POW Embraces Emotional Growth in Third EP Being Tender

With their third extended play Being Tender, POW invites listeners into a world where softness is strength, vulnerability is celebrated, and emotional connection is the centerpiece. The five-member group — Yorch, Hyunbin, Jungbin, Dongyeon, and Hong — returns this summer with a distinctly heartfelt and introspective project that signals a shift in tone from their earlier, high-energy releases. Rooted in the concept of “tenderness,” this EP not only reflects POW’s growing maturity as artists but also leaves fans feeling comforted, seen, and emotionally understood.

The opening track “Celebrate” kicks off the EP with a burst of optimism. It’s a song that feels like walking into the sunlight after a long rainy day — bright, effervescent, and full of renewal. The production leans into groovy basslines and upbeat percussion, but there's a softness to the delivery that keeps it from feeling overly flashy. Emotionally, “Celebrate” captures that warm rush of finally reaching a moment you’ve worked hard for. It’s perfect for those transitional, life-affirming moments — graduation day, the start of summer, or even just reuniting with someone you missed. Listeners will feel joy, nostalgia, and a subtle undercurrent of gratitude running through every note.

The title track, “Being Tender,” is the emotional core of the album. With its restrained tempo and spacious production, it offers listeners a chance to slow down — not just in rhythm, but in feeling. Yorch’s creative input is evident in the delicate layering and the climactic group chant that brings all five members together in a shared emotional release. The song encourages listeners to reflect on the subtle ways we show love: a glance, a gentle word, a small act of kindness. It doesn’t ask for intensity; it invites sincerity. Emotionally, the track feels like a warm embrace or a handwritten letter from a close friend. It leaves listeners feeling calm, comforted, and perhaps even inspired to treat themselves and others with a little more care.

“Reason” shifts the emotional tone into something more personal — a love letter to the fans. The minimal piano line and airy arrangement allow the vocals to shine, making the lyrics feel even more intimate. “Because of you, I can sing,” they declare, and the sincerity in their voices is unmistakable. It’s the kind of track that will likely bring fans to tears — not from sadness, but from the overwhelming sense of being appreciated and understood. For POWERs, this song is a mirror reflecting all the love they’ve poured into POW since debut. Listeners will feel cherished, close, and emotionally validated. It’s the EP’s quietest moment, but emotionally, it’s the loudest.

Closing the album is “Fingerprint,” a standout track that encapsulates both the weight and beauty of shared memories. It’s tender, yes, but there’s also a tinge of longing — as if POW is looking back on everything they’ve experienced with fans and sealing it in song. The chorus hits like a breeze on a warm evening: subtle, stirring, and unforgettable. As the lyrics describe leaving behind memories like fingerprints, the emotional impact lands heavily. Listeners are likely to feel both joy and sadness — the bittersweet realization that time is passing, but it’s leaving behind something meaningful. It’s a song built for concert endings and night drives, filled with quiet hope and sentimental closure.

As a whole, Being Tender is not just a seasonal release — it’s an emotional experience. POW has crafted an EP that feels like a conversation between artist and listener, where each song reflects a different shade of the same feeling: tenderness. Rather than chase trends, the group leans into nuance and sincerity, trusting their fans to sit with emotion rather than be distracted from it. In a K-pop landscape often dominated by intensity and spectacle, POW’s decision to slow down and open up feels refreshingly bold. Being Tender is the kind of album that doesn’t just get played — it gets felt. And for those who tune in, it offers a gentle reminder that growing up doesn’t mean becoming harder — it means learning how to care, more deeply and more intentionally than ever before.