea’s SM Entertainment is making a bold move in the K-pop industry with its latest girl group debut, marking its first multi-member girl group launch since the wildly successful Girls’ Generation. Hearts2Hearts, an eight-member act, officially entered the scene on Feb. 24 with the release of their debut single, “The Chase.”
The group consists of Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian, and Ye-on, and they are stepping into the limelight with a two-track release featuring the title song “The Chase” and the B-side “Butterflies.”
SM Entertainment enlisted veteran hitmaker Kenzie for the Korean lyrics while incorporating the U.K. R&B trio Flo for composition duties. “The Chase” blends ethereal soundscapes with melodic vocals, anchored by a driving bass synth that propels the song’s dynamic structure.
The accompanying music video follows the group on a cryptic field trip that takes an unexpected turn, leading them through a surreal urban journey as they navigate the city in a dreamlike fashion.
For their B-side track, “Butterflies,” Hearts2Hearts explores a mid-tempo R&B sound, with production contributions from Amanda Thomsen, Daniel Michael Victor, and Rasmus Gregersen. The song features intricate vocal harmonies, supported by a deep bassline and guitar-driven melodies.
Physical editions of “The Chase” single also hit stores today, serving as Hearts2Hearts’ first tangible release as SM aims to cultivate a dedicated global fanbase. The group’s concept revolves around forging connections with listeners through what the label describes as their own “mysterious and beautiful musical world.”
With this debut, SM Entertainment appears to be positioning Hearts2Hearts as a significant contender in the increasingly competitive K-pop market, combining international creative talent with its own well-established hit-making formula to propel the group toward global recognition.
Meanwhile, the K-pop industry recently saw Titan Content form a strategic alliance with Republic Records’ Imperial Music division in preparation for the debut of its upcoming girl group, AtHeart, slated for this summer.