Solely two months in the past, Stray Youngsters instructed Billboard the band’s 2024 could be “very completely different from what we’ve achieved to this point,” with the four-time Billboard 200 chart-toppers’ newest New York journey already proving that to be the reality.
Sitting inside a recording studio owned by their U.S. label, Republic Information, the Ok-pop sensations’ charisma, candidness and slight trepidation shone via in a laid-back, sincere chat to recount their Met Gala debut, just-released collaboration with Charlie Puth, and the anticipation surrounding their upcoming tasks.
Reflecting on their Met Gala expertise, the members expressed how their preliminary worries finally become pure pleasure. “We didn’t know something about Met Gala,” Stray Youngsters chief Bang Chan shares in his affable Australian accent, earlier than including, “It was a very good expertise.” Felix shares that “it was an honor and pleasure for us to point out what our group coloration is like” with their look, due to Tommy Hilfiger, marking a major milestone in attending certainly one of style’s most prestigious nights out, as they mingled with celebrities like Chris Hemsworth, Baz Luhrmann and Jennie from BLACKPINK.
Shifting to their first unique English single, their collaboration with Charlie Puth in “Lose My Breath” is highlighted as an expertise for his or her group to be taught but in addition share their years of expertise in mixing musical types. “We had quite a lot of freedom to specific our opinions,” notes Han, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the venture that included Bang Chan, Changbin and himself writing and composing alongside Puth. For the pure-pop affair, Hyunjin says his aspiration is “to point out that Stray Youngsters can do this sort of track” as a testomony to their versatility and willingness to discover completely different musical landscapes.
Whereas SKZ spoke with nervous pleasure to Billboard simply hours earlier than the discharge of “Lose My Breath,” the band’s anticipation for his or her potential new future tasks was additionally palpable.
Whereas particulars stay underneath wraps, Bang Chan hinted on the thrilling prospects: “If there was a brand new album, it’s positively very new, very completely different but very real and genuine.” The tour — which will or might not have been spoiled by Tommy Hilfiger himself — can be essential, and when Lee Know mentions how “there are international locations we haven’t been to but,” he appears to trace towards a very expansive international trek.
As Stray Youngsters proceed to interrupt boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide, the Youngsters themselves stay grounded and dedicated to repeatedly bettering and leveling up artistry. Like “Lose My Breath,” their upcoming tasks all present promise in showcasing an evolving and maturing sound to affirm their standing as boundary-breakers within the international music scene. Learn the complete dialog from Billboard‘s chat with Stray Youngsters under.
Welcome again to New York, Stray Youngsters. It’s nice to have you ever again, and we have now to present you a giant congratulations in your Met Gala debut. Total, how was the expertise?
Bang Chan: There was rather a lot occurring, however I imply, it was a very good expertise. We had enjoyable.
Felix: It was such an enormous honor as a result of it was our first time as a group, and to go together with Tommy Hilfiger to the Met Gala. Like what Chris [Bang Chan’s birth name] mentioned, it’s such an honor but in addition a pleasure for us to point out what our group coloration is like. It was unimaginable.
Bang Chan: As a result of we didn’t know something about Met Gala! So, we went in, after which as quickly as we acquired in, we walked up the steps, after which there was Anna Wintour, Unhealthy Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Hemsworth. So we mentioned “Hello,” after which Chris was like, “Oh, I do know you guys! You guys are two Australians — aww, come right here, boys!” He took actually nice care of us. Baz was there too.
Felix: Baz Luhrmann was there as properly. So, we had a pleasant chat with him. It was very good, very good.
Bang Chan: Ben Simmons, the basketball participant, who is definitely from and born in Australia, he was there. There have been rather a lot.
It was wonderful to see all eight of you there, however I’m curious how you bought eight invites for the Met Gala and the way you coordinated on the purple carpet together with your reveal as eight?
Bang Chan: Large due to Tommy.
Felix: Yeah, huge due to him.
Bang Chan: However on the Met, Tommy had a bit little bit of an thought. As a result of we have now to unveil what was beneath, proper? So, we sort of rehearsed how we must always present what our outfits have been. We did precisely what we needed to do and have been instructed to do; it was all proper.
I believe it was extra essential than you would possibly notice. However let’s leap to the current with “Lose My Breath.” What’s the importance of this being Stray Youngsters’ first unique English single?
Bang Chan: It’s sort of exhilarating if you consider it. However one factor I needed to level out is, I’m very, very grateful to the members as a result of everybody recorded their components on level and superb. The English has improved, I don’t know why, however yeah. [Laughs] So, I’m very very grateful to the members however we labored on the track right here [in this New York studio], I believe it was just like the room throughout. However we had enjoyable as a result of, you recognize, Charlie Puth could be very musically proficient so we learnt rather a lot from him; it was a fantastic expertise.
You might be so concerned in your music, and Charlie Puth can be so concerned in his music. How did you discover the stability behind the scenes to collaborate?
Han: Because it’s a collaboration, the way in which we work is perhaps completely different and there may have been clashes. However in the long run, we have been very open and Charlie was very open with concepts too. We had quite a lot of freedom to specific our opinions and tried quite a lot of issues So, we balanced it out from the get-go; it was very clean. And with all these concepts we get from one another, we developed the components that we needed to point out one another and the components that we needed to get nearer aligned and finally completed off the venture.
Changbin: I used to be simply actually thrilled. There’s the Charlie that I do know on social media, on movies or YouTube or no matter, and I believe it was he much more than what I’ve seen on YouTube or social media so it was actually cool. It was cool. He’s so musically proficient, and it’s one thing that I, myself, need to be taught from and need to have in being so versatile if you’re making music.
What are your objectives or hopes for this track?
Hyunjin: Because it’s a pop genre-type of track that we haven’t achieved earlier than, I need to present that Stray Youngsters can do this sort of track — I need to present the world, STAYs, everybody that we are able to do music like this. We even have a efficiency as properly, and I need everybody on the market to see what sort of efficiency we’ve ready this time.
Because it is perhaps a sound folks don’t anticipate from Stray Youngsters, how do you consider or hope to introduce one thing new to followers?
Felix: This entire pop style could be very completely different to us, however like what Chris hyung mentioned, we’re in a position to file the track and the lyrics completely via our personal emotions and our feelings, which implies we’re actually in a position to specific what the track is. And since we’re all skilled in making music and simply exhibiting followers what our type is, I believe followers will actually get pleasure from “Lose My Breath” as it’s.
Bang Chan: It may not seem to be a Stray Youngsters track, however in the long run, it’s our voices, we did write the lyrics, the melodies and every little thing as properly. However I don’t know what folks will assume! I hope they’ll get a touch of Stray Youngsters in the entire platter.
I’ve a principle that “Lose My Breath” is the primary style or connection to the “particular album” you teased on the high of the 12 months...
Bang Chan: Um…I consider it as a aspect quest. “Lose My Breath” would possibly simply be a aspect quest…
I.N is smiling, although!
All: [Laugh]
Bang Chan: What I can say is: If there was a brand new album, um, it’s positively, very new, very completely different but very real and genuine. As a result of the messages that we need to say via music are all packed inside.
What’s the message you need to share in relation to “Lose My Breath”?
Seungmin: We simply need to enchantment that we are able to, all of our members can sing the pop style. From the second we first started recording, everybody has been used to singing [in] like a very robust tone, however this time we attempt to, what the phrase in English? We tried to energy down and compress — compressed into our pure voices. We tried to tone it down and file with a sound that naturally match to the pop style. I believe that’s a giant distinction in comparison with the final album — I believe that it’s going to enchantment to STAYs.
Bang Chan: It’s humorous as a result of I don’t normally get alternatives now to speak about what we did and every little thing, however positively, with “Lose My Breath,” we did strive quite a lot of completely different vocal methods whereas we recorded the track. I hear that particularly with Seungmin. Changbin as properly. Everybody did their half so good.
Mr. Hilfger did share that you simply’re making ready a 40-date world tour. Are you able to share or verify something concerning the tour or preparations?
Bang Chan: He spoiled it on TV…and he spoiled it for us as properly. [Laughs] I assume there could be a tour? However we’re nonetheless within the preparation course of so we don’t know what’s what or don’t know the way it’s gonna set out…
Seungmin: Lee Know needs to say one thing!
Lee Know: There are international locations we haven’t been to but and meals we need to eat whereas on the tour; touring means we are able to see quite a lot of STAYs. I believe that’s what I’m wanting ahead to probably the most. It’s the prospect to fulfill completely different STAYs in several components of the world that’s actually essential. However we haven’t began choreographing or creating the blueprints for the stage but.
You’re within the second with this single, however what’s developing for Stray Youngsters within the speedy future? Or what message do you’ve for followers as you begin this new chapter?
Bang Chan: [To their team member in the room] How a lot can we are saying?
Stray Youngsters group member: The much less you speak, the higher!
Stray Youngsters: [Laugh]
Bang Chan: Effectively, we don’t need to elevate your expectations an excessive amount of however after we head again [to Korea], it’s going to be late Might. We’ve acquired some preparations for, properly, let’s say, I assume a tour. If there’s an album, most likely the album. Most likely festivals. That’s is, you recognize, if. I don’t know if it’s true or not,
Han: There may be nothing 100% actual. We don’t know what’s occurring.
Bang Chan: Lollapalooza is one thing that we’re actually wanting ahead to. The one in Paris was wonderful, there have been lots of people within the viewers, and now we’re off to Chicago.
I.N: We would like everybody to stay up for “Lose My Breath,” however there are quite a lot of issues which can be gonna come up and I hope you don’t get too shocked concerning the issues which can be going to come back.
