Bang Chan: The Leader Of The Pack

After our group interview has finished and Seungmin is having his solo shots taken, Bang Chan appears in the studio, bucking the military precision of the day, and I sense he wants to talk. He’s come out in his casual clothes, derigged of his many Fendi layers, accessories and makeup, and we end up chatting away from the photography theatrics, about their BST Hyde Park gig.

When I suggest that Stray Kids could easily fill a stadium tour, he shakes his head and humbly says, “We’re not quite there yet.” He’s as driven as he is talented, so his response doesn’t surprise me at all. Throughout the day, his manner evokes how the cogs in his head are perpetually turning, making sure that the Stray Kids ship is on the right course.

His SKZ journey has been a long one. The road to band ‘leader’ began in 2010, when he passed an initial audition at the age of 13 and moved from Australia to South Korea to begin training. He was a trainee for seven years, watching his peers ‘graduate’, before he eventually debuted.

“I miss a lot about Australia. I miss my family. The environment… the water, the food, my mates. I miss my dog, Berry.” He trails off at the thought of his beloved dog before saying wistfully, “When I first left… maybe because I was young, I didn’t really think that much of it. I was like, ‘Right, new journey — start a new life,’ and flew to Korea.

“But now that I think about it, I did sacrifice a lot. I do think a lot about ‘What if I didn’t leave? What would life be like back there?’ Those thoughts I do have a lot, but in the end, I think it was a great decision for me to leave my family.” He laughs in realisation, “It sounds weird when you say it like that.”

Hard graft and sacrifice have given Bang Chan determination that manifests in his devotion to the group.

“Last night, I had a random thought — you know those late-night thoughts? I was deep in them. I was thinking, ‘Would I be here without the guys? If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here, right?’ I was thinking that to myself because it has been six or seven years since we debuted. It might be because I am the leader of the group, but I just want to do so much for the Kids because they have done something so great for me. Stray Kids, everyone, our whole team, everyone who works with us are very, very precious to me.”

This level of affection for the band is always there, whether Bang Chan is making sure that the other members are doing what they’re supposed to on stage, on set or at an event, or protecting them from external forces. Sometimes it can seem that he is almost too selfless. Bang Chan has an exceptional singing voice and dance ability but spreads the roles fairly among the group. There are also, of course, myriad external pressures that as the leader of the group he has to cope with.

“It’s really, really pressured,” he says candidly. “Ever since the start, we have been climbing the steps one by one. Our name has reached a lot of people out there, [and] a lot of people recognise us and listen to our music. It’s really put the pressure on every move that we make and for future music as well.

“People have heard what we have done, but to make something better than that puts a lot of weight on my shoulders as we’re the ones producing the music. Not going to lie, it’s pressure, but in the end, we get motivated by the people who listen to us and gain strength from our stuff. We still want to do more for those people.”

From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to tell him that he doesn’t need to worry: he has already made it. “I have learnt that I am nothing without the Kids. It might sound cringey. I have also learnt that I should try to love myself a bit more,” he confides. “I have been trying, but it doesn’t work that well, but the Kids have been trying to persuade me to, [saying] ‘You’ve got to take care of yourself as well.’

“But it doesn’t work that well!” he says in an apologetic voice. Throughout it all, he knows he can rely on each of the members. “It’s funny, because I don’t necessarily have to find someone, or go up to them and say, ‘I’m having a hard time,’ or whatever. It’s not really that. Even if I am stressed, or I have a lot of thoughts, we just share each other’s energy. We just forget about all the hardships and boost the mood up for the day.

“One thing for sure is we have really tightened the bond that we have with each other; we are all the same blood. The fact [is that] the dream that we all have together hasn’t changed at all, so I think that itself is such a great weapon for us. It’s a very good advantage; it’s really nice to have.”

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but with Bang Chan at the helm, there is nothing to worry about. He’s not just the brains of Stray Kids, it’s clear that he is also the heart.

Taken from the October/November issue of Rolling Stone UK – you can pre-order it here now.