Rain has been falling nearly every other day for the past two weeks here in Seoul, but today it’s poured without pause, from morning until this late evening. The forecast had promised only a brief shower in the morning, yet the sky has remained heavy and gray, cloaked in dense, dark clouds. On my way home from work, I listened to Jin’s new album, Echo, on repeat as raindrops traced delicate patterns down the windows of the bus. In such an atmosphere, the album felt dreamlike. 

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since Jin’s discharge from military service. From the fan hug event immediately following his return to releasing two albums and appearing regularly on entertainment shows, Jin has lived this past year with a fervor and fullness that could easily be mistaken for a decade.

When he was discharged last May, RM asked him in a letter to take care of ARMY on behalf of the members still serving. Jin has done that, and more. Every one of his activities since has felt powered by the joy of reconnecting with fans.  Although his solo concert still awaits, this album signifies Jin completing his portion of activities until the other members reunite next month. In that sense, Echo feels particularly special.

To be honest, the songs on this album aren’t especially groundbreaking or emotionally seismic. They didn’t surprise me the way RM’s Right Place, Wrong Person did upon first listen. That album felt avant-garde, like viewing an entirely new abstract painting, difficult to interpret yet overwhelmingly unique in its soundscape and atmosphere. To me, it remains one of the most daring and original musical works of recent years.

But Jin’s music moves along a different axis. His artistry isn’t driven by experimentation or provocation, but by sincerity. What he seeks to create is something that mirrors his emotional state, something that conveys what he truly wishes to share with ARMY in the present moment. In earlier songs like Epiphany and Awake, he voiced a longing to transcend personal limitations. In Moon and The Astronaut, he offered his love to ARMY with radiant tenderness. His first solo album, Happy, was steeped in warmth and the soft light of joy.

Echo, however, dives deeper. It captures life’s multifaceted moments with greater intimacy. The album is not necessarily significant for its musical innovation, but for how beautifully it showcases Jin’s characteristic sincerity and emotional depth in increasingly varied ways.

From alternative to country rock-tinged melodies, Echo traverses themes of love, heartbreak, hope, and despair. It reflects on the choices that shape us, the unremarkable yet unforgettable moments that resonate like echoes. By actively participating in writing the Korean lyrics, Jin infuses the songs with his personal sensibilities. Most of all, the distinctive color of his voice elevates what could otherwise have been ordinary sounds and melodies into something uniquely special, imbued with feelings.

It’s still raining outside. Late evening has slipped quietly into night, and I plan to spend it listening to Echo repeatedly, with beer in hand, watching the rain draw long, silver threads across my windowpane.

P.S.
I’ll be back tomorrow with my translations of my two favorite songs from the album: A Journey with the Clouds and To Today’s Me.