Diplo praises BTS’ creativity, teases ‘ARIRANG’ will surprise fans worldwide

Little has been officially revealed about BTS’ upcoming comeback album ARIRANG , but producer and DJ Diplo has offered fans rare insight into the project while speaking on the red carpet at the Fanatics Super Bowl party.

Diplo, who has collaborated with the K-pop superstars on the album, told TMZ that he believes the project will become the biggest moment of his career.

The veteran hitmaker, known for global hits like Lean On (with Major Lazer & MØ) , Close to Me (with Ellie Goulding & Swae Lee) , and Be Right There , called working with BTS a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He added that their upcoming album ARIRANG will feature music that’s set to surprise and excite listeners worldwide .

“I feel so lucky,” Diplo said. “I’ve worked for three decades, and to link up with a group like that and have them trust me to create something special is incredible. It’s honestly going to shock the world.”

Although he did not disclose how many tracks he contributed to, Big Hit Music previously confirmed that ARIRANG will feature 14 new songs . Diplo also praised BTS for their strong creative involvement, emphasizing that the members are deeply hands-on throughout the production process.

“They’re so creative and professional,” he said. “Jungkook has a perfect voice with no autotune. They rap, they sing, they do everything. They’re the real deal.”

Speaking about working with RM, Jin, Jimin, j-hope, Jungkook, V and Suga , Diplo described the group as disciplined yet relaxed, calling them “funny and chill” while noting their professionalism in the studio.

The DJ, who has produced chart-topping hits across multiple genres, did not hesitate to label the BTS collaboration as the most significant project of his career. “For sure, this will be the biggest thing I’ve ever done,” he added.

ARIRANG marks BTS’ first full-group release in nearly four years following their period of compulsory military service. The comeback will be accompanied by a massive world tour beginning on March 21 , with a historic live concert stream on Netflix a first for the band.

BTS are also set to embark on an 82-show global tour and release a documentary chronicling the making of the album, offering fans behind-the-scenes access to their creative journey. The album officially drops worldwide on March 20 .