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BTS member V is officially releasing his debut solo album. On Aug. 8, V’s management company BIGHIT revealed that his first LP, “Layover,” will be released on Sept. 8. Per Billboard, it will include six songs: “Rainy Days,” “Blue,” “Love Me Again,” “Slow Dancing,” and “For Us,” as well as a bonus piano version of “Slow Dancing.” All five main tracks will be accompanied by music videos.
BIGHIT revealed the news with a post that included a video teaser. “Hello. This is BigHit Music. We are excited to share more details about the release of BTS member V’s solo album ‘Layover,'” the post read, per the Hindustan Times. “‘Layover’ consists of six tracks in total – five tracks and a bonus track. To fully appreciate the album’s flow, we recommend listening to it in sequence from start to finish.”
The statement went on to describe each song. “Rainy Days” is a track that “melds beautifully with the sound of rain and everyday white noises, tugging at the listeners’ heartstrings,” it read. “Blue” is “a homage to old-school R&B with a modern twist, adding a special flair to the song,” and “Love Me Again” is “a light and captivating R&B track with an alluring vibe that lingers long” and lets “V’s signature baritone [shine] through.” Additionally, “Slow Dancing” is described as “the focus track of this album, a ’70s romantic soul style track that exudes a laid-back and free-spirited feeling, just as the title suggests,” while “For Us” is “a pop R&B track that leaves a lasting impression of the entire album” and “serves as an epilogue, stirring up deep emotions with V’s vocals and unique lyrics.” Finally, “Slow Dancing (Piano Ver.)” is “a piano arrangement of the focus track ‘Slow Dancing,’ which offers a different allure from the original as a bonus track.” According to Billboard, the album was made in collaboration with ADOR president and NewJeans creative director Hee Jin Min.
The announcement comes shortly after BTS member Suga revealed he had begun the process of enlisting for Korea’s mandatory military service, becoming the third BTS member to do so after Jin and J-Hope. BTS has been on hiatus since 2022 due to the military service requirement, but that hasn’t stopped its members from embarking on successful solo endeavors. V himself has released several singles over the years, including the 2021 holiday song “Christmas Tree,” which made him the first BTS member to make it on the Hot 100 chart solo, per Forbes. Meanwhile, Jungkook, RM, Jin, J-Hope, and Jimin all released solo projects in 2022, and Suga released an album called “D-Day” in April. Additionally, the group’s memoir, “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS,” hit shelves on July 9.
Watch the album teaser below.
From V
‘Layover’ Release
23. 9. 8. 1PM KST | 0AM ET#V #뷔 #V_Layover pic.twitter.com/I26YhJRLXU— BIGHIT MUSIC (@BIGHIT_MUSIC) August 8, 2023