BTS recently appeared on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show, where they shared in-depth stories about their new album ARIRANG and their long-awaited return to music.
Global Creative Director Zane Lowe personally met BTS at HYBE’s headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. The interview captured honest conversations about their comeback after military service, the album’s creative process, and the deep bond that has kept the group together over the years.
Jin spoke about reuniting with the members, saying, “Living together in the U.S., eating meals and following a routine for a long time—it made me incredibly happy.”
RM added, “It felt surreal. Spending about two months working together in LA under one roof was a turning point and felt like a dream.”
RM also highlighted the meaning behind the album’s key theme, Arirang. He explained, “Choosing ‘Arirang’ felt natural. It’s a traditional Korean song filled with longing and nostalgia. During military service, I reflected on the past, missed our fans, and remembered the moments we shared. Those emotions are embedded in this album.”
J-Hope emphasized the group’s artistic direction, saying, “Through this album, we wanted to show our roots and identity as Koreans. We tried to capture that honestly, and I think it came out very naturally.”
The members also reflected on how military service became a period of growth. Jimin shared, “I realized how precious it is to be able to work and dedicate yourself to something you love. Even during service, Jungkook and I kept practicing and staying committed.”
Jungkook expressed how natural it felt to return as a group, saying, “Compared to solo activities, working together feels more natural because that’s what we’ve always done.”
When asked about the future, Suga confidently said, “If we want to, we can keep going even into our 80s or 90s,” while V added, “We just have to keep making an effort for each other to last as long as possible.”
RM concluded with a heartfelt message about the group and their fans: “We’re still here because we love each other so much. We have our fans, and there’s no reason to stop something this precious—this brand, this family. These people are my youth. I don’t want to miss this opportunity or look back later and regret stopping the journey.”
Sources: Daum