Stray Kids want to 'eat the stage' with ninth EP 'ATE'

The meteoric boy band Stray Kids talks about their future with JYP, meeting Wolverine and Deadpool, their ambition for performing and how the group is all of their youth.

Members of boy band Stray Kids pose for photos during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19 [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

It’s common for K-pop singers to leave their agency after the end of their seven-year contract to pursue solo careers. It takes great trust and dedication in the group, the agency and the fans for every member of a group to agree to stay together for more — which was exactly the case for K-pop’s meteoric boy band Stray Kids.

“We came to this decision because we could really see ourselves growing together, thanks to the love and support that we’ve gotten from Stay and the company staff,” leader Bang Chan told reporters during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul in western Seoul, two hours before releasing the band’s new album “ATE” on Friday at 1 p.m. Stay is the name of Stray Kids’ fan club.

Stray Kids’ agency JYP Entertainment announced on Thursday that all eight members — Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N — decided to renew their contracts a year before their contracts were set to end, based on the members’ “strong trust with JYP Entertainment as they establish a unique position in the global music market."

“We really wanted to share the great news quickly,” Bang Chan said. “What was so great was that every member had the exact same thought, which felt really touching to see as the [group's] leader. I believe that we have written a really good story as Stray Kids, even before our debut, but there are so many things that we want to show in the future.”

Members of boy band Stray Kids pose for photos during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19 [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

The news came a day before the release of the octet’s ninth EP “ATE,” an eight-track album with the aim to show the band’s ambition “to eat the stage,” as well as a little more restrained side of the band, according to the members.

“The title ‘ATE’ has two meanings; one is where people show that ‘they ate the stage,’ like when someone just rocks their performance,” Bang Chan said. “‘ATE’ also sounds the same as the number eight, which symbolizes us Stray Kids. We tried to get across our sincerity through the album.”

“We also wanted to show something a little different for this album,” Han said. “If we had given off a sort of explosive energy in the past, we wanted to go with something more refined and restrained, but also ‘not boring,’ showing the charm of our group.”

Lead track “Chk Chk Boom” features iconic hip-hop beats and a certain urban masculinity the band is known for conveying on past songs like “Thunderous” (2021) and “Manic” (2022). But it also brings something different by showcasing a more relaxed rhythm and a hint of Latin pop accompanied by dance moves that smoothly, yet fiercely, shift from soft to strong.

Actor Ryan Reynolds featured in boy band Stray Kids' music video for ″Chk Chk Boom″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Actor Hugh Jackman featured in boy band Stray Kids' music video for ″Chk Chk Boom″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Actor Ryan Reynolds featured in boy band Stray Kids' music video for ″Chk Chk Boom″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The song, once again written and composed by the talented members of Stray Kids’ producing unit 3RACHA, also added a surprise touch with the special appearance of actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds in the music video, also released on Friday at 1 p.m.

“Seeing us together in the same scene really feels surreal, even for us,” Bang Chan said. “Our history actually goes back to when Ryan Reynolds first said that he liked us. We got in touch through social media and he [and Hugh Jackman] were generous enough to make the time to come and shoot with us. Thank you again.”

The collaboration with the two “Deadpool & Wolverine” stars signals only a portion of the band’s acceleration to the spotlight.

“We also attended the Met Gala recently,” Bang Chan. “And on our way there, we got a chance to talk to pop star Childish Gambino. He said that he knew us and that we should pursue the music that we want to with a backbone. The fact that he knew us was just an honor in itself, but we were so inspired and touched.”

“Pharrell Williams also told us last year that he liked our music,” added Felix.

Members of boy band Stray Kids pose for photos during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19 [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Members of boy band Stray Kids pose for photos during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19 [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Stray Kids, having debuted in 2018, topped the Billboard 200 albums chart with four consecutive albums starting with “Oddinary” in March 2022. The band has also landed two songs on the Hot 100 singles chart, which is more difficult for K-pop stars because the chart also counts local radio plays, with “Lalalala” (2023) and “Lose My Breath” featuring Charlie Puth.

Stray Kids also headlined some of the biggest music festivals around the world this year, including I-Days in Italy on July 12 and the British Summer Time Hyde Park in Britain on July 14.

“The fact that we got to perform in front of so many Stay felt almost surreal,” Felix said. “It’s nerve-wracking but also so fulfilling at the same time. We’re grateful that so many Stay came to watch us perform, and we hope that we continue to get to show our music and performance.”

Members of boy band Stray Kids answer questions from reporters during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Members of boy band Stray Kids answer questions from reporters during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Stray Kids is set to headline Lollapalooza Chicago on Aug. 2 then start its world tour “dominATE” with four Seoul concerts on Aug. 24, 25 and 31 and Sept. 1.

The tour will continue in Singapore on Sept. 28; Melbourne on Oct. 19; Sydney, Australia on Oct. 26; Kaohsiung, Taiwan on Nov. 2; Tokyo on Nov. 14, 16 and 17; Manila on Nov. 23; Macau on Nov. 29 and 20; Osaka, Japan on Dec. 5, 7 and 8; Bangkok on Dec. 14; Jakarta, Indonesia on Dec. 21; and Hong Kong on Jan. 18 and 19, 2025. More stops will be added in Europe and North and South America, according to JYP Entertainment.

“Our primary goal is to make good music with our unique Stray Kids color,” I.N said. “The second goal is to make good memories with the members and Stay. We’re always trying our best to deliver the best music and best performance as a team.”

Members of boy band Stray Kids answer questions from reporters during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

Members of boy band Stray Kids answer questions from reporters during a press conference held at Conrad Seoul hotel in western Seoul on July 19. [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

As the group starts a new chapter of its career with an extended contract with JYP Entertainment, the members described what Stray Kids means to them.

“Stray Kids really feels like family,” Felix said. “We’ve spent seven years together, literally practicing and pulling off our schedules together every day. We know each other so well and support and love each other. I truly think that we’re a family.”

“All of my 20s have been colored by Stray Kids,” Seungmin said. “Stray Kids is all of my youth.”

“To me, Stray Kids is forever; I hope Stray Kids is forever,” Changbin said.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]