[Dispatch=Park Hye-jin Reporter] "We enjoy and find it fun to do new things rather than what we're familiar with. We want to make music in that enjoyable and fun way."(Changbin)
Stray Kids is a 9-year career artist. They've become a global IP with record-breaking achievements. So wouldn't it be fine for them to come out with a safe album now? Yet this time too, they chose 'wandering'.
They erased their own familiar formula and brought experimental sounds. Intensity used to be their weapon, but this time they pulled back. They showcase witty and chill vibes.
Felix expressed confidence, saying this is "an album freshly brewed with only Stray Kids' deep and rich taste." Once again, 3RACHA roasted every track from beginning to end themselves.
They proved themselves as music merchants who do 'this and that'. From fierce rap in their early debut days to EDM, 2000s pop, and second-generation ballad sensibility, they wove together songs with stark temperature differences.
Stray Kids held a press conference on the 6th at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul to commemorate the release of their mini album 'THIS & THAT'.
Changbin greeted them, saying "It's been a while since our comeback so we're excited," and added, "I hope this becomes an opportunity to return the good energy we received at last week's performance to STAY."
◆ 'THIS & THAT'
'THIS & THAT' contains a total of 8 tracks. Once again, 3RACHA self-produced all songs. They held a song session in the United States.
Changbin said, "If Skiz has shown ourselves as witty and energetic so far, this time we wanted to show a more relaxed and skilled side."
The title track is 'THIS & THAT'. It's based on hip-hop. Chill vibes are the characteristic. They showcase vocals and moves delivered with force pulled back. The lyrics incorporate confidence that they do 'this and that' well.
It has a different texture from the title tracks Stray Kids has shown so far. Changbin explained, "The track's unique sound itself is experimental," and "Compared to a track that could sound messy, the lyrics are simple. We tried to approach it easily (for the public)."
Why didn't they choose the safe option? Han said, "Of course there are safe options. But the reason we challenge experimentation is because it's more fun and we learn a lot," adding, "If it's the same every time, the interest drops, so we want to do something new."
Bang Chan introduced, "During break time, we opened a snack bag, and when someone asked what was in it, we answered 'THIS & THAT?' and that's how the song started."
True to Skiz fashion, they developed a song from inspiration gained in daily life. So this music is more accessible than previous songs. They incorporated wit into the performance as well.
The music video incorporates Korean spaces and sentiments throughout. Seungmin said, "We particularly incorporated Korean sentiment a lot," and "We made sure our music doesn't feel too distant. We'd like you to listen to it in a familiar way."
◆ Fierce Spirit and Experimentation
The B-side tracks contain a wide range of genres they showed in their early days—strong hip-hop, EDM, 2000s pop, and ballad.
'FARMING', 'After You', 'I Do', 'Way Out', 'That Day' are among them.
Bang Chan said, "The more diverse music genres we show, the more diverse sides of ourselves we can show too, so true to the album title, we prepared Skiz's colors carefully."
Pre-released track 'RUN IT' is a song with strong propulsive force and grandeur. You can hear the 'hard' rap that Stray Kids delivered in their early days. The message is full of audacity and fierce spirit.
In particular, the B-side 'After You' starts lyrically and leads into EDM. This is a genre 3RACHA wanted to challenge.
Changbin explained, "It's a genre we really wanted to do from way back. A song that starts lyrically with guitar as the base and bursts into EDM," adding, "We thought it would go well with summer so we pushed it this time."
'That Day', which Han wrote solo, is a lyrical song. He wrote it inspired by a drama. It features dramatic lyrics.
Where does the confidence to push experimental music come from? I.N laughed, saying, "Thanks to the members who create great songs, we feel proud," and "The greatest source is STAY."
◆ "We're still hungry"
Stray Kids achieved eight consecutive number ones on the US Billboard 200. They set the highest and first record in chart history. Can they continue that record this time?
Hyunjin said, "We've never set awards results or records as our goal while promoting as Skiz," adding, "We want to show this album to many people and prove it. That's our biggest goal and dream."
Changbin said, "We will continue to strive for Skiz's newness," and "We'll keep finding what we can do well, and challenge unfamiliar things while doing it with Skiz's unique color—that will be our challenge."
They will hold the festival 'STRAYCITY' in three Latin American regions next month. Seungmin conveyed, "We're still hungry. We want to go directly find STAY we haven't met yet."
Lee Know is facing military enlistment. Changes to the team seem inevitable. Regarding future activities, he hinted, "What's certain is we will come back together."
Finally, Seungmin said, "We were happy preparing the album. Our motto is to do the best we can right now," adding, "Showing the best music and sincerity is and will be Skiz."
Bang Chan said, "We hope you overcome the summer heat with Skiz's fiery energy-filled music," and "We'll show you a lot 'here and there' so please look forward to it."
Stray Kids will release their new album 'THIS & THAT' at 1 p.m. on the 7th. On the 29th-30th, they will enter the Tokyo National Stadium as the first overseas male artists to do so. They will headline 'Rock in Rio' in Brazil on the 11th of next month.
▲Bang Chan
▲Lee Know
▲Changbin
▲Hyunjin
▲Han
▲Felix
▲Seungmin
▲I.N
<Photo=Lee Ho-jun Reporter(Dispatch)>
