I’ll admit, TUIDE had my undivided attention before I even pressed play. Seven members, four cultural backgrounds and one brand-new K-pop group to keep on my radar. TUIDE, the first girl group from HYBE’s newly established label ABD, officially made its debut yesterday with TUNE & PLAY. At the heart of their release is “SUN KISS”, a refreshing, laid-back track that feels like summer’s final golden hour. And while the group is already turning heads with its bright, youthful identity, one member is especially familiar to K-pop fans: SEOYEON, younger sister of TWICE’s Jihyo. Now, with their debut officially out in the world, the spotlight is firmly on TUIDE.
What does the name TUIDE mean?
Think of TUIDE as a meeting point between different currents. Inspired by the phrase “Tune the tide”, the group’s name reflects their ambition to ride the ever-changing waves of music and culture while creating a sound that is distinctly their own. The idea feels especially fitting for a lineup spanning South Korea, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, bringing together seven distinct personalities under one rhythm.
Meet the TUIDE members
Behind the name and buzz are seven members, each bringing their own story to TUIDE’s first chapter!
SEOHEE (Park Seo-hee)
Born on October 11, 2006, SEOHEE is TUIDE’s oldest member, giving her the unofficial big-sister status of the group. Hailing from South Korea, she brings a little more maturity to TUIDE’s youthful seven-member lineup.
SEOYEON (Park Seo-yeon)
Born on March 4, 2008, SEOYEON is already one of TUIDE’s most talked-about members. The South Korean member is the younger sister of TWICE’s Jihyo, but she is now stepping into the spotlight with a story and a stage presence of her own.
ELENA (Elena Ye-na Kwon)
Born on April 11, 2008, ELENA brings her Korean-American heritage to TUIDE’s international lineup. With members connected to different countries and cultures, she plays a part in what gives the group its distinctly global identity.
JIA (Park Ji-a)
Born on August 22, 2008, JIA is another Korean-American member of TUIDE. With her birthday falling just two days before the group’s debut, this is set to be an especially celebratory week for the 08 Liner!
SAKI (Maita Saki)
Born on October 9, 2010, SAKI is TUIDE’s sole Japanese member. Her addition brings another cultural perspective to the group and makes an already international lineup even more diverse.
SEAH (Park Se-ah)
Born on January 4, 2011, SEAH is one of TUIDE’s younger members. Born in South Korea, she joins the group at the beginning of what promises to be a long K-pop journey, growing alongside TUIDE as they find their footing.
YI HANI (Lee Ha-ni)
Born on January 7, 2011, YI HANI is TUIDE’s youngest member. With Korean and British heritage, she rounds out the group’s multicultural lineup and officially holds the maknae title.
What is TUIDE’s Debut EP TUNE & PLAY about?
With TUNE & PLAY, TUIDE is introducing more than just its first collection of songs. The five-track EP is built around the idea of seven unique perspectives converging into harmony: “TUNE” represents the act of bringing together different musical languages, and “PLAY” captures the freedom and joy that follows. At its centre is “SUN KISS”, the bright-sounding title track chosen to introduce TUIDE to the world.
As I pressed play on the music video the second it dropped, I was instantly transported to somewhere cooler, calmer and decidedly more unpredictable. “SUN KISS” may be a summer song, but it feels more like summer’s final exhale. Built around a refreshing, youthful sound that samples Soviente’s “Copacabana (Escape from Rio)”, the track has an easygoing quality that feels made for the last stretch of the season. Its music video takes that mood somewhere unexpected, trading the usual tropical backdrop for Iceland’s vast natural landscapes, cascading waterfalls and striking black sand beaches. Think of the last road trip of summer, windows down and nowhere to be, capturing that sunny, carefree feeling with just a hint of bittersweet nostalgia.
The curtain has finally lifted on TUIDE, and judging by the buzz, this is only the beginning.
