BTS Member J-Hope Gave V Some Sage Advice About His Solo Mixtape

"Whatever you're feeling now, it's all going toward a positive direction."

September 16, 2020

KTH1, the unofficial fan moniker for the forthcoming solo mixtape from BTS member V (real name Kim Taehyung), is well underway. But in a recent episode of BTS's relaxing reality show In the Soop, V opened up to his bandmate J-Hope (Jung Hoseok) about some of his nervousness around actually releasing the new music.

In In the Soop, the members of BTS immerse themselves in hobbies such as fishing, painting, and enjoying (iced tea and) a game of ping pong. The fifth episode of the show aired this week (check it out on Weverse), and in it, J-Hope and V ride together in a car and discuss KTH1. When J-Hope asks if he's done planning, V responds, “Somewhat,” per the official translation.

"Our fans will be so happy when it gets released," J-Hope says. Then, V admits that he's "a bit nervous because it's my first mixtape," adding that he's unsure about the planning and exact date, and that it could be released around the time an episode of In the Soop airs. (Sadly, as of this writing KTH1 is not yet out in the world.) So far, band members RM, Suga, and J-Hope have released solo mixtapes, while Jungkook and V have shared that theirs are works in progress. In response to V's concerns, J-Hope pulls from his own solo experience. "I don't think you should feel too pressured about a mixtape," he says. "Just do what you want to do and show the music you want to show. You're not trying to win something big with it."

"Yeah, I'm making this because I want our fans to hear it," V says. "I'm doing this because I want to share the music that I've been working on and that I love, but I'm a bit worried that it'd look like I'm doing it to achieve something, when that's completely not in my interest."

To which J-Hope responds with some very sage wisdom about embarking on creative work. “It's impossible to have no expectations because it's your first release,” he says. "Since this is your first time, you will have certain expectations about the attention and love you will get. But this won't be your last release ever ... whatever you're feeling now, it's all going toward a positive direction. Whether it be excitement for the release or however you're feeling about what the mixtape will bring. Either way, you're heading in the right direction. You're trying something new. That in itself is a reflection that you're going in a good direction. Do what you want to try doing. Take whatever you get out of it and have fun. I think that should do."

It's excellent advice, and it definitely tracks with what BTS recently told Teen Vogue about the new album they're working on as a group — and what they've learned in the turbulent times of the past year.

“We decided to accept new challenges and be more flexible, especially with our music under these unprecedented circumstances,” BTS said a few weeks ago after releasing their single “Dynamite,” now a chart-topping hit. “Music is everything to us, and we can honestly say we are passionate about singing and dancing more than anyone."

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