‘RM: Right People, Wrong Place’ review: An insight into RM’s music, artistry and the making of an album

RM in ‘Right People Wrong Place’

The music video for the song ‘Lost’ from RM’s album ‘Right Place, Wrong Person’ begins with a poster that reads, “Inside Namjoon’s Head”. We soon find ourselves transported into a maze, into a chat show called ‘The Lost Show’ starring RM, where he navigates long corridors that lead nowhere, the drudgery of the workplace, and a crowded Feels like being stuck in an elevator.

There is a constant refrain throughout his film that suggests a duality, or a kind of duality. RM: Right people, wrong place It features RM and Kim Namjoon, leaders of the hugely popular South Korean seven-member group BTS, who are looking to dive head-first into their music to create their second solo album.

A poster for a documentary

Over the past few years, we have seen the release of several concert films that chronicle a musician’s journey from the recording room to the stage. rm’s movie RM: Right people, wrong place However, it is more of a documentary, following him and his team’s eight-month-long creation of the album. outcome? We get to see more than just peek behind the curtain; As he goes through the motions of becoming a storyteller, he gets into the music, the process, the harmony, and the musician himself. The documentary premiered at the Busan International Film Festival last year and has since had a limited release worldwide. It was released in India this weekend.

“I’m the epitome of ups and downs,” RM jokes on camera, describing how he’s been feeling these past few months. Through the film, he remains his most candid and vulnerable self, reflecting on his ten-year career often in the spotlight. It’s not hard to see where this album, which is some of their most real and reflective music to date, came from. The 11-track album was included on several year-end lists recognizing the year’s best music, and was Billboard’s Best K-pop Album of 2024. The album contained songs like ‘Groin’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Around the’. ‘World In A Day’, and ‘Domodachi’, are an interesting mix of styles and genres ranging from hip-hop and R&B to jazz and afrobeats.

The musician’s immense joy in his creative process shines through the screen as he works on various aspects of the song, video and album with a close group of collaborators he calls Team RM. They most notably include San Yeon of the Korean music group Balming Tiger. We follow the team as they head to a quiet, secluded spot away from Seoul to the outskirts of Tokyo to lie down in the fields and listen to raw recordings of new songs and a photoshoot for the album.

Countless hours are spent brainstorming songs in cramped apartments and studios, and in high-end studios recording and collaborating with artists including rapper Little Simz and a photoshoot with filmmaker Wong Kar Wai’s frequent collaborator Wing Shy. “I feel like the star of a Wong Kar Wai movie,” says RM, looking thrilled to be working with the photographer. Over the years, much has been written about RM’s interest in art and books, and it is interesting to look at the choices of his collaborators. These include Lee Sung Jin, who created the critically acclaimed Netflix series beefHe directed the music video for the song ‘Come Back to Me’.

While her team talks about her unique vocal and how they work on preserving it, her interviews never seem to over-hype them. Instead it discusses aspects of his artistry and his process about which we know little. RM himself explains the process best, and talks about how he enjoyed not having to keep too many eyes on the pictures and songs while they were being shot and filmed.

RM says working on ‘Right Place, Wrong Person’ feels like he’s being himself for the first time in a while. The beautifully shot documentary will undoubtedly be an important collection to reflect on as his solo album came together.

RM: Right People, Wrong Place is currently playing in theaters