BTS's RM Gets Real About How He Chooses Artists To Collaborate With

BTS announced their intent to shift focus from group to individual promotions last June after releasing their anthology album, PROOF, celebrating the group’s ninth anniversary.

(From left:) BTS’s V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope | *BIGHIT MUSIC*

The focus on their individual activities gives the members the freedom to dedicate themselves to their interests and creative pursuits as they prepare to complete their mandatory military service with the intention of coming back together as a full group in 2025.

So far, their individual promotions have blown ARMYs away. With many of the members collaborating with their musical idols, taking on global luxury brand ambassadorships, and making history with their individual releases, it’s been an exciting and rewarding new chapter for the group and fans.

BTS’s Jimin (left) and J-Hope (right) at the Dior Fall 2023 Menswear Fashion Show during Paris Fashion Week | *@MTV/Twitter*

In December 2022, BTS’s leader RM released his debut solo album, Indigo, with a star-studded list of talented collaborators.

He also recently featured on separate tracks with Balming Tiger, Sae So Neon member So!YoON! and singer-songwriter Colde.

BTS’s RM (left) and Sae So Neon’s So!YoON! | *@KNJsSource/Twitter*

Each collaboration has brought to life a new sound and introduced the artists involved to new fans.

RM landed the cover of Vogue Korea‘s June 2023 edition, in which he opened up about how he decides who to collaborate with and how that decision-making process has changed over time.

BTS’s RM modeling for Vogue Korea’s June 2023 edition | *@rkive/Instagram*

RM revealed that he originally had a guideline about who he wanted to work with in the past, but that’s recently changed.

I think I had standards in the past about who I wanted to work with, but I’m not so sure anymore.

— BTS’s RM

Although he doesn’t have set standards now, he recognizes that he’s drawn to people who are “self-assured.”

I tend to be drawn to people who are self-assured and who strive for something bigger at the same time, to people who have not just desire, but also the capability and talent to forget their own path.

— BTS’s RM