No Distractions, Just ITZY: All About Their New EP "TUNNEL VISION"
Seven years and ten mini-albums under their belt, Korean girl group ITZY is back with their newest EP “TUNNEL VISION”. The EP features six brand new songs: "Focus," "DYT," "Flicker," "Nocturne," "8-BIT HEART," and, of course, the title track "TUNNEL VISION."
Off the bat, one thing about this comeback is immediately clear: "TUNNEL VISION" is uniquely ITZY in a way past drops didn’t quite manage to be. From production to theme, it seems that ITZY is channeling their debut personas and putting a darker, more mature spin on what their debut track "DALLA DALLA" promised in 2019.
All of the members have writing credits on this opening track, "Focus", and it serves as a great introduction to what "TUNNEL VISION" is about:
No fear, no doubt, I just keep going on […] Focus, Vision, New point, Mind sealed. Greedy eyes on.
While the number of lyrics is limited, the underlying message is obvious: Don't lose sight of what you want. The words are spoken over a dark, crushed synth beat, almost like a mantra the girls are repeating to themselves.
"TUNNEL VISION" is instrumentally very similar to "Focus;" both have a very synth-heavy production and rely on spoken or rap-like presentation of their lyrics. However, the title track switches it up completely in its chorus.
Nothing’s gonna put me off, I see the light shine
I know what the hell I want, don’t need permission
Breaking through the dark, I’m on my motivation
Focus on my level up, I got tunnel vision
The chorus is sung in a chant-like manner by all the members, and even though the performance video isn't out yet, the song clearly capitalizes on ITZY's strong skill set in that regard. While the song (and ITZY's discography in general) might not be for everyone, the chorus is really catchy, and I'm sure that after a few more listens, the verses could catch on as well.
"DYT" is the third song and introduces an early ITZY-type energy to the EP. It features the type of attitude similar to songs like "Gas Me Up" or "SWIPE" from their 2021 Album "CRAZY IN LOVE". "DYT" or "DO YOUR THING" has a slightly different approach to the overarching topic of the EP: While the other songs focus on the members and their goals, "DYT" seems to be a subtle, romantic nod for someone else to stand up for what they want and take it.
Following "DYT," "Flicker" brings a lighter, whimsical vibe to the Album. The "flicker" ITZY is talking about is a goal they want to reach, something that seems so far away and sometimes seems not to be there at all, like "a flicker in the night."
If I reach out, it feels like I could touch it. My eyes are dazzled, so I grab it with my fist. How would I even know if it's real?
"Nocturne" showcases a completely new side of ITZY. For one, it's the only song on the EP that doesn't really sound like a K-pop song, and instead seems to be aimed at an international audience instead. While the lyrics are still partly in Korean, the vibe is more mature and offers a good glimpse of the depth ITZY is capable of. The chorus reads:
Break, Nightmare, Struggle To Escape
(Get Up, Wanna Take Off, Wake Up, Wake Up, Wanna Take Off)
Everything’s Black And White, It Feels So Weird
(Get Up, Wanna Take Off, Wake Up, Wake Up, Wanna Take Off)
Oh, When I Want To Stay
Oh, Inside A Sweet Lie
Wake Up, Break, Nightmare, Bitter Fruit (Who’s There?)
Light It Up In The Deep Darkness
It's a dark song that captures the claustrophobic blur of being trapped in a nightmare. The track is a metaphor for fear, confusion, and the deceptive comfort of denial. It tells the story of wrestling free from those “sweet lies,” confronting your own shadow, and choosing to wake up to a harsher but truer reality.
The EP does a full 180 for the final song, "8-BIT HEART". It mixes a cute, game-like instrumental with a darker, crushed bit sound in the chorus. This song in particular feels more like it belongs on an NMIXX (one of JYP's other girl groups) soundtrack instead of an ITZY one, and doesn't mesh with the rest of the songs as well as one would hope for the outro.
"TUNNEL VISION" is the group's first comeback since all of the members renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment, and it seems they are putting a new spin on their debut. When "DALLA DALLA" came out six years ago, the message was self-assertive, it being about being a little different and loving yourself regardless. With this comeback, the message changed ever so slightly: it's focused self-belief, it's being on your own path. The difference is subtle, but it's there. "TUNNEL VISION" might not be ground-breaking, but it's a solid, well-executed comeback that cements ITZY’s place among K-pop’s dynamic forces.
WRITTEN BY
Kira
As a little girl, my biggest dream was to stand on a stage and share my songs with people who can relate. It turns out that that’s a lot harder than it seemed. Still, there is a similarly electric feeling in the crowd, spending the better half of the evening with like-minded people. People who you might not know or ever see again, that don’t seem so much like strangers for those few hours you spend with an artist, their fans, and the music. To me, the capacity of music to make fans connect despite who they are is the most intriguing and inspiring phenomenon of all, and my hope is to share it with people as best I can.
