RM - Poetic Minimalism and Intellectual Depth
RM's mono. project was released almost entirely in black and white. Even the song titles were written in lowercase letters, reflecting a conscious “keep it low-key” attitude. Each of the tracks on RM's Indigo album was inspired by a piece of art or a real place. For example, the song “Yun” is a direct homage to the Korean painter Yun Hyong-keun. In his solo projects, he preferred to use lo-fi, analog instruments and atmospheric guitars instead of electronic backgrounds. This shows his desire to create a “calm crowd”.
RM's album covers are designed as a “stance” before the lyrics. The album language was created with simple designs and visuals based on natural light. The use of vocals in mono. is almost whisper-like; in some tracks, it almost moves away from rapping and takes the form of a rhythmic inner voice.
J-Hope - An Explosion of Funk, Fashion and Hip-Hop
J-Hope's Jack In The Box album combines 90s hip-hop beats with alternative rock. Especially the songs “MORE” and “Arson” create a feeling of energetic chaos. His background in choreography is also reflected in his solo projects. In the clips, even the camera movement was programmed as a part of the dance. Contrasting colors and graffiti style stood out in the visuals he used during the album promotion process. This aesthetic became a visual language through which he expressed his inner conflicts.
Wide-legged pants, worn leather and punk-influenced accessories were prominent in his fashion choices. His style followed a “rebellious but conscious” line in parallel with his music. Hope World chose a much darker and abstract expression compared to his period. It reflected his process of growth and change.
SUGA (Agust D) - Dark Themes, Trap Backgrounds and Personal Reckoning
In his solo projects under the name Agust D, SUGA took a harder and rawer approach musically. On his first mixtape, the vocals were left almost raw. The cover of his first mixtape was designed with his face wrapped in tape, a visual reference to the crackdown on freedom of expression. On the D-2 album, he combined Korean traditional music with trap and industrial sounds. The track “Daechwita” is a striking example of this.
The clips combined historical costumes with modern rap language. This contrast reflects SUGA's desire to bridge the gap between the past and the present. For the first time on D-Day, SUGA adopted a “reconciling melancholy” tone. Many of the songs have themes of inner reconciliation and coming to terms with life.
Jimin - Emotional Vocals, Modern Dance and Aesthetic Sensitivity
The emotional intensity of Jimin's FACE album was so high that there was almost an “emotional transition” line between the songs. The track “Like Crazy” stood out for its cinematographic expression; the film noir-like clip symbolizes the feeling of loneliness and loss. The use of sound was more focused on emotion than technique; the breaks in his voice served to be real rather than perfect.
Permeable surfaces such as glass, water and mist were frequently used in the clips. This detail shows that his inner world puts a thin distance between him and the audience. In the album promotions, Jimin performed on stage with minimal movements but with high emotion. This reflected the modern attitude of “being effective without being excessive”.
V - Vintage Spirit, Jazz Touches and Visual Romance
All the tracks on V's Layover album are arranged in a 70s aesthetic with jazz-pop and soul influences. The songs are consciously designed to be “too slow to be consumed fast”. The vocal performance on the album was recorded with a whisper-like technique, keeping the analog warmth in the foreground. This gave the sound the feel of a vinyl record.
In the visuals, V appeared in front of the camera in pastel tones, textured fabrics and retro hairstyles with an old French cinema vibe. The style matched his music. V almost never used a direct gaze in his clips. This was interpreted as a strategy to establish an indirect connection with the viewer: “to make you feel without making eye contact”. His passion for photography had a direct impact on the album promotion process. Some of the teaser images were reproductions of shots he took himself.
Jungkook - Global Pop Star Attitude and Dynamic Performance
Jungkook's Seven and Golden projects go far beyond the borders of K-pop and are built with global radio pop, R&B and EDM backgrounds. The production quality is the signature of American and European producers. The songs are calibrated to the western pop market in terms of sound dynamics. The music video for “Standing Next to You” was a conscious homage to Michael Jackson references, combining dance, fashion and music.
He used his own voice in both powerful vocal lines and rap-like melodic transitions, creating constant modulation in the songs. His fashion style favored glittery tops, sneakers, edgy hairstyles and modern street fashion. This completed his profile as a "new generation solo idol". He is often the only BTS member who looks directly at the cameras in the clips, reflecting his confidence on stage and his ability to connect directly with the audience.
Jin - Ballads, Emotional Cleanliness and Naivety
Jin's solo projects have been among the most emotionally charged, especially with tracks like “The Astronaut” and “Epiphany”. “The Astronaut” was a collaboration with Coldplay, and both the lyrics and instrumentation deal with themes of space, loneliness and belonging. Jin's vocal style is technically the one that uses the most “vibrato”, giving his songs a melancholic and classical feel.
Visually, Jin has favored simplicity in his music videos. Even in his behind-the-scenes videos, he took care not to lose his naturalness, which led him to be perceived as the member representing “reality”. His solo work, released before his military service, felt like a farewell to his fans. Its content was emotional but not overly dramatic, leaving a conscious feeling of “silent separation”. Jin made the most risk-free and neutral choices in his fashion preferences, often opting for pastel tones and classic Korean style in his outfits. This simplicity was in harmony with the naivety of his music.
General Notes on Solo Project Differences Among Members
In their solo projects, the BTS members clearly differ from each other not only in terms of sound, but also in terms of emotion, aesthetics, philosophy and visuals. While RM and V present a more inner and intellectual world, Jungkook and J-Hope prefer expressive and energetic narratives.
Jimin and Jin's projects are based on emotional purity and sincerity; they reach the listener with emotional intensity rather than technicality. SUGA, on the other hand, blends themes of coming to terms with the past and confronting individual darkness with powerful beats and historical imagery. Thanks to the solo projects, each member's individual voice and mood is heard much more clearly. This is one of the main differences that make up the collective success of BTS.