ITZY Releases Their ‘Passion’ in New EP ‘Tunnel Vision’ (Exclusive)

When ITZY got back in the studio to record their upcoming EP, they were ready to deliver something entirely new.

Tunnel Vision is the South Korean girl group’s 11th mini album since their hugely popular debut with “Dalla Dalla” in 2019, and explores feeling deeply and discovering one’s self through the tracks and accompanying choreography delivered by members Yeji, Ryujin, Lia, Chaeryeong and Yuna.

“This album is about our passion,” says Ryujin, 24. “I hope that everyone who listens to this feel it too. We wanted to share the message of how wonderful the progress is to get to your goal when you focus on it.”

The project was teased with a cinematic Matrix-like trailer, in which the girls are captivated by the goal of pinpointing a moving target.

“We wanted to express the [idea of] focusing on something and shutting down every other thing,” explains Ryujin, while simultaneously summing up what their bass-heavy, hip-hop-influence title track “Tunnel Vision” is about.

But the EP altogether is one that bends genres, transitioning from “Flicker,” a garage pop track about overcoming uncertainty with confidence to “Nocturne,” a dreamy R&B number on awakening from “nightmarish” emotions (Yeji, 25, shares that while recording this song in particular, she wanted to inspire listeners to think about a “dark night sky”).

“I really enjoyed recording for this album because we have lots of different styles of music that we haven’t tried before,” says Lia, 25. “[Recording] most of [the songs] went off pretty well,” she shares, adding that she stepped out of her comfort zone on the high-noted track, “DYT.” “My vocal style — I’m more comfortable with songs that are laid-back and has an up-and-down. But ‘DYT’ is a very charismatic song where I have to sing straight…I had to practice a lot for that song.”

Adds Yuna, 21, “My voice base is a bit thin, and because [the songs are] a bit high-toned, it was difficult doing deep, heavy, dark tones. So I tried to study a lot about that.” Chaeryeong, 24, also mentions exploring the “big” choreography, which she explains was an unfamiliar style to her.

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ITZY also relates to their fans through “8-Bit Heart,” which is about “breaking free from monotonous, repetitive daily life and rediscovering one’s true self,” as shared in a press release. When asked about their idol-off-duty routines, Lia reveal what they do together, and solo, to rejuvenate themselves.

“As a group, we have playtime. We eat together, chat to keep up the bonding and to talk about what’s tough,” she shares, “and individually, I try to go somewhere else, like on a short trip, or to go look at places like stores that I want to visit.” Yuna chimes in on her member’s love for cleaning.

Comeback season is also when the five really hone in on self-care, Yeji emphasizing sleep and working out and Chaeryeong fitting stretches into her rituals.

As the quintet gets ready to usher in a new era with this new release, the group is refreflective on the milestones they’ve hit so far — including performing with former Spice Girls Mel B and Emma Button for Apple TV+’s reality competition show, KPOPPED. “It was really fun and an honor because we look up to Spice Girls,” Yeji recalls of the collaboration, while adding that the two Brits were surprised by the level of coordination required of a K-Pop performance.

As they set their eyes on the upcoming year, Chaeryeong can’t tease much about their next steps, but, “we’re definitely looking forward to meeting the fans at the year end’s shows.”