2Z
Meet 2Z: A talented group of artists on a journey to share its music with the world.
- Who is 2Z?
“Our group’s name is 2Z, a name that symbolizes our commitment to fight until the end” shares BUMJUN, the group’s leader and drummer.
“We unveiled our music to the world in January 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from meeting our fans, the FromAs, in person. But we continued to release albums, keeping our promise to always be with our fans. To this day, we’ve released 18 albums and over 40 songs. And if you’re wondering why our fans are called FromA, it symbolizes our promise to be with them ‘from A to Z’.” – BUMJUN
The group also consists of HOJIN, the angelic voice of the group, JISEOB, the guitarist, JUNGHYUN, the bassist, and ZUNON, the DJ. Each member brings a unique touch to the group, whether through their musicality or personality.
- What is 2Z’s musical style?
BUMJUN: “Our first albums were infused with sounds from the 80s and 90s Rock. Currently, while we’re rooted in Rock, we explore many musical genres that appeal to the general public while reflecting 2Z‘s identity.“
HOJIN adds: “Although we’ve always been Rock-oriented, with our latest album ‘LIKE A MOVIE‘, we started exploring other musical genres like the ‘melting pot’ and ‘synth-pop’.“
JISEOB emphasizes the diversity of Rock as a genre: “In reality, the Rock genre is incredibly vast and encompasses a multitude of styles. Our early albums were steeped in original Rock sounds with a striking guitar sound. Simultaneously, we even tried drama soundtracks, medium-tempo ballads, synth-pop, and many other genres. We attempted different genres to show that whatever music we produce, it represents our unique color as 2Z. We plan to continue the challenge of exploring many genres in the future. We have so many genres we’d like to try!“
- How was 2Z formed?
HOJIN: “Originally, we were all models, complete novices when it came to music. JISEOB and I were friends since high school, while JUNGHYUN and BUMJUN were affiliated with the same modeling agency. ZUNON and BUMJUN were also classmates in college. We became musicians by chance following a group audition. Personally, I didn’t like singing at the time, but fate had other plans for me. It’s as if destiny told me I had to sing in this group called ‘2Z‘. I had no confidence in my voice, but I accompanied JISEOB for the audition, and I was accepted. At first, I thought it was an impossible challenge. We knew nothing about music, making people quite critical. However, thanks to our unwavering perseverance, we’ve come to where we are today. People call us ‘the kids who sing hope‘, maybe because they’ve seen this never-give-up attitude. The moments we’ve lived have been a source of hope in themselves.“
JISEOB: “It’s truly incredible to think that people who knew nothing about music came together to form a group. Looking back, starting was a challenge, and we often had disagreements and shed many tears. But over time, we gained fans who support us, members supported each other, and we finally found a common goal in music.“
JUNGHYUN: “Except for our guitarist JISEOB, we were all novices when it came to musical instruments and music in general. That’s why from the beginning, we faced many obstacles in playing music. But every time we overcame them, we felt great satisfaction and happiness. Now, it’s an integral part of our lives, and we’re determined to move forward.“
- How does 2Z see its future?
HOJIN passionately states that their goal is to embark on a world tour.
“We’ve just finished a tour abroad in Brazil and Mexico. For next year, we’re preparing for a tour in Brazil in March. And our goal for the future is to expand our tours not only to Brazil but also to China, the United States, Europe, and Japan. We hope these tours will help us become a globally recognized group!”
BUMJUN, in addition to his responsibilities within 2Z, aspires to showcase his acting talent.
JISEOB: “Since our debut, as our nickname (‘the kids who sing hope‘) suggests, we’ve shared a message of hope through our music with many people. Of course, this message of hope is extremely valuable, but we’re thinking a lot about how we can convey other messages in the future. Then we had this thought: ‘In the future, when people hear about the group ‘2Z‘, how do we want them to remember us?’ I want future albums to answer that question.“
JUNGHYUN: “We dream of spending a whole year touring the world, holding concerts, visiting all continents like Asia, Latin America, South America, Europe, Africa, and using these tours to write songs or record abroad.“
- What are 2Z’s upcoming projects?
JUNGHYUN announces with enthusiasm: “Our next big project is our solo concert in Seoul on November 3.“
HOJIN: “It’s titled ‘빠지거나 혹은 미치거나‘, which means ‘Falling in love with music or going crazy for it.’“
JISEOB: “It’s special because it will be divided into two parts: an ‘unplugged version’ (‘falling in love with music’) and a ‘full sound version’ (‘going crazy for it’). We’re preparing with a lot of excitement and believe it will be a very happy and special time with our fans.“
ZUNON, the group’s DJ, underscores the importance of this concert, as it’s their first solo concert in Korea in a year and a half and their upcoming Brazilian tour.
JUNGHYUN adds: “After participating in the ‘Asia Star Festival‘ in São Paulo, Brazil this year, I realized again that a music group lives and dies by its performances in front of a live audience. That’s why next year, we’d like to have many performances worldwide. We also plan to participate in rock festivals and college festivals in Korea. There’s nothing like the feeling of performing outdoors at twilight on an open-air stage.“
He further adds: “This year, during our concert in Brazil, we performed our song ‘Not Without U‘, and I witnessed over 8,000 people in the audience raising their hands and applauding. I thought at that moment that I couldn’t be happier. These emotions are still with me, and I want to feel more of them in the future. That’s our main goal.“
HOJIN: “From what we’ve heard from our Brazilian fans, many people became fans after seeing our performance at the ‘Asia Star Festival‘. Moreover, recently, we participated in the ‘Link Fashion Fair‘ in Shenzhen, China, where we were pleasantly surprised by our popularity. We hope to go around the world soon and continue to share our music with our fans!“
JISEOB: “We are very aware that many fans from around the world support us. Wherever the FromAs are, we want to go there and give back their support. Regardless of the country, we strive to give our best in our performances in front of our fans. We hope to meet our fans in Europe soon!“
- What’s the track you’re most proud of? And which one would you like to introduce to a broader audience?
BUMJUN lights up: “The song I’d like to share is our second single ‘Not without U‘. It’s a piece that embodies our strength, a rich harmony. In this track, I wanted to express how much I want to be with our fans forever.“
ZUNON proudly shares: “The track that makes me proudest is ‘Like A Movie‘. Although I love all our tracks, this one was prepared with so much passion. If I had to recommend another, it would be ‘Superstar‘ from the same album. Listen closely to the lyrics! When you hear it, no matter what others say, it makes you feel like a ‘Superstar‘.“
For JISEOB, it’s a different story: “Every track is a source of pride, but I really want as many people as possible to listen to ‘Keep the promise‘ from our first album ‘WE 2Z‘. The song carries the message that we will stay with our fans until the end.“
JUNGHYUN and HOJIN share a similar sentiment for the song “It is U“. JUNGHYUN describes: “For me, ‘It Is U‘ precisely captures what we represent. The ‘U’ in the title refers to our fandom FromA.” HOJIN chimes in, “If I had to choose a song that truly reflects 2Z‘s color, it would undoubtedly be ‘It Is U‘.“
- Do you have any behind-the-scenes anecdotes about your creations to share?
JISEOB explains his creative process: “When I start creating a song, I begin by humming or strumming my guitar. Sometimes, I start working directly in a digital audio workstation (DAW), but lately, I enjoy composing songs with just an acoustic guitar and my voice. After composing the song, I structure it and add MIDI elements if necessary. And, of course, we always add the message we want to convey.“
ZUNON shares a touching story behind “작은 아이” (“Slow step”) from their latest album “LIKE A MOVIE“: “It’s a song composed by HOJIN, thinking about comforting me, who seemed exhausted and discouraged at one point. The lyrics are an ode of comfort. He wanted to offer me comforting words by seeing me, who usually seems much bigger than him, in a difficult situation. This song contains lyrics that console the moments of weakness and difficulty we sometimes experience.“
JISEOB adds: “It’s interesting because the lyrics of this song were written by HOJIN himself. He said that when he wrote these lyrics, he was thinking of ZUNON, the oldest member: he wanted to comfort him because he saw him going through a tough time. It’s one of my favorite songs by 2Z.“
JUNGHYUN also shares an anecdote about “작은 아이” (“Slow step”): “My own anecdote is also about this song. The first line of the lyrics says: ‘세상에 모든 짐을 짊어지고 또 다시 내일 오길 기다리는.’ (Bearing the world’s burdens, waiting for tomorrow again.) When I heard that part, it left a strong impression on me. I couldn’t know everything about what ZUNON was going through, but as a friend and a member, I felt and understood the difficulty he was experiencing. Of course, he wasn’t really carrying the world’s burdens, but he seemed very serious and in a struggle. ‘We’re by your side no matter what you’re going through.’ That’s the song’s message. Although we don’t know everyone’s struggles in minute detail, we feel and share the tough times. I always hold a special place for this song because it contains lyrics that touched me. I even wonder if one day HOJIN will be able to write lyrics dedicated to my struggles and difficulties.“
- What are your sources of inspiration?
HOJIN explains that he finds inspiration from a wide variety of sources. He sometimes draws inspiration from listening to old music, while at other times, it’s contemporary melodies that stimulate him.
He also mentions a moment he spent with JISEOB: “Regarding writing lyrics, I’m usually responsible for the lyrics in 2Z. When I was writing the lyrics for our title ‘Like a movie’ from our sixth EP album ‘LIKE A MOVIE‘, I had a hard time finding appropriate lyrics for a while. I was sitting at my desk, feeling melancholic, but JISEOB suggested that I draw inspiration from a movie. After watching the movie ‘Sing Street‘ I found inspiration to write the lyrics for the song. It was a valuable experience. The conversations I had with JISEOB while watching the movie are moments I cherish.“
JUNGHYUN is inspired by certain parts or specific sources he hears in music. While JISEOB finds ideas in human emotions: “My sources of inspiration often come from various aspects of life, like human relationships, love, hope, joy, sadness, and more.” He also mentions a strong admiration for “The 1975” and “Coldplay“, particularly “The 1975“, with songs like “About you” and “I Always Wanna Die“, which use spatial effects to amplify emotional impact. “Coldplay” also inspires him with its musical message and stage presence. He believes they share a similar vibe to what he envisions for 2Z. “They offer me a lot of inspiration.“
BUMJUN shares: “I’m an ENFJ, which means I’m influenced by my environment and emotionally receptive. Visual images have a big impact on me. For example, during our tour in Brazil, the environment, smells, and weather of the country inspired me greatly. I also have a great passion for comedy and watch a lot of dramas. When I watch a drama, I often wonder how the main character would feel, what their emotions would be. This drives me to create music by putting myself in that character’s shoes.“
- Do you have any collaboration projects you could share with us?
HOJIN expresses his admiration for the collaboration between “BTS” and “Coldplay“. “It’s something we envy. At the moment, we don’t have any new collaborations with other artists to announce, but we hope to collaborate someday with artists who share our vision.“
JISEOB emphasizes that they are currently focusing on their own music, while JUNGHYUN mentions their latest project, a new album they’re preparing.
ZUNON recalls their previous collaborations: “In the past, we worked on the soundtrack of the drama ‘Girls in the Cage‘ and collaborated with our vocal coach and ‘27Elephant‘ group member, ‘STAY‘. Recently, we also worked with ‘Sun.L‘, the singer of the winning team ‘군조 크루‘ from the Korean TV show ‘Show King Night‘. These experiences expanded our artistic palette, and we hope to have new exciting collaboration opportunities in the future.“
- What will this next album be like? Could you introduce it to us?
HOJIN shares, “The title of our new album will probably be written in Chinese with the character ‘休’, which means ‘rest.’ It should be released around January next year and will include about 4 to 5 songs. It’s a kind of reflection on the moments we’ve lived as ‘the kids singing hope‘, but also a new beginning.“
JUNGHYUN recalls: “This year marks our fourth year as a group. We’ve released more than 40 songs during these years and have come a long way without a break. This album is our breathing space to start afresh.” He hopes that this album will allow those who work hard towards their dreams to take a moment to refocus.
ZUNON sees this album as halftime in their career: “If the first half was like the first half of a football match, this break is necessary to start the second half. It’s a sign that our journey is just beginning.“
- Regarding this new album, what song do you attach the most importance to?
JISEOB mentions “Time Machine” (the title of the song hasn’t been decided yet, but he talks about a song, planned for this new album, titled “Time Machine“), saying: “When I listened to this song after recording it, all the memories of 2Z from its beginnings came back to me. The lyrics of this song are what I would say now to my past self, to JISEOB. I hope you’ll listen to it when the album is released!“
JUNGHYUN talks about the song “너를 볼 때면 (HOPE)” which he believes perfectly represents the essence of the album, especially the rap lyrics that say, “When you’re out of breath, take a break. Everything will be fine.“
HOJIN confesses that “Time Machine” moved him to tears from the demo. BUMJUN, on the other hand, is attached to a track titled “Anymore“, a song that conveys the message that despite the challenges, one can always rise.
- Have you noticed any major changes as a group since your last album?
JISEOB describes the group’s musical transformation, noting that they’ve experimented with various genres, from synth-pop to ballads, to get closer to the wider public. HOJIN mentions that since their last album “LIKE A MOVIE“, they’ve been thinking about how to get closer to their fans.
JUNGHYUN adds: “We’re now focusing on the little details that can captivate the audience during our performances. We aim to stand out by offering original details rather than doing what’s predictable or similar to others.“
- What message would you like to convey to the FromAs?
Through this album, BUMJUN wishes to convey passion and determination. JISEOB and HOJIN want to thank the FromAs for their ongoing support, while ZUNON emphasizes that they are always together, no matter the distance, and they keep moving forward. JUNGHYUN wants to emphasize the importance of rest in life.
“What we really want to communicate is that in life, the concept of ‘pause’ is extremely important. Taking your time, taking a break, reflecting on your path, looking back, recharging, taking care of your well-being—all of these have a much more positive impact than rushing headlong. We want to stress that, while pursuing a goal with determination is important, taking breaks and taking care of yourself are equally essential.” – JUNGHYUN
- Lastly, do you have a message to convey to your fans, especially those in France and Europe?
ZUNON: “We have high hopes for our new album. We hope that our fans in France and Europe will support us warmly, and if that happens, we can consider touring to meet more and more fans. We hope that day will come soon!“
JUNGHYUN: “Next year, we plan to visit more countries and meet more FromAs. It’s only a matter of time, so please, wait a little longer! We want to thank you once again for your support. We know we have many fans in France and Europe, and we hope we can create unforgettable memories together. We look forward to seeing you again!“
JISEOB: “We are aware that our fandom, FromA, is present in many European countries. We really hope to have the opportunity to see you in person and offer you a musical gift. When that time comes, we promise to create unforgettable memories together. Love ya!“
BUMJUN sends all his love to FromAs around the world: “I’m excited to give a concert in France and Europe for our dear FromAs. A big thank you to all the FromAs worldwide! We love you and appreciate all your love and support.“
HOJIN concludes: “France and Europe have always been special to us. We’ve always wanted to meet you. Just wait a little longer. We promise it will be worth it, and we’ll show you that you made the right choice by becoming FromA.“
If this article is an introduction to 2Z for you, you might be the next FromA to join their fandom!
Journalist: Leo
Translator: Leo
Source: KSTATION TV, GOGO2020
