Stray Kids Make Some Noise with Thunderous Comeback Album, “NOEASY”

Despite the outside noise, Stray Kids makes their music heard loud and clear.

On Aug. 31, “NOEASY” gained the title of Stray Kids’ first million seller album as it surpassed 1.1 million copies on Gaon Charts. As of Oct. 1, their music video, “THUNDEROUS,” amassed 87.9 million views on YouTube.

JYP Entertainment self-formed K-Pop boy group Stray Kids has never been afraid to play their self-written, self-produced music loud and proud since their debut in 2018.

The group consists of members Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N. True to their name, Stray Kids centers on the concept of eight young adults feeling “astray” from society and banding together to shake up the status quo.

Despite Stray Kids’ success, their music has been dismissed by critics and anti-fans as “construction music.”

Such comments imply that Stray Kids creates noise, not music.

Despite the “construction music” comments, Stray Kids clapped back with the release of their “THUNDEROUS” (styled “소리꾼”) music video on Aug. 23.

Stray Kids also released their first 2021 comeback and second full-length studio album “NOEASY” on Aug. 23, which includes “THUNDEROUS” as a track.

To Stray Kids, the title “NOEASY” (a play on words on the “noisy” comments they receive from critics) means leaving a loud impact on the world with their music.

There is “no easy” way of going through life, as the second meaning of “NOEASY” stands for life’s struggles. It resonates with Stray Kids’ fans “Stays” as well as anyone battling the uncertainties of life during the on-going world-wide pandemic.

The album contains fourteen songs: “CHEESE,” “THUNDEROUS,” “DOMINO,” “SSICK,” “The View,” “Sorry I Love You,” “Silent Cry,” “Secret Secret,” “Star Lost,” “Red Lights,” “Surfin,” “Gone Away,” “WOLFGANG,” and “Mixtape: OH.”

“THUNDEROUS” contains Stray Kids’ signature elements of trap, EDM and rock as well as elements of traditional Korean brass instruments.

The lyrics “Keep on talking, we don’t play by the rules” sung by Stray Kids’ dancer, rapper and vocalist Felix in “THUNDEROUS,” conveys Stray Kids’ self-confidence and can also instill confidence and motivation in listeners.

However, like their listeners, Stray Kids are no strangers to experiencing a lack of self-confidence.

For example, EDM and mid-tempo hip hop song “SSICK” contains the lyrics, “Oh yeah I know, that I don’t have anything special, but yeah, did you know, that I myself am really special.” The lyrics, sung by Korean-Australian members Bang Chan (leader and co-producer of Stray Kids) and Felix, sound like they are talking to themselves.

“SSICK,” which has the double meaning of the “sick/cool” slang and “ssik” (씩) (which stands for “grin smile” in Korean) is reflective of Stray Kids’ journey as they navigate the cool successes but also are “sick” of the negative attention that come with fame.

Despite so much outside noise, Stray Kids are determined to maintain their confidence and make their music heard as loud and clear as possible.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, rapper, vocalist and co-producer Changbin stated: “In the face of the ‘loudness’ that tries to deter us and get in our way, whether it’s pain, hardship, adversity, disapprovement, or criticism, we won’t be shaken easily, nor will we ever break down in front of it.”

Thus, “NOEASY” isn’t just Stray Kids’ “million seller” album, it is a symbol of Stray Kids’ ability to take negative comments and situations and turn them into inspiration and music that resonate with millions of people around the world.

You can listen to Stray Kids’ official NOEASY YouTube playlist here.