J-Hope and Jungkook working on new songs after BTS break

Rapper J-Hope will release a new album while Jungkook brought out a new song with Charlie Puth

BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP

Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP

BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP

Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty

BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP

BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters

BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP

BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP

BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP

BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty

BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP

BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty

BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty

BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA

BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters

BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters

BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA

BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters

BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA

BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP

BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP

BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters

BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP

BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP

V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters

BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters

BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters

BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA

BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music

Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg

BTS members are not missing a beat when it comes to launching solo careers in the wake of the band's recently announced "break".

Rapper J-Hope revealed on Saturday he will release his debut solo album Jack in the Box on July 15, preceded by a new single to come out on Friday.

The announcement was made by BTS's label BigHit Music on the Weverse platform, with the company describing the move as a new phase of the group's career.

“BTS has started a new chapter that harmoniously combines team and individual activities, and J-Hope’s solo album is released as the first runner,” read the statement.

“As implied in the album name, J-Hope’s solo album Jack in the Box contains J-Hope’s aspiration to break the existing frame and show a more mature image.

“We ask for your interest in Jack in the Box, and we ask for your support for J-Hope’s first step as a solo artist.”

If all goes according to plan, J-Hope will be the first BTS member to release a solo album, with other members Suga, D-2 and RM all having released mixtapes previously.

What will ‘Jack in the Box’ sound like?

While information on the album is scarce, we can assume it will feature a few bangers.

J-Hope has been working on a club-driven sound since 2018, as heard on the mixtape Hope World.

Blending K-pop's cutting-edge production with hip-hop and Latin pop, J-Hope has potential to do well in various territories.

The 2019 single Chicken Noodle Soup, featuring US pop star Becky G, and 2019's A Brand New Day with Swedish singer Zara Larsson, show his penchant for releasing catchy, high-energy pop that resonates internationally.

J-Hope will present some of the new tunes at next month’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

Jungkook is also back in the studio

Another BTS member working on new material is Jungkook

The singer, BTS's youngest member at 24, is a guest artist on Left and Right, a new single by US singer-songwriter Charlie Puth.

The breezy pop track already topped the US and France iTunes Top Songs charts and the accompanying music video racked up 27 million views in 48 hours after it came out on Friday.

While the other five members haven't released new material in recent weeks, some have been chipping away at solo careers over the last year.

In 2021, V released the English single Christmas Tree, for the Korean romantic comedy series Our Beloved Summer.

In January, Jin released Super Tuna, a playful Korean pop track that was trending on YouTube from South Korea to Peru.

It remains unclear how long BTS will be on a break for. The group announced the news in a video earlier this month, days after releasing their three-album anthology Proof.

In the one-hour pre-recorded video, members sat around and reminisced on the group's skyrocketing success.

It was RM who revealed he was uncomfortable with the group's momentum, particularly after the release of popular English tracks Butter and Permission to Dance.

“We have to accept that we’ve changed,” RM said as his bandmates looked on with more serious expressions.

“For me, it was like the group BTS was within my grasp until On and Dynamite, but after Butter and Permission to Dance, I didn’t know what kind of group we were any more.”

Scroll the gallery below to see images from BTS Permission to Dance on Stage concert in Las Vegas

BTS performed a four-day residency in Las Vegas back in April with their Permission To Dance On Stage show. All Photos: BigHit Music

The performances took place in the near-65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium.

Tickets for all four concerts sold out before they went on sale to the general public.

The final show on April 16 was live-streamed online.

J-Hope during the BTS Permission To Dance On Stage show in Las Vegas.

Jimin during the concert in Las Vegas.

Jin during the show.

Jungkook performing as part of the show.

RM performing during the concert.

Suga dancing during the concert.

V performs during the concert.