The solo releases put out by the members of BTS over the past three years have shown exceptional depth and scope, not only as K-pop but across the broader music landscape. It’s a historic feat for every member of the same group to consecutively release solo albums and then for each to enter the Top 5 of the “Billboard” 200. During the same period, they collectively charted 30 solo songs on the Hot 100. Each BTS member carved out a distinctive approach and style of expression for themselves, putting out diverse work reflecting their individual ambitions and tastes.

In the winter of 2022, Jin left us with “The Astronaut” as he became the first to enlist in the military. His solo career really began in earnest two years later, after he’d completed his service and put out the single “I’ll Be There” and his first EP, “Happy.” Despite being on hiatus longest among the group, his return firmly established his identity by keeping consistent with the rock/pop tastes hinted at in “The Astronaut.”

Just six months after “Happy” dropped, Jin quickly followed up with his second EP, “Echo.” At first glance, “Echo” seems like a companion piece to the first EP—still rock-centric, still Jin on lead vocals—but it can’t be called a mere victory lap. First of all, he explores the subgenres of rock more boldly and concretely here compared to “Happy.” “Nothing Without Your Love” is a song in the style of modern British rock, driven by emotionally rich strings. “Loser” (feat. YENA) is a compelling pop punk back-and-forth between lead and featured singer. “Rope It” opens with a whinnying horse, adding to the country rock vibe. “With the Clouds” impeccably recreates the vibrant, poetic vibes of J-rock. The last stretch of the album begins with “Background,” momentarily putting the rock sound in the background to focus the spotlight back on Jin’s vocals, before switching back full gear into the alternative rock of closer “To Me, Today.”

The choice to go with specific styles here rather than stick within a broader pop/rock framework may come across as a risky move. Generally speaking, when a mainstream artist adopts a specific genre, they aren’t actively seeking out something obscure but choose it because it feels fresh and novel at that moment. Even though it’s risky, Jin embraces it here wholeheartedly, making his musical identity clear and deliberate. The musical exploration as he traverses the variety of styles found on the album never feels scattered. The sense of cohesion is largely thanks to Jin’s commanding vocal presence tying everything together, so whether a listener has experience with a particular genre or not, it still manages to resonate with them.

There’s also been a noticeable shift in emotional tone. “Happy” was overwhelmingly about warm comfort, as seen with tracks like “I’ll Be There” and “Running Wild.” “When you feel down / When you feel all alone / When you need someone to lean on”—maybe even facing the end of the world—Jin sings to make you feel better. This is undoubtedly the BTS member speaking directly to his fans, but the sincerity of his emotions unsurprisingly extends to broader audiences, too, offering comfort and connection. “Echo,” on the other hand, has personal introspection and the complexities of personal relationships at its core. The lead single “Don’t Say You Love Me” may have the smooth, calm sounds of a synth pop song, but the lyrics are emotionally sharp and introspective. They’re sung from the perspective of someone wrestling with the turmoil and pain of love and heartbreak. Eventually, he cries out, “Don’t tell me that you’re gonna miss me / Just tell me that you wanna kill me,” pushing toward the complete opposite end of a spectrum started in “Happy.”

With such stunning contrast, Jin is expanding and enriching the world of his solo work. On the one hand, he remains a K-pop idol, conscious of his fans and of what that label means. On the other, he opens up about his emotions fearlessly—sometimes to the point of raw vulnerability—giving his choices of genre even greater significance. Ultimately, “Echo” is far more than mere experimentation or exploration. The charm of Jin’s solo work may lie in its deliberate imbalance. After all, the complexities of life and music can’t be distilled into an album that can be summed up perfectly in one word.