Tomorrow x Together‘s latest release is both an evolution and a nostalgia game.

The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY (released Monday, November 4), officially marks the start of a new era for the K-pop group’s five members — Soobin, 23, Yeonjun, 25, Beomgyu, 23, Taehyun, 22, Heuningkai, 22 years — who spoke to PEOPLE. before its release.

They leave “The Name Chapter” – two albums that revel in the freedom and occasional chaos of youthful indiscretions – and move on to “The Star Chapter”. Represented by a bright and shiny logo, it conveys messages about the search for true love and lasting happiness.

“To some extent, I think it really reflects our childhood,” Heuningkai says.

“In our previous episodes, it was more about magical moments, like ‘Run away with me,’ or something that might be a little less responsible,” Taehyun adds. “But this time it’s romantic, but in the sense that it’s more grounded and more realistic.”

Sonically, SANCTUARY has a sweetness reminiscent of some of the band’s early releases.

“I think you’re right in saying what you thought of The Dream Chapter when listening to this album,” Heungingkai confirmed when discussing their influences with PEOPLE in October. “It’s something new, but it’s something that also provokes nostalgia,” he adds.

The first single, “Over the Moon”, is dreamy pop but includes very adult themes with lyrics about living under one roof and planning for the future. Other tracks, like “Danger,” veer into Bruno Mars-style funky territory, or in the case of “Forty One Winks,” more upbeat R&B.

While there aren’t any real rock or pop punk moments (something they’ve leaned into with great success in the past with songs like “LO$ER=LO♡ER”), “Higher than Heaven” has a wild pop-rock bent.

The album’s sound isn’t just a reflection of the band’s changing tastes. “We have this grand narrative that dominates every episode of our musical journey,” Heuningkai explains.

Their discography, and the band’s broader history, incorporates a vast fictional history that can seem dauntingly complex to the casual fan. But the themes — the pains of growing up, the reality of facing adulthood, and the heartbreak that so often accompanies it — are universal enough that they come through easily in their earworm singles.

While TXT has shared in the past that his music is often influenced by personal experience.they often keep their distance when talking about their own relationships, instead telling the song’s tales of crushes or lost loves as stories of a “boy” (representing all and none of them) directed at “you” , an embodiment of their fans. .

For example, explaining the meaning of their latest album, Beomgyu says: “It’s a chapter where the boy finally finds his name and remembers the promise he made with you. And they finally meet in this album. So this is the joy that they all feel with this reunion.

All five members wrote lyrics and music on SANCTUARY, something they’ve become increasingly passionate about in the six years since they started.

Taehyun admits that he does most of his writing in the car and on planes, in the midst of their busy schedules. They nevertheless find a space for collaboration. “We tend to work separately on the lyrics, but when we get stuck, we ask the other members for help,” Soobin explains.

On the surface, non-stop promotions can be exhausting, but they’re candid about how they keep their minds and bodies healthy. “Sleeping well is the best thing you can do for yourself,” says Beomgyu. Soobin adds, “We also eat a lot of supplements and try to work out a lot to stay healthy and maintain our stamina.”

This work ethic has earned them a mountain of accolades during a relatively short career.

In 2023, they titled Lollapalooza in Chicago, then performed at the VMAS in New York, where they also won the Push Performance Award. Their latest album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, making them the second K-pop group to enter the chart 10 times, the only others being their labelmates. BTS.

When asked if this kind of accomplishment is exciting or intimidating, Yeonjun explains, “We feel both. We feel both elated and we also feel a sense of responsibility. And I think both are necessary, because only when we feel this responsibility can we grow. as artists and evolve as artists. Because so many people provide us with love and support, it is our duty to grow and evolve, and show new sides of ourselves as artists.

Taehyun adds, “We are forever grateful to Global MOA who always give us a lot of love and support. And with this album and the upcoming albums, we are going to return the favor with some really good music and performances.”

Star Chapter: Sanctuary is available to stream now.