By KpopEcho News – June 18, 2025
Stray Kids have officially returned to the Japanese music scene with the release of their highly anticipated third Japanese mini-album ‘Hollow’, marking their first such release in nearly three years since 2022’s ‘CIRCUS’. The comeback follows the success of their second Japanese-language studio album ‘GIANT’ , which solidified their status in Japan with chart-topping performances. More than just a comeback, this project stands out as the group's first-ever Japanese mini-album composed entirely of original Japanese tracks, making it a milestone moment for both the group and their fans.
The new album, released under Epic Records Japan, features five tracks — the introspective title track “Hollow”, along with “Parade”, “Never Alone”, “just a little”, and “宿命 (Shukumei)”. True to their artistic identity, Stray Kids’ in-house producing unit 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) took the reins on the entire production, showcasing once again why the group is known as a “self-producing idol group.
Stray Kids(스트레이 키즈)
— Stray Kids (@Stray_Kids) June 17, 2025
JAPAN 3rd Mini Album <Hollow>
Released Online
Spotify https://t.co/9UQrvVoJR8
Apple Music https://t.co/XCpy5JuUcl
YouTube Music https://t.co/elibdLBV2Z
Amazon Music https://t.co/BPiJIyb90v#StrayKids #스트레이키즈#JAPAN_3rd_Mini_Album#SKZ_Hollow…
The title track “Hollow” captures the feeling of emptiness and solitude — a concept cleverly rooted in the English word hollow and the Korean holo, meaning "lonely." With hauntingly beautiful melodies, jazz-like undertones, and an emotional blend of synths, electric guitar, and piano, the song delivers a pop experience that hits as hard as it soothes.
The track made waves even before the album’s official release. Pre-released as a digital single on June 11, “Hollow” amassed 6.48 million streams on Spotify in its first week — the biggest debut for a Japanese Stray Kids track to date. It soared to the top of Japan’s Recochoku Daily Single Ranking, AWA Real-Time Rising Songs Top 100, and the Japanese iTunes Song Chart, also topping iTunes charts in eight other regions including Mexico, Sweden, and Poland.
The accompanying music video further amplified the song’s emotional weight with poignant visuals and cinematic storytelling, showcasing every member’s artistry and presence. Hyunjin and Seungmin stunned fans with graceful and emotive wire action sequences, while the entire group delivered a powerful performance that brought the lyrics’ aching loneliness to life. From Bang Chan’s raw expressions to Han’s intensity, Changbin’s charisma, and the emotional synergy of Lee Know, Felix, and I.N, each member added a unique depth to the visual narrative. The video quickly climbed YouTube’s Worldwide Music Video Trending list, securing the #4 spot in the U.S., and ranking high in Japan, Brazil, and the UK, further solidifying Stray Kids’ global impact as both performers and visual storytellers
🎬 Dive into the haunting beauty of Stray Kids’ “Hollow” Watch the full MV here 👇