Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | 19th July 2024
BTS' Jimin has released his eagerly awaited second solo album, MUSE, today.
MUSE, arriving one year and four months after the release of his first solo album FACE, his new album continues Jimin’s path of self-discovery. Having led the overall production of the album, Jimin explores his journey to find his source of inspiration while showcasing an expanded musical palette.
Interconnected with the theme of ‘love,’ the album tells the story of making various attempts at finding real, genuine love and losing one’s way at times across its seven tracks: “Rebirth (Intro),” “Interlude : Showtime,” pre-release track “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco),” “Slow Dance (feat. Sofia Carson),” “Be Mine,” main track “Who,” and “Closer Than This.” Jimin participated in the songwriting for six of these tracks, demonstrating his multifaceted talent by blending his soft, sentimental vocals with trendy, dance-heavy tunes.
Jimin’s second solo album boasts a star-studded producer line-up, which includes Pdogg, GHSTLOOP, and EVAN, whom Jimin teamed up with on FACE, Grammy-nominated producer and singer-songwriter Jon Bellion, megahit producer Tommy Brown, along with producers Pete Nappi and Tenroc. While Jimin’s voice solely filled the entirety of FACE, MUSE features charming harmonies with special collaborators, South Korean rapper Loco and multi-platinum singer and actress Sofia Carson.
The main track “Who” encapsulates the key message of MUSE. Its electrifying bounce and guitar performance intensify the appeal of this R&B, hip-hop track, reminiscent of the sound that dominated the early 2000s. Jimin sings of heartfelt moments and the confusing emotions of longing for someone that one has yet to meet. The contrast between the vigorous beat, which elicits a sexy, bold image, and the tender lyrics, expressing an aspiration to find true love, marks the highlight of the track. Jimin's smooth, versatile voice makes the track delightfully infectious, while the intricate acoustic guitar instrumentals and dynamic bounce add to the song's exceptionally catchy quality. With its trendy reinterpretation of the retro 2000s sound, “Who” is an irresistible hit sure to define today’s pop sound.
Jimin proves himself as a top-notch performer in the music video for "Who," released on HYBE LABELS’ YouTube channel. The video opens up as Jimin slowly walks across a quiet city street as a page of a retro comic book that hints at the song's message blows away. The silence is interrupted by a fiery car, cueing the music. Jimin roams the streets joined by dancers for awe-inspiring choreography that elicits raw charisma and allure. Jimin's suave and precisely controlled movement is both delicate and powerful. Throughout the video, the visual recording shifts between current and analogue styles, evoking a nostalgic, vintage feel. As the music heightens, his flawlessly synchronised dance moves are highlighted by a dramatic tornado of sparks and flying objects, coming to an end as Jimin walks away towards the once again silent street.
MUSE is now available on all streaming platforms worldwide. Jimin will be unveiling additional album-related content throughout July to early August, including the first-ever TV performance of “Who” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 23 KST.
About Jimin of BTS
Jimin (Park Jimin) is a South Korean singer, songwriter and member of 21st century pop icons, BTS. Jimin’s dazzling vocal tone adds a unique quality to the songs he sings. Jimin’s solo discography includes “Lie,” “Serendipity,” Original Soundtrack for Korean TV series “With you” (‘Our Blues’ OST) and Taeyang’s “VIBE” in which he participated as a featured artist. “Promise,” the first song he wrote, proves his songwriting abilities. He plays a central role in BTS’ choreography with his background in modern dance as well as his capability to perform various genres of choreography. Jimin is recognised as an all-rounder with his wide range of vocal and performance abilities. The latest release of his first solo album FACE (March 2023) placed him the first South Korean solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.
About BTS
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boyband that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles since 2020, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS are 5-time GRAMMY nominees (63rd to 65th GRAMMY Awards) and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.
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All Photo Credits - BIGHIT MUSIC
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