Jin sat down with a group of playful puppies for a new interview released Monday (June 10), in which the BTS vocalist opened up about his new solo album Echo, his dream collaboration, and what fans can expect from his first-ever solo tour.
In a new episode of BuzzFeed’s The Puppy Interview, BTS’ Jin answered fan questions while playing with a group of adorable pups, offering insight into his solo career, musical influences and tour ambitions.
“I’ve only met him in passing, but I’d love to collab with Bruno Mars one day. It’d be a lot of fun, I’m a huge fan of him,” Jin said, adding, “I often practised my vocals by singing ‘Just The Way You Are’ before debut, it’s one of my favourite songs.”
On May 16, the K-pop star unveiled the project featuring seven tracks: “Don’t Say You Love Me,” “Nothing Without Your Love,” “Loser” featuring YENA, “Rope It,” “With the Clouds,” “Background” and “To Me, Today.” JIN first announced the mini-album about a month before its release, with a statement describing Echo as offering the musician’s “perspective on universal life experiences, capturing everyday emotions with warmth and sincerity.”
The new EP arrived about a year after JIN became the first member of BTS to be discharged from the South Korean military
Echo follows the November release of Jin’s debut solo EP Happy, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The project featured single “Running Wild,” which marked Jin’s second Billboard Hot 100 entry separate from his mega-famous boy band, following 2022’s “The Astronaut”; the two tracks reached Nos. 53 and 51 on the chart, respectively.
“Built on dynamic band sounds, the album showcases his versatile vocals across a spectrum of moods and styles,” the description continued at the time. “It reflects a deeper layer of vocal maturity and personal storytelling that underscores Jin’s evolving artistry.”
Watch Jin’s full BuzzFeed Puppy Interview here.