American producer Diplo, center, with BTS members Jung Kook, left, and RM / Captured from Diplo’s Instagram
In less than 24 hours, K-pop supergroup BTS will release “ARIRANG,” its first full-length album since 2020.
Despite one of the largest-scale album promotions K-pop has ever seen, musical details about BTS’ upcoming release continue to remain shrouded in mystery, making the world more curious than ever. Many wonder, what new musical direction will BTS take?
It has been six years since the release of BTS’ last full-length album, “MAP OF THE SOUL: 7.” While the band has showcased its musical idiosyncrasies in the past years, with members dabbling in genres like alternative (RM’s “Right Place, Wrong Person”) and jazz (V’s “Layover”), many are curious how the seven musicians will come together again for this new record.
BTS has only released a 14-song track list and two teaser videos for its upcoming single — turning its dedicated fandom into sleuths as they seek out more clues about the album. Fans noted world-renowned producers credited on the track list, some of whom are known for making some of the most critically acclaimed songs of all time.
Track list for BTS’ upcoming album, “ARIRANG” / Courtesy of BigHit Music
One of the producers of BTS’ upcoming lead track, “SWIM,” is Typer Spry, known for his work on Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Spry produced the nostalgic, still-viral lead track, “DtMF,” known for its intricate, masterful blending of Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican culture, specifically the traditional plena, with lively reggaeton beats. If “DtMF” is anything to go by, listeners are in for quite the fusion of musical cultures in “SWIM.”
Many also wonder if “Hooligan,” produced by Spanish artist El Guincho, will contain Latin influences. El Guincho is a frequent collaborator of two-time Grammy winner Rosalia, one of the world’s biggest Spanish pop stars. The producer, who has a catalog spanning the likes of Björk and Charli XCX, is known for his experimental production style and bold musical combinations. According to Billboard, El Guincho has become a highly sought-after producer for artists looking to take creative risks.
In 2013, when BTS first debuted as a hip hop group, the seven members loudly declared their love for the genre with rap-heavy singles. Mike WiLL Made-It, a critically acclaimed American producer known for his work with rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne, along with pop icons Beyoncé and Rihanna, is now credited on two BTS tracks — “Aliens” and “No. 2.”
Along with rapper-producer PLUSS, who is also credited on the two BTS tracks, Mike WiLL Made-It has earned Grammys for songs like Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” (2017) and Beyoncé’s “Formation” (2016).
In an Instagram post, the record producer declared “ARIRANG” a “global game changer,” further fueling excitement.
Perhaps one of the most unexpected collaborations on the list is with American rapper JPEGMAFIA and Australian DJ Flume, who both worked on the track “FYA.” JPEGMAFIA is known as a pioneer in the experimental hip hop scene, while Flume’s sparky EDM instrumentals popularized electronic future bass. The intercontinental duo is known for creating odd beats and choppy, glitchy tracks where spontaneity is somehow guaranteed.
BTS member V, right, and Australian singer-songwriter Kevin Parker, also known as Tame Impala / Captured from Instagram
BTS also worked with Australian singer-songwriter Kevin Parker, more popularly known as the man behind psychedelic music project Tame Impala. The two-time Grammy winner is credited on the track “Merry Go Round.”
Some of “ARIRANG’s” high-profile executive producers include American DJ Diplo, who is credited on five tracks. In an interview, the producer claimed that the album would “shock the world.” American singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder, also known as the front man of pop-rock band OneRepublic, also worked on five tracks for the album. Tedder is known for making hits for pop’s biggest names like Adele and Taylor Swift.
Despite the intercontinental list of producers of “ARIRANG,” BTS’ longtime collaborator Pdogg remains at the helm. The Korean producer, who has helped create BTS’ greatest hits and build the band’s signature sound, is credited on six tracks.
With a title like “ARIRANG,” it seems apt that the members themselves are credited across all tracks, with leader RM involved in 13 out of 14 songs. Longtime listeners are now anticipating what the message behind “ARIRANG” will be, and what musical themes BTS will explore.
“ARIRANG” easily topped 4 million album preorders in a week, with almost 5 million presaves on the music streaming platform Spotify. Global attention is now focused on BTS, as the band gears up for its live Gwanghwamun Square concert on Saturday, expected to be one of the biggest events in K-pop history.
As BTS seems to have gathered some of music’s most buzzworthy names and the industry’s creative minds for “ARIRANG,” one thing remains clear: BTS remains rooted in music, dedicated to surprising its listeners every step of the way.