NEXZ Debuts with Ambitious Goal to Open a New Generation

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JYP’s new boy group NEXZ is ready to embark on a new era.

On the 20th, a debut press showcase for the group NEXZ was held at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.

NEXZ was formed through the second season of the audition program "Nizi Project," a collaboration between JYP and Japan's largest record label, Sony Music. The group consists of Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui, and Yuki, with an average age of 17. The members are characterized by their unique Gen Z traits and charm.

The group's name, NEXZ, short for "Next Z(G)eneration," was given by JYP’s chief producer and "Nizi Project" judge, Park Jin-young.
The name embodies their ambition to open the next era with the music and performances of Gen Z members.

The showcase marked their first stage performance, making it a special occasion. Despite their limited Korean proficiency, NEXZ members made efforts to convey their sincere feelings without using interpreters. Yu said, "I was very excited and nervous. Performing in front of reporters made the debut feel real." Yuki added, "I’m happy to finally debut and share our music with fans. I’m also working hard on my Korean."

So Geon expressed, "Debuting in Korea, I want to communicate a lot with fans and make our group name known. I hope we can have our own concert soon with our songs accumulating."

NEXZ consists of six Japanese and one Korean member. The only Korean member, So Geon, shared, "My parents are Korean, and my nationality is Korean, but I was born and raised in Japan. Living with the members feels familiar and comfortable."

He added, "I was just a regular student at first and discovered the precious world of singing and dancing through recommendations. I’m very happy to debut with great members as NEXZ. I dreamt of becoming an idol later than the other members, and though I didn’t know anything when I auditioned, I got here with their help. My mother always told me to remember my initial intentions and be grateful."

NEXZ is JYP’s first boy group in about six years since Stray Kids. Yu said, "There’s some pressure with the title 'JYP’s new boy group,' following our seniors who receive global love. We’ll turn that pressure into responsibility and show our hardworking side."

Regarding advice from producer Park Jin-young, Yu shared, "He said our strength is our passion. He advised us to keep that passion and work hard, which we’ll always remember." Yuki added that they also received advice from Stray Kids' 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han), saying, "After Nizi Project ended, they told us, 'Let’s keep fighting together' and 'Get along well with each other,' which left a lasting impression."

The title track of their debut single "Ride the Vibe" is characterized by its experimental and sensory atmosphere, blending hip-hop rhythms with elements of electronica, creating their unique "Easy-Experimental" genre. Yuki reminisced, "When we first heard our debut song, we were all together, and the rhythm naturally made us move. We were excited that this would be our debut song and determined to work hard."

Before their official debut, NEXZ showcased their potential as a 'next-generation performance group' through the project "NEXZ Archive," demonstrating diverse choreography and energetic movements. Tomoya shared, "Through 'NEXZ Archive,' we learned our unique vibe and prepared a lot for our debut stage."

NEXZ focused on expressing their unique color. Hyui said, "We practiced to highlight our color and atmosphere while preparing for our debut. We worried if we could show our strengths and colors well, but we prepared hard, so I think we can showcase them well." Tomoya added, "Our strength lies in challenging new things, fitting our group name. Each member has unique charms, contributing to our group’s strength."

Hyui emphasized, "We trained and prepared for debut with members who have a passion for singing and dancing. As artists, we want to showcase our music and performances anywhere, share our charm, and gain love from global fans, which would make us happy."

NEXZ officially debuts on the 20th with their first single "Ride the Vibe." A debut showcase will be held at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, at 7 PM on the same day.

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