LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� A lot can go wrong when a performer endeavors outside of the group that made their career. In the case of baritone V, a lot can go right, as well.
鈥淟补测辞惫别谤,鈥� from V, is moody, smooth alt-R&B, a collection of songs that feels true to the performer 鈥� and offers a glimpse into his oft-considered mysterious interiority.
First came the two singles, the bilingual 鈥淟ove Me Again鈥� and 鈥淩ainy Days鈥� 鈥� the former, languid pop with V's voice high in the mix, the latter, a syrupy, lo-fi post-breakup ballad. 鈥淏lue" and 鈥淔or Us鈥� connect the two. 鈥淪low Dancing鈥� is a standout, with its impromptu flute solo at the song's coda.
鈥淟ayover鈥� is V's first solo album, but BTS ARMY know this is in no way his first solo experience: he's released a few with the band, including 2016's 鈥淪tigma鈥� and 2020's 鈥淚nner Child.鈥�
But it is 鈥淪ingularity,鈥� V's opening cut from BTS's 2018 album 鈥淟ove Yourself: Tear,鈥� that stands out. 鈥淭he illusions that torture me are still the same,鈥� V sings. 鈥淒id I lose myself, or did I gain you?鈥�
At the time, that V was referencing the Greek myth of Narcissus 鈥� it certainly wouldn't be the first time this K-pop group pulled out an academic reference point 鈥� but all seemed to agree that when given the opportunity to perform on his own, V has a particular musical magic, a kind of soulful, sensual approach to R&B. Where harmonies dominate, his husky tone cuts through, demanding attention. In that way, 鈥淪ingularity鈥� is the antecedent of 鈥淟ayover.鈥�
Historically, when an artist goes solo, it is symbolic of a new chapter. Maybe it's a boy band member leaving to become a man-musician, individuating beyond the support network that built them, not unlike a child leaving home in young adulthood. Maybe it's a cry for creative freedom 鈥� to no longer feel their identity is tied to their fellow performers.
But the members of BTS, history-makers and record-breakers that they are, offer an alternative. They're not on hiatus; nor have they broken up. While its seven members take turns fulfilling South Korea鈥檚 mandatory military service ( and have enlisted; Suga has ) the others will release their own individual records, allowing fans to spend more time with them in the process.
In the case of V, it's an opportunity to experiment 鈥� and it's yielding great results.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
