Stray Kids – This & That

A breath of fresh air in the ever-evolving K-Pop scene, Stray Kids once again deliver with This & That: an astounding eight-track mini-album that highlights authenticity and sincerity as the core of their artistry.

Run It is a gritty pre-release, characterised by the grandeur of its military-like stomping and the members’ synchronised cry of, “Run it everywhere, all around the world.” The piece is high-energy throughout, closing with a sprint-like outro that recalls their tumultuous early days as idols, recording songs on their phones, before taking on bigger stages. Stray Kids, always unpredictable in their use of structure, surprise the audience by delaying this familiar back-and-forth between the rap duo of Changbin and HAN, saving it for the very end. This keeps Run It novel with every new listen.

Maintaining the opening anthem’s grungier soundscape, the title track slows the playlist down with heavily distorted vocals supported by a charming and uncanny rhythm. Seemingly nonsensical lyrics hook listeners in. But behind the music’s infectious façade is a testament to how Stray Kids can find sustenance for their craft in everyday little things – like in the coffee one drinks. This & That celebrates the band’s versatility alongside their ability to preserve their signature sound despite experimenting with multiple genres.

After You takes a brighter turn with soft, poetic lyricism against the strum of the acoustic guitar, and production that emulates artists like Zedd and The Chainsmokers. It ruminates on impactful yet fleeting first meetings – a sensation akin to the chase of the first high of a new experience. Although framed as a love story, After You echoes universal sentiments of relationships that change a person.

This uplifting and hopeful atmosphere follows through with I Do. Discussing mental health struggles, the song is almost like a companion piece to In My Head from their 2025 release, Karma. Whilst the latter expresses the endless cycle of depression, I Do emphasises the desire to share that burden. These anthems are performed back-to-back during their Run It tour, almost like a call-for-help-and-response. Rather than the typical noise pop Stray Kids is known for, I Do simulates late-90s to early 2000s rock.

A summery number recounting young love, Back Then uses nature and sensory language to paint a picture of an endless romance, one filled with possibility. Rather than a lamentation of present sensations, Back Then describes past intimate moments with wistful fondness, leaving listeners with lingering uncertainty and what ifs. The light delivery of “Da da” throughout the track keeps the tempo melancholic and bittersweet, particularly Lee Know’s initial delivery in the introduction and the depth of Felix’s vocals in the outro.

Overall, This & That boasts cohesive writing that covers a wide array of topics: from their rise to fame and fated meetings, their never-ending thirst for success and improvement in Farming, to the bitter taste of a break-up with Way Out. This comeback is light in tone but deep in thematic explorations, showcasing Stray Kids’ mastery of the balance between substance and playful lyricism.

Mae Trumata
Image: Courtesy of Stray Kids

This & That is released on 7^th August 2026. For further information or to order the album, visit Stray Kids’s website here.

Watch the video for This & That here: