Stray Kids: 'We've never chased a Grammy — we're still hungry'

"We are still hungry. That feeling isn't going anywhere."

The opening words from Stray Kids — K-pop's undisputed flagship act — were unguarded. At a press conference held ahead of their new album's release, the group radiated the ease of a nine-year veteran and the restless drive of a rookie all at once.

Stray Kids gathered Thursday at the Conrad Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to mark the release of their new mini-album "THIS & THAT." "We put everything into this album," the members said. "Just like the title — 'this and that' — watch us do it all."

Their comeback has drawn even greater attention because of a Grammy controversy that has recently shaken the global music industry. The Recording Academy added a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category to the 69th Grammy Awards, and BTS subsequently announced a boycott of the new category. Stray Kids are widely regarded, both in Korea and abroad, as the most likely candidates to win it.

Member Hyunjin said the group has never once set an award or a chart record as a goal. "The only goal for this album is to get on stage and prove that Stray Kids is a group that can do anything," he said.

It was a direct statement of artistic independence — a refusal to be defined by trophies or outside expectations. Seungmin echoed the sentiment. "Every time we prepare an album, we focus less on results and more on whether the message we want to convey reaches Stay and our listeners," he said. "If our sincerity gets through, the results follow naturally."

Stray Kids have set a milestone no Korean act has reached before. From their 2022 album "ODDINARY" through their previous release "DO IT," they have sent eight consecutive albums to the top of the Billboard 200 — a feat unmatched by any artist who has debuted since 2000.

Their new album "THIS & THAT" marks a deliberate shift in the sound they have built over the years. The punishing, intensely spiced sonic assault that became their signature gives way this time to a hip-hop-rooted, chill and groovy mood.

Changbin said he was convinced the title track was the right choice from the moment he worked on it in the United States. "The hook came to me intuitively, and the members loved it right away," he said. Han added that repeating the same music every cycle holds no appeal for him. "Challenging something unfamiliar rather than sticking with what's comfortable is far more fun," he said. "Even when it's hard and things don't go as planned, you learn more by walking that road."

3RACHA — the in-house production unit of Bang Chan, Changbin and Han — once again wrote, composed and arranged all eight B-sides on the album.

Leader Bang Chan reflected on the group's journey. "Nine years of trying different genres is what gave us the range of colors we have now," he said. "The biggest energy I get is hearing feedback from people who connect with our music." I.N expressed deep trust in the unit. "The 3RACHA hyungs, who keep gifting us incredible songs, are the very source of our pride," he said.

Military service is now drawing closer for Stray Kids. Lee Know, born in 1998 and the first Korean-national member in the group due for enlistment, spoke with calm composure. "Military service is a natural duty for a citizen of South Korea," he said. "When the country calls, I will fulfill it faithfully."

He went on to say: "I can't go into detail right now about life after the hiatus, but one thing is certain — we will absolutely come back together. Please wait just a little while. We'll be back before you know it, stronger than before, and we'll repay your love."

Standing on the verge of yet another historic milestone, Stray Kids summed up their philosophy in unison. "Our motto is to do the best we can right now — to show the greatest music and performances filled with sincerity," they said. "We'll keep doing what we're good at while also challenging what's unfamiliar, and we'll make music that's genuinely fun."

shee@heraldcorp.com