Since their debut in 2020, 2Z has established themselves as one of the most unique groups in the K-Band scene. Formed by five members with complementary personalities, the group built its identity by exploring, album after album, the different facets of rock: punk, hard rock, alternative, new wave, synth-pop, modern rock... A voluntary, almost pedagogical progression that allowed them to deeply understand the history of the genre before carving their own path.
Today, they define this path under a precise name: Alternative Dance. A fusion between the raw energy of live rock, the nostalgic romance of guitars, and the addictive simplicity of electronic music. A music that makes people dance and vibrate, but also leaves a subtle, sometimes melancholic emotion once the track ends. A music that reflects the contradictions of youth: joyful yet fragile, luminous yet sometimes uncertain, energetic yet crossed by doubts.
With their new EP VECTOR, 2Z clearly affirms this direction. The group addresses strong generational themes — broken communication, the speed of the modern world, disappearing values, and ordinary heroes struggling every day. They had previously planned two European tours, which were unfortunately canceled due to promoter issues, before continuing their activities in Brazil and Asia. Their notable participation in the OST of the drama The Prosecutor's Proposal also reinforced their presence among international audiences.
Their sincerity, energy, and desire to grow with their fans have made 2Z a unique group, often nicknamed “the boys who sing hope.” An identity they fully embrace, while striving to push their musical boundaries.
I had the immense pleasure of interviewing the group by email on August 20, 2026, to learn a little more about them.
1. Could you introduce the overall concept of the new album VECTOR and the message you wanted to convey through this project?
HOJIN: “'VECTOR' is a word borrowed from physics. It’s a value that has both a direction and a magnitude of force. I thought it resembled today's 2Z quite a bit, because we have a direction where we are heading, and we feel we've acquired a certain force to push toward it. In this album, we defined that direction a bit more clearly. The musical identity 2Z has found is 'Alternative Dance.' It's a mix of the romance of rock music and the simplicity and addictiveness of dance music. Simply put, it's music where people can have fun and enjoy themselves, but looking back, it also exudes a sense of melancholy and emotion. We want to become one of the first groups that come to mind when people think of a 'K-Band' through this music. Therefore, 'VECTOR' isn't really a new starting point, but rather the album where 2Z truly marked an inflection point, saying, 'From now on, we are going in this direction.' Up until now, 2Z has delivered a constant message of 'hope' under the nickname 'boys who sing hope,' but this time, it seems we focused more on the message of 'intergenerational sharing.' 'Crushed Luv' refers to 'unshared love' or 'broken love'... This double meaning aimed to point out the generation of 'lack of communication' that unilaterally imposes its own arguments... With 'Modern Life,' I wanted to talk about values fading away in an era where the speed of trends is faster than what we perceive. Our first album's title track was 'My 1st Hero,' and 'Modern Life' is a continuation of the hero that appears there. 'The Toast (In the name of Hero)' is a song meant to make a toast for youths like us living in this era, and for all the 'ordinary heroes' of this world striving to overcome these difficult times.”
2. How does this album VECTOR demonstrate a new evolution in 2Z's musical identity?
HOJIN: “Since our debut in 2020, we have retraced the history of rock music backward to experience it. We tackled, played, and released original songs across various genres from punk to hard rock, alternative rock, new wave, synth-pop, and modern rock. In August 2025, after releasing 'highness,' an album in collaboration with DJ plomo, we got a bit closer to the musical direction that matches 2Z's color. In 'highness,' we released music mixing rock and electronic music, which received great reactions overseas, including in Europe. The title track, 'Borderline,' mixed big beat and hard rock, creating a new drama where different genres and BPMs became one. Actually, through the live reactions during our 'Glorydayz In Europe, Brazil' tour that followed, we gained the deep conviction that we had to make this kind of music. Of course, after 'highness,' we released an EP titled '6 (Six),' but rather than a musical direction, it was an album meant to thank our fandom, 'FromA,' and commemorate our 6th anniversary. Recently, we participated in the OST of the Korean BL drama 'The Prosecutor's Proposal' with 'Shadow Chaser,' and the music worked on during that same period is now featured on 'VECTOR.' I would define 2Z's musical identity, called 'Alternative Dance,' as music mixing the romance and romantic history of a rock band, the simplicity and popularity brought by electronic dance music, and the new possibilities offered by electronic instruments.”
3. Were there any particularly memorable moments or difficulties while working on this album?
JungHyun: “Working on the music video was a lot of fun. It was the first time in our MV history that we collaborated with an art team. Arriving at the studio on the day of the shoot, I was very surprised to see the art team busily decorating the set. They focused on the tiniest details invisible to us, continuously correcting and working. Thanks to that, I think I was able to immerse myself more naturally into the acting requested by the MV director. If you pay close attention to the aesthetic aspects of this MV, it will be very interesting! The difficult part undoubtedly concerned the new challenges... The musical direction is decided through discussions between producers and members, which requires efforts in learning and working, but the 5 members don't always welcome this change with open arms... So sometimes we have to make small individual sacrifices. Those who do group collaboration like us will probably understand what I mean... However, seeing the result produced at the end of this difficult process brings an incomparable sense of pride.”
4. What musical, visual, or personal inspirations did you have while preparing for this comeback?
HOJIN: “While preparing for this comeback, I was heavily inspired by representative 'Alternative Dance' bands like 'Franz Ferdinand' and 'RÜFÜS DU SOL.' I found the raw energy and rhythm of 'Franz Ferdinand' extremely striking. While relying on a guitar-driven band sound, they have this ability to make people's bodies move with simple guitar riffs and repetitive drum patterns. Beyond just the concept of 'it's rock music but you can dance to it,' the rhythm itself becomes the identity of the track, which inspired me a lot. Conversely, I felt that 'RÜFÜS DU SOL' combined electronic music and band sound in a much more spatial and organic way. Although the sound is grand and expansive, the emotional line remains extremely delicate, and the energy builds up progressively within a repetitive rhythm. Listening to their music, I often thought that 'dance music can have just as much drama and emotion as band music.' That's why we wanted to bring these two aspects together simultaneously in 'VECTOR.' We wanted to preserve the live energy played by the band while adding electronic textures and a repetitive groove to create music felt with the body, not just listened to. Ultimately, what we wanted to do in this album wasn't to choose between rock and EDM, but to find that new movement only 2Z can create when these two genres are blended. Of course, we think we aren't at the stage of completion yet. That's why the next, even more advanced steps excite me in advance...”
ZUNON: “Personally, what inspired me the most while preparing for this comeback were the music and people 2Z has encountered so far. Musically, the album 'Highness' made with DJ plomo allowed us to find the musical direction we needed to follow, and through that process, we deepened 2Z's own color, 'Alternative Dance.' Visually, we thought a lot about how to best showcase on stage the energy and movement of this Alternative Dance shaped by 2Z. I wanted to create a stage that doesn't just let people hear music, but also transmits the energy and performance expressed by 2Z. Personally, the spectators met during our recent tours in Europe and Brazil were my greatest source of inspiration. Of course, there are people who unconditionally love 2Z, but they showed us they truly understood and felt our music, and seeing them listen and enjoy it together made me realize once again that 2Z's music has the power to connect and move people. All these combined experiences gave birth to today's 'VECTOR,' and I believe it made the direction 2Z must take in the future even clearer.”
5. What message do you want to convey to the fans who will listen to VECTOR for the first time?
NUA: “I think HOJIN has already thoroughly answered the message we want to convey in the first question, so I'll just tell you what I want to say... I hope those who listen to 'VECTOR' will feel the energy and color of our group 2Z through the music. I'd like you to naturally perceive what kind of music we make and what team we want to be in sharing our stories, and for this to become music you want to listen to on repeat rather than just once. Don't look for a set answer; just feel it. This is today's 2Z, just as it has been since I joined.”
Photographer: Choi Yoon-seok | Credits: GOGO2020 Co., Ltd
6. You are renowned for your intense live performances. What is the aspect you place the most importance on when preparing for a concert?
BUMJUN: “Above all, we place the highest importance on the chemistry between the members and the energy transmitted to the audience. Playing perfectly is important as a musician, but in a live setting, it's even more crucial to share the emotions and energy of the moment with the audience. To give a fun example, we even try to look spectators in the eyes when drinking water, because we don't want to lose their attention, not even for a single second. And since I'm particularly in charge of the drums, I pay a lot of attention to the overall energy and flow of the concert. Rehearsing in harmony with the members, I check how each part fits together and constantly think about elements we can make even more intense on stage. Since physical endurance is essential, I also train physically a lot.”
7. How do you feel about the reaction of international fans? In particular, do you have any plans or wishes regarding activities in Europe?
NUA: “Seeing international fans come to see us at concerts and listen to our music despite language and cultural differences is truly fascinating and fills me with gratitude. I realize how much we can connect through this universal language that is music. I felt this particularly during our very last tour in Jakarta, done as a duo with HOJIN. It was a place 2Z had never been to, an unknown world, but facing the language of music, ethnicity, religion, and language no longer matter, and everyone becomes one. And I can never forget the crazy energy of the European public during the 'Glorydayz In Europe' tour. Undeniably, their way of enjoying music and expressing respect towards musicians has unique aspects compared to the rest of the world. That's why we will make sure to visit many European countries by the end of the year where we haven't had the chance to go yet.”
ZUNON: “The reaction of international fans felt truly special to us, which is why this European tour took on an even stronger meaning. Actually, we had planned a European tour twice which ended up being cancelled due to problems with the promoter, and it was finally after a third attempt that we were finally able to meet our European fans directly. Meeting the fans who waited for 6 years since 2Z's debut in person, and seeing them enjoy our music together, gave me an immense sense of accomplishment and considerable strength. Therefore, we hope that in the future, this won't be limited to a single European tour, but that we can go back more often and make our music heard in even more cities. Our goal isn't just limited to Europe: in all places 2Z has toured and all those we will visit in the future, we would like 2Z's name to be the very first that comes to mind when mentioning a Korean band ('K-Band'). Beyond expressing a unique genre, our goal is for 2Z to remain engraved as a language of its own.”
8. According to you, what is 2Z's unique identity?
HOJIN: “I think 2Z doesn't tell the story of accomplished people. Since our debut, we stated to the public that we weren't a finished group, but a growing group that would grow alongside people. Rather than telling the story of those who succeeded, we talk about those still shaping their lives. The title of our tour 'Glorydayz,' the title track 'Borderline' from 'highness,' 'Unreal,' another track from the same album, 'CrossRoad,' the youth suicide prevention campaign song, and 'Crushed Luv,' the title track of our new comeback EP... If you list these tracks, you'll notice they mostly express a state in progress rather than a state of arrival. Whether it's love, dreams, or human relationships, there are many things we still don't know, but we haven't hidden anything and chose to tell people: 'Let's sympathize together and move forward hand in hand.' That's why I think our emotions and music don't boil down to just one nuance. It's both sad and beautiful, loving yet anxious, exhilarating yet tinged with solitude, youthful without being entirely bright. The same goes for the 'Alternative Dance' music we advocate. We want to make music that makes you want to dance with joy while simultaneously awakening a strange melancholy and deep emotion deep inside. I believe it is precisely carrying these special, contradictory emotions that constitutes 2Z's music and charm, because it strangely resembles the 'life' we all go through. I think this is the exact reason why people who love us gave us the nickname 'boys who sing hope.'”
9. How is collaboration among members organized when creating an album?
JungHyun: “The creation process usually starts with HOJIN or NUA composing the initial chords or main melody. Then everyone tries to play slightly on their part to bring their own opinion. As soon as a light demo version emerges, everyone's opinions and suggestions naturally pour in. Even though each member puts in a lot of effort, it's true that the help of producers also plays a major role in maximizing our members' expression capabilities.”
10. Could you present your goals for the end of 2026 and for 2027?
ZUNON: “For the end of 2026 and 2027, we'd like to visit even more countries and cities where 2Z hasn't set foot yet to perform our music live. Places like Africa, for instance. People often say Africa is an unknown land, right? I feel like the African continent is the only territory 2Z hasn't touched yet. Ah! There's also Oceania where we haven't been yet... I'd love to go there too! We want to keep taking on challenges to see how far 2Z's music can travel, meeting fans in multiple countries. Our goal for 2027 is to make an impression so that when the word 'K-Band' is pronounced, a maximum of people immediately associate that name with 2Z while asserting our own identity.”
11. Among your recent interactions with fans, is there one that particularly marked you or gave you a lot of strength?
NUA: “Communicating with fans recently, what struck me the most was realizing that a much larger number of people than we imagined are supporting us. Each encouraging message sent after watching our concerts or contents represents considerable strength for us. Above all, since I just joined 2Z, the moments when fans warmly welcomed and encouraged me remain engraved in my memory. I will continue to return all the love fans give me through good music and great performances.”
BUMJUN: “The final concert of our tour, 'Glorydayz in Brazil,' held recently, is the one that marked me the most. When I went on stage, an incredible number of fans were waiting for us, and I was deeply moved hearing them sing our songs with the exact Korean lyrics. Particularly, taking a peek at the stands during the show, I felt that the emotions and messages we wanted to convey were fully perceived and shared by the audience. That's the precise moment I experienced firsthand that despite language and cultural differences, we were all connected through music. That's when I told myself: 'This is why we must keep making music.' Seeing fans draw strength from listening to our songs and travel long distances to meet us, we ended up receiving even more energy from them.”
JungHyun: “The fan meeting in Paris, France, during our recent 'Glorydayz In Europe' tour left a particularly memorable memory for me. We had a Q&A session and a cup sleeve customization moment. Notably, there was a black fan who, during the question time, came up to tell me he also loved Mötley Crüe and his favorite track was exact the same as mine. Then, after telling me how much he awaited our visit to France, while I was chatting with other friends, I saw tears in his eyes right next to me. That moment deeply marked me, and his smile and expression still remain very vivid.”
12. Finally, do you have a message to convey to Korea.net readers and international fans?
HOJIN: “It doesn't matter if our music doesn't match your taste. If absolutely everyone on Earth had to love 2Z, I think that would be a bit scary... That said, try listening to it at least once, move your body a bit to our rhythm, or come to one of our concerts. And if you like it, from that moment on you'll become a FromA. I'll leave you with final words: we are the 'boys who sing hope,' the group 2Z.”
NUA: “A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who listens to 2Z's music and encourages us. We will keep working hard to become a group capable of instilling great energy in you. Thank you!”
ZUNON: “I think there is still a long way to go for 2Z. And we don't want to map out this road all by ourselves, but rather build it with everyone who listens to 2Z's music and vibes with us. I hope this new album 'VECTOR' will be that starting point. We will continue to present new facets and new music so that the 'Alternative Dance' we shape can move the hearts and bodies of more people, beyond borders and languages.”
BUMJUN: “We will never forget the love we received and will continue to be a group that instills hope in all of you.”
JungHyun: “First I want to say thank you for listening to our stories till the end, and I also thank Korea.net for requesting this interview. I hope we can meet fans who haven't had the chance to see us yet very soon, by the end of the year or next year, and to our FromAs already by our side, I want to tell them to stay close to us forever. See you soon!”
Official Music Video: [TUZI] - Crushed Luv
Watch the official music video for 'Crushed Luv' from the new EP VECTOR.