BTS ‘ARIRANG’ Studio Magic: Producer Tyler Spry Reveals Creative Process
Tyler Spry helped shape ARIRANG after his work on Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning record. He discussed the project from his Silver Lake studio with Filmogaz.com. The producer described a creative process that mixed tradition and modern pop collaborations.
Early involvement and collaborators
Spry began pitching ideas at the outset of 2025. Initial sessions took place at Ryan Tedder’s West Hollywood studio. Collaborators on ARIRANG included Diplo, Kevin Parker, El Guicho, JPEGMAFIA, and writers from Runner Music.
A Conway Studios writing camp followed last summer. Spry attended with James Essien, Sean Foreman, Sam Homaee, and others. That camp led to multiple tracks that later shaped the album.
Making “Please” and “Swim”
The R&B tune “Please” earned Spry a spot at the L.A. writing camp. He created the track from chopped keyboards, guitars, and off-kilter hip-hop drums. The song carries a single producer credit on the final album.
“Swim” emerged during the same writing sessions. Spry and Diplo signee Leclair built a rough beat first. Ryan Tedder freestyled a verse, and RM later helped tailor the song for the band.
Spry says the basic composition for “Swim” was fleshed out in fewer than 30 minutes. He describes the moment as effortless and like finding a melody that already existed. The lead single later topped the Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. US charts.
Studio moments and small details
Spry recalls recording gang vocals at home with friends and family. Those quiet textures remained on the chorus of “Please.” He heard late-night vocal mixes from Pdogg while the group finished parts in Seoul.
The Netflix documentary BTS: The Return captured some of the L.A. sessions. Spry says those films show both tension and joy during the sessions. He remembers freestyles, spontaneous vocal runs, and candid studio laughter.
Working with BTS members
Spry worked with the seven members individually in the studio. He praised Jung Kook’s singing and songwriting. He described V as warm, RM as a guiding presence, and SUGA as fearless when freestyling.
Members offered candid feedback during sessions. They calibrated lyrics and flows to match their voices. That collaborative environment helped shape the final recordings.
Timeline, deadlines, and reception
BTS returned to Seoul to complete recording under a self-imposed March deadline. Pressure increased as mixes and vocal takes were finalized. The team also worked to meet vinyl and CD manufacturing schedules.
ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “Swim” became a chart-topping single across major global charts. Spry had also seen a No. 1 six weeks earlier with Bad Bunny’s “DTMF,” a Spanish-language milestone.
Unreleased tracks and future prospects
Spry says several songs from the sessions remain unreleased. Some of those tracks have been claimed for upcoming solo projects. He expressed hope that more of the material will be heard someday.
He emphasized that the work aimed to honor BTS’s cultural roots. The project blends heritage with broad, international production. Spry credits a mix of studio magic and a disciplined creative process for the record’s success.
