K-Pop group AtHeart is embracing the past while looking forward to the future with the latest TIME TRAVEL PROJECT, a global remake series inspired by hits from 1996.
The Movie Couple sat down with AtHeart: Michi, Seohyeon, Katelyn, Aurora, Nahyun, Arin, and Bome to talk about their recent singles “Say It,” “3!4!,” performing at iHeart KPOP with Jojo Live, and what advice they would give to themselves if they could travel back in time.
When it comes to their single “Say It,” the bright and bubbly track served as the first installment of the group’s TIME TRAVEL PROJECT, and incorporates the instantly recognizable melody of The Cardigans’ 1996 hit, “Lovefool.”
For the group, their connection to “Lovefool” was more than just a musical choice. Michi recalls hearing the song growing up, “In the past I’ve heard the melody of ‘Lovefool’ a lot when I was younger and growing up,” she shares, “so it just came naturally when I heard the song that we would sample it. I was so excited, and I’m so happy that we were able to incorporate that familiar chorus of ‘Lovefool’ into our song ‘Say It’ as well.”
The song also carries a nostalgic connection to the 1996 film “Romeo + Juliet” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. The members revealed that the film was also their introduction to “Lovefool”.
“The first time I heard Lovefool was at school. We watched Romeo + Juliet in drama class.” Aurora explained.
That shared experience made the song’s inclusion in TIME TRAVEL PROJECT even more fitting.
While “Say It” has an effortless and fun sound, the choreography demanded a different kind of challenge for the members by utilizing exercise balls during their performance.
When AtHeart members received the first draft of the choreography, they quickly realized they would have to figure out how to make the ambitious routine work. The members shared their initial reaction to see the choreography, “Oh my gosh, I actually have a story with when we first got our choreo,” Michi recalls.
The members happened to be at the gym together and realized there were exercise balls they could use. “There’s this area with the gym ball, actually. So right away, we were like, ‘Okay, is this possible?’ and we tried it,” says Michi. The verdict? “It was very hard.”
Despite the difficulty, AtHeart makes the choreography look effortless in their performance music video, and the exercise ball sequence adds a unique element to their performance.
The group was set to perform at the iHeartKPOP with Jojo Live, celebrating the release of the new single. Getting ready fora major stage involves plenty of teamwork and individual rituals.
When asked about their pre-performance routines, Katelyn shares that she likes finding a quiet moment. “For me, I have my own. I would just like usually find a quiet corner and pray,” she says.
The members also have a group cheer they like to do as a way to get everyone energized before stepping onto the stage. They chant “AtHeart, hwaiting (화이팅)” and make hearts with their hands. Pre-performance rituals aren’t always serious; they’re more light-hearted and fun. “To hype each other up, we sometimes make funny faces and then get our energy up. It works every single time.” Katelyn says.
They also monitor their previous performances as a way to continuously improve. Their attention to detail is evident in their live performances, where members balance strong individual moments with group synchronicity.
“Say It” is just the beginning of AtHeart’s TIME TRAVEL PROJECT. The group has since released their second single, “3!4!”, sampling ROO’RA’s song of the same name. “It’s such a well-loved song in Korea that almost everyone knows it,” says Bome. “I think it’s a song that can connect two generations. It’s also such a fun, refreshing song with a really summery vibe.”
It’s been over a year since their debut; looking back, the members share advice they would give to their 2025 selves. “Just do it.” says Arin. “Never give up. Have fun!” says Nahyun.
AtHeart is certainly a group to keep your eyes on. With their ambitious TIME TRAVEL PROJECT, there will surely be more music to come. This group is ready to make every moment count.
