Jung Kook, most notably known from his role in the worldwide sensation BTS, manages to find his footing in his own solo single, ‘Stay Alive’, with the help of ‘SUGA’ producing the track.

For someone to make solo music outside of a really successful group is daring to say the least. Phil Collins was chastised for it in the 80s when he released his solo album ‘Face Value’ and there were controversies that ensued when Zayn released his own music post-One Direction, to point at a more modern example. More importantly, how does an artist find their sound outside of what they’re already known for? Jung Kook, in this case, puts an interesting twist on the typical epic k-pop feel by blending the softness of his own voice with the booming production of an anthem. ‘Stay Alive’ is both calming and energizing, two qualities usually mutually exclusive. The verses are soft in passage, and the bridges are filled with gorgeous electronic harmonies. Those lead to the chorus, already with Jung Kook’s flow much rhythmically calculated. In an explosion, the chorus blasts through with thick drums and electrifying percussions, yet those still sound somewhat calming especially considering the musical context that surrounds it. It feels huge, yet doesn’t sound the part, which is all the more impressive. To achieve such a sound requires a lot of careful execution and planning, to which both Jung Kook’s elegant delivery and SUGA’s expertly-crafted production were able to achieve effortlessly.

‘Stay Alive’ is a wonderful track for both fans of BTS or otherwise. It’s a greatly crafted piece of music that stands uniquely on its own, outside of the BTS cloud from Jung Kook’s own discography. The blend of huge, epic sounds with the intimacy brought forth by his luscious voice and close-knit guitars and strings are a blend to be remembered for ages.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.