BTS V Explores New Artistic Dimensions with "Layover" Beyond His Group Role
- riya siddacharjee
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
BTS V is entering a new phase of his career, balancing solo exploration with the momentum of a full group comeback. The BTS member, known for his deep baritone, introspective “old soul” image, and occasional acting work, has been expanding his artistic range beyond the group’s signature pop identity. V said during an interview with Rolling Stone.
Solo Evolution and Creative Freedom
The singer took a more atmospheric turn with his solo EP, Layover, moving toward smooth, jazz-inspired R&B rather than conventional mainstream pop. He says this direction helped him unlock parts of his artistry that had remained unseen while working strictly within group dynamics.
“If Layover hadn’t come out,” he says, “I think V as an artist would have been stuck as a hardcore dancer and singer, unable to share all of the different, vibrant colors within.” He also notes that a pop project is still something he hopes to attempt in the future. “Even that is a style of music I love, one that I’ve worked to pursue. I don’t know when that would be, but someday, it’s a genre that I’d have to and would love to try.”
During his mandatory military service, V describes a deliberate pause from his music career, using the time instead for personal rebuilding. He focused heavily on fitness, reading, and music discovery as a way to reset his mindset. “I worked out a lot,” V says. “Read a lot, listened to a lot of music. That allowed me to rebuild my body and mind.”
He also shared that he trained intensely enough to bench-press around 230 pounds, a weight his unit of athletic peers reportedly brushed off as “baby” weight. Still, he believes it places him among the strongest members of BTS. In quieter moments, he turned to literature, reading authors like Han Kang and Keigo Higashino, often imagining himself inside the stories. “I was so deep in my imagination at the time. Was it helpful? I’m not sure!”
Reunion Era, Chart Success, and World Tour
The conversation comes as BTS returns with its first full-length album since 2020, titled ARIRANG, which has held the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks, signaling a powerful post-service comeback.
With all members now reunited after completing military duties, the group is preparing for an 82-date world tour extending into 2027, marking one of the most expansive global touring cycles of their career.
Industry observers say this reunion phase signals a broader creative reset for BTS, blending individual experimentation with renewed group synergy and heightened global anticipation as they step into a new chapter of their career.
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