Taeyang is officially back in the game after a six-year hiatus with his new single “Vibe” featuring BTS’ Jimin – watch the music video below and read on for NME’s interview with the K-pop star about this new chapter in his career. working with Jimin and what’s to come.
Alongside his work with Big Bang – who made an anticipated comeback last year with their single ‘Still Life’ – Taeyang has been making his name as a solo artist since 2008 when he released his debut EP ‘Hot’, which included his hit single ‘Just Look at me.” His solo career has since been peppered with other hits including “Wedding Dress” and “Ringa Linga” to name a few. Before Vibe, his last solo release was 2017’s White Night.
“Vibe,” out today (January 13), carries elements of retro, R&B and new jack swing – genres Taeyang has always loved. The intro in particular is inspired by late ’90s and early 2000s R&B, he tells NME. Watch the music video for “Vibe” below:
“Vibe” was released on The Black Label, the YG Entertainment subsidiary Taeyang signed with after parting ways with YG in late 2022. A new label home is just one of the ways Taeyang is stepping into a new era this year – one he says is starting with humility, honesty and choshim, or a “beginner’s mind”.
“I wanted to go back to my core values when I started my career, both in music and in life, and be more down to earth because over the past six years I’ve been thinking more about relationships with people and life, not just music ‘ Taeyang tells NME over a call from Seoul just hours before release day. “I really had that heart to build back up and go back to basics and start fresh. I see this timing as the second chapter of my life, a major turning point where I can start anew.
“I’m a bit nervous, but at the same time very excited for the release. All in all, I’m just happy to finally be able to meet fans after such a long wait.”
The lessons Taeyang took from his six-year hiatus from music also manifested itself in “Vibe’s” positive, upbeat message. “I truly believe that a vibe, a good vibe, comes from the love that forms from the relationship you have with someone or the things you love and the harmony in between. And that is the result of my absence.”
“Vibe” was first created two years ago by Teddy Park, an acclaimed and prolific songwriter and co-founder of The Black Label, who also made a passing and surprising proposal for Taeyang to collaborate with Jimin.
“I didn’t think that was possible because we didn’t know each other back then. So I was really surprised because it was like, ‘Wow, I hadn’t thought of that,'” Taeyang says of the prospect of working with Jimin. “But since last year there have been a few events and private gatherings where I’ve been able to meet the BTS members and get to know Jimin naturally. From there we just started talking about music and we agreed that we wanted to work together and after that it went very seamlessly.”
“The song that Jimin was suggested wasn’t actually ‘Vibe.’ It was a different track,” reveals Taeyang. “And when I invited Jimin into the studio for the very first time, Teddy called me right before I played it and said, ‘I don’t think the song is going to be that song, ‘Vibe’ is going to be a lot better and people will him love it.’ And Teddy was right. Teddy is always right!” he laughs.
“But I had so many songs back then! I wrote three times a week. “Vibe” just had the backbone with the incomplete composition and none of the lyrics in it, just gibberish. And I didn’t want to show Jimin the song in that state. So I apologized to Jimin for not listening to any tracks that day and invited him to meet us another day. And within a week, Teddy and I composed and wrote the track and then invited Jimin over.”
Taeyang. Credit: The Black Label
Those familiar with Taeyang’s work will know that he has previously only worked with artists from his label and affiliates. (Though he insists to NME, “I don’t usually collaborate because of work, it has to happen naturally.”) But Taeyang says that after working with Jimin, he’s become more open to future collaborations on an upcoming project. “There will be an album in the future,” he teases. “And I look forward to collaborating with other artists on my next project.”
Is Taeyang, a second-generation star whose influence on K-pop’s current generation of young artists is evident, feeling any pressures moving forward in a fourth-generation landscape?
“I’d be lying if I said there was no pressure!” he replies with a small smile. “But I think there has to be some kind of pressure to come back to that scene and show the fans and everyone a reborn image of Taeyang.”
Taeyang, too, is adapting to the myriad of different ways that K-pop artists are promoting themselves today. “I never thought I would do dance challenges because my life is challenging,” he laughs. “Every day is a challenge!”
And at the end of the day, what does Taeyang consider “mood”?
“I think people introduce themselves [vibing as] going to parties, dancing or making music and jamming. But actually my real “vibe” doesn’t come from all that, but from my everyday life. When I look out a window, when I can sunbathe in nature while hearing the trees whisper through the wind, or when I see a sky and there’s a beautiful sunset, I feel calm and relaxed. And that’s what vibes for me. And my true happiness comes from my child. My baby. When he laughs, it just brings me the ultimate joy.”