Taeyang embraces authenticity, reinvention on 'Quintessence'

Taeyang is entering one of the most significant years of his career as Big Bang celebrates its 20th anniversary and he returns with his first solo album in nearly a decade. After kicking off 2026 with Big Bang's appearance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio in April, Taeyang released his fourth studio album "Quintessence" on May 18, the same day as his birthday. As both a Big Bang member and solo artist returning to music after a hiatus, Taeyang said he spent nearly a year work