BTS's V has made a spectacular debut as a solo artist, showcasing impeccable live performances for his first solo album.
V released his first solo album 'Layover' on September 8. He chose the newly launched monthly K-POP chart show 'NPOP', a collaboration between Naver and Playlist, as his first official stage.
On September 9, through 'NPOP', he unveiled performances for three tracks: the pre-released 'Rainy Days', 'Love Me Again', and the title track 'Slow Dancing'. Additionally, he will reveal 'Blue' on September 13.
With a simple yet sophisticated stage for 'Love Me Again' reminiscent of a small live house jazz bar performance, and 'Rainy Days' replicating a recording studio on a rainy day, V captivated with his deep, soulful vocals. The title track 'Slow Dancing' featured a freestyle dance with dancers on a stage that mirrored the beach from its music video, capturing attention.
V, often dubbed a "stage genius", showcased a performance that added a unique flair to each rendition, breaking away from the typical choreographed routines.
On September 10, at SBS's 'Inkigayo', V received roaring applause from fans on-site, delivering a live performance that felt as if it was directly from the CD, combined with his refreshing visuals.
Instead of the intense music and performances commonly seen when idol group members release solo albums, V opted for a classic and traditional soul R&B.
British music magazine NME commented, "V's debut album is a captivating result of rigorous validation. It's an album that prioritizes artistic choices over commercial ones. V might have made us wait, but it was entirely worth it."
The Associated Press praised in their music review, "Given his own stage, V possesses a unique musical magic, approaching R&B in a soulful and sensual manner. It's an authentic R&B collection that offers a glimpse into the enigmatic inner world of V."
V's 'Layover' broke records on its release day, surpassing 1.67 million sales and setting a new record for initial sales. It also clinched the top spots in both the world chart and album chart for the first week of September on the Hanteo Chart.
