After bringing their global showcase across Asia, NEXZ finally made their way to Singapore last month. The Capitol Theatre stop followed shows in Taipei, Hong Kong, and Bangkok, giving TOMOYA, YU, HARU, SO GEON, SEITA, HYUI, and YUKI another chance to meet NEX2Y across the region — and, as the members tell Bandwagon, discover just how much energy they draw from performing in front of their fans.
The showcase arrived during a packed chapter for NEXZ. Fresh from their first-ever Japan arena tour, the group released their third Japanese EP, Hellmate, a four-track project spanning the title track, 'Hands up, Yo!', 'Can’t hide', and a Japanese version of 'Mmchk'. Across the record, NEXZ move between hip-hop, rock, and R&B while holding onto the playful confidence and individuality at the heart of their music.
Following their Singapore show, Bandwagon caught up with NEXZ to talk about finding their identity across different sounds, the Hellmate parts they wish were theirs, eating their way through Asia, and how hearing NEX2Y sing along has inspired them to get even more involved in making their own music.
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You've just wrapped up your first arena tour and your global showcase across Asia. What's one thing you've learned about yourselves as performers that you didn't know before stepping onto this tour?
HYUI: We held our global showcase and had the chance to visit many different places and meet so many NEX2Y. Through that experience, we realised once again that while we spend a lot of time practising, performing, and dancing, nothing makes us happier or gives us more energy than performing in front of NEX2Y, our fans.
Congratulations on your third EP, Hellmate! The EP moves between hip-hop, rock, and R&B. As NEXZ continues to experiment with different sounds, what do you think is the one thing that always makes a song feel unmistakably "NEXZ"?
HARU: NEXZ’s music covers a wide range of genres, but no matter what kind of song it is, each one really brings out the unique qualities of our voices. Whatever the genre, we hope that when you hear our music, you’ll immediately think, “This is NEXZ!” So please give all of our songs lots of love and listen to them!
The title track 'Hellmate' is built around encouraging people to stay true to themselves regardless of what society says. Was there a moment during the making of this EP where you felt that message reflected your own journey as a group?
SEITA: As we practised the performance, performed the song on stage, and filmed the music video, we felt that there were many ways in which 'Hellmate' reflected our own journey as NEXZ.
One thing that especially stood out to us is that, as we continue our activities as NEXZ, we often talk about wanting to show everyone who supports us, including all of our fans, our own unique colour and musical identity. In that sense, the idea of showing and sharing our own colour really connects with the lyrics of 'Hellmate'.
If each member had to recommend just one track from Hellmate to a first-time listener, which song would you pick and why?
SO GEON: I'd like to recommend 'Can’t hide'. This is our first time singing a heartbreak song, and I think you’ll get to hear a new side of each member through our sweet vocals. The lyrics also really hit you in the heart, so we hope you’ll give it a listen!
Is there another member's killing part on Hellmate that made you think, "I wish that was mine"? Show us your version!
YUKI: There’s a part I really love in 'Hands up, Yo!' It’s SEITA’s part where he says, “Right, bro?” We all love that part so much and imitate it all the time. Let me do my version! TOMOYA, give me your hand. “Right, bro?” Bro!
@nexz_official YU's Singapore Vlog 🐈⬛ #NEXZ #YU ♬ Runaway Baby - Bruno Mars
Every global showcase is full of moments that never get caught on camera. What's one behind-the-scenes memory from this era that you'll always remember?
YU: Every city has its own atmosphere and its own unique streets and scenery, so whenever we have some free time, we like to go for a walk and explore. We especially love food, so one of our favourite things to do is try the local specialties wherever we go.
This time in Singapore, we got to try chilli crab, apple pie, and beef pie! Everything was so delicious, we just couldn’t stop eating!
In Taipei and Hong Kong, the ji pai, or Taiwanese fried chicken, was really good. Personally, I also loved a mango dessert called yang zhi gan lu. It was so good! I definitely want to have it again.
And in Thailand, we had mango sticky rice. We actually had it before when we went there to film a music video, so eating it again brought back those memories.
Now that you've experienced performing these songs night after night, has the global showcase influenced the kind of music or performances you want to create next?
TOMOYA: During this showcase tour, the songs that we took part in writing and composing felt especially meaningful to us. NEX2Y would sing along with us, and that made performing those songs so much fun. It made us want to be even more involved in writing and creating songs for our future albums.
You've met so many fans throughout this global showcase. Before we wrap up, what's one thing you'd like to say to everyone who's supported NEXZ so far?
TOMOYA: Thank you so much to everyone who came to see us during our Mmchk Global Showcase. It was such a valuable experience for us and gave us so many great memories. We also feel like we were able to grow through this showcase tour.
We’ll be coming back to see you again very soon, so please wait just a little bit longer! We appreciate your support, and hope you’ll continue to stay with us!
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