SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- K-pop band Stray Kids said Thursday its upcoming new release showcases a more relaxed and confident side of the group, a deliberate shift from the rough, intense energy that has long defined its sound.
"It's our ninth year, and we've tried many genres from the start," leader Bang Chan said during a press conference here to promote the new album titled "This & That." "With this album, we prepared a new color of Stray Kids, just as the title suggests."
The press event was held one day ahead of the album's release, set for 1 p.m. Friday.
"This & That," the 10th EP from the group, consists of eight tracks led by the hip-hop-based, groovy title track of the same name, which the band said emphasizes a "chill" and "cool" mood. The eight tracks were entirely produced by its in-house team 3Racha, made up of members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han.
K-pop boy group Stray Kids poses for a photo during a press conference for its upcoming EP "This & That" at a hotel in Seoul on Aug. 6, 2026. (Yonhap)
Changbin said the track features unique sonic textures the group has not used before, balanced by simple, repetitive lyrics around the phrase "this and that" to keep the song accessible.
"There are safe choices. We could come back the same way and do what's familiar, but we take on challenges when making albums because it's more fun," Han said.
After K-pop supergroup BTS said it will not submit music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, Stray Kids has been touted as a strong contender for the newly created Asian pop category, as it has eight No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.
Members did not give a direct answer when asked whether the group would submit work for the Grammys, but said it does not set chart records or trophy wins as goals when releasing music.
"We have never once set awards or chart records as goals when releasing an album. This time is the same," Hyunjin said. "Our top priority is our fans being satisfied and happy."
Stray Kids is set to launch "Straycity," a new multi-day global festival headlined by the eight-piece group in Latin America, next month. The festival will tour three cities: Bogota, Buenos Aires and Mexico City.
K-pop boy group Stray Kids poses for a photo during a press conference for its upcoming EP "This & That" at a hotel in Seoul on Aug. 6, 2026. (Yonhap)
"We're still hungry," Seungmin said. "We want to keep going to meet Stays around the world who haven't seen us in person yet," he said, using the name of the group's global fanbase.
Member Lee Know, born in 1998, addressed questions about mandatory military service, saying he views it as a natural duty and will fulfill it when called.
"We haven't discussed detailed plans after the military hiatus, but one thing is clear: We will likely gather again," Lee Know said. "Through our recent tour, I realized how many Stays there are, and even if I go to the military, I want to repay the love I've received. If you wait just a little, I'll be back soon."