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[Article] Opening '#BTS 2.0' with 'Arirang'…"Growing One Step Further as an Artist" [Q&A]③ As the group BTS returns with a new album for the first time in three years and nine months following their military service hiatus, they shared their special feelings about the occasion. BTS will release their fifth studio album, “ARIRANG,” at 1 p.m. on the 20th. This marks their first release in 3 years and 9 months since their anthology album “Proof” in June 2022. Chairman Bang Si-hyuk served as the executive producer for this album, which captures BTS’s identity and universal emotions. The new album features a total of 14 tracks, including the title track “SWIM.” BTS has poured the sincere experiences and reflections accumulated throughout their journey into every track to showcase “the current BTS” and open the prologue to the group’s new chapter, “BTS 2.0.” Having finished preparing to meet their fans, BTS shared a Q&A this morning through Big Hit Music, their label and agency under HYBE (352820). -What does “BTS 2.0” mean to each of you? ▶(RM) I’ve thought about it countless times, but it’s hard to define it with just one word. However, I think it’s close to “balance.” Half of it is that the seven of us have come together again, and the other half is that we must move forward and change. It’s not easy, but it’s just as happy and fun. ▶(Jin) I think we need to become a little more mature. We need to think more seriously and grow in every aspect. I also want to work even harder on our activities. ▶(Suga) It’s a “new beginning.” ▶(J-Hope) I see it as taking another step forward as artists. I believe the start of “2.0” is about expressing ourselves as we are while showcasing musical freedom and a more mature image. ▶(Jimin) Rather than attaching any particularly grand meaning to it, even if our style of expression changes a bit, my main mindset is to keep striving and growing steadily, just as we always have. ▶(V) I think it’s a story that involves growth. While some new things naturally emerge as time passes, I also see it as an opportunity for BTS to showcase the experiences and growth we’ve accumulated through our performances up to this point. ▶(Jungkook) It’s literally “something new.” It signifies a new direction in everything. I, too, want to start with a fresh mindset. -If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed compared to the past. ▶(RM) When I’m with the members, my favorite side of myself comes out—things like the innocence and childlike wonder I had when I was young. We often say that we have the most fun when we’re together. It’s not easy to find friends who are like family. ▶(Jin) Rather than saying we’ve changed, if I had to point out something that’s improved, it’s that we’ve grown closer as members. The atmosphere where we naturally laugh and joke around when we’re together remains the same. Even these days, if we hear about a good restaurant, we still go out to eat together.

[Article] #BTS "'SWIM' is a refreshing charm… Worked on it while living together in LA" [Q&A]② As the group BTS returns with a new album for the first time in three years and nine months following their military service hiatus, they shared their special feelings about the occasion. BTS will release their fifth studio album, “ARIRANG,” at 1 p.m. on the 20th. This marks their first release in 3 years and 9 months since their anthology album “Proof” in June 2022. Chairman Bang Si-hyuk served as the executive producer for this album, which captures BTS’s identity and universal emotions. The new album features a total of 14 tracks, including the title track “SWIM.” BTS has poured the sincere experiences and reflections accumulated throughout their journey into every track to showcase “the current BTS” and open the prologue to the group’s new chapter, “BTS 2.0.” Having finished preparing to meet their fans, BTS shared a Q&A this morning through Big Hit Music, their label and agency under HYBE (352820). - Why did you choose “Swim” as the title track? ▶ (RM) Since it’s the title track, we spent the most time deliberating over it. We tried for an entire month to create a song that would surpass “Swim,” but it wasn’t easy. When I first heard this song, I felt it had a simple, refreshing charm, like Pyongyang cold noodles. The more I listened to it, the more I felt like I wanted to “swim together.” ▶(Jin) Rather than a song that immediately grabs your attention, it was a song with a power that stays with you the more you listen to it. The rhythmic highlight that appears in the middle of the song is particularly memorable. When I listen to that part, I lose track of time. ▶(J-Hope) We worked hard to create a performance where the song comes through clearly even while watching the stage. There are details like the movements representing waves and the moment we sink quietly, as if diving underwater. At first, I was worried it might feel “boring” among the songs with strong impact, but as I listened, it naturally blended into the sound and felt comfortable. We chose it as the title track because it aligns best with the message we wanted to convey. ▶(V) Among the songs with strong sounds, “Swim” felt the most understated. At first, I thought it wasn’t a stimulating song, but the more I listened to it, the more I felt it was something I could enjoy for a long time. ▶(Jungkook) The more I listened to it, the more I felt, “This is it.” The lyrics really capture the essence of BTS right now, and the performance has some fresh elements that differ from our previous work, so we hope you’ll pay close attention to that. -How do you hope people will remember “Swim”? ▶(BTS) Just a song that feels like life itself. We hope it becomes a song for everyone—swimming through each day, splash by splash, breathing in and out with every stroke. It’s a song that grows warmer the more you listen to it, so we hope it becomes a source of strength as you each live your lives. We also hope that, just like “Arirang,” which has been passed down from person to person and remained with people for a long time, “Swim” will also remain in the hearts of many for years to come. -What new creative endeavors did you undertake on this studio album? ▶(BTS) If you listen to every track on the new album, you’ll find that the album’s structure is very solid. We focused on expanding our range across genres, sounds, and vocal expressions. We made a conscious effort to try out genres we weren’t familiar with and to incorporate expressions we hadn’t used before. In “FYA,” we used a hyper-jazz-based sound that highlights raw energy, while in “Like Animals” and “Merry Go Round,” we added psychedelic textures to create music with a different feel from our previous work. We also made detailed adjustments during recording, such as toning down the intensity to make the sound more understated. It’s hard to say I’m 100% satisfied, but...

@kchartsmaster WE MAKE IT ARMY, WE MAKE IT 🫂💜

@kchartsmaster WE MAKE IT ARMY, WE MAKE IT 🫂💜