It has been some time since the South Korean boy band, Stray Kids, made a visit to Manila. During their previous visit, they were still relatively young, but they possessed a strong desire to succeed and a determination to make their mark in the music industry.
Despite their youth, they already had a clear vision of what they wanted to accomplish and a willingness to speak up and express their thoughts and opinions through their songs. Now, they return to Manila for a fan meeting with more experience and a greater understanding of the music industry, ready to continue to make their dreams a reality.
Last year of April, they were announced as the new global ambassador of the local clothing Bench. On January 20, Stray Kids members, Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N held a press conference with Bench in Manila. During the press conference, they were asked who loves and enjoys fashion.
“Each and every member has their distinct style and distinct taste when it comes to fashion, So, I think everyone here is interested in fashion. But, If I were to be honest, among all the members, I have the most pieces in my closet,” shared I.N. via the translator.
When asked about a particular fit that they love in Bench, “All the clothes that we’ve worn from Bench are beautiful but personally I really enjoyed the fit of the red t-shirt that I’ve worn.”
It’s no surprise that their fans, both in Korea and internationally, continue to grow in numbers. Their exceptional abilities in songwriting, rapping, singing, and dancing have made them stand out in the industry. When asked about how it feels to have a solid fanbase, ”Being able to receive overflowing love from fans allows us to live our every day lives very happily and to think that so many people are giving this much interest allows us to realize our responsibility as an artist where we have to also reach the expectations of our fans.”
Regarding things they want to try in the Philippines, Felix shared “I have Filipino fans back in Australia, they did suggest a dish called Adobo. So, if there’s a chance I’d like to try it.”
When preparing for a performance, Stray Kids shared the top two things they keep in mind, “So whenever we will prepare for any kind of performance. We always try to show our best to be able to fulfill the expectations of our STAYs (fandom name). And, of course, we always try to remember and follow two key points whenever we will perform. First is our safety and everyone’s safety. Second, to have a performance that would properly communicate with the STAYs.”
Stray Kids shared their perspective on how they differentiate themselves from other groups. One of the key factors that set them apart, they said, is that they produce their own songs, which allows them to have a unique and personal touch in their music. Additionally, they noted that when they perform, they have a distinct and irreplaceable style and energy that sets them apart from others.
Last year, Stray Kids achieved their second number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart with the release of “MAXIDENT”, which debuted at the top of the list on October 22nd.
Annyeong Oppa got to ask the boys how it feels to be recognized along with the world’s top musical act. Seungmin then answered,
“It’s really unbelievable to achieve such a huge accomplishment and I think this is a very big present that the STAYs have given us. And, our eagerness and the effort we pour inside the album was truly delivered to our STAYs as well. I’m very glad that this reach their heart and is a very big honor to us and we are very happy. We will make sure that we will do our best more and more.”
MAXIDENT is their second album to land No. 1 on Billboard 200 following ODDINARY.
Meanwhile, Stray Kids is currently on their world tour, traveling to various cities around the globe to perform for their fans. One of their upcoming stops is in Manila, Philippines, where they are sure to put on an amazing show for local fans. We wish them all the best as they continue on their journey, and we are sure that they will continue to gain even more fans along the way.