Breaking barriers and records! International phenom Stray Kids follows up history-making album NOEASY with a first-ever holiday special single Christmas EveL
Global superstars Stray Kids, recognized as the voice of Gen Z, gets into the holiday spirit with the release of their very first-holiday single album Christmas EveL. The release follows the record-breaking success of their last full studio album NOEASY, which sold over 1.1 million units within less than 2 weeks of release. In addition, it earned them the historic title of JYP Entertainment’s first million-selling artist!
Riding the momentum of an action-packed year (which included their first fan meeting, their very own reality show, their second full-length album, collaborations, etc), Stray Kids fulfill their goal of producing a seasonal song as outlined in their STEP OUT 2021 video with the release of Christmas EveL. It is a surprise gift to repay the neverending love and support of STAY, Stray Kids’ loyal fandom. The 4-track album marks the group’s first-ever seasonal release. In true Stray Kids’ fashion, the album consists of a hip sound with witty lyrics. Christmas EveL doubles the fun with double title tracks “Christmas EveL” (of the same title as the single album) and “Winter Falls”, and also includes songs “24 to 25” and “DOMINO (English Ver.)”.
Christmas EveL by Stray Kids
The Christmas album is produced and written by 3RACHA (comprised of members Bang Chan, Changbin, and HAN). It taps into Stray Kids’ playful, mischievous side. “Christmas EveL” puts a fresh spin on the typical holiday song with witty lyrics and a funky, hip-hop sound. In contrast to the usual calm music played during the holiday season, Stray Kids charges “Christmas EveL” with their free-spirited, unique energy to provide a different perspective and hip-hop version of Christmas.
The message of “24 to 25” conveys the desire to spend the time when December 24th transitions into the 25th together. A calm guitar instrumental, smooth vocals, and a grand track come together to create a cozy atmosphere. With lyrics written by leader Bang Chan, Stray Kids hope that those who listen to “24 to 25” will have a sweet and warm Christmas. Expressing the desire to stay together with lyrics like “STAY for Christmas,” “24 to 25” is a Christmas song made with STAY in mind.
“Winter Falls” expresses the perspective of someone who tries to forget about the complex thoughts that fill their head as the year comes to an end. With expressive, sentimental lyrics written by member HAN and a rhythmical, warm melody, Stray Kids hope “Winter Falls” becomes a source of warmth for STAY during the cold winter.
Closing out the album, members Bang Chan and Felix team up with rapper Junoflo for the English version of “DOMINO”, a fan-loved b-side from Stray Kids’ second full-length album NOEASY, to reinterpret the original lyrics and convey their “everyone follows at a single head nod” confidence.
As always, 3RACHA is credited on all tracks, further showcasing their musical growth. Additionally, 3RACHA enlisted the support of famous songwriters earattack, HotSauce, and more to elevate the quality of the overall album.
The Success of Stray Kids
Stray Kids’ first full-length album GO LIVE and first repackage album IN LIFE were comprised of highly addictive and powerful songs like “God’s Menu” and “Back Door”, which positioned the group as pioneers of the “mala-type” or “spicy” genre of music and earned them the title of being the “leading group of the next generation of K-pop”. In June 2021, Stray Kids won first place on Mnet’s “Kingdom: Legendary War”, a survival program where they competed against five other prominent K-pop groups. The group then released their second full-length album NOEASY with the title track “Thunderous” in August 2021, accomplishing some of their greatest achievements and reaching yet another career-high, locking them in as the leader of the 4th generation of K-pop.
The all-rounding members of Stray Kids effortlessly resonate with today’s youth. Furthermore, they capture the hearts of fans across the world with their artistry and commitment to empowering their peers. The boys continue to sweep the charts! They provide a beacon of hope and comfort to “Stray Kids everywhere all around the world”. As their motto declares, “Stray Kids everywhere all around the world. You make Stray Kids STAY,” it’s clear that Stray Kids aren’t going anywhere.
ABOUT STRAY KIDS
Stray Kids is JYP Entertainment’s 8-member Kpop boy band formed through Mnet’s 2017 reality show “Stray Kids”. The group consists of members Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, HAN, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. They officially debuted in March 2018 with “District 9”. Members Bang Chan and Felix are both from Sydney, Australia, and speak English natively. Bang Chan, Changbin, and HAN are also known as “3RACHA”. They are credited for writing and producing the majority of the group’s discography.
Stray Kids have over 1.8 billion global streams, 5.2 monthly listeners, and 6 million followers on Spotify alone, with 5 music videos at over 100 million views each: “Thunderous”, “Back Door”, “God’s Menu”, “MIROH”, and “My Pace”. Their albums Clé 1: MIROH debuted at #3. GO LIVE at #4. IN LIFE at #4 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. Their single “Mixtape: OH” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart. In addition, Stray Kids’ EDM collaboration with Alesso and CORSAK “Going Dumb” debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.
The band’s second full-length album NOEASY debuted at #5 on Billboard’s World Albums. It peaked at #4 on Heatseekers. Moreover, 8 out of 14 tracks from NOEASY ranked within the Top 25 of Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart. The title song “Thunderous” came in at #3. NOEASY also ranked #1 on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart and “Thunderous” hit #1 in 40 countries on iTunes.
Global Breakout
Prior to the pandemic, Stray Kids embarked on 2 extremely successful U.S. tours. It included a stop at New York’s Madison Square Garden as well as a TV performance on “LIVE with Kelly and Ryan”. As a group that maintains constant communication with fans, the pandemic proved to present new challenges. However, the members successfully navigated through COVID-19 with frequent online engagements. Furthermore, they even managed to break the internet with their budding friendship with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Stray Kids are not only a fan favorite but a favorite amongst media. For example, Stray Kids was named “Best Korean Act” at the 2020 MTV EMA’s. Moreover, they were also named as one of Forbes’ “K-pop Boy Bands That Could Break In America In 2021”. They were also featured on TIME’s “The 10 Best Songs of 2020” (as the only Korean act mentioned on the list). As well as Paper Magazine and DAZED’s “The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020” lists respectively. In 2020 alone, Stray Kids was the #1 fastest-rising K-pop artist in the world on Twitter. In addition, they were the #2 Top K-pop Group on Tumblr, and #4 on Spotify’s Top K-pop Artists.
The meaning of “Stray Kids” is not that they are lost. Instead, it means that they break and escape from tradition, formalities, and an old system. The band shows their unique identity and authenticity through their music, conveying their own story and resonating with global listeners. Their ultimate goal is to empower peer groups through their music and existence. They aim to endlessly grow into a greater figure that makes an impact, both as a team and as individuals.
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