Aboutzu

{{Infobox album

| name = Aboutzu

| type = EP

| artist = Tzuyu

| cover = Aboutzu_(EP)_digital_cover_art.jpeg

| alt = An image of Tzuyu wearing a cyan colored dress. The album title is displayed on the lower right side of the image.

| caption = Digital cover

| released = {{start date|2024|9|6}}

| recorded = 2024

| studio = JYP Studios

| genre = Dance-pop{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Abby |title=TWICE's Tzuyu on cold feet before solo debut: 'I wondered whether I could really pull this off' |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/twice-tzuyu-aboutzu-solo-debut-run-away-interview-3792173 |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=NME |date=September 10, 2024}}

| length = {{Duration|m=19|s=8}}

| language = {{hlist|Korean|English}}

| label =

JYP
Republic

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Aboutzu

| type = EP

| single1 = Run Away

| single1date = September 6, 2024

}}

Aboutzu (stylized as abouTZU) is the debut extended play (EP) by Taiwanese singer Tzuyu of the girl group Twice. It was released on September 6, 2024, through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records. The EP contains six tracks, including the lead single "Run Away" and collaborations with Peniel of BtoB and rapper pH-1.

Background

In 2023, the decision was made that Tzuyu would debut as a soloist, with recording and production beginning in February 2024.{{cite web |last1=Frances |first1=Lai |title=Twice's Tzuyu Lights Up When She Talks AboutTZU |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/twice-tzuyu-abouttzu-interview/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=September 7, 2024 |date=September 6, 2024 |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907003311/https://uproxx.com/pop/twice-tzuyu-abouttzu-interview/ |url-status=live }} On August 2, 2024, JYP Entertainment released an opening trailer for Aboutzu to publicly announce Tzuyu's solo debut.{{cite web|title=Twice Tzuyu to Make Solo Debut with AbouTzu, following Nayeon and Jihyo |url=https://www.k-ennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2802|access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=K-en News |language=en |last=Ha |first=Yu-mi |date=August 2, 2024}} Throughout August and early September, various teasers and other promotional content were distributed in anticipation of the EP's release on September 6. The official music video for the lead single "Run Away" came out on the same day as the EP.{{cite web|title=Twice Tzuyu to Debut Solo with abouTzu on September 6 [Timeline] |url=https://www.k-ennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2861|access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=K-en News |language=en |last=Ha |first=Yu-mi |date=August 5, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Twice's Tzuyu makes solo debut with alluring new single, 'Run Away' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/twice-tzuyu-solo-debut-aboutzu-3780377 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=NME |language=en |last=Ziwei |first=Puah |date=September 6, 2024}} In an interview with Rolling Stone, also published on September 6, Tzuyu explained that she has long had the desire to release her own album and that she hopes listeners will learn more about her true personality through her music.{{cite web |title=Tzuyu Is Ready for Her Solo Moment |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/tzuyu-twice-solo-aboutzu-interview-1235095691/ |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en |last=Kim |first=Jae-ha |date=September 6, 2024 |archive-date=September 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906152708/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/tzuyu-twice-solo-aboutzu-interview-1235095691/ |url-status=live }} Tzuyu was the third member of Twice to launch a solo music career, following Nayeon in 2022 and Jihyo in 2023.{{cite web|title=Twice's Tzuyu to become third member to embark on solo career|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-08-02/entertainment/kpop/Twices-Tzuyu-to-become-third-member-to-embark-on-solo-career/2104384?detailWord= |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en |last=Kim |first=Min-young |date=August 2, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Twice's Tzuyu unveils deeper, mature side with solo debut album abouTzu |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/09/398_381959.html |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=The Korea Times |language=en |last=Pyo |first=Kyung-min |date=September 5, 2024}}

Title

The title Aboutzu is a combination of the English word "about" and the first three letters of the singer's name Tzuyu, symbolizing that the EP reflects all aspects of herself.{{cite web |title=Twice's Tzuyu reveals new, mature side in solo debut |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240905050696 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en |last=Kim |first=Jae-heun |date=September 5, 2024 |archive-date=September 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906013038/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240905050696 |url-status=live }} The text "abouTZU" on the EP's cover art can also be read as "chouTZU" to represent her full name Chou Tzuyu.

Composition

The lead single "Run Away" is a synth-pop and disco-pop song composed by Andrea Rosario, Elsa Curran, Davin Kingston, and Johnny Simpson, with lyrics written by Park Jin-young. Pyo Kyung-min of The Korea Times, reporting from a pre-release press conference, said that the song "features nostalgia-evoking piano melodies in the intro and a bold synth bass for the chorus, evoking a sound reminiscent of the late 2000s to mid-2010s". Next on the track list are collaborations with Peniel of BtoB in "Heartbreak in Heaven" and rapper pH-1 in "Lazy Baby", before the EP continues with the solo tracks "Losing Sleep" and "One Love".{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2024 |title=TWICE Tzuyu to Make Solo Debut with 'Run Away' Penned by JYP’s Park Jin-young and Top Global Songwriters |url=https://www.hankooki.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=182051 |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=hankooki.com |language=ko |last=Ha |first=Yu-mi |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909030307/https://www.hankooki.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=182051 |url-status=live }} Tzuyu wrote the lyrics for the final song "Fly", a ballad that tells her own story.{{cite web |title=Twice's Tzuyu aims to shed maknae image with solo debut album abouTzu |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-09-05/entertainment/kpop/Twices-Tzuyu-aims-to-shed-maknae-image-with-solo-debut-album-abouTZU/2128514 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en |last=Yoon |first=So-yeon |date=September 5, 2024 |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909030144/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-09-05/entertainment/kpop/Twices-Tzuyu-aims-to-shed-maknae-image-with-solo-debut-album-abouTZU/2128514 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Fell |first1=Nicole |title=Twice’s Tzuyu on Her Passion for Releasing a Solo Album and Her Advice to Aspiring K-Pop Idols |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/twice-tzuyu-debut-solo-album-run-away-aboutzu-kpop-advice-1235993921/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=September 7, 2024 |date=September 6, 2024 |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907020246/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/twice-tzuyu-debut-solo-album-run-away-aboutzu-kpop-advice-1235993921/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Munson |first1=Olivia |title=Tzuyu of TWICE on her debut solo album: 'I wanted to showcase my bold side' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/09/06/tzuyu-twice-kpop-solo-debut-music-interview-aboutzu/74800391007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=September 7, 2024 |date=September 6, 2024 |archive-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907020226/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/09/06/tzuyu-twice-kpop-solo-debut-music-interview-aboutzu/74800391007/ |url-status=live }}

Commercial performance

Pre-order sales of Aboutzu reportedly reached 467,500 copies worldwide.{{cite news |last1=Park |first1=Seo-hyun |title='솔로 데뷔' 쯔위, 트와이스X원스 응원 속 첫주 음방 성료 |trans-title='Solo debut' Tzuyu successfully completes first week of music shows amidst support from Twice and Once |url=http://www.heraldpop.com/view.php?ud=202409091315102064313_1 |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=Herald Pop |date=September 9, 2024 |language=ko}} In South Korea, the EP debuted at number 3 on the Circle Album Chart for the week ending September 7, with 284,844 copies sold. In the United States, the EP debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200 for the chart dated September 21, with 24,000 album-equivalent units,{{cite news |last1=Zellner |first1=Xander |title=Rich Homie Quan, Fred again.. & Tzuyu: Billboard 200 Chart Movers |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/rich-homie-quan-fred-again-tzuyu-billboard-200-chart-movers-1235777937/ |access-date=September 19, 2024 |work=Billboard |date=September 17, 2024}} including 22,000 physical album sales as reported by the music data tracking firm Luminate.{{cite news |last1=Caulfied |first1=Keith |title=David Gilmour Scores First No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart With ‘Luck and Strange’ |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/david-gilmour-first-number-one-billboard-top-album-sales-chart-luck-and-strange-1235780142/ |access-date=September 20, 2024 |work=Billboard |date=September 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919235549/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/david-gilmour-first-number-one-billboard-top-album-sales-chart-luck-and-strange-1235780142/ |archive-date=September 19, 2024 |url-status=live}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Aboutzu track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| total_length = 19:08

| title_width = 30%

| lyrics_width = 20%

| music_width = 35%

| extra_width = 15%

| title1 = Run Away

| lyrics1 = J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"

| music1 = {{hlist|Andrea Rosario|Elsa Curran|Davin Kingston|Johnny Simpson}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Kingston|Simpson}}

| length1 = 3:18

| title2 = Heartbreak in Heaven

| note2 = featuring Peniel of BtoB

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Tom Mann|Nicole Blair|Alex Stacey|Peter Rycroft|Peniel}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Mann|Blair|Stacey|Rycroft|Peniel}}

| extra2 = Lostboy

| length2 = 3:33

| title3 = Lazy Baby

| note3 = featuring pH-1

| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Lee Yi-jin|pH-1}}

| music3 = {{hlist|Bobbi LaNea Taylor|Folayan Omi Kunerede|Mark Gozman|Shayon Daniels|Nicci Funicelli|pH-1}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Marky Style|Daniels|Funicelli}}

| length3 = 2:42

| title4 = Losing Sleep

| lyrics4 = Moon Yeo-reum (Jam Factory)

| music4 = {{hlist|Jonny Hockings|Maria Hazell|Tre Jean-Marie}}

| extra4 = Jean-Marie

| length4 = 2:39

| title5 = One Love

| lyrics5 = Lee Seu-ran

| music5 = {{hlist|Kamille|Rick Parkhouse|George Tizzard}}

| extra5 = Red Triangle

| length5 = 3:13

| title6 = Fly

| lyrics6 = Tzuyu

| music6 = {{hlist|Daniel Durn|Katrine Neya Klith|Kim Woo-sang|pdly}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|pdly|Kim|Durn|Klith}}

| length6 = 3:43

}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Aboutzu|title-link=Aboutzu|author=Tzuyu|year=2024|type=liner notes|publisher=JYP Entertainment}}

Musicians

Tzuyu – lead vocals
Sophia Pae – background vocals
Johnny Simpson – piano, keyboard, programming (track 1)
Davin Kingston – piano, keyboard (track 1)
Peniel – featured vocals (track 2)
Lostboy – keyboards, programming, guitars, bass, drums (track 2)
Marky Style – instrumentation (track 3)
Shayon Daniels – instrumentation (track 3)
Nicci Funicelli – instrumentation (track 3)
pH-1 – featured vocals, background vocals (track 3)
Tre Jean-Marie – drums, bass, programming, synthesizer (track 4)
George Tizzard – guitar, drums, keyboard (track 5)
Rick Parkhouse – bass, programming, piano (track 5)
pdly – programming (track 6)
Kim Woo-sang – programming, piano (track 6)
Shiry – guitar (track 6)

Technical

Sophia Pae – vocal directing for Tzuyu
Lee Kyung-won – digital editing (track 1)
Seo Eun-il – recording (track 1)
Im Chan-mi – recording (track 1)
Lee Tae-seop – mixing (track 1)
Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
Shin Bong-won – Dolby Atmos mixing
Park Nam-joon – digital editing (tracks 4–6), Dolby Atmos mixing assistance
Lee Seon-yu – vocal directing for Peniel (track 2)
Gu Hye-jin – digital editing (track 2), recording for Tzuyu (tracks 2, 4–5)
Kim Dong-il – recording for Peniel (track 2)
Park Eun-jeong – mixing (track 2)
Im Chan-mi – recording (tracks 1, 4, 6)
Lee Sang-yeop – digital editing, recording for Tzuyu (tracks 3, 5)
pH-1 – recording for pH-1 (track 3)
Choi Hye-jin – mixing (track 3)
Eom Se-hee – mixing (track 4)
Im Hong-jin – mixing (tracks 5–6)

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for Aboutzu ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ){{cite web \|title=Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 39. hét \|url=https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/39 \|publisher=MAHASZ \|access-date=2 October 2024}} \| 23
{{album chart\|Oricon\|3\|date=2024-10-14\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 9, 2024}}
scope="row"\| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon){{cite web \|title=Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-10-14 \|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-10-14/ \|publisher=Oricon \|access-date=October 10, 2024 \|language=ja \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010043652/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-10-14/ \|archive-date=October 10, 2024}} \| 4
scope="row"\| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web\|url=http://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2024&month=09&day=16\|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 11, 2024\|website=Billboard Japan\|language=ja\|access-date=September 11, 2024}} \| 45
scope="row"\| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web\|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=36&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3\|title=Circle Album Chart – Week 36 of 2024\|website=Circle Chart\|language=ko\|access-date=September 12, 2024}} \| 3
{{album chart\|UKDigital\|18\|date=20240913\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 14, 2024}}
scope="row"\| UK Albums Sales (OCC){{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/20240913/7511/\|title=Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|access-date=September 14, 2024}} \| 56
scope="row"\| UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC){{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-breakers-chart/20240913/255/\|title=Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|access-date=September 14, 2024}} \| 16
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2024-09-21/\|title=Billboard 200: Week of September 21, 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=September 17, 2024}} \| 19
scope="row"\| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2024-09-21/\|title=World Albums: Week of September 21, 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=September 17, 2024}} \| 1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for Aboutzu

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ){{cite web |title=Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 39. hét |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/39 |publisher=MAHASZ |access-date=2 October 2024}}

| 23

{{album chart|Oricon|3|date=2024-10-14|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2024}}

scope="row"| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-10-14 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-10-14/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=October 10, 2024 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010043652/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-10-14/ |archive-date=October 10, 2024}}

| 4

scope="row"| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=http://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2024&month=09&day=16|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 11, 2024|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=September 11, 2024}}

| 45

scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=36&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – Week 36 of 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=September 12, 2024}}

| 3

{{album chart|UKDigital|18|date=20240913|rowheader=true|access-date=September 14, 2024}}

scope="row"| UK Albums Sales (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/20240913/7511/|title=Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 14, 2024}}

| 56

scope="row"| UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-breakers-chart/20240913/255/|title=Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 14, 2024}}

| 16

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2024-09-21/|title=Billboard 200: Week of September 21, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2024}}

| 19

scope="row"| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2024-09-21/|title=World Albums: Week of September 21, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2024}}

| 1

=Monthly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Monthly chart performance for Aboutzu ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web \|title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-10 \|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-10/p/2/ \|publisher=Oricon \|access-date=November 13, 2024 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241113054645/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-10/p/2/ \|archive-date=November 13, 2024 \|language=ja}} \| 18
scope="row"\| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web\|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=09&hitYear=2024&termGbn=month&yearTime=3\|title=Circle Album Chart – September 2024\|website=Circle Chart\|language=ko\|access-date=October 10, 2024}} \| 4

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Monthly chart performance for Aboutzu

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-10 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-10/p/2/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=November 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241113054645/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-10/p/2/ |archive-date=November 13, 2024 |language=ja}}

| 18

scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=09&hitYear=2024&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – September 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=October 10, 2024}}

| 4

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for Aboutzu ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web\|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=2024&hitYear=2024&termGbn=year&yearTime=3\|title=Album Chart – 2024\|website=Circle Chart\|language=ko\|access-date=January 11, 2025}} \| 66

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for Aboutzu

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=2024&hitYear=2024&termGbn=year&yearTime=3|title=Album Chart – 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=January 11, 2025}}

| 66

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|type=album|artist=Tzuyu|title=Aboutzu|relyear=2024|award=Platinum|number=1|certyear=2024|certmonth=11|access-date=November 7, 2024}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release history for Aboutzu ! scope="col" \| Region ! scope="col" \| Date ! scope="col" \| Format ! scope="col" \| Label
scope="row" \| Various \| September 6, 2024 \| {{hlist\|CD\|vinyl LP\|digital download\|streaming}} \| {{hlist\|JYP\|Republic}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history for Aboutzu

! scope="col" | Region

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Format

! scope="col" | Label

scope="row" | Various

| September 6, 2024

| {{hlist|CD|vinyl LP|digital download|streaming}}

| {{hlist|JYP|Republic}}

References

Category:JYP Entertainment EPs

Category:Republic Records EPs

Category:Korean-language EPs

Category:2024 debut EPs

Category:2020s Korean-language albums