Stray Kids Set for Comeback with Energetic London Show

LONDON (Reuters) – “This is a career highlight,” popular K-pop group Stray Kids enthused as they headlined the British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park Festival. The eight-member group from South Korea, which debuted in 2018 after being formed by JYP Entertainment through a reality show, has garnered a global fanbase with their genre-blending music and hits like “God’s Menu,” “S-Class,” and “Maniac.”

Comprising members Changbin, Felix, Hyunjin, Lee Know, Han, Seungmin, Bang Chan, and I.N, Stray Kids returned to London after an almost five-year hiatus to make their UK festival debut. “It’s a really big festival and it’s a really big space. It’ll be really interesting to see how much the energy we bring to it will change that,” Han mentioned shortly before their high-energy performance.

Time magazine named Stray Kids among the Next Generation Leaders. They ranked third on the IFPI’s list of top global recording artists last year, and their third Korean-language studio album, “5-Star,” was the second biggest-selling album globally in 2022.

All eight members also made an appearance on the MET Gala red carpet this May, donning custom Tommy Hilfiger suits. Bang Chan expressed gratitude for their strong streaming figures and success but emphasized the importance of continuing to deliver meaningful music to their fans, known as STAYs.

“Lots of STAYs and a lot of people are giving us a lot of attention, so I don’t think we should sit still and do nothing about it. That’s why all the members are working hard in their parts,” Seungmin added.

A significant part of their ongoing commitment to their fans is their new EP, titled “ATE,” set for release on July 19. Felix explained that ATE represents the eight members who have “eaten up” their comeback. Fans can expect new concepts and various styles in this release.

“It really means a lot to us. It’s been a while since our last album. With this album, we really want to emphasize our eight members, how genuine we are with music, and we’ve also put in a lot of styles of music for everyone out there to enjoy,” Bang Chan said. Changbin added, “We’re bringing out all we can at this time and that makes us confident.”

Source: Reuters