[Review] RM’s ‘Indigo’ is pure emotion
The conflicting personas of RM of BTS and RM as a solo artist have been fully let loose for this project.
RM Indigo Live. Image: BTS Official Twitter.
The album has been in the making for the last three and half years, carefully crafted with attention to every detail from the production to the artist selection. RM has been involved in every step with his vision. The result is a diverse and eclectic mix of styles. Although the album does not fit into a single musical genre, the overriding theme of pure emotion, self reflection, and honesty is clear.
RM performs some solo songs at NPR Tiny Desk. Image: BTS Official Twitter.
RM pleaded with fans to listen to the album as a whole, in track order, to fully appreciate his complete vision. The first track “Yun” takes us to the origins of RM and his musical journey (“Imma turn back the time, back the time, far to when I was nine”), all wrapped in a 90s Hip Hop and smooth chords with the legend Erykah Badu adding her gravitas to the lyrical hook.
From there we move to a light, funky and brass filled “Still Life” featuring Anderson Paak, the lyrics are a little darker than the upbeat track suggests. “All Day” is a classic pop song, and just when you think you have settled on a level, “Forg_tful” takes this right back down with a gentle acoustic folk inspired duet with Kim Sawol.
“Closer” is a true RnB urban track with Honne at the producing helm, which suits the theme of love and longing. The guest vocalists Mahalia and Paul Blanco both add texture and richness to the track.
RM Indigo Photo Sketch. Image: BTS Official Twitter.
“Things change, people change, everything change”, echoes in the opening “Change pt.2” with its thumping syncopated beats, full of raw passion and intensity which makes you sit up and listen. It makes your heart race and I’m thankful that the track is only 1:54 seconds as I’m not sure my poor ticker could take much more!
Some of the album was conceived during the pandemic and “Lonely” is a track that we can all relate to. The feeling of being trapped and isolated is expressed in the explicitness of the lyrics. RM has frequently mentioned that this album bookends his twenties as he moves into the next chapter of his life. The final three tracks compliment this concept beautifully. “Hectic” is a nostalgic view of youth, days of friends, drinking and living in the moment.
RM Indigo Photo Sketch. Image: BTS Official Twitter.
The title track of this album is “Wildflower”, which has more than a hint of a 90s power ballad, assisted mainly by Cherry Filter’s Youjeen’s powerful vocal performance. Her voice reminds me of Alanis Morrisette and a smidgen of Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries. This track is one of the few that has a full English translation of the lyrics and it has resonated with me a lot more knowing the intention, or at least my interpretation of the sentiment. The struggles of fame and identity are my lasting impressions, but also hopeful.
The closing track “No.2” concludes this debut with the help of Park Jiyoon which is full of self reflection but never with regret. It has a simple arrangement and includes lo-fi instruments to match the honest tone. “Don’t look back” is repeated as the track closes. We have all reached where we are from our experiences, whether it be successes or mistakes that we have made along the way. We might have done things differently but we should look forwards towards the future.
RM Indigo Live. Image: BTS Official Twitter.
RM has mentioned that the inspiration behind the title Indigo and the featured album artwork has been the artist Yun Hyongkeun. The art piece is said to have been produced by the artist before he found his signature style. RM’s album fully embodies this concept. He is experimenting with all various genres of music and making use of his encyclopaedic knowledge of music, art and literature to produce his own unique art form.
I’m excited for his second chapter, I just hope that we don’t need to wait another four years for it.
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.
