K-pop boy group TWS pose for photos during the media showcase for their third extended play 'Try With Us,' held in Seoul, South Korea, April 21, 2025. Photos courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

When boy group TWS debuted in 2024, they took the K-pop scene by storm, collecting multiple awards for best new act with their bright and upbeat singles that captured the essence of teenhood  — often set against school-themed backdrops.

Now, the six-piece band — whose name stands for "Twenty-Four Seven With Us" — is graduating from their schoolboy image and stepping into young adulthood with their third extended play (EP) "Try With Us."

Released on Monday, the six-track "Try With Us" explores the emotions and experiences of turning 20.

"When you're in your 20s, you actually have more opportunities to do more things, which means it's a new chapter in your life. So once you become 20, you will have new emotions and feelings, and that is actually encompassed in our new album," member Youngjae said through an interpreter during an online media showcase held hours before the EP's release.

(From left to right) TWS members Jihoon, Youngjae, Dohoon, Shinyu, Kyungmin and Hanjin

The idea of being in their 20s isn't just a concept for the members, but something most of them personally relate to. Half of them are already in their 20s (in Korean age), while Hanjin and Jihoon recently turned 20, leaving the youngest, Kyungmin, as the group’s only remaining teenager.

"[Jihoon and I] just turned 20 and we were really happy to prepare for this third mini album. That's why this album has a more special meaning to me," Hanjin said.

"As we were practicing and preparing for this album, we gained a lot of experiences and took on new challenges with our members," he said.

Shinyu, the eldest member and leader of TWS, recalled: "When I turned 20, I thought I'd go through a dramatic change but when I actually did turn 20, nothing changed."

"But if there's one [thing] that I'd point out, it's that I had to take responsibility of my actions. I felt that as I turned 20," he added.

TWS perform the single 'Countdown' during the media showcase

'Free-spirited performance'

For the members, being in their 20s also signifies a sense of freedom and spontaneity, which they aimed to express through their performance of the EP's lead single "Countdown."

Rather than focusing on perfectly synchronized choreography, the group wanted to showcase "a more free-spirited, playful side" in "Countdown," Kyungmin said.

Expanding on this, Jihoon added: "At the end of the song [performance], we are very cheerful, free-spirited and we have eye contact... and we move around naturally. We wanted to express the joy that we feel on stage."

Shinyu described "Countdown" as having a "perfect flow."

"It starts from a wistful intro to a powerful, emotional ending. So the flow of the music itself can bring out overwhelming emotions, but if you really pay attention to the lyrics, the most passionate moments of being 20 will hit you even harder," he explained.

While recording the track, the members "tried to keep the positive, laughing mood all throughout," Dohoon recounted, noting the song's "refreshing and energetic" vibe.

At the showcase, one journalist also noted that "Countdown" bore sonic similarities to the group's previous singles, which Jihoon attributed to TWS' musical "color" becoming more "distinct."

The group calls its musical style as "boyhood pop," a sound intended to evoke nostalgia and help listeners reminisce about moments from their youth.

"I would say our color, TWS' color has become more distinct so hopefully when you listen to our songs, you can definitely tell, 'This is TWS' song,'" Jihoon said.

"I hope that through our music, we can relate to a lot of people and a lot of people can relate to us as well," he added.