- Motto means “a guiding principle or creed in life or work.” ITZY’s motto for the release of their mini album Motto, due out on May 18, 2026, is the “epitome of ITZY.” Carrying the motto “I choose myself,” the group has shown a strong sense of believing in themselves rather than doubting amid repetitive situations. From their debut song “DALLA DALLA” in 2019, Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna have addressed the message of respecting and loving “myself,” and through the solid and deeply layered “Motto,” they are set to present an even more powerful side of ITZY to fans around the world. The new album Motto is ITZY’s first release in approximately six months since TUNNEL VISION in November 2025. The trailer for the new album perfectly heralded the message ITZY wants to convey by reflecting and implying the album as a whole. Each of the five members’ stories was dramatically portrayed as they moved forward precariously while keeping balance, and ended up progressing without breaking down, creating a deep immersion. Ryujin, who eagerly embraces even others’ gazes directed toward her girl-crush appeal and the quiet inner self beyond it; Chaeryeong, who wants to reveal herself without set boundaries rather than worrying about how others see her; Yuna, who keeps moving forward by trusting her instincts even in the moment when she wavers; Lia, who maintains balance by expressing her emotions just as they are; and Yeji, who believes in herself at every moment and pushes all the way through—each member’s honest thoughts and record of experiences were elevated into a metaphorical mise-en-scène. The trailer was led by Rigend Film’s director Rima Yoon, and director Léa Esmaili, known for building distinctive visual worlds, joined in to work together with ITZY. The sophisticated composition of every scene, applied with a sense of refined aesthetics, was showered with compliments. - Title track “Motto,” a trendy melody with a hint of a refreshing feel! An energetic performance added to charge up the early-summer mood! The title track “Motto” stands out for its refreshing, trendy melody. Deep reverb effects and subtle, lingering pad synths blend together create a mysterious, multidimensional sound. As reflected in its confident lyrics, such as “not afraid of the ending,” and “meeting a clear light after nights of hesitation,” the song sparks the drive to push forward and inspires the courage to keep going. The music video also visually captures the process of “meeting myself” and “being able to choose myself.” HAEINYSS and YURI joined in to create the choreography that consists of large, energetic movements, which work as the key highlight that suits the early-summer mood. The two choreographers worked on the performance for “THAT’S A NO NO,” the track from ITZY’s second mini album that sparked a massive global craze after being unveiled in February 2026 during ITZY’s new world tour TUNNEL VISION, sparking explosive synergy with the group. - New album includes a total of eight tracks, including the new track “Motto” and five unique solo songs premiered during the TUNNEL VISION world tour! The new album is well-packed with eight tracks, led by the title song “Motto,” along with “Glitch,” “you And I,” and the five distinct solo tracks first introduced on the members’ individual performances during the TUNNEL VISION concert: “Pocket (Yeji),” “Asylum (Lia),” “LOOK (Ryujin),” “Undefined (Chaeryeong),” and “Tangerine (Yuna).” Ranging from experimental pop sounds that are fun to listen to, to the heat and energy of the stage fully captured, the album is expected to become a special, archive-like release. Top writers and producers in and outside of the country, such as Sim Eunjee, “collapsedone” Lee Woomin, KASS, and Justin Reinstein, contributed to raising the album’s overall quality. In the early spring of 2026, ITZY lit up the group’s presence by boosting the momentum of their existing discography’s “THAT’S A NO NO” through their world tour performances, proving once again why they are called the “performance queens.” Expressing gratitude for the sudden resurgence in popularity, saying, “It feels like people have recognized and acknowledged the path ITZY has walked, and we’re more than thankful,” the group is now set to make an even bigger leap forward as they prepare for their first group activities this year, fueled by the tremendous support of fans around the world.