We’re slowly shifting out of BTS’s enlistment period and into their post-enlistment work as members return from the navy with solo initiatives. First up was Jin late final yr and now J-Hope is right here with Candy Desires, a collaboration with soulful crooner Miguel. This follows a visitor stint on Don Toliver’s LV Bag final month and sees him dipping a toe within the water with a subdued sound.

As its title suggests, Candy Desires is a syrupy confection. It forgoes ambition for a lightweight contact, bopping alongside as weightless as air. Miguel’s hook extends by means of a big portion of the monitor, leaving J-Hope to echo these hovering vocals with a grittier (and fewer melodically attention-grabbing) chorus. The verses are largely sung as effectively, delivered with a hazy ease that acts as a musical balm. Balms are by their very nature therapeutic, however this tune is obvious outdated ChapStick slightly than the enjoyable flavored stuff. It’ll get the job performed however isn’t precisely thrilling.

This nice indistinctness extends to the instrumental, which opts for a hushed — nearly lo-fi — R&B groove. Percussion retains the tune going but performs second fiddle to the ethereal backing vocals and common sense of “vibe.” This makes Candy Desires an excellent option to soundtrack a lazy Sunday morning or a leisurely early-spring stroll. Nonetheless, I desire a bit extra pep in my step so I’ll wait till J-Hope returns with one thing extra impressed.

Grade: C