credit JYP Ent

EP Review: Stray Kids – Clé: LEVANTER

Stray Kids is back with their new EP ‘Clé: LEVANTER’. Unfortunately this EP had a bit of a delay due to Woojin, the main vocal leaving the group. If you want to read more about Stray Kids, go check out the Ode To The Artist I wrote.

This is the third clé in their discography they released in 2019, so the boys have been dropping music like crazy.

Let’s dive right in!

Clé: LEVANTER

The first track is ‘STOP’ which hits exactly the right spot. It’s a heavy track with a lot of bass and EDM that feels like the extended version of ‘Road Not Taken’ from their previous EP; ‘Clé: YELLOW WOOD’. As was probably intended, it makes it feel like a natural extension. The song goes hard y’all. (insert all the fire emojis)

Next up is ‘DOUBLE KNOT’. The music video that had been released still features Woojin, they had released it as a single before everything happened. This version of ‘DOUBLE KNOT’ no longer has his vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWoyeuwj9c0

The dance break still has me shook.

The third song is ‘Levanter’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpgd3ac3_nM

This one feels a little bit sadder, but as most of the discography by Stray Kids the message is amazing. So definitely turn on the CC to read the English lyrics, otherwise you’re missing out. I love the chanting in ‘Levanter’ and that bridge! Also the video is just stunning.

Booster’ is the fourth track. What a hype song! As always, the rapline never disappoints. Pay attention to all of the layers on this one. There’s so much hidden in there.

The next song ‘Astronaut’ another pre-release. This one also got a music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnpEBYvgiAU

Just take a look at these lyrics:
“Let’s go to find the stars without a clue Fly tonight
Let’s go to space Like an astronaut
Even if I land on a strange world
I won’t look for the exit
I’m not scared of anywhere
I grew out of having the lights on when sleeping”

I don’t know why but ‘Astronaut’ just makes me so happy.

If you were a sucker for the song ‘19’ like me, you’ll love ‘Sunshine’. Han wrote the lyrics for both and they both make me so soft…

The last song of the EP is ‘You can STAY’. It’s basically a comfort song and a big thank you to the fandom. I think every STAY can be proud to be a Stray Kids stan.

I don’t know how they do it, but Stray Kids never disappoints. The lyrics are beautifully written by the members, bless their minds really. I’m sure people are going to go crazy with the theories.

Ilse Van Den Heede
A writer with a slight coffee addiction and a tendency to find K-Indie gems in the YouTube rabbit hole.