Stray Kids in October this year was the fourth most streamed K-pop group in the United Arab Emites, according to Spotify, being in the top five with the likes of BTS, BLACKPINK, Twice and IU. This boy band is both the youngest and latest to debut among the five. A data-driven analysis by Twitter and the music startup Space Oddity selected the group as the ¡°fastest-growing K-pop artist¡± based on tweets between July last year and June this year, leading to expectations that Stray Kids could be the next big thing in K-pop.

Talented Members

Stray Kids are called the next BTS given the former¡¯s similarities to the latter. Perhaps most importantly, both comprise members offering far more than the formulaic idols typical in Korea. Producing their own music, Stray Kids and BTS are more artists rather than idol groups.

Even before its appearance in 2017 on the reality TV show bearing its name, Stray Kids possessed adeptness in songwriting and composition. Lee Know, the group¡¯s main dancer known for his stage presence, was a back-up dancer for BTS.

¡°Go Live,¡± the debut album of Stray Kids, sold 127,930 copies merely a week after its release on May 17 this year. The album at the time also ranked sixth on the Billboard World Album chart and its single ¡°God¡¯s Menu¡± finished sixth on Billboard¡¯s World Digital Song Sales. The U.S. music magazine went on in the succeeding months to feature the group in the top ten of its Emerging Artists chart, including three straight times in July.

Allusions to cooking, especially spice, is a recurring theme of the group¡¯s music. The group¡¯s musical style is dubbed ¡°somewhat experimental, per se¡± by lyricist member Han and often described as ¡°mala flavor¡± in reference to both the addictive beat and appeal of their music. Mala is a Chinese spice popular in Korea over the past few years. ¡°God¡¯s Menu¡± was written and composed by 3RACHA, a hip hop sub-unit of Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han whose name pays tribute to the spicy Thai sauce Sriracha.

Nearly all eight members picked their latest album and ¡°Go Live¡± as the works they feel most attached to. Some referred to their painstaking efforts to attain the desired quality, while others expressed how the song fittingly portrays the group¡¯s identity.

Though its warm reception heralded new horizons for Stray Kids, ¡°God¡¯s Menu¡± is far from being the group¡¯s first attempt at the overseas market. In December last year, the band¡¯s mini album ¡°Clé: Levanter¡± topped the iTunes album charts of 17 countries including Brazil, Norway, Sweden, Turkey and Malaysia; it finished second in France, third in Mexico, and fourth in the U.S., Canada and Germany. The album¡¯s title track ¡°Levanter¡± was No. 1 in Honduras and Thailand and in the top ten in Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Composite Toolbox

Felix, the group¡¯s rapper and a renowned dancer, has shot many instruction videos on dance whether for Arirang TV¡¯s YouTube channel or others featuring K-pop.
He said ¡°emphatic movement and impactful choreography¡± are the most distinct aspects of K-pop dance, adding, ¡°For those picking up K-pop moves at home, I recommend focusing on the points of emphasis per movement or a series of movements. That way, the choreography sticks more easily to your memory, in addition to adding more fun to your practice.¡±

The group¡¯s lead singer Seungmin said his music goal is aligned with those of Stray Kids: ingenuity. ¡°While a trainee, rather than simply benchmarking an exceptional singer, I chose to put together a more specific skill exhibited by multiple singers. That way, I strived to develop my own vocal style not found anywhere else.¡±

STAY with Us

Hyunjin is especially known for his affection toward the group¡¯s fans, who are called ¡°Stays.¡± When asked what fans mean to him, he said, ¡°Mutual and infinite love,¡± adding, ¡°That¡¯s why I always try to do better, to do more for them. And I¡¯m incredibly lucky to have them.¡±

Han attributes the group¡¯s devout fan following to both the group¡¯s speedy success and source of motivation. ¡°All we aspired to was spreading some warmth through our music, words of consolation and empathy with a community-oriented approach to music. I call it a vessel for communication with our audience and fans. Thanks to their warm reception and interactivity in res-ponse to our activities, we have formed a true sense of solidarity with Stays.¡±

Bang Chan added, ¡°The candid approach of Stays and the bits of themselves they show us in our interactions have become fodder for this intimate relationship we have with our fans, not to mention their infectious energy that I can feel even when onstage.¡±

Hyunjin says a powerful on-stage presence and uniqueness as the group's leading traits. Songwriter and lyricist Han says he finds inspiration "primarily from my emotional state or videos that left major impressions on me."