A line from 'SWIM' hummed by V... U.S. producer 'confident of success'

BTS member V's hummed single line of 'SWIM' convinced the producer of its potential success.

Tyler Spry, a well-known American producer who participated in BTS's fifth full-length album 'Arirang', opened up about his experience working with BTS in an interview with Billboard.

Tyler Spry explained the process leading to the album, saying, "I tried for weeks to find a song I liked. Some tracks were too pop-style and seemed too similar to earlier English releases like 'Dynamite' or 'Butter'. But gradually we found a direction and began to discover fresh and interesting sounds."

When asked, "What was your first impression of collaborating with BTS?", he said, "V is really warm and kind, and his tone is amazingly good. There was a slight language barrier, but he's a really fun person. He joked around in the studio and we had a great time," expressing that he was captivated by V's vocals and personality.

He also revealed his deliberation over the title track 'SWIM' for 'Arirang' and what made him confident it would succeed. Asked about the selection process of 'SWIM' as the lead single, Tyler Spry described the song's mood, saying, "'SWIM' is a subtle song. It doesn't use high notes, and the melody isn't particularly dynamic, but it's highly addictive."

He said, "Everyone seemed afraid of this song. Because it's such a subtle song, it didn't feel like 'a massive hit' at all. But about two weeks after writing the song, I went to the lounge to get coffee, and V was humming 'SWIM SWIM.' He didn't seem to know I was listening. At that moment I thought, 'Ah, this feels right. This song is going to be a huge hit,'" saying that V's hummed line made him certain of its success.

On the 'Arirang' album, V's vocals enriched the songs, elevated the overall atmosphere, and left a strong impression. The New York Times also specifically noted V's vocals, saying, "Among the vocals, V delivers the most passionate and powerful voice."

When asked, "Among the moments working on this album, is there one that stands out?", Tyler Spry recalled, "There are many videos online of me writing songs with V, James Essien, and Sean Foreman; although those videos are not the production process of the songs included on the album, it was one of the most enjoyable days spent in the studio. We all ran and sang and worked energetically. It felt like the most creatively free day. So I really hope that song gets released to the world," calling the moments working with V his most memorable.

Reporter Mun Wansik [email protected]