The road to success for K-pop TWICE has been filled with many challenges and persistence. After almost a decade on the scene, the nine members have become household names thanks to captivating visuals and show-stopping performances. The group's unique “color pop” sound—a combination of rock, R&B, and hip-hop intertwined with catchy bubblegum pop hooks—has attracted much attention and accolades. It’s hard to believe TWICE originated from a survival competition TV show.
The group was formed through JYP Entertainment's survival show Sixteen, where 16 trainees competed against each other for a spot in TWICE. The TV show made people emotionally invested in their journey as it incorporated fan votes. They competed in missions that showcased singing, dancing and personality talents. Through a series of eliminations, only seven girls earned a spot in the lineup: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung. To add excitement to the finale, South Korean singer-songwriter and the founder of JYPE, Park Jin-young (known by his stage name J.Y. Park or JYP) announced that he would add two more members, expanding the group from seven to nine. Tzuyu was added thanks to votes from the audience. Momo, who had previously been eliminated, was brought back by Park thanks to her impressive dancing and performance skills, which he believed the group was missing. Park also has a hand in selecting the name for the group, stating "they will be able to move people twice. Once through the ears and once through the eyes.” As years have passed, the group has remained committed to living up to their name.
TWICE officially debuted on October 20, 2015, with their EP The Story Begins and the lead single “Like Ooh-Ahh.” The group started strong as the music video for the single became the most-viewed K-pop debut on YouTube. The following year, TWICE rose to mega-stardom with their chart-topping single "Cheer Up," the dance-pop song charted at No. 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart and became the best-performing single of 2016 in South Korea.
The group’s diverse background helps market them to fans outside of Korea and has inspired them to branch out into other languages including Japanese and English.
TWICE made its debut in Japan in 2017 with their first compilation album #TWICE. The release earned them Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), becoming the first Korean girl group to earn the honor. Their popularity blossomed in Japan as they became the first female K-pop to hold a Japanese dome tour with “Twice Dome Tour 2019 "#Dreamday" in 2019, which took place across five shows in Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya. The group grew to worldwide prominence with their English-language debut, “The Feels” in 2022. The fast-tempo disco-pop tune became an instant hit. It earned the group their first career entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 83, their first gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and multiple top
10 placements across various charts. TWICE was also the first female K-pop group to play at a North American stadium, and the first-ever girl group to play SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. In 2023, they were the first K-pop act honored at the prestigious Billboard Women in Music Awards, where they received the “Breakthrough Award.”
TWICE have cemented themselves as one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time. Their social media presence is huge, with frequent posts and promotions that let fans connect with them daily. The group's popularity has grown each year and their fans have earned the nickname "ONCE." This name was given by the members in 2015, stating "If you love us even once, we will repay your love with twice of our love."
Throughout their career, they’ve released more than 200 songs. All spanning from mini albums, studio albums, compilation albums, reissues, and a remix album. All nine members have been involved in the writing and composition of the music for the group. The most well-known are Dahyun, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung. Keeping things interesting the group has also dabbled in other projects. Nayeon, Jihyo, and Tzuyu have released solo projects that have been well-received by the general public.
Nayeon was the first member to go solo in 2022 with her EP titled Im Nayeon. The EP contains seven tracks, including the lead single "Pop!" and a collaboration with Felix from Stray Kids called "No Problem." The album was a huge success as it debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at No. 7, making Nayeon the first South Korean soloist to enter the top 10 and highest-selling female act of that year. Then in 2024, Nayeon released her second EP Na, which also peaked at #7 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Jihyo was the second member to go solo with her R&B-inspired EP ZONE in 2023. A personal project for the singer as she wrote and composed most of the track. The album name is a combination of the alphabet letter Z (which refers to Jihyo) and the English word One, meaning “Jihyo's first.” The last member to debut as a soloist was Tzuyu with her EP AbouTZU. The title AbouTZU is a combo of the English word "about" and the first three letters of the singer's name Tzuyu, symbolizing all aspects of herself. The EP contains six tracks, including the lead single "Run Away" and collaborations with Peniel of BtoB and rapper pH-1.
A TWICE J-pop sub-unit named MISAMO debuted in 2023, consisting of the Japanese members Momo, Sana, and Mina. The group sets itself apart from the cheerful bubblegum pop sound of TWICE, focusing on a more contemporary sound with sophisticated visuals. The subunit has been a huge hit in Japan, with the group debuting at No. 1 on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart with their EP Masterpiece.
The group has also tapped into other parts of the entertainment industry. Jeongyeon hosts a YouTube show called The Inspector Show where she goes into the homes of celebrities and ransacks their place for donations that will eventually be sold in a flea market. Sana also delved into the YouTube realm by temporarily taking over hosting duties for “Dex's Fridge Interview.” Dahyun made her acting debut last year with the coming-of-age romance film You Are the Apple of My Eye and will star in the independent movie Run to You.
There is no sign of TWICE slowing down as 2024 was a huge year. In February, the group dropped their 13th mini-album, With YOU-th, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart—marking their first No. 1 album since their debut in 2015 and cementing their record for the most top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 by a female K-pop act. With YOU-th also made history by securing the highest pure album sales among all K-pop girl groups. In March, the group brought their fifth World Tour, READY TO BE, to Las Vegas for a sold-out, one-night-only encore performance, READY TO BE ONCE MORE, at Allegiant Stadium. In November, they set a record-breaking livestream performance on Amazon Music Live following the NFL’s Thursday Night Football. To top off the year, TWICE released their highly anticipated 14th mini album, STRATEGY, via JYP Entertainment and Republic Records on Dec 6th. The album features seven brand-new tracks, including a collaboration with rapper Megan Thee Stallion titled “Strategy.” The English track marks TWICE’s second collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, following last October's "Mamushi (Remix) (feat. TWICE)," which appeared on MEGAN ACT II. The group also dropped a music video for the lead track “Strategy,” the video shows the group members revealing their playful strategies to win over a crush with fun choreography and charming visuals. The album is a cohesive project that channels all aspects of love with memorable hooks and their signature bubbly pop melodies.
Keeping the momentum going, TWICE is heading into 2025 with even bigger plans. They will be joining Coldplay on tour in April, serving as the special guests for their six shows in Seoul. October will be extra special as the nine members will be celebrating their 10th anniversary as a group! Despite their busy schedule of appearances and promotion, TWICE took some time to answer some Music Connection questions about their skyrocketing career, new album and plans for the new year.
Music Connection: Hi TWICE, thank you for answering our questions. Can you please introduce yourselves to our readers. Bonus question, what’s a fun fact about yourself?
Nayeon: Hi, I’m Nayeon. I had Kimchi for lunch today!
Jeongyeon: Hi, I’m Jeongyeon from TWICE! Actually, I’m the fun one!
Momo: Hello, I’m Momo! I went for a walk with my puppies, Dobby and Boo today!
Sana: Hi, I’m Sana. My birthday is coming soon (December 29th)!
Jihyo:Hi, I’m Jihyo! I ordered summer rolls today and then I ate Sana’s Budae Jjigae (Army Stew).
Mina: Hi, I’m Mina from TWICE. On my days off, I do nothing but just lay down.
Dahyun: Hi, I’m Dahyun. These days, I’m into warm mufflers and hats since it’s so cold!
Chaeyoung: Hi, I’m Chaeyoung, and I’m not a fan of strawberry-scented milk (not the flavor, but the smell).
Tzuyu: Hi, I’m Tzuyu! Sometimes, I hold my puppy and talk to the mirror.
MC:Your 14th mini album Strategy is out now. How would you describe the album, what’s the inspiration?
Nayeon: As soon as I heard it, I felt like this is the TWICE song. We tried to include our unique bright and lovely "Strategy."
Jihyo: The theme colors are pink and red, both bright and vibrant, to create a festive vibe for the end of the year.
MC: How was the creative process, was any song tough to record?
Nayeon: The focus track, “Strategy,” required more edits than the other tracks.
MC: Which song is your favorite from the mini album and why?
Jeongyeon: I really like the song “Like It Like It.” It’s a bright and upbeat song, and it fits perfectly as a TWICE track!
MC: Question for Dahyun, you wrote the lyrics for the song “Keeper.” Can you talk about the experience? How does it feel to be more involved in the creative process?
Dahyun: I’ve listened to the song “Keeper” countless times, and because it’s a song I worked really hard on writing the lyrics for, I feel even more connected to it. Most of all, I’m happy and proud thinking that ONCE will love it!
MC: The lead title track “Strategy” features Megan Thee Stallion and the group was also featured on a remix of her song “Mamushi.” How was it collaborating with Megan?
Mina: It’s truly an honor, and I think it became an even more stylish and cool piece thanks to Megan.
Chaeyoung: I feel like it made the song even richer, and it was such a valuable experience.
MC: Music videos, choreography and visuals are an important part in K-pop, how would you describe TWICE’s signature look and style?
Chaeyoung: Energetic and Sporty
MC: What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about filming music videos?
Mina: I get to wear a variety of outfits, and I always look forward to the sets as well.
Tzuyu: For “Strategy,” I got to shoot with Megan Thee Stallion, and it was really eye-catching and fun!
MC: You guys sing in a variety of languages—Korean, Japanese and English. Do you work with coaches to help with the pronunciations? What other language would you love to sing in?
Momo: We get help from the other members, and some members also take separate lessons! If possible, I would love to sing in Spanish as well.
MC: You’ve been working with JYP Entertainment for a very long time. What do you enjoy about working with the company? Anyone who has helped you all along the group's career?
Jihyo: Both JYP Entertainment and we have the same ultimate goal—for TWICE to do even better and keep rising. I think we’re all working hard with trust in each other.
MC: TWICE is very popular and loved here in the U.S. You’ve sold out stadiums and toured in various cities. How was that experience?
Jeongyeon: It's amazing and I'm so grateful that TWICE is loved in such a big country like the U.S. and that people enjoy our music. During the tour, I realized that there are so many more people who love us than I had imagined!
Sana: When we debuted, I couldn’t have imagined receiving so much love in the U.S. Although we can't visit often, I just want to say thank you to everyone who loves and supports us.
MC: What’s the biggest difference between performing in the U.S. versus Korea?
Jeongyeon: There’s no big difference! The love our fans have for us and our music is the same, no matter where we are!
MC: What's your favorite thing about touring?
Momo: I’m so happy to be able to visit countries I’ve never been to and meet ONCE there!
MC: How do you take care of yourself mentally and psychically with such heavy schedules?
Dahyun: Since staying hydrated is important, I try to drink lots of water and get enough sleep.
MC: In November, it was announced that TWICE will be special guests of Coldplay's upcoming shows in Seoul. How does it feel to open them? Are you big fans of their music?
Chaeyoung: It reminds me of what we heard a lot during our trainee days. I’m really grateful and happy that we were given that opportunity!
MC: TWICE will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. A big milestone! What are you looking forward to the most as a group in the new year?
Sana: Since the 10th anniversary is such a special milestone, I really want to create lots of amazing memories with the members and our fans.
MC: Looking back at your extraordinary career. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a group and how did you overcome it?
Jihyo: I never imagined we’d be able to do a tour on this scale. It was really exciting but also nerve-wracking, but I just thought, "Let’s do it the way we always do."
MC: TWICE has released a lot of music through the years. What is the secret to keeping your music sounding fresh and exciting?
Tzuyu: I think watching lots of other artists' performances and discussing ideas with the label really helped in creating new and great music!
MC: The nine of you seem to have very close and supportive relationships. What’s the key to getting along?
Sana: The members are like the best colleagues and family to me. I think it's because of the affection, love, and respect we have for each other that we’ve been able to reach this 10-year milestone.
Tzuyu: While we respect each other and work hard individually, we’re always there to lean on each other when things get tough. I think that’s been a big source of strength.
MC: What is your advice for people who aspire to be idols?
Nayeon: Believe in yourself!
