VIPs, we’re in for an exciting year. This year marks BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary, and the group has a lot in store for their fans. During their viral performance at Coachella, the trio announced a new album and a world tour later this year. To kick off the celebrations, Taeyang also dropped his new solo album, Quintessence on Monday, May 18.
This new album is his first solo album in nine years, since White Night. Moreover, the album release coincides with his birthday, giving fans more reason to celebrate. “I haven’t had a single day off since the Coachella stage,” he says during a press showcase for his new album. “But I’m more excited than anxious. I’m glad I can give fans something good on my birthday.”
Taeyang dives into his core in new Quintessence solo album
The singer-songwriter has been working on his latest album for the past year. Inspired by the word “quintessence”, meaning ‘essence’ or ‘core’, Taeyang journeyed into himself to find what is most “himself”. He then translates his reflections into music, sharing his journey over ten tracks with fans. He also emphasised that the album was his way of trying something new and challenging himself as an artist, 20 years after his debut.
The album is led by title track “LIVE FAST DIE SLOW,” where he sings about his journey through the music industry while staying true to himself. Narrated by a fast-paced beat, the song is a noticeable change from his usual R&B songs and emotional ballads. The tracklist is also punctuated with fresh collaborations. “WOULD YOU” features labelmates Tarzzan and Woochan from AllDay Project, which Taeyang says reminds him of BIGBANG’s early days. Meanwhile, “OPEN UP” brings in Australian artist The Kid LAROI, whom he met through a mutual friend.
BIGBANG to celebrate 20th anniversary this year
The second-gen K-pop group made its long-awaited return to the stage with Coachella. Along with bandmates G-Dragon and Daesung, the trio announced on Weekend 2 that they will be back with new music and a world tour. We’re still waiting for more details on the upcoming album, but VIPs can look forward to a world tour starting August 2026.
Images: __youngbae__/Instagram
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
