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INDIGO by RM

todayApril 11, 2025 111 41

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1st Genre: HIP-HOP

2nd Genre: Jazz, R&B

Here’s a classification of each track in RM’s album “INDIGO” (2022), including genre, style, and general theme where applicable. “Indigo” blends hip-hop, R&B, jazz, alternative, and introspective lyricism, a very personal and art-infused record by RM of BTS.

Estimated Budget:

Expense CategoryEstimated Cost (USD)
Production & Recording (10 tracks)$100,000 – $200,000
• Studio time, producers, engineers
• Mixing & mastering
Featured Artists (7 guests)$200,000 – $400,000+
• Anderson .Paak, Erykah Badu, Tablo, etc.(High-profile artists command premium fees)
Songwriting, Composition & Licensing$50,000 – $100,000
Visual Production$100,000 – $200,000
• Music videos (“Wild Flower,” “Still Life”)
• Album artwork, branding, photography
Marketing & Promotions$300,000 – $600,000
• Digital campaigns, social media
• Press, interviews, placements
Physical Production (Albums, Packaging)$50,000 – $150,000
Miscellaneous (Travel, Legal, etc.)$50,000 – $100,000

Total Estimated Budget:

Low Estimate: ~$850,000
High Estimate: ~$1.75 million

Release Date:

RM’s debut studio album, Indigo, was officially released on December 2, 2022, through Big Hit Music. The album features 10 tracks and includes collaborations with artists like Anderson .Paak, Kim Sawol, Youjeen, and Erykah Badu, bringing a diverse mix of genres such as folk, rock, hip-hop, and city pop. RM emphasizes that each song on the album was shaped by the desired message, resulting in an eclectic collection that captures his introspective thoughts and life experiences. “Indigo” also draws inspiration from the works and legacy of South Korean artist Yun Hyong-keun, with themes of perseverance and the complexity of emotion present in the music. RM hopes the album resonates with listeners on a personal level, providing comfort and moments of self-reflection.

Reach:

  • Billboard 200: Indigo debuted at #15 and later peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart, making RM the highest-charting Korean solo artist on this chart at the time.
  • World Albums Chart: The album secured the #1 position on Billboard’s World Albums chart, maintaining the top spot for four consecutive weeks.
  • iTunes Success: Upon release, Indigo topped the iTunes album charts in over 80 countries, including major markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Certifications and Sales

  • South Korea: The album was certified double platinum by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) in January 2023, with over 800,000 copies sold domestically as of July 2023.
  • United States: Indigo sold over 100,000 units, reflecting strong international sales. ​

Songs in the Album:

RM’s Indigo is designed to be listened to chronologically, from Track 1 to Track 10, as it tells a deeply personal, reflective story of his 20s, full of identity searching, emotional turbulence, artistic frustration, and eventual peace.

Here’s a breakdown of how the lyrics across the album reflect that journey, with details about how each track contributes to the larger arc of his twenties:

1. Yun (feat. Erykah Badu)

Theme: Values, Legacy, Integrity

  • RM opens with a message inspired by painter Yun Hyong-keun: “I wanna be a human / Before I do some art.”
  • He reflects on what kind of artist and person, he wants to be. This sets the philosophical tone for the album.

2. Still Life (feat. Anderson .Paak)

Theme: Fame vs. Movement

  • “I’m still life / But I’m movin’.”
  • He’s captured in time by fame, but refuses to be frozen emotionally. This song tackles being in the spotlight during his 20s but still trying to grow.

3. All Day (feat. Tablo)

Theme: Rebellion & Frustration

  • This is an outburst, a powerful, lyrical critique of societal pressure and the idol life.
  • It reflects the chaos of mid-20s burnout and the desire to break free.

4. Forg_tful (feat. Kim Sawol)

Theme: Memory, Loss, Letting Go

  • A soft, introspective moment, he wonders why he forgets certain people and memories.
  • It’s about the transient nature of everything in your 20s, including emotions and relationships.

5. Closer (feat. Paul Blanco & Mahalia)

Theme: Emotional Vulnerability

  • “I want you closer…”
  • Speaks to the loneliness and confusion that comes with modern love and identity. It’s hazy, dreamy, like the blurred emotions of youth.

6. Change pt.2

Theme: Emotional Collapse

  • Abstract, synth-heavy, and sharp.
  • “I hate this world / Yes, I’m afraid.”
  • Represents the breakdown, a turning point where he feels lost, paranoid, and unbalanced. A key moment in the “late-20s” arc.

7. Lonely

Theme: Existential Loneliness

  • “I’m lonely, lonely, lonely…”
  • Describes the isolation that fame, travel, and success can bring, even in a luxurious setting.
  • A brutally honest track about emotional emptiness.

8. Hectic (feat. Colde)

Theme: Nightlife & Numbness

  • Echoes the fast, noisy nights of youth, where connection feels fleeting.
  • Reflects a stage of distraction and denial, where you’re trying to feel something real.

9. Wild Flower (feat. Youjeen)

Theme: Fame Fatigue & Nature Longing

  • “I want to be a wildflower.”
  • He contrasts the explosive, short-lived life of fireworks (fame) with the calm, steady growth of a flower in nature. Many also questioned why it is a wild flower and not a firework. Fireworks are beautiful, but they burn out fast. They’re loud, explosive, and temporary, symbolizing momentary fame, attention, or success.
  • A wildflower, on the other hand, grows quietly and naturally. It’s resilient, humble, and often overlooked—but it lasts, and it thrives even in tough conditions.
  • It’s the climax of the emotional journey – a heartfelt cry for peace and simplicity.

10. No.2 (feat. Park Ji Yoon)

Theme: Closure & Healing

  • “Don’t look back / You’re not that same person.”
  • A comforting goodbye to his 20s.
  • He accepts that pain and change shaped him, but he’s ready to move forward.

Why Chronological Order Matters:

RM has explicitly said in interviews that the tracklist is intentional –

it mirrors the evolution of his thoughts throughout his 20s. Listening in order is like reading a diary from start to finish, watching someone fall apart, reflect, and rise again.

“These stories are all moments of my 20s. It’s a record of my soul.” — RM

Review

Indigo isn’t just an album, it’s a memoir in sound. RM crafts a poetic, genre-bending experience that fuses raw emotion with refined production. Every track represents a chapter in his 20s, ranging from philosophical musings to heartbreak, burnout, and ultimately, rebirth. It’s deeply personal yet widely relatable, a standout solo project from a BTS member that solidifies RM as a thoughtful, genre-defying artist.

Indigo is poetic, mature, and gorgeously produced, a defining moment in RM’s solo career. Each song adds a new layer to the narrative of youth, confusion, love, and growth. It’s an album that invites you to sit with your own emotions and come out a little lighter.

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Written by: Lara

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