BTS Jin and RM: "The lingering power of 'SWIM'... clean and simple like Pyeongyang Naengmyeon" Behind the making of the new album [BTS Comeback]

According to Financial News, BTS described their new title track "SWIM" as a song they hope will "stay with people for a long time, like life itself." The members stressed that this album is more than just a comeback; it is the result of new experiments and change.
RM of BTS explained the process of choosing the title track in an interview released by Big Hit Music, calling it "the song we held onto and agonized over the longest." He said, "We spent a month trying all kinds of things to create a song that could surpass 'SWIM', but it wasn't easy," adding, "When I first heard it, it felt clean and simple, like Pyeongyang Naengmyeon, with a subtle, soothing charm." He went on, "The more I listened, the more I felt, 'I want to keep swimming along with this.'"
Jin also pointed to the song's "lingering power" as its key appeal. He noted, "It's not a track that grabs you strongly from the very first moment, but the more you listen, the harder it is to forget," and added, "The rhythmic accents in the middle of the song were especially striking." Jung Kook said, "The more I listened, the more I became convinced, 'This is the one,'" and commented, "Both the lyrics and the performance capture who BTS are right now very well."
They also tried a new approach to the performance. J-Hope said, "We focused on structuring it so that the music comes through clearly even while you're watching the stage," adding, "There are movements that express waves and details where we sink as if diving underwater." V remarked, "Among all the intense tracks, 'SWIM' actually felt the most clean and understated," and evaluated it as "a song you can keep coming back to for a long time."
The members said with one voice that they hope "SWIM" will remain with the public as "a song like life." They shared, "We hope it becomes a song for everyone who splashes forward day by day, swimming through their lives," and added, "We want it to stay by people's side for a long time, like the Korean folk song 'Arirang.'"

The new full-length album also shows broader musical ambition. The members said, "We tried to expand widely in terms of genre, sound, and vocal delivery," and explained, "On 'FYA' we went for a hyper-jersey-based sound that highlights a rough energy, while on 'Like Animals' and 'Merry Go Round' we experimented with a more psychedelic texture." They added, "Even in the recording process, we made detailed changes, like relaxing our delivery so it would sound more natural and understated."
The production process itself was a special experience for the group. Suga of BTS recalled, "We lived together in Los Angeles while working on the album," and said, "It was memorable that we talked a lot about our rookie days as we worked." J-Hope shared, "On days when the work wasn't flowing, we comforted each other and made sure everyone was in good condition," while Jimin of BTS said, "It was especially meaningful because we finally fulfilled the promise we made at debut to 'make an album together as a group.'"
The final track, "Into the Sun," is said to have been created on the spot, built around an idea that came to V in the moment. Jung Kook reflected, "Out of more than 100 tracks we worked on, the process of listening to the demos together as members left the deepest impression," adding, "There were many songs we were hearing for the first time, and that in itself was a really enjoyable experience."
Speaking about the album, BTS said, "We can't say it's perfect, but we're satisfied in the sense that we're still changing and moving forward."

jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter