K-pop music releases in September 2023, from V of BTS’ first solo album to debut EP by Riize to rookie group Boynextdoor’s second mini-album
- V, the last BTS member to go solo, will release his album Layover on September 8. He has already unveiled two tunes and both have topped global music charts
- NCT stablemates Riize will drop their first EP, Get a Guitar, on September 4, the same day rookie band Boynextdoor release the follow-up to their debut album
By Dong Sun-hwa
From rookie boy group Riize to V of BTS, a plethora of K-pop singers are gearing up for new releases next month.
1. Riize (September 4)
Riize are made up of Eunseok, Seunghan, Sohee, Wonbin, Anton – a former swimmer and the oldest son of acclaimed singer-songwriter Yoon Sang – and former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan. They plan to play “emotional pop”, highlighting the various emotions they feel.
Riize unveiled “Memories”, one of two tracks on Get a Guitar, on August 21.
The song, which signals the beginning of Riize’s musical journey, dominated the iTunes top song chart in eight countries including Thailand, Vietnam and Peru upon its release.
SM has been promoting the group even before their official debut. On August 19, it published an online novel featuring the members in cooperation with media company Kakao Entertainment, and it plans to hold a photo exhibition.
“Rise & Realise is a novel portraying Riize’s growth,” SM explained in a statement. “Its photo exhibition will take place from August 26 to September 10 at D Museum in Seongsu district, Seoul. It will display the pictures showing how the members have been preparing for their debut.”
2. Boynextdoor (September 4)
It has taken about three months for the six-piece act to drop a new EP following the release of their debut album WHO! on May 30. The group is composed of members Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak.
“The upcoming mini-album revolves around the theme of youth,” KOZ said in a statement. “Jaehyun, Taesan and Woonhak participated in the creative process of the lead single, ‘But Sometimes’, and two other tunes so as to make them more relatable to the listeners of the same age.”
It will also carry the three tracks featured on WHO! – “But I Like You”, “One and Only” and “Serenade” – and two new songs – “Crying” and “ABCDLove”.
“The three songs that were previously unveiled depict the boys in first love, while the new tracks capture the emotions they feel after a break-up,” KOZ explained. “They depict the beginning and end of first love.”
3. BTS’ V (September 8)
BTS member V’s first solo project, Layover, is set to drop on September 8. The 27-year-old is the last group member to go solo following J-hope, Jin, Suga, RM, Jimin and Jungkook.
“V attempted to bring his unexplored side to the fore in Layover, which fully reflects his [musical] taste,” Hybe noted in a statement.
Leading the album is “Slow Dancing”, a 1970s romantic soul song with a carefree, laid-back vibe.
V has already unveiled two tunes, “Love Me Again” and “Rainy Days”, both of which immediately secured the top spots on global music charts including Spotify. The former is an R&B track, while the latter is an alternative pop-R&B song characterised by percussion and drum sounds.
A legion of other A-list stars, including Young K of boy band Day6 and Key of Shinee, will also make their comebacks next month. Young K will put out the full-length album Letter with Notes on September 4, and Key will drop his second mini-album, Good & Great, on September 11.
