[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “Novelty over familiarity. Isn’t that exactly the Stray Kids style? We’ll show you a little bit of everything.”

The group Stray Kids is making a comeback with their new mini-album “THIS & THAT,” driven by the confidence that “we can do it all.”
At a press conference held on the 6th at the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their new mini-album “THIS & THAT,” Stray Kids’ Bang Chan shared his thoughts on the comeback, saying, “This is the album that best captures Stray Kids’ new colors.”
Changbin said, “It’s been a while since our last comeback, so I’m really excited,” adding, “I want to give back to STAY (the fan club) the energy we received from last week’s Seoul concert through this promotional run.”
As befits a mini-album released after about a year, “This & That” fully embodies Stray Kids’ musical confidence. Bang Chan explained, “We’ve experimented with various genres since our debut, and this time, just like the album title suggests, we worked hard to showcase a new side of ourselves that includes ‘this and that.’” Changbin added, “We wanted to convey Stray Kids’ relaxed demeanor and confidence—the sense that we can handle anything.”
The title track “This and That” aims for both mass appeal and catchiness by layering a repetitive hook over an experimental sound. Changbin said, “The sound itself is a challenging style we haven’t shown you before,” adding, “We struck a balance so that anyone can easily sing along through the repetitive ‘This and That’ hook. “Ever since we started working on it in the U.S., I was convinced this would be the title track,” he said.

The album title was born in an unexpected moment. Bang Chan shared the behind-the-scenes story: “While working on ‘After You,’ during a break, we were talking about ‘what’s inside,’ and the phrase ‘This and That’ naturally came up. We developed the idea around that phrase, and it evolved into the concept for the entire album.”
Once again, Stray Kids chose a new challenge over a safe bet. I.N. said, “If we make the same kind of music every time, it loses its appeal,” adding, “There are difficulties in the process of taking on new challenges, but we learn just as much. That’s why I think we keep choosing new paths.”
The distinctive style of the production unit 3RACHA, who handled all the tracks, is also woven throughout the album. I.N. said, “Stray Kids’ musical pride stems from 3RACHA,” adding, “Thanks to the members who create such amazing songs, I’ve gained pride and confidence in the team.”
Bang Chan also revealed the secret behind having released 239 self-composed songs to date. “I’ve never been conscious of the number when writing songs,” he said. “Music is the most natural way for me to express my feelings.” He continued, “I draw the most strength when fans tell us during tours, ‘Your music saved us,’” adding, “Those words are the driving force that keeps me making music.”

He also expressed his determination to prioritize connecting with fans over achievements. Seungmin said, “Rather than aiming for records or achievements, the most important thing is to share music filled with sincerity with STAY,” adding, “If our hearts reach our fans and results that match that follow, I’ll be happier than ever.”
Amid growing expectations for global achievements, such as Grammy nominations, the members’ focus remained firmly on the music itself. Hyunjin emphasized, “Throughout our career, we’ve never once set awards or records as our goal,” adding, “Our biggest goal is to continue creating music unique to Stray Kids, like ‘This & That,’ and to see our fans satisfied and happy.”
Along with promotions for their new album, Stray Kids will also embark on a large-scale world tour and host their own music festival, the “Stray City Festival.” Hyunjin explained, “While concerts are occasions to spend time with our fans, festivals are stages where everyone—from our fans to first-time audiences—can enjoy the music together,” adding, “We want to give back even more of the love and passion we’ve received from around the world through our performances.”
Stray Kids’ new mini-album, “This & That,” will be released at 1:00 p.m. on the 7th. This is their first album release since setting the historic record of eight consecutive No. 1s on the U.S. Billboard 200 main album chart last year. It features a total of eight tracks, including the title track “This & That.”