BTS's "secret weapon," V, is about to make waves.
With his unmistakably deep voice, poetic sensibilities proven through his self-composed songs, and impeccable visuals, BTS's V is set to make his official solo debut with his first album, "Layover," on the 8th. The album will feature a total of six tracks, including the title song "Slow Dancing."
The album, produced in collaboration with Min Hee-jin, the renowned producer known as the "mother of NewJeans," has garnered significant attention in the music industry. At V's request, Producer Min took the helm, overseeing music, choreography, design, and promotions for the album. Ahead of the album's release, V plans to unveil a staggering 102 concept photos and will release full music videos for five of the tracks, excluding the bonus track, in a groundbreaking move.
V has already swept global charts with his previously released self-composed songs. Last month, V officially released tracks like "Winter Bear," "Snow Flower," and "Scenery," which he had initially shared for free on SoundCloud.
"Winter Bear" topped the iTunes "Top Song" charts in 45 countries/regions within a day of its release. "Snow Flower" and "Scenery" also reached No. 1 in 37 and 21 countries, respectively. On the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart, "Winter Bear" secured the top spot, followed by "Snow Flower" at No. 2 and "Scenery" at No. 3.
On the "Oricon Daily Digital Single Chart" in Japan, "Winter Bear" ranked first, with "Scenery" and "Snow Flower" following at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, further solidifying V's dominance in the music scene.
All eyes are on V to see what new records he will set with his upcoming tracks. In 2022, his song "Christmas Tree" peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing his global influence.
On the Billboard chart released on the 22nd (local time), the pre-released track "Love Me Again" from V's debut solo album "Layover" ranked No. 96, proving the global anticipation for V's solo album. Given that fellow members Jungkook's "Seven" and Jimin's "Like Crazy" have previously topped the chart, there's keen interest in whether V's official album release will clinch the No. 1 spot.
V's charm is expected to shine even brighter on various entertainment and music shows. After the album release, V is scheduled to appear on SBS's "Inkigayo," meeting fans up close through domestic music broadcasts. Having charmed audiences with his innocent yet quirky appeal on tvN's variety show "Seojin's House" earlier this year, V is also anticipated to make a splash in the variety scene.
News of his appearances on tvN's "You Quiz On The Block" and SBS's "Running Man" has already generated significant buzz. On a recent episode of "You Quiz," V opened up about moments of desensitization and fatigue as he approached a decade in the industry. Despite setting records like consecutive Grammy nominations and holding the most No. 1 songs on Billboard, V admitted, "There were many times I was scared to perform," and "I started to become numb after receiving awards. I felt like I had forgotten the emotions, joy, and preciousness of the past. That's why I needed something new," revealing the reason behind his solo album release.
V will also appear on "Running Man" on the 10th, marking his return to the show after seven years since his last appearance with the BTS members in a special 300th episode. The show has teased V's unique charm in a preview, sparking curiosity among fans.
V is also expected to feature in various web variety shows, showcasing his charm on platforms like "Dingo Story" and "Pixied," where fellow member Jimin previously appeared.
On the 11th, V is set to appear on "Suga's Radio," hosted by BTS member Suga, where the two will showcase their "brotherly" chemistry, discussing everything from music to BTS's plans for full-group activities.
With V being the last member of BTS to make a solo debut, there's heightened interest surrounding his release. Even as the members are enlisting in the military, making full-group activities challenging, the individual successes they're achieving are commendable.
An industry insider commented, "As the last solo debutant among the BTS members, there's high anticipation in the industry to see what kind of record-breaking feats V will achieve. Given that all seven members have showcased their unique colors through solo albums, there's keen interest in the results V will deliver through his collaboration with Producer Min Hee-jin."
