BigBang’s Taeyang releases highly anticipated EP

Collabs with BTS’ Jimin and Blackpink’s Lisa are featured

Global superstar Taeyang of BigBang fame releases his long-awaited second EP album Down to Earth via TheBlackLabel/Interscope Records. The six song set includes “Vibe” featuring Jimin of BTS, a smash hit collaboration that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart, and the just-released “Shoong!” featuring Lisa of Blackpink.

His first project since 2017’s White Night, Taeyang’s latest solo offering is truly worth the wait as the K-pop star partook in the entire process of creating the EP and has songwriting credits on every track on the album. Down to Earth opens with the sultry, ’80s-90s R&B-inspired “Vibe.” A cross-generational release that unites superstars of different eras which debuted at No. 76 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Needless to say, the track generated massive buzz upon release — racking up more than 120 million Spotify streams and 100 YouTube views.

The project’s second single, the Lisa-assisted “Shoong!” is destined to be every bit as big. A booming trap anthem that showcases Taeyang’s smooth vocals and his collaborator’s crafty raps, the duet is an undeniable event for fans around the world who love BigBang and Blackpink. In addition to uptempo A-list features, the project also includes moments like the deeply personal ballad “Seed” and the unabashedly romantic, ’70s-inflected “Reason.” While “Inspiration” is a nod to all of the artists who have inspired Taeyang and features rapper, Beenzino, and “Nightfall” fittingly closes out the EP with a feature from TheBlackLabel’s own, Bryan Chase.

“This album comes from various emotions and inspirations that I felt underneath my skin as I gazed at the sunset,” Taeyang says of the EP. “The sunset, which decorates a day’s end, welcomes the dark night and not a new morning. Just like the sunset, my world is colored with beautiful memories of the past, but what came back to me was the ceaseless night that followed. Thus, I began to realize that the image of myself over the past 6 years was not much different than the sunset.”

He continues, “In a way, I was deeply touched and felt relief by the silent sunset and how it greets the night, fulfilling its role in the most beautiful way possible. The repetitive and burdensome times that I could not overcome alone guided me ‘back to the drawing board’. Thus, this album allowed me to capture my heart that was ready to jump back up into a fresh new start.”

Taeyang reflects on the personal and creative struggles he has faced in recent years. “I now have an understanding that the prior experiences and stages of my life were indeed necessary as I prepare to open this new chapter of my life.” he says. “To the producers and staff members at TheBlackLabel, who offered me a new home, and to my fans, who waited all this time without any guarantees, I want to express my infinite gratitude.”

It’s impossible to talk about K-pop’s global ascent without discussing BigBang, one of the most influential and decorated acts in the late 2000s and 2010s. They were the first to gain global recognition, performing at stadiums worldwide for millions of fans in record-breaking numbers and have influenced countless acts in the genre for their various musical styles and self-production. Dubbed the “Kings of K-Pop,” BigBang is one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.

In addition to making history with the band, Taeyang is also an accomplished solo artist, releasing four massively successful albums including two that have reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart with a string of hits including “Eyes, Nose, Lips” which won Song of the Year on all the major Korean award shows.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com