For Rolling Stone’s eight-part May 2026 cover-story package, the seven members of @BTS met up in Seoul, South Korea in mid-February to talk with senior writer Brian Hiatt, both individually and as a group. In this solo interview, #vbts talks about trying to forget his idol identity during military service, how seven solo careers made a stronger group album, why every song on #arirang fits his style, and much more. #bts #btsarmy #thv
V on his mindset during military service: “I tried very hard to forget about V of BTS for a while, so that I could concentrate on living my life as Kim Taehyung.”
V on rebuilding during military service: “I considered my values and my health. So I exercised, and read a lot of books. I tried to organize and give a lot of thought to my inner world, looking back on myself and contemplating the kind of person I ultimately want to become.”
V on Arirang: “There’s not a single song on this album that is not my style. Every single one is my style, and the kind of music I’ve wanted to make. So I gave it my all to create this album, and it has a lot of love in it.”
V on solo careers making BTS stronger: “Since all seven of us have had a solo career, everyone’s individual ego is stronger now. I thought that might change things when we got together again, but we actually amplified each other and ended up making a better album.”
V on acting: “I don’t want to limit myself to one genre of music. I want to experience every single genre I really love. And someday, if I get the chance, I hope I can act in a lot of different parts that I’ve wanted to try out.”
V on what his solo album ‘Layover’ represents: “I want to say: I can make this kind of music, but I also like many other styles. I love jazz, classical music, and even more alternative music, so I wanted to share that with ARMY and our listeners. I genuinely love music with all my heart, and Layover is that representation of me.”
V on learning from his bandmates for his next solo project: “I learned so much from the other members while working on this album, and got a lot out of observing their paths. I really learned a lot. So when the time comes to make my next solo album, I plan to absorb every member’s biggest strengths.”
V on wanting to make a pop album: “I don’t know when that would be, but some day, it’s a genre that I’d have to and would love to try. That’s what I think.”
Read the Rolling Stone interview with V here:
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Talent — V
Interviewer & Senior Writer — Brian Hiatt
Director of Social & Video — Waiss Aramesh
Executive Producer & Shoot Director — Christopher Hwisu Kim
Senior Producer — Viviane Feldman
Producer & Colorist — Mitch Saavedra
Social Video Producer/Editor — Sim Tumay
Moktan Productions
Video Director of Photography — Mike Beech
Gaffer and Camera Operator — Wonman Kim
Camera Operators — Byeong Hwi Min, Churl Gwon, Hyunsuh Paik
DIT — Jiwoon Lee
Sound Operator — Min Jae Lee
Production Assistant — Seohyun Yoon
Nuhana
Executive Producer — Sooh Hwang
Producer — Sebin Park
Line Producer — Cherry Lee
Translators Alex M. Lee, Sungbin Moon
Creative Director — Joe Hutchinson
Executive Music Editor — Christian Hoard
Editors in Chief — Sean Woods & Shirley Halperin
CEO — Julian Holguin
14:01 red is for him 😝
13:48 confused 🥲
12:55 Han Sung!!!!!
And his every solo songs, he diessss!!!!!
Even we noticed in NORMAL, he was a dead soul too! ❤️🩹🥺
12:18 yeaaaahhhhh my jazz lover boiii
12:01 i really love and proud of his mentality 🥺
11:03 I think how many solo albums they make, there's nothing powerful and compared to BTS, when they get together. Like we see Arirang, how successful it is!
8:38 he was excited to be on stage again 🫠
7:51 this is why i found comfort listening to LayoVer 😭😭😭
6:26 I always try listen to his interests and really he have a good taste in music 🥹
He understands English so well, but if he speak, i wonder how beautiful if sounded. My first language is not English too. I'm Bengali. But still i feel okay to listen his Korean, and i try to learn Korean just for him 🥹
I watched every video related to Taehyung… His voice… Really comforts me… I can listen to him my whole life… 🥺
0:27 V 😭
I'm proud of my man 🥹
interesting young man.
I wish all their interviews were at that level of depth and respect
I would like to see more interviews of Tae. He has so much to offer. I think JK should be thrilled that Tae seems to love him because Tae has as much to offer as JK – maybe in different ways but Tae seems very lovable and desirable to me and I want JK to recognize that. I am wondering whether they will all go separate ways when the tour is over!
J K to see that
Oh my, the first few seconds of him saying thank you for having me had me swooning like a teenager! Lol 💜
💜💜💜
I keep coming back here to hear his beautiful voice and wise answers. I can't wait for his next artistic challenges. Borahae Taehyung.
Taehyung 💜
I’ve been an army for 8 years, and throughout all these years I’ve watched tae grow so much mentally. He has become so much more mature, open, and confident in expressing his thoughts and feelings. After all these years, I finally saw him (and the boys🥰) for the first time on July 18th at the concert in Paris, and seeing how genuinely happy he was on stage is something I can’t even put into words.
I’m so proud of the person he has become, and i just want to say thank you for letting me grow alongside you and become the person I am today.
Until we meet again 💜
And they did make a super great album ❤❤❤
Taehyung is one of the greatest performers of all time. He literally is electrifying when he’s on stage.
00:30 for me
As a baby army I feel like I can grasp V's personality a little less then some of the others, so it was really nice to see this more in depth interview. I loved how he described music genres as colours he wants to explore and try out, for me FRI(END)S was definitely a pop chart song. And as a reader of course I added Keigo Higashino to my reading list as I love to try out recommendations from the members.
Wow he's such a comfortable and calm person🫂 love him so much 💜
Is anyone else appreciating this particular facet of V's character once more?
Wow Tae sounds so good, there's music in his voice,though i dont understand korean but wish to learn it only for BTS❤He expresses so beautifully,his eyes speak volumes,he has the potential to be a great actor too.Love u Kim Taehyung,the bold, beautiful and charismatic ❤️🔥❤️💙💜
Tae is phenomenal ❤️🔥❤️💙💜
목소리 스피치 세련된
품격있는 자태 백만불짜리 미소
온화하고 다정한시선
태형이 인터뷰 몇번을 보고또보는지
태형이가 놔주질않네 👍💜
I can’t think of a better thing than watching Taehyung interviews. You are so inspiring and fascinating to me Taehyungie. We can’t wait for chapter 2 of your solo music. Layover will always be in our hearts. We love Arirang and the tour.
BTS's V took the top spot on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart with "Winter Ahead," dethroning Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" 🎵💜❤
Lea Salonga (Broadway Star & Disney Legend) praises BTS' V;
"To the man whose voice can be compared to a cup of hot chocolate during a blizzard, a warm hug at the end of a really bad day, or a soothing whispered 'It's okay, I know how you feel'… Thank you for your music, your unique way of thinking, and for just being you."
My sweet king funny boy.. Borahae my love
Amei a intrevista do meu Kim Taehyung .V do BTS.Perfeita ,voz muita linda,respondeu todas as perguntas impecavelmente.
Assalamualaikum bismillah, lama liat nya aku 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🖤🖤🖤🤭🤭