{"id":718878,"date":"2026-06-22T09:03:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T09:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/718878\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T09:03:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T09:03:14","slug":"hearts2hearts-the-sweet-sound-of-a-k-pop-summer-the-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/718878\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearts2Hearts: the sweet sound of a K-pop summer | The Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NME\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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NME Networks<\/a>, a part of\u00a0Caldecott Music Group<\/a>. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

\"NME\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a9 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hearts2Hearts: the sweet sound of a K-pop summer | The Cover | NME.com\"Hearts2HeartsHearts2Hearts (2026), photo by Wonyoung KiSM Entertainment\u2019s newest girl group are already sailing to the top with effervescent summer bops \u2013 and these eight young stars are determined to keep their momentum<\/p>\n

Words by\u00a0Sara Delgado<\/a><\/p>\n

22nd June 2026\"Hearts2HeartsWeekly Poster Giveaway<\/p>\n

Tell us why you love the artist and have a chance to win a free poster!\u00a0Shout-Outs are only available on mobile devices.<\/p>\n

eneath the hazy blend of nostalgic and modern sounds of \u2019 music, there\u2019s an undeniable desire. After all, this is a group who want to go against the grain, imbue the hyper-commercial with a touch of whimsy, and live up to their legacy as the latest in a long line of iconic female acts from giant .<\/p>\n

B<\/p>\n

\"Hearts2HeartsHearts2Hearts on The Cover of NME. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

The eight-member girl group \u2013 comprising Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian and Ye-on, whose ages range from 16 to 20 \u2013 were first introduced to the world through the 2025 synthwave bash \u2018The Chase\u2019<\/a>. Co-written by British R&B<\/a> trio FLO<\/a> and K-pop super-producer Kenzie, the track, inspired by \u2018Alice In Wonderland\u2019, bypassed debut trends in favour of an elegant sonic direction that showcased their vocal prowess while also retaining a Gen Z playfulness. Appealing to the general public while balancing the expectations of a growing fanbase is not for the weak, but Hearts2Hearts aren\u2019t fazed by the task.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s performing on stage or guffawing on vlogs, the girl group exude authenticity, dynamism and, above all, charisma. It\u2019s those qualities that have helped the octet land on this year\u2019s NME 100 list of essential emerging artists<\/a>, as well as win multiple Best New Artist trophies across Asia, including at the Melon Music Awards and MAMA Awards. \u201cBefore we actually started, we always dreamed about what would happen if we could actually [get these awards],\u201d A-na tells NME over a video call from SM\u2019s offices in Seoul, her bandmates sitting beside her.<\/p>\n

\"JiwooJiwoo of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by FANCY CLUB, bottoms by SANDY LIANG and the stylist\u2019s own shoes. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

\u201c[Success] has been a big driver pushing us forward, but the biggest motivation and what keeps us going is the connection that we have as a group,\u201d Yuha states. That camaraderie shows throughout our interview, when the eight members glance at one another, finish each other\u2019s sentences or share an extra titbit. \u201cThe last year has been very critical in understanding each other,\u201d Ian shares. \u201cEven if we don\u2019t say it out loud, we know if another person is not feeling well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CarmenCarmen of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by Stand Alone, bottoms by SANDY LIANG and the stylist\u2019s own shoes. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

Despite the bright lights and packed schedules of K-pop stardom, the girls live together in dorms, where they go out of their way to carve out normal lives for themselves. \u201cWe meet up after schedules, put on a movie, and get our favourite snacks and food,\u201d Stella giddily shares. \u201cWe\u2019ll have time where we all just talk to each other,\u201d she adds, smiling at her fellow members as if looking for approval to spill a secret. \u201cThat time is really special to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven before debut, we were very close, but now we\u2019re at a stage where we cannot think of ourselves without each other within this group,\u201d Ian adds. Ye-on notes that being a group of eight is key to Hearts2Hearts\u2019 identity: \u201cIt gives us so many possibilities when it comes to performances, whether that\u2019s formations, storytelling, or the way we interact with each other on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"YuhaYuha of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by RALPH LAUREN, bottoms by SANDY LIANG and the stylist\u2019s own shoes. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

The timing of Hearts2Hearts\u2019 debut couldn\u2019t have aligned better. After years of training, they burst into an exciting landscape where girl groups are dominating global conversations \u2013 a feat that doesn\u2019t escape them. Group leader Jiwoo admits that having both their seniors and peers actively pushing boundaries has provided a \u201cstrong backdrop\u201d and even a \u201cgrowth opportunity\u201d for their progress. \u201cI do think that that provided a lot of variety in terms of what we could express,\u201d she adds. \u201cWe feel very thankful and very grateful that we are able to be active in such a positive environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside their own camp, the influences run even deeper. Hearts2Hearts know they are the newest link in a long chain of iconic female acts coming from SM Entertainment. From BoA<\/a>, the queen of K-pop herself, to girl group megastars Girls\u2019 Generation<\/a>, whom many are already starting to compare Hearts2Hearts to, the SM crown is a heavy one to wear. But the young stars are down for the challenge, treating their predecessors\u2019 stories as a source of motivation.<\/p>\n

\"StellaStella of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by CHOCHOU, bottoms by SANDY LIANG and the stylist\u2019s own shoes. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

\u201cSince our trainee days, we\u2019ve really been inspired by Girls\u2019 Generation sunbaenim [a Korean honorific for a senior],\u201d Stella explains. Hearts2Hearts, who have previously name-checked<\/a> their seniors as role models, used to practice the legendary K-pop group\u2019s discography while dreaming up their own stages \u2013 and have even since taken their covers on the road with renditions of hits such as \u2018Gee\u2019<\/a> and \u2018Genie\u2019<\/a>. Suffice to say, the comparisons feel golden. \u201cWe feel really honoured,\u201d Stella adds, \u201cand only hope to live up to the legacy that they\u2019ve left us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest motivation and what keeps us going is the connection that we have as a group\u201d \u2013 Yuha<\/p>\n

We all know that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Hearts2Hearts took that to heart (pun intended) when filming the music video for their latest single, \u2018Lemon Tang\u2019. For the first time, the group jetted to Japan to film \u2013 but things didn\u2019t go as planned. \u201cThe weather was really [erratic], it rained, and then it was sunny, and then it was windy, and then it was rainy again,\u201d Stella recounts amid laughs. \u201cWe had a hard time filming that! We used lights to pretend it was really sunny, but it was raining in the background.\u201d It might seem like basic resilience, but the anecdote exemplifies the spirit of their new release: no problem is big enough if they tackle it together.<\/p>\n

\"JuunJuun of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by TOMMY HILFIGER, bottoms by SANDY LIANG, a cap by Porter Classic and shoes by Kimhekim. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be able to position ourselves very well as a group within this industry. We want to differentiate ourselves,\u201d Jiwoo declares. One of the ways they already plan to do that, Stella clarifies, is by trying \u201cmore genres and concepts and sounds\u201d. The group make their foray into dance-pop territory today with \u2018Lemon Tang\u2019, which Jiwoo describes as a \u201cstress reliever\u201d. A bubbly bop with a zesty and youthful core, it follows in the footsteps of summer hits of K-pop past, like Red Velvet<\/a>\u2019s seminal \u2018Red Flavor\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"A-naA-na of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by Christian Dior, bottoms by SANDY LIANG and the stylist\u2019s own shoes. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

The young girl group are already no strangers to summer hits. Last year, Hearts2Hearts captured airwaves with \u2018Style\u2019, a self-assured bubblegum-pop crush-confession anthem that solidified their status as ones to watch and secured a spot on NME\u2019s best K-pop songs of 2025<\/a>. \u201cThe best summer songs are the ones that instantly put you in a good mood. They give you energy, but they can also feel comforting at the same time,\u201d Carmen explains. \u201cWe wanted to take those elements and make them feel like Hearts2Hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"IanIan of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by dimanche, bottoms by SANDY LIANG, a cap by TOMMY HILFIGER and shoes by CHARLES & KEITH. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

The rest of the new mini-album is just as energetic as the title track. Firmly rooted in pop<\/a> with a retro flair, it experiments with hyper-pop<\/a>, drum\u2019n\u2019bass, rock<\/a>, rap<\/a>, house<\/a> and more. Rounding off the project is their February 2026 single \u2018Rude!\u2019, undoubtedly their biggest hit to date, with a sassy interlude narration by Stella<\/a> that fully encapsulates their charm: cheeky and a little unpredictable (not to mention the perfect recipe for TikTok<\/a> virality). The girl group are particularly proud that the song\u2019s music video has surpassed 100million views on YouTube<\/a> \u2013 a milestone that, when mentioned, garners claps and cheers from all the members.<\/p>\n

\"Ye-onYe-on of Hearts2Hearts. She wears a top by maje, bottoms by SANDY LIANG and shoes by CHARLES & KEITH. Credit: Wonyoung Ki for NME<\/p>\n

Among the many achievements Hearts2Hearts have amassed, there\u2019s one they\u2019re raring to check off: a real tour. Earlier this year, they got a small taste with their debut showcase trek \u2018Hearts 2 House\u2019, which featured performances in Seoul, New York, Los Angeles and Jakarta. It might have been only four shows, but the response from their fans was enough to leave them craving more. \u201cThe energy was absolutely insane everywhere,\u201d Stella says, while Jiwoo adds that it is \u201cone of the things that you continue to dream about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hearts2Hearts have been jet-propelled to fame, and while they\u2019re relishing the moment, they can\u2019t help but look ahead. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping that everyone enjoys the summer with us,\u201d Stella says. But Hearts2Hearts are striving to \u201calways improve or progress\u201d, she adds. The group want to do more songwriting, while Juun is already testing the waters with her own choreography. \u201cI learn a lot just by seeing and studying how the movements are put together,\u201d she explains. \u201cThey\u2019re just small experiments for now, but I think it\u2019s a fun way to develop my creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Despite having big shoes to fill, Hearts2Hearts aren\u2019t afraid to aim for the stars and hope to build a legacy of their own. \u201dWay back down the road, when we get where we want to be, I hope our songs trigger people to remember [specific moments in their lives],\u201d Ian remarks. \u201cHaving that type of song is something that we\u2019d really like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hearts2Hearts\u2019 mini-album \u2018Lemon Tang\u2019 is out today via SM Entertainment.<\/p>\n

Listen to Hearts2Hearts\u2019 exclusive playlist to accompany The Cover below on Spotify or on Apple Music here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Words: Sara Delgado
Photography: Wonyoung Ki
Make-up: Suyeon Kim, Dayoung Choi
Hair: Aram Chun, Yookyung Lee
Styling: PUNKYSPIDER, Su Jeong Jang
Label: SM Entertainment<\/p>\n