Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty Photographs for The Recording Academy
All of it occurred so quick. Off the again of their anthology album’s launch, BTS shared a prerecorded dinner with the followers. Amidst a delicious-looking show of shrimp and meat and facet dishes, the boys introduced that they have been taking a break from making music as a gaggle to pursue solo initiatives. Wanting again, the announcement wasn’t shocking — BTS spent the final decade dwelling and making music collectively, so a break to seek out their very own private sounds and tales was maybe overdue. To not point out the truth that BTS should should take part in South Korea’s mandatory military service by the point they flip 30, which might preserve the band aside for the foreseeable future (Jin, who turns the large 3-0 in December, could be the primary member to enlist). However within the rapid aftermath of the announcement, the information of BTS’s break elicited a sort of hysteria: Hybe’s shares tanked (this is able to be BTS’s administration firm), many observers speculated that the “hiatus” would appear to be One Route’s (particularly, BTS would by no means return as a gaggle), and followers started to plan for his or her lives with out fixed updates from the Tannies (some resolved to work on themselves).
That being mentioned, nobody may have anticipated that BTS would begin their solo careers instantly. Straight out the gate from their emotional dinner that teased a plethora of particular person initiatives, Jungkook released a collaboration with Charlie Puth, whereas J-Hope announced a full studio album. V, ever the tastemaker, set off to Paris to attend Celine’s summer 2023 menswear show. Artwork connoisseur RM did just a little backpacking journey to Europe for Artwork Basel as the remainder of the members stayed in Korea. Thoughts you, I’m penning this simply three weeks into their so-called break, introduced June 14, the identical week that they introduced an October reunion live performance to assist Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo (they’re additionally vlogging, apparently). Up to now, a BTS break to pursue solo initiatives hasn’t meant a curbing of actions. As an alternative, it’s multiplied all of their actions by seven, making it practically unimaginable to maintain observe of all of it. However let’s attempt to anyway — right here’s a useful little checklist of their solo actions, which I’ll be updating usually:
J-Hope is the primary member to launch a studio album. Titled Jack in the Box, the album seems to play with the parable of Pandora’s field, the place the one factor left was the best evil of all — hope. The visible teasers counsel that Hobi is leaning into the darkish with this new report, taking part in round with new sounds and uncooked themes. Prerelease single “Extra” rattles with concepts about his occupation consuming him. His job is each a salve and an habit, the place nothing however music (and mastering the craft) can sate his thirst. He slides over a hip-hop rock-inflected hook that’s simply so cool. And scorching of him … Anyway, he’ll be headlining Lollapalooza — heretofore often known as Hobipalooza — on July 31 after the album’s July 15 launch.
The youngest was the primary to launch a observe within the post-BTS-break world. That includes on Charlie Puth’s summer season earworm “Left and Proper,” Jungkook sings about how he can’t get a obscure lover out of his head as a result of they “did issues to me that I simply can’t neglect.” The music is cute and really enjoyable to drive to. The music video is the second to depict Jungkook each getting hit by a automotive and perhaps having a gay lover. He’s presently engaged on his debut album.
In June, Kim Tae-hyung set off to Paris to take a seat entrance row at Celine’s summer season 2023 menswear present. He attended the present together with his actor buddy Park Bo-gum and Blackpink’s Lisa. He appeared excellent in his double leather-and-sequined look (I’ve many phrases, however they’re too shameful to print). In different information, he might be on a Disney+ display close to you together with his actuality present Within the Soop: Friendcation. Starring Tae-hyung, Choi Woo-shik (Parasite), Park Search engine optimization-joon (Itaewon Class), Park Hyung-sik (Sturdy Girl Do Bong Quickly), and musician Peakboy, the collection will comply with their four-day trip to a seaside city. In case you’re in any respect conversant in Korean trip selection reveals, you then’ll know that these quiet, drama-free collection about scorching pals getting collectively to make one another breakfast is a balm in your chapped mind. If you need a head-empty summer season full of 5 enticing males chilling out, that is for you. The present premieres on July 22. As for music, Tae’s been teasing his solo stuff for some time, however has admittedly deleted every little thing that doesn’t make the reduce.
If there’s one factor that you must learn about BTS’s chief, important songwriter, and nature extraordinaire, it’s that he has a factor for effective artwork. Exterior of being a pop-music big, he’s additionally an art-world influencer whose private collection boasts some of the most exciting art from each Korean and worldwide artists. As a former art-world particular person myself, I can perceive his fascination with the timelessness of work and sculptures. He took this concept and ran on an episode of the Artwork Basel podcast, the place he expresses his need to seek out one thing lasting in his personal profession and divulges his plan to open his personal museum. There’s no phrase but on new music.
In an interview with Weverse Magazine, Jimin says he’s engaged on a “uncooked” and “specific” solo album. “I simply suppose I can present one thing just a little extra uncooked about me. That may embrace a extra mature facet, too, however what I’m actually serious about is exhibiting one thing nearer to my actual, private rawness immediately in a format like music or music movies,” he says. “I need to be higher and cooler.” In the meantime, he’s been taking conferences with producers and spending time recording both at his firm or the CEO Bang Si-hyuk’s place, based on the video of their fateful dinner.
Except for the discharge of his OST for his or her new online game BTS in the Seom, Suga doesn’t seem to have music popping out anytime quickly — no less than, that’s the official line. Eagle-eyed followers seen his Apple Music profile combining his music below one profile (he presently has the profiles Suga and Agust D, the latter being the alias he makes use of to launch mixtapes). Apple has since uncombined the profiles, however followers suppose one thing is afoot.
As for Jin? He’s been scorching and unbothered on a trip to Jeju Island. The eldest shared a topless image on Instagram to indicate followers his BTS friendship tattoo — they’ve principally all gotten them up to now — but it surely was actually a thirst entice, for my part. Ain’t no person that tattoo!
