"Excited and nervous, but above all deeply moved"
BTS will release their fifth studio album 'Arirang' (ARIRANG) today (the 20th) at 1 p.m. It is their first new record in three years and nine months since the anthology album 'Proof' in June 2022. Through this promotion, they open the curtain on the team's new chapter, 'BTS 2.0.' This album, which contains BTS's identity and universal emotions, was executive produced by Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, raising its level of completion.
The new record includes 14 tracks in total, including the title track 'SWIM.' BTS poured the sincere experiences and concerns accumulated during their journey into every song to show 'the current BTS.' Prepared to meet music fans around the world, BTS provided a Q&A about the album and their activities through BigHit Music.
Q. feelings about coming back after three years and nine months
Group: We are excited and nervous, but above all deeply moved. We are happy and grateful just to be able to come together as seven members and do something together after a long time. We returned well prepared because ARMY (ARMY, fandom name) waited for a long time. The fact that we can show our good selves again is a great thrill and happiness. Because it is a group album after a long time, excitement was high and there is some fear, but with the members and ARMY together there is no great worry.
Q. the message you most want to convey with this album
Suga: We thought about what is most true to us. Instead of a grand message, we focused on 'us' itself.
Jimin: I wanted to say that we keep moving forward. There is a pressure to always be new and better. There are many concerns as well. Still, I wanted to express the feeling that we will not stop and will continue to swim forward.
Jungkook: I hope people think this is the most BTS-like album because it fully contains each individual's time and color.
Q. how the "Korean elements" included in the album were decided
RM: First, we threw out various ideas that came to mind. In a songwriting session we once made a song using taekwondo as the subject. It didn't make it into the album, but I personally liked it a lot. I think Korean elements are an important keyword that can bind the seven of us because they touch the place where we started, our roots. What is Korean is still continuously being redefined and changing. It would be interesting if we also became part of that flow.
Jin/Suga: The album logo started from Jungkook's idea. As members' opinions were added in various ways, the album concept took shape, and since everyone is Korean, there was also the opinion that it would be good to naturally incorporate Korean elements.
J-Hope: I infused Korean excitement and culture into the new record's lyrics as well. We tried to create more points where 'the seven can be together' in various parts. I think coming back and showing ourselves as we are ultimately starts from the roots. Because those roots were solid together, I believe we are who we are now.
V: All the members came up with many ideas and we 고민ed about how to blend each person's individuality. ARMY will also be able to enjoy finding each little detail one by one.
Q. criteria you set when expressing "Korean elements"
RM: Rather than bringing Korean elements as a fixed mold, I wanted to naturally unfold them in our way. I think when modest variation and our interpretation are added, the sentiment is conveyed more broadly. I wanted to take 'Arirang,' which can be interpreted in many ways, a bit differently and reinterpret it anew.
Jin/Suga: Rather than forcing Korean elements in, we concentrated on blending them in a way that feels like us. We tried to balance keeping Korean sentiment while clearly retaining BTS's color.
J-Hope: I think balance and restraint are certainly important. But even within that, when it's a moment that should be a point, showing it boldly can be cooler. We thought about making the standard 'not excessive but clear when necessary' evident in this album and on stage.
Jimin: I considered what our identity and our way of speaking through music and performance are, and in that extension I thought again about the fact that all members are Korean. So we made Korean elements an important point. Especially 'Arirang' is a word and folk song Koreans encounter countless times from childhood, so choosing it as the album title carried burden and responsibility.
Q. reason for choosing "SWIM" as the title
RM: As the title track, we held onto it and 고민ed the longest. We tried all month to make a song that would surpass 'SWIM,' but it wasn't easy. When I first heard this song, I felt it had a clean and comforting charm like Pyongyang cold noodles. The more I listened, the more I felt I wanted to 'swim along together.'
Jin: Rather than being immediately catchy, it was a song that becomes unforgettable the more you listen. I especially remember the rhythmic point that appears in the middle of the song (a sound like "ttong-tta-dang"). When I hear that part, time flies by.
J-Hope: Even while watching the stage, we worked to create a performance where the song can be heard well. There are details like movements that express waves and points that sink calmly like diving. At first I worried it might feel bland among impactful songs, but as you listen it naturally melts into the sound and feels comfortable. It fit best with the theme we wanted to talk about, so we chose it as the title track.
V: Among strong-sounding songs, 'SWIM' felt the cleanest. At first I thought it wasn't a stimulating song, but the more I listened the more I felt it was something people could keep listening to for a long time.
Jungkook: It was a song that the more you listen the more you think "this is right." The lyrics show a point that well represents 'the current BTS,' and the performance has new points different from before, so I hope you pay attention.
Q. how you hope 'SWIM' will be remembered by people
Group: Just a song like life. We hope it is everyone's song of splashing along, breathing out and in one breath day by day. We hope it becomes a warm song that gives strength as people live their own lives the more they listen. Also, like 'Arirang,' which has been passed by word of mouth and remained by people's sides for a long time, we hope 'SWIM' will remain in many people's hearts for a long time.
Q. new attempts tried on the studio album
Group: If you listen to the whole album, the album structure itself is solid. We focused on broadly expanding genre, sound and vocal expression. We worked hard to try things even if the genre was unfamiliar to us and tried to include expressions we hadn't used before. In 'FYA' we used a hyper-judgement-based sound that shows rough energy, and in 'Like Animals' and 'Merry Go Round' we added psychedelic textures to attempt music of a different character. We also made detailed changes such as adjusting recording to sound relaxed and clean. It's hard to say we are 100% satisfied, but we are sufficiently satisfied that we are still changing and moving forward.
Q. behind the Los Angeles songwriting session
Suga: We all lived together while working on songs. We ate together every day and talked a lot. And we spent leisure time in our own ways. Especially every evening we talked a lot about our rookie days. Being together after a long time made many of those memories come back.
J-Hope: There were days when work flowed well, but on days it was blocked we came back to the dorm to comfort each other and take care of our condition. Living with the members while making the album itself felt new.
Jimin: Right after debut we said to each other, "Let's make an album we make ourselves someday." It was therefore very meaningful that all seven of us did a songwriting session together this time.
V: On the way back from exercising I heard a theme and suddenly inspiration came, so I immediately sang the song. The reaction on site was good and they liked the overall melody, so it could be included on this album. That track is the final track, 'Into the Sun.'
Jungkook: Since there were over 100 working tracks, the process of the members gathering to listen to demos at once was particularly impressive. Some songs were worked on separately, so there were many songs we heard for the first time, and that process is memorably fun. It was just very enjoyable and happy.
Q. what 'BTS 2.0' means to each of you
RM: We 고민ed countless times but it's hard to define in one word. I think it's close to 'balance.' One half is that seven members gathered again, and the other half is that we must move somewhere and change. It's not easy, but it's that much happier and more fun.
Jin: I think we need to become a little more mature. Thoughts become more serious and we must grow more in every aspect. I also want to work harder in promotions.
Suga: 'A new beginning.'
J-Hope: I see it as meaning one step of growth as artists. I think the start of '2.0' is expressing ourselves as we are while showing musical freedom and a mature side.
Jimin: Rather than attaching an especially grand meaning, I mainly feel that while the mode of expression may change a bit, we will continue to strive and work to grow as we always have.
V: I think it includes growth. Some newness naturally starts as time passes, but I also think it's an opportunity for BTS to show the experience and growth up to now through performances.
Jungkook: It literally means 'something new.' It signifies any new direction. I also want to start with a new mindset.
Q. one thing that hasn't changed compared with the past
RM: I show my favorite self most when I'm with the members. Things like childhood innocence and childlike wonder. We often say we are truly having fun when we are together. It's not easy to meet friends like this who are like family.
Jin: If I pick something that hasn't changed but has gotten better, it's that the relationships among members have grown closer. The atmosphere of naturally laughing and joking together remains. Even now if there's a good restaurant we go eat together.
Suga/V: Passion for the stage and the way we love it won't change.
Jimin: There will be difficulties whenever we take on new challenges. So we must keep 고민ing and choosing what is right. Even so, the attitude of not stopping and continuing to swim forward like 'SWIM' will not change.
J-Hope/Jungkook: Our feelings for ARMY remain unchanged. We are always grateful and love you.
Q. message you want to say to ARMY
Group: We sincerely thank ARMY for waiting for such a long time. We missed you a lot too, and the fact that seven of us can be together again is more precious than anything. We will meet you with music and stages, the upcoming world tour and various other activities. Please relax and enjoy, and are you ready to enjoy together? We prepared many stages to enjoy together beyond the album, so let's enjoy them together. We really love you.
BTS will embark on active promotions with the new record release. On the 20th at 2 p.m., they will hold a comeback commemorative group live 'STUDIO NOTES | ARIRANG' on the team channel of the global superfans platform Weverse. The next day, on the 21st at 8 p.m., they will hold 'BTS comeback live: ARIRANG' (BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG) around Gwanghwamun Square.
[Photo] BigHit Music
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