Rising K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts said Monday it hopes to sustain its growing popularity through the second half of the year with its first summer song, “Lemon Tang,” following the success of its hit single “Rude!”
The eight-member group returned with its second EP of the same name after “Rude!” topped domestic music charts, earned five wins in TV music shows and became its first music video to surpass 100 million views upon its release in February.
“It still feels surreal to see our songs rank high on the charts, and we are very grateful,” member Ye-on said during a media showcase to promote the new album in Seoul. “We think our positive energy and relatable messages resonated with listeners, uplifting their spirits.”
Hearts2Hearts has gained traction both at home and abroad since its debut in February 2025, with tracks including “Focus,” “Style” and “The Chase” also drawing attention.
Member Ian said the group felt its global reach during a North American showcase tour in March, when fans sang along to “Rude!”
“We were thankful and it made us want to work harder,” she said.
The new EP includes both “Lemon Tang” and “Rude!” and highlights the group’s “bright and free-spirited” energy, centered on themes of togetherness.
The title track, “Lemon Tang,” takes its name from combining sour lemon with “tang,” a word representing a fizzy taste and scent. The song, according to the group, conveys the message that while one may be sour and sharp like a lemon when alone, meeting one another transforms that into the sweet and sour charm of “Lemon Tang.”
“It’s a song that immediately felt like summer the moment we heard the demo, so all the members loved it,” member Yuha said. “We thought it was the best track to express our bright energy, which is why we chose it as the lead track.”
With this release, Hearts2Hearts aims to join the lineage of successful summer songs from SM Entertainment, home to female acts such as Girls’ Generation, f(x) and Red Velvet.
“We would be honored if ‘Lemon Tang’ could carry on that legacy,” member Jiwoo said, adding that the song emphasizes a sense of “being together.”
The group’s comeback comes as labelmate aespa recently returned with a lemon-themed track, “Lemonade.”
When asked about sharing the same “lemon” subject, Jiwoo shared that the senior act had encouraged it when meeting for a short-form dance challenge, remarking that it was fascinating to come back with the same theme and wishing for mutual success.
With a laugh, she explained the difference between the two, noting that while aespa’s lemon represents a “cool and thrilling sourness,” Hearts2Hearts’ one features a “fresh and sweet” charm.
Looking ahead, the group said it hopes to build on the momentum of “Rude!” with its latest release.
“If we gained attention in the first half of the year with ‘Rude!’, we hope to be loved in the second half with ‘Lemon Tang’,” member Carmen said. “We want to make this year the year of Hearts2Hearts.”