BTS Hijacks the Cover of Rolling Stone's Editions in 16 Countries Worldwide! Fully Translated 'Rolling Stone Japan vol.35' to be Released on Thursday, June 25
Rolling Stone Japan is releasing a special BTS issue on June 25 as part of a 16-country global cover project. It features fully translated US interviews, exclusive Tokyo Dome concert reports, and album reviews.
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Rolling Stone Japan, published by CE Music Creative Co., Ltd. (President: Hiromichi Suganuma), which operates lifestyle proposal businesses related to music and develops business formats within the CE Group, will release a special issue featuring BTS on the cover in its upcoming issue released on June 25 / August issue. This project will be implemented as a completely global-scale project, deploying the cover and cover story in all 16 countries of the international editions of the US Rolling Stone magazine. The Japanese edition will be finished as a BTS special issue featuring fully translated articles from the US edition, plus Japan-original Tokyo Dome concert report articles and album reviews.
Rolling Stone Japan vol.35 (Photographs by Pak Bae)
The interviewer for this issue is Brian Hiatt, a senior writer who wrote the BTS cover story for Rolling Stone in 2021. Hiatt interviewed BTS in Seoul this February, asking about their journey leading up to the all-new album 'Arirang', their first in about 6 years. In addition to an interview with the entire group, he also conducted individual interviews with each of the seven members.
In the cover story interview, the members candidly discuss the difficulties of regrouping after completing their military service and the delicate process of creating new music together. Furthermore, it delves deeply into their stance on taking on new sounds as a group, revealing each member's contributions and conflicts, such as RM prompting the group for further challenges and J-HOPE realizing the power of the group once again after his solo activities. This feature is a definitive edition that reflects the 'present' of BTS, who continue their one-of-a-kind journey. The Japanese edition completely translates all the US edition's group interviews and individual interviews, compiling them into one volume. It is also a BTS special issue containing a report on their Japan concert at Tokyo Dome as a complete 7-member group for the first time in about 7 years, along with a complete review article of the album. Pre-orders are being accepted from today on Amazon and at bookstores, and it will be released at general bookstores from Thursday, June 25.
Please pick up a copy of this book packed with the 'present' of BTS, who made their comeback as a complete group this year.
■ Excerpts from the Interviews
[RM] On BTS's attitude towards recording the album 'Arirang':
'I have told the members, "If we are not going to challenge ourselves anymore, I don't think there's a reason to continue activities as a team." We must show the world that we are a presence that still continues its activities and continues to explore. Sometimes it feels very complicated. Yet, I still think we have to push ourselves to the limit even more, and I feel that it is still not enough.'
[J-HOPE] On his own doubts:
'I was wondering if it is truly a good thing to receive so much love and attention. While everyone was applauding and cheering for me, I sometimes thought it might be better to just stop everything instead. And I was asking myself if that was what I truly wanted. At first, it was like a small flame, but it suddenly spread into a massive fire. Because of that, I was also feeling intense pressure... But in the end, I thought that keeping that flame lit is exactly what I truly desire, and it is the choice that is most like me.'
[JIN] On expanding the BTS tour:
'When we first received the tour plan, the number of places to visit wasn't large, and the period was only about 3 to 4 months. I said, "Now that we have finally returned, we promised that we would go and 'meet' so many people, but with this, it feels like we cannot fulfill that promise."'
[JIN] On internal discussions regarding BTS's musical direction:
'Actually, my opinions didn't completely match the other members on that point. Music is something where you inevitably see some kind of result, right? Therefore, I thought, "The songs that have been loved the most by people are our identity." However, not everyone felt that way, so after many discussions, I came to accept the opinion that "Our identity lies within the music we used to make in the past."'
Rolling Stone Japan vol.35 (Photographs by Pak Bae)
The interviewer for this issue is Brian Hiatt, a senior writer who wrote the BTS cover story for Rolling Stone in 2021. Hiatt interviewed BTS in Seoul this February, asking about their journey leading up to the all-new album 'Arirang', their first in about 6 years. In addition to an interview with the entire group, he also conducted individual interviews with each of the seven members.
In the cover story interview, the members candidly discuss the difficulties of regrouping after completing their military service and the delicate process of creating new music together. Furthermore, it delves deeply into their stance on taking on new sounds as a group, revealing each member's contributions and conflicts, such as RM prompting the group for further challenges and J-HOPE realizing the power of the group once again after his solo activities. This feature is a definitive edition that reflects the 'present' of BTS, who continue their one-of-a-kind journey. The Japanese edition completely translates all the US edition's group interviews and individual interviews, compiling them into one volume. It is also a BTS special issue containing a report on their Japan concert at Tokyo Dome as a complete 7-member group for the first time in about 7 years, along with a complete review article of the album. Pre-orders are being accepted from today on Amazon and at bookstores, and it will be released at general bookstores from Thursday, June 25.
Please pick up a copy of this book packed with the 'present' of BTS, who made their comeback as a complete group this year.
■ Excerpts from the Interviews
[RM] On BTS's attitude towards recording the album 'Arirang':
'I have told the members, "If we are not going to challenge ourselves anymore, I don't think there's a reason to continue activities as a team." We must show the world that we are a presence that still continues its activities and continues to explore. Sometimes it feels very complicated. Yet, I still think we have to push ourselves to the limit even more, and I feel that it is still not enough.'
[J-HOPE] On his own doubts:
'I was wondering if it is truly a good thing to receive so much love and attention. While everyone was applauding and cheering for me, I sometimes thought it might be better to just stop everything instead. And I was asking myself if that was what I truly wanted. At first, it was like a small flame, but it suddenly spread into a massive fire. Because of that, I was also feeling intense pressure... But in the end, I thought that keeping that flame lit is exactly what I truly desire, and it is the choice that is most like me.'
[JIN] On expanding the BTS tour:
'When we first received the tour plan, the number of places to visit wasn't large, and the period was only about 3 to 4 months. I said, "Now that we have finally returned, we promised that we would go and 'meet' so many people, but with this, it feels like we cannot fulfill that promise."'
[JIN] On internal discussions regarding BTS's musical direction:
'Actually, my opinions didn't completely match the other members on that point. Music is something where you inevitably see some kind of result, right? Therefore, I thought, "The songs that have been loved the most by people are our identity." However, not everyone felt that way, so after many discussions, I came to accept the opinion that "Our identity lies within the music we used to make in the past."'