Happy TXT Anniversary!
A thank-you letter to one of my all-time favorite groups!
Happy seven-year anniversary to the magical TXT!
You know the kind of music that leaves you marveling at how perfectly it corresponds with your life circumstances? Like it was made just for you and provoked some deeper truths within yourself? Like it reached out to you and offered support, encouragement, and solace just when you needed it most? That is what I wrote and spoke about during Autism Acceptance Month at my alma mater: TXT and their “Name Chapters,” particularly the Neverland-inspired TEMPTATION era. TXT’s take on Peter Pan resonated deeply with me in a moment of identity crisis, as an autistic person struggling to find my place in this neurotypical world.
After the “Name Chapters,” TXT continued to release music that felt meant just for me, including a Little Prince-inspired era that reminded me what life is all about. Their music, videos, and overall storytelling have touched me and spoken to me again and again. Even before the Neverland era, their music has been such a natural part of my life soundtrack that it has felt meant to be, from being first introduced to them though the “CROWN” music video (which I still vividly remember tuning into the premiere of and having my spirits lifted by, after a homesick and nerve-wracking day at college) to releasing a song about a “Quarter Life” crisis just when I needed to hear it!
As I described in the speech, as an autistic person, finding sensory experiences that are not overwhelming can be difficult. Music is one of those rare experiences, one that actually grounds me in and makes me feel capable of handling the “real world.” Music in general makes me feel like I’m a part of something bigger than myself, while music by specific artists whose work strikes a particular chord with me makes me feel like I myself am a whole world, too.
I will always cherish every second spent in TXT’s universe, whether that means listening to their music, watching their videos, seeing them in concert, or writing all about their story - a story that feels so universal and yet so specific to me. It is the best kind of musical escapism, the kind that is also about so much more than music.
I hope everyone finds the albums/artists/songs that speak to them at a deeper level, the kind of music that reignites a passionate fire within them and a sense of strength and self-confidence they might not have even realized they had been lacking. I will always be grateful to TXT for being one of those artists for me.
TXT’s work combines exercises in self-reflection with big-picture social commentary and fantastical twists that keep it compelling and accessible. I am proof of them using the power of musical storytelling to enormous effect. They guide people without pushing them, equipping them with blueprints and encouragement without detailing the specific routes they must take. As long as their talent and personal touch remain key to their music, it will surely continue to excite and support me, regardless of which roads I choose. Our story is far from over!
Read a more objective analysis of their storytelling skills through this compilation of my best TXT-themed writing!
The All-Encompassing Essay
More Essays
TXT’s “ACT : PROMISE” World Tour Review: The Short Version
TXT’s “ACT : PROMISE” World Tour Review: The Long Version
TXT’s Take on The Little Prince
The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY is Deeper Than You Think
KIMSEJEONG’s and TXT’s Related Life Lessons
Shorter Reviews
Music Video Storyline “Cheat Sheets”
“TXT’s Real Magic” essay outtakes and notes version
minisode 3: TOMORROW (part 2)
minisode 3: TOMORROW (part 3)
The Star Seekers (part 2)
The Star Seekers (part 3)
The Star Seekers (part 4)
The Star Seekers (part 5)
ENHYPEN and TXT story parallels