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| RM of K-pop boy band BTS, center, speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., May 31. Courtesy of Hybe |
J-hope will be first BTS member to release official solo album
By Dong Sun-hwa
For nearly a decade, the seven members of BTS had dedicated themselves to their group, which became the first K-pop act to top the Billboard main singles chart and receive two Grammy nominations.
The septet seemed unstoppable when it sold more than 2 million copies of its latest anthology album, "Proof," in just one day, shortly after meeting U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, May 31 (local time).
But the group's huge success came at a price.
Although each member had different tastes in music and beyond, they had to put those differences aside for their widely popular team, which is supported by millions of fans around the world.
But from now on, BTS members will begin their solo ventures in various fields to restore their individual identities and seek personal growth. Although the septet's management company, Hybe, said the members will juggle their solo and group projects, it seems that more focus will be placed on individual pursuits, considering the remarks that the singers made in the "Festa dinner" video posted on BTS' official YouTube channel, Tuesday evening, in celebration of the ninth anniversary of its debut.
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| BTS / Courtesy of Hybe |
V added, "Honestly, I want to try so many different things. I hope I can get the chance to showcase my own music and display something other than music that is hidden inside myself. I used to believe that it was wrong to think in this way, but now I am eager to show as many things as possible."
Jimin said, "I think we are now about to form our own identities."
Front man RM pointed out that the K-pop system does not give sufficient time for singers to achieve maturity, as they must always be filming something and spend a lot of time at hair/makeup salons.
"Right now, I have no idea who I am, what kind of team BTS is and what I should do in the future," RM revealed. "Imparting my messages through lyrics has been a crucial part of my life, but at the moment, I don't know what I should talk about."
Suga echoed this sentiment, saying that penning lyrics is one of the most daunting tasks for him.
"I have nothing to say in my lyrics right now," he said. "Working on music has not been very entertaining for me over the past few years. I lacked essential skills at the beginning of my career, but now, I have no words to say."
Although BTS' members ― who no longer live together in a dormitory ― did not clarify when they will resume group activities, Suga underscored that the group is not disbanding.
RM added, "If I want to be part of BTS for a long time, I think I should first learn how to remain myself … We are taking a break as a team for our better future."
Jungkook said, "We will make a comeback after spending time for ourselves and building a variety of experiences. I believe all of us will be able to showcase a better version of ourselves in the days to come. Please support us."
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| A man walks past an advertisement screen showing Jimin of K-pop group BTS at a subway station in Seoul, Wednesday. AFP-Yonhap |
J-hope, who is scheduled to appear as a headliner for popular music festival Lollapalooza in July, will be the first BTS member to drop an official solo album. His album will hit store shelves next month.
To date, BTS' members put out their solo materials in the form of mixtapes, but most of them were not released on Korean music streaming platforms. But the songs to be included in the upcoming solo albums are likely to hit these platforms.
"I hope our songs become more accessible," J-hope said. "It appears that now it's time for a change. I am the first one to roll out a solo album, but other members are also gearing up for their own releases."
BTS' announcement drove down Hybe's stock price on Wednesday, which plummeted 24.8 percent from Tuesday.
Nevertheless, BTS fans are showing their unwavering support for the K-pop act on various social media platforms. Hashtags like, "ARMY FOREVER, BANGTAN FOREVER," are trending on Twitter.
"Love is about wanting to see someone grow into the person you always knew they could be, even if it means taking the time apart," a fan tweeted.
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| BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in this April 3 photo. AFP-Yonhap |
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