NEXZ Returns with 'Beat-Boxer': Aiming to Conquer the Stage with Confidence

"I am confident that we will rock the stage as 'Beat-Boxers'. People will call us 'the future of JYP'." (Tomoya)

The group NEXZ is back, this time with boxing shoes on, ready to smash beats as 'Beat-Boxers'. NEXZ (Tomoya, Yuu, Haru, So Gun, Seita, Huey, Yuki) recently held an interview at a café in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their third mini-album, 'Beat-Boxer'.

NEXZ is set to make their comeback with the mini-album 'Beat-Boxer' on the 27th at 6 PM. This new release comes six months after their previous work. The album title, a combination of the words 'beat' and 'boxer', reflects NEXZ's confidence in their ability to 'smash beats' on stage. The title track, 'Beat-Boxer', is a minimalistic and unique track based on 2000s hip-hop and dance sounds.

NEXZ, fittingly dressed in boxing shoes for their album 'Beat-Boxer', shared their excitement. Haru mentioned, "Yuu and I watched boxing videos during our trainee days and thought it would be fun to try. When we saw the title 'Beat-Boxer', we knew it was something we wanted to do. We had fun filming, thinking about those videos."

Despite six of the seven members being Japanese, NEXZ boasts impressive Korean language skills. The members practice Korean in their daily conversations to improve their language proficiency. So Gun shared, "We try to make Korean a part of our daily life at the dorm and the company." Yuki added, "I enjoy Korean dramas and movies. I look up unfamiliar words while watching them to study." Tomoya expressed his confidence, saying, "I hope today's interview is an opportunity to showcase our Korean skills."

Tomoya, Yuu, and Haru participated in creating the choreography for the title track and pre-released songs, showcasing their talents. Tomoya stated, "I've learned various dance genres since I was young. I have a wide spectrum to show and am confident in our performance." He emphasized the importance of key choreography, mentioning a move where they show off their sneakers during the chorus, which aligns with the lyrics and enhances the performance. "We've also incorporated street dance that only NEXZ can do," he added.

All members contributed to writing the lyrics for the fifth track, 'Next To Me'. So Gun confessed, "It was my first time writing lyrics, and it was unfamiliar and challenging." However, he found joy in expressing their sincere feelings towards their fans, NEXZTY. Yuki shared, "I wrote the lyrics during our hall tour in Japan. Seeing our fans up close and hearing their cheers was heartwarming. I wanted to convey our gratitude towards NEXZTY, who always supports us warmly."

Ahead of the new release, Huey expressed his hopes, saying, "I hope fans will say, 'Wow, this is it!' We've received positive feedback on our performances so far, and this time we're coming back with a song that showcases our performance skills, with members participating in choreography creation. We've put everything we're good at into this, and I hope people will think, 'This is it!'"

During the interview, members revealed their role models. Seita mentioned Stray Kids' Seungmin, recalling a brief conversation they had in front of the company elevator, where Seungmin complimented their pre-released song. Seita, who admired Seungmin even before becoming an idol, was moved by the interaction and the praise for their song. "Exchanging contact information was an indescribable feeling. I was happy to talk to and receive support from a respected senior," he added.

Tomoya named JYP Entertainment's head, Park Jin-young, as his role model. He shared, "He's an artist I respect and admire. Performing a duet stage at his 30th-anniversary concert felt like a dream. I still remember that moment, dancing and singing together happily." Tomoya also mentioned receiving an autograph with the words 'first duet', sparking hopes for a second collaboration. "I want to share the stage with him again," he said.

Park Jin-young encouraged NEXZ members and offered advice. Tomoya recalled, "PD Park Jin-young said NEXZ's strength is passion. We once had a meal at his house, and he told us, 'NEXZ is doing well.' He advised us to keep going as we are." He continued, "PD Park Jin-young gave us three pieces of advice: cherish your members, cherish your company staff, and cherish your fans. He said if we follow these, we'll be loved a lot. We're working hard, keeping his advice in mind."

Their goal is to achieve first place on music shows. Huey expressed, "We were nominated for first place during our last promotion but didn't make it. That fueled our passion even more. We vowed to improve our skills and keep pushing until our next comeback." Tomoya added, "I hope fans and even those who aren't fans yet will listen to our music and watch our performances. We aim to earn the title of 'top performers of the 5th generation'."

Loved in both Korea and Japan, NEXZ held their first solo concert in Korea on the 25th and 26th at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Ahead of the concert, Tomoya shared his excitement, "I've attended many senior concerts as a trainee. I once went to a concert by Xdinary Heroes at Olympic Hall and also attended PD Park Jin-young's year-end concert. Performing here ourselves is something I never imagined. It still feels unreal."

NEXZ plans to perform on even bigger stages in the future. Tomoya expressed his aspirations, "I recently attended a Stray Kids concert. The large stadium was filled with many STAYs (Stray Kids' fandom). The stage production was so grand and impressive that I was captivated throughout. I hope we can perform in such a large venue someday."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr