Review: V Shows His Soulful Nature on ‘Layover’
V’s admiration for jazz, classical and R&B heavily influenced the musical direction of his seamless debut album, “Layover.”
V was the last BTS member to make his official solo debut, continuing to display how different each member’s music tastes and sounds are. Although he is part of a group known mainly for creating pop music, BTS has dabbled in the R&B genre.
Also, V is an avid jazz lover, previously stating he would have been a saxophonist if he did not pursue singing. He displayed how well his voice suits the genre during BTS’ 2023 FESTA celebration with “Le Jazz De V,” a live performance on YouTube of jazz classics. V pulled from his past experiences singing R&B music and his love for this genre, as well as jazz and classical, to craft his first solo project.
V set the tone for his debut album, “Layover,” with its first single, the ultra smooth and heartfelt R&B and jazz-infused “Love Me Again.” He poured his heart out on this track, hoping for forgiveness from a former partner. To convey his regret and heartbreak honestly, he put his pride aside, admitting his wrongs and undying love. He hoped his confessions would help win them over.
The stability of V’s baritone was present on this song, especially as he showed the range that a baritone singer can have within parts of the chorus and the refrain. The mystical instrumentation with soft vocals from V was another ear-pleasing and stunning part of “Love Me Again.”
The message and sound of “Love Me Again” showed what the album encompassed, a man experiencing a space of limbo as he navigates losing a love he thought would last.
The album’s second single, “Rainy Days,” was an experimental lo-fi R&B track with engaging instrumentation and simplistic lyrics. Continuing to gravel in the emotions of “Love Me Again,” V navigated losing his partner. He constantly thought about them, reminiscing on better times and hoping for another chance.
V’s dimmer mode was expressed through every lyric, as V did not shift his tone much, emphasizing his low register. The minimalistic vocal arrangements left the instrumentation as the focus of “Rainy Days,” highlighting the instruments and sounds. Some sounds included phone pings, clock ticks, piano, drums and white noise simulating rain.
“Slow Dancing” served as the album’s lead single. Contrary to the song’s title, “Slow Dancing” has the highest tempo of “Layover.” Many may have expected a ballad, but the song has a slight pop edge while incorporating R&B and jazz.
The album has two versions of “Slow Dancing,” the main one and a piano version. The piano version featured V’s vocals while replacing the flute present in the original with a piano.
This song was an easy listen and one to groove along to. V seemed more at ease on “Slow Dancing” and requested a dance from his former lover. He hoped enjoying a night of dancing could revive the spark they once had.
The infectious chorus and flute solo at the end of the original version are the best points of “Slow Dancing,” creating a jazzy yet classic and soulful atmosphere.
The other two tracks on “Layover” were “Blue” and “For Us.” “Blue” was somber, as V contemplated how to save his relationship. Blue was used to describe the hue and a sense of sadness.
Not only did V feel blue, but he saw the same despair in his former partner. Although he had his own emotions, he wanted to heal theirs.
A slight shift occurred on “For Us,” the most alluring song on “Layover.” This song had the heaviest R&B influence, with additional elements of classical instrumentation strung within it.
There were many changes in tone and technique in “For Us,” as V got assistance from the music duo freekind., with them co-writing lyrics and doing background vocals. Their vocals had a reverbed tone at some points, adding to the song’s character. The vocal layering between V and the additional vocalists sounded beautiful and added to the story of “For Us.”
With “For Us,” V’s emotions stayed fairly consistent although he held onto hope for reconciliation. Instead of harping over what he wanted most, for his former partner to love him again, he let them make the final decision. He wanted them to come to him if ever they were ready.
V’s ability to use his captivating baritone vocals and incorporate his favorite genres into his music was evident throughout “Layover.” Not only were the genres and V’s vocals stunning, but they complimented the cohesive storyline of healing from heartbreak.
