Suga’s first solo album features late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto

K-pop

Published: 10 Apr. 2023, 11:50 Updated: 10 Apr. 2023, 23:02

Suga’s first solo album features late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto

BTS member Suga at an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 12, 2023, in Los Angeles. [AP/YONHAP]

The first solo album from BTS’s Suga features a star-studded lineup, including late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, singer IU and his bandmate J-Hope.

A teaser released Monday on boy band BTS’s social media revealed the 10 tracks that make up the album, including track No. 9, “Snooze,” which features Ryuichi Sakamoto and Kim Woo-sung of band The Rose.

Suga previously released a cover of “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” (1983), a famous track composed by Sakamoto, on his Instagram last year.

Tracklist for BTS Suga’s first official solo album, ″D-Day″ [BIGHIT MUSIC]

It was reported earlier this year that the two artists briefly met each other upon Suga’s request in September 2022.

“He [Suga] is a world-class idol, but upon conversation with him, I could feel that he is a humble and lovely young man who is very serious about his music activities,” the composer wrote in Shincho magazine in February.

“His mind was full of music as if he had no other hobbies,” he added.

Suga also released a message on his Instagram account upon the passing of Sakamoto on April 3, sharing “I wish Mr. Sakamoto finds peace on this long journey.”

The tracklist also revealed lead track “Haegum,” named after the Korean traditional string instrument haegeum, which was used on the track, according to BigHit Music and “HUH?!” featuring member J-Hope from BTS.

The other tracks included in the album are: pre-released song “People Pt.2 (feat. IU),” “D-Day,” “Amygdala,” “SDL,” “Polar Night,” “Interlude: Dawn” and Suga’s reinterpreted version of BTS’s “Life Goes On.”

Suga’s first official solo album "D-DAY," will be released on April 21 under the artist’s stage name Agust D.

“D-DAY” will be Suga's first official solo album and will also conclude his Agust D trilogy, following the release of two mixtapes, “Agust D” (2016) and “D-2” (2020). "D-2" included the lead track "Daechwita," which was derived from the Korean traditional military tune of the same name, also featuring haegeum.

Agust D, Suga’s second stage name, is an anagram of “D tsugA” which refers to “Daegu town Suga,” or Suga from his hometown Daegu. The two mixtapes released under the stage name Agust D were released on SoundCloud in 2016 and 2020.

A documentary showing his struggles and joys during making of the album will also be released on April 21 at 11 p.m., under the title "SUGA: Road to D-DAY" on Disney+ and Weverse.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]