From fashion runways to rock stages, South Korean band 2Z has built its identity on sincerity, growth, and a powerful message of hope. While in Paris for their first European tour, the members sat down to reflect on their journey, their music, and the meaning of finally meeting their fans face to face.
Paris feels like a long-awaited promise finally kept. For 2Z, this city is not just another tour stop, but the symbol of six years of patience for the band and for their fans. As they walk through the streets of the French capital, excitement mixes with emotion: this moment was postponed, imagined, and dreamed of for a long time.
Léane: How are you feeling about being here in Paris?
Junghyun: We are feeling really good. After getting off the subway, we walked around a bit, and the vibe in Paris was really nice. This is a bit of a TMI, but one of my favorite dramas is Emily in Paris, so coming here is something I really wanted to do.
Behind the enthusiasm lies a band whose identity has been carefully built over time. Since their debut in 2020, 2Z has never rushed its story. Even their name carries intention a quiet promise of togetherness and endurance, echoed in the way they approach music and their fans.
Léane: For someone discovering you today, how would you describe 2Z ?
Hojin: We debuted in 2020, and we’ve been active for about six years now. Our name is 2Z. In English, “Z” is the last letter of the alphabet, so it carries the meaning of staying together until the very end. We wanted the same feeling in Korean too. Over time, people started calling us “The Boys Who Sing Hope.” and that naturally became the message we try to deliver through our music.
Before stages, instruments, and tour buses, there were fashion runways. Modeling was the starting point for most of the members. A background that would later shape both their visual identity and the way they were perceived when entering the music industry.
Léane: Your journey started in modeling. How did music come into your lives?
Hojin: Except for Nua, who joined later, all of us were working as fashion models. We all auditioned and ended up joining this band project. Junghyun and I actually failed the first auditions. Later, when a member left, Junghyun came in to fill that empty spot and practiced a lot of different instruments. For me our CEO, Jay, gave me another chance. Bumjun was already a well-known model, so the band project really started around him.
At the beginning there were many misunderstandings and a lot of prejudice. But over time, we released more than 50 songs, and that showed how sincere we were about music. Carrying the name 2Z has always come with responsibility.
Finding balance through change
The early days of 2Z were marked not only by doubts from the outside, but also by internal adjustments. Member changes, shifting roles, and unexpected responsibilities shaped the band behind the scenes.
Léane: Bumjun, you changed instruments during your journey. Why did you make that decision?
Bumjun: At first, I was the sub-vocalist and keyboard player. At the time, there wasn’t really anyone who could handle that role well, so I did both.
During our trainee period, the member who played drums left. One day, the producer suddenly asked me, “Do you want to try playing drums?”
I didn’t know anything back then, but I said, “Okay, let’s try it.” The producer joked that I was very talented, a genius and told Jay that I had a lot of natural sensitivity. That’s how I became the drummer.
Just as 2Z was stabilizing from within, the prejudices followed them closely. In an industry where backgrounds often define credibility, 2Z had to face a label that questioned their legitimacy.
Fake musicians
Rather than hiding their weaknesses, 2Z chose honesty. They never claimed to be fully formed artists from the start only musicians willing to grow, openly and consistently.
Léane: You were sometimes called « Fake musicians ». How did that affect you ?
Junghyun: From the very beginning, even when we were practicing, we knew we didn’t know much about music yet. Our CEO told us early on that after debut, a lot of people might criticize us and call us fake musicians.
But from the time we were still modeling, we practiced for about ten months before debuting, and when we debuted, we didn’t hide anything. We were honest about being a growing band that would grow together with its fans. We never tried to act like we had already mastered everything, and we never tried to hide where we came from. Because of that, the criticism didn’t hit us that hard.
Since debut, we’ve explored many genres from punk to alternative rock, hard rock, synth-pop, new wave, and so on. Through that process, we gradually found our own color. So we didn’t really focus on the label of fake musicians. We were confident in what we were doing.
Beyond labels
As their sound evolved, so did the question of where 2Z belongs. In Korea’s music industry, lines are often drawn between idol groups, indie bands, and hybrids. Few categories that don’t always leave room for nuance.
Léane: In the Korean music scene, where do you think 2Z belongs?
Hojin: To us, we’re just a band.
Some people may think we look like idols because our starting point was different from many indie bands. Our first stage was actually on KBS Music Bank.
But once we became 2Z, we kept expressing what we think through music. And that’s what a band is. Whether people call us an idol band or an indie band doesn’t matter much. We started in Korea, and now we’re in France. Our goal is simply to keep growing so more people around the world can enjoy our music. And that has been guided by a message that fans themselves helped define.
Léane: What does “The Boys Who Sing Hope” mean to you?
Hojin: Fans told us things like, “Your music didn’t change my life, but it changed the way I see the world.” We even heard, “My mother gave me life, but 2Z gives me the strength to keep living it.”
That made us realize that music is a language beyond Korean, French, or English. It brings people together. That’s why we felt we should talk about hope, that even though the world can be harsh, it’s still a world worth living in. Sometimes that nickname feels heavy, but it also makes us proud especially when we see people from different countries become one through our music.
Hope also shapes their musical inspirations and choices. From sound to aesthetics, their influences reflect a balance between emotional openness and visual sensitivity.
Léane: Which artists influenced your musical identity?
Zunon: Because we talk a lot about hope in our music, we were strongly influenced by Coldplay. Since we all came from fashion modeling, visual and aesthetic aspects are also important to us, so The 1975 influenced us a lot too. I think those influences helped us express ourselves both musically and visually.
Léane: And for you Nua?
Nua: To be honest, I stopped music for about six years, and I only started again after joining 2Z. So I don’t really think in terms of influences. I just try to blend myself into the team.
Their connection to France deepened further through music itself, with a cover that unexpectedly mirrored their own philosophy.
“Un Autre Monde”
Léane: How did you choose to cover “Un autre monde” by Téléphone?
Hojin: We wanted a song many people in France would know, so we asked for recommendations. Un Autre Monde came up. When we first heard it, we felt it matched 2Z’s musical color. That’s why we chose it. We didn’t really know how famous it was in France.
Léane: Does its meaning resonate with your message?
Hojin : Yes, it does. It’s about wanting a better world when reality feels heavy. That connects with our song called 25.
The idea behind 25 is that in our world, there are only 24 hours in a day, but we want to give people an extra hour that doesn’t exist, a 25th hour. In that hour, anything is possible. Through music, you can hear anything, do anything, and enter a better world.
We also have a storyline where we’re like aliens who came to Earth to heal people through music. So it felt like a perfect match.
As Korean rock slowly gains international visibility, 2Z sees itself as part of a larger movement.
Léane: Do you think K-rock lacks visibility or recognition abroad?
Junghyun: I wouldn’t say it lacks recognition, people just don’t know enough about it yet. That feels a bit sad, because there are so many good bands in Korea making great music. In the last two or three years, we’ve seen more Korean bands being invited to major global festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella.
When we see bands like Balming Tiger, Xdinary Heroes, or The Rose appearing on those big stages, it really makes us feel that K-rock is spreading overseas too. So it’s definitely growing internationally, and that feels like a big step forward.
Their journey, however, hasn’t been without hardship especially for a band whose essence lives on stage.
Léane: What was your biggest challenge as a rock band in an industry that is heavily focused on idol groups?
Jughyun: We debuted during COVID-19 endured about two and a half years without proper stages. For idol groups, video and online content can still capture a lot of their energy. But for bands, live performance is essential. Not being able to perform was our biggest challenge.
Finally, Paris brings everything full circle : the waiting, the growth, the faith.
A long-awaited meeting with FromA
Léane: Do you have a final message for your fans?
Zunon: This is our first European tour and first time performing in France.
We’re excited and nervous. We hope this tour will ends well and that we can all have fun together.
Junghyun: Thank you for waiting for us for six years. Our European tour was canceled twice and although we participated in Creative Moment, everything went well. Most importantly, we’ve finally made it to Paris. Thank you for being with us. We love you.
Hojin: I want to say that you’ve waited for us for a really long time. Since our debut until now, among the fans who have stayed with us as From A, here’s a fan in France I remember very clearly.
They were going through such a hard time because they loved us so much, but the fact that we were always far away and couldn’t meet was really painful for them. Thinking about that makes us love our French fans even more. Thinking about that makes this moment even more meaningful.
Nua: For me, this is my first tour. I want to thank all the From A who made it possible for us to come to Europe. I promise we’ll show you our best on stage.
Bumjun: Since debuting as 2Z, France was the country I wanted to perform in the most. After six years, we’re finally here. I want to enjoy the show, jump around, and have fun together with From A. Thank you.
Thank you to 2Z for accepting this interview.
*Special thanks to Mirie Park for facilitating the conversation and providing linguistic expertise on-site.