A producer who worked on BTS’s fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," is turning heads after praising both the members’ craft and their character in a new interview.
Los Angeles-based producer Tyler Spry told Billboard, “They’re truly great people. Beyond being artists, they’re some of the best people I’ve met,” adding, “It was an honor to work with them.”
The album marks BTS’s first full-group project in about four years, following the members’ military service and individual activities. Spry began pitching song ideas early last year, then joined a songwriting camp in Los Angeles where he worked on “Please.” During that process, the title track “Swim” was born.
“Great songs can feel like they just fall out of the air,” Spry said. “Swim, especially, came together naturally. The core structure was built in under 30 minutes. Ryan Tedder improvised the second verse, and then RM came in and clarified the direction. We fine-tuned it to fit a lead single.”
The final stretch ran on a tight deadline. With recording happening in Seoul, Spry said he was receiving vocal files in the middle of the night. “It was chaotic, but I love that. That’s the job of a producer.”
On their creative process, he shared, “Every opinion was respected. Everyone’s voice is on the final album. The freedom to try things mattered. SUGA would drop an on-the-spot rap, Jungkook would suggest a new melody, and RM would refine phrasing―that’s how we worked.”
By member, he added, “JUNGKOOK is an outstanding songwriter and vocalist. V has a warm personality and a unique tone. RM is the leader who sets the team’s direction.”
Speaking about the title track, Spry said, “It’s not a loud song on the surface, but it lingers. At one point the members were humming it without thinking, and that’s when I knew.”
On language, he noted, “The song’s language doesn’t matter anymore. It’s an era where Korean artists succeed on U.S. charts.” He added, “This album isn’t about chasing commercial results―it’s about showing who BTS are right now. Keeping Korean lyrics was a choice that reflects their identity.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)