When NEXZ released "Mmchk" in April 2026, the seven-member group's first comeback of the year sold over 444,000 copies in its first week – a new career high – topped the Circle Chart retail album chart, and earned them their first number one on a Korean music broadcast. The title track hits hard and fast, built on heavy bass and layered vocals that create a sense of barely contained momentum. Co-written by members Yuki, Hyui and Tomoya, “Mmchk” points to a group with genuine creative investment in what they're putting out. It's also the kind of track that tells you not just what kind of group NEXZ are – noisy, bold, and unafraid to be a lot – but the scale at which they are growing. For the group, the success meant something more personal. Winning their first number one on a music broadcast with it reduced members to tears on stage.

NEXZ – a mixed Japanese-Korean lineup of Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui and Yuki – debuted under JYP Entertainment in May 2024, and performance is their foundation. It's what they're known for, what their fanbase NEX2Y rallies around, and what separates them in a crowded market. In two years they've released consistently, developing an identity strong enough to make people pay attention. Their releases have traced a group actively experimenting with their sound – from the divisive telephone-call sonics of "Simmer" to the more conventional but high-energy "Beat-Boxer", and now the loud, metallic confidence of "Mmchk" and its B-side "HYPEMAN", which pairs bright video game synths and uplifting piano with a thumping, crushed chorus. Two years in, the NEXZ identity is landing.

Live, the trajectory has been steep. In 2025 alone, they completed the NEXZ LIVE TOUR 2025 “One Bite” – an 18-date Japan tour that included two nights at Nippon Budokan – followed by their first solo concert <One Beat> across Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong. This year brought their first arena tour, NEXZ LIVE TOUR 2026 "Hellmate" – headlining Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium in Tokyo and Osaka-jō Hall.

Later this year, NEXZ will perform at KCON LA 2026 before joining all three dates of STRAYCITY – JYP and Live Nation's new Latin American festival headlined by Stray Kids – taking them to Bogotá, Buenos Aires and Mexico City in September. Both will mark their first performances outside Asia. The NEXZ world is getting bigger fast – and from this conversation, they seem ready for it.

Your emotional reaction after winning first place on a Korean music show with your recent comeback became a huge topic among fans, especially the moment when Tomoya was crying on stage. Looking back now, could you tell us what you were feeling at that moment and what emotions were going through your mind?

TOMOYA First of all, it brought back all the memories of how hard we’ve run together over the past two years. Thinking about the NEXZ members, our JYP & SONY staff, and the crew on-site who always help us - so many thoughts flashed through my mind at once, and I was just overcome with emotion. Honestly, it still feels unreal and like a dream. Thankfully, we had been nominated for first place three times in a row since our previous comebacks, and back then, I got emotional because I really wanted us to win. But this time, it was more about pure joy and relief. Since winning first place was the very first major goal we kept running toward,I really want to thank NEX2Y more than anyone else. Now that we’ve achieved our first goal, I want to continue being NEXZ’s TOMOYA, who always does his absolute best toward our next milestones and even bigger dreams.

SO GEON Even thinking about it now, it truly feels like a dream and is hard to believe. It was an emotion I’ve never experienced before in my life! Every moment seemed to slow down, and it felt like I was floating in space. More than anything, I was so incredibly happy during the encore live stage when NEX2Y sang along with us with the happiest smiles. That’s when the tears I had been holding back completely burst out. It was a day where I could fully feel the hearts of NEX2Y, who always trust, support, and love us until the very end.

SEITA It was such a meaningful and emotional moment for me! I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment for the rest of my life, and so many memories flashed through my mind while doing the encore live performance. Once again, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the many people who have supported and watched over us, as well as to our NEX2Y and my NEXZ members. I’ll work even harder to show you an even better side of us in our next promotions!

NEXZ is well known as a performance-focused group. Are there any dance styles or concepts you'd like to challenge yourselves with in the future?

HARU Looking back at the performances we’ve shown as NEXZ so far, we’ve mainly done two styles: powerful, intense performances and performances where the "vibe" is key - meaning they look effortless but are actually quite challenging to pull off. Someday, I’d love to try a performance style that feels comfortable and looks very clean, the kind of stage that you just want to watch over and over again.

YU I’d love to show a more mature and sophisticated mood of NEXZ as we continue to grow. Among the tracks we’ve released so far, I think "One Bite" carried the most mature vibe. Once more time passes and all seven of our members develop their own individual mature aura, I really want to show a more mature and sensual side of NEXZ. Please look forward to that day!

Every NEXZ performance feels very detailed and considered. What thoughts go through your mind during the actual performances?

YUKI To be honest, when I’m actually on stage, the only thought in my head is just, "This is so much fun!" I usually tend to overthink things, so before going on stage, I try to constantly stay mindful of the fine details in the choreography and vocals. But despite that, the moment I step onto the stage, all of those thoughts naturally disappear, and I just find myself smiling and genuinely enjoying the performance with a light heart!

TOMOYA I always prepare and step onto the stage with the mindset of, "Let's absolutely tear up this stage." Especially at events with many other artists or year-end stages, I have a strong desire to make people say, "NEXZ’s performance was the most memorable." During practice, I pay attention to even the smallest details, but once I'm actually on stage, I stop thinking about everything else. It feels like I'm completely immersed in and enjoying our music and performance. I think our fans also appreciate that individuality, seeing how all seven of us express the same piece of music in our own unique ways.

HARU When I’m on stage, I don’t think about what comes after, rather I just give it my 150% and enjoy it! I focus purely on myself and approach the stage with the mindset of showing absolutely everything I’m capable of.

Performing live means making decisions in the moment that you can't take back. What does that feel like?

YU Before going on stage, I get incredibly nervous and tend to overthink a lot , but once I actually step out there, I just enjoy the moment. Every member might worry about different aspects of the stage, but we all share the exact same mindset: "For this duration, we are going to make this stage completely ours."That’s why we always give everything we have on stage, so we can walk away without any regrets or lingering feelings afterward. And thankfully, that’s usually how it turns out.

SEITA Looking at it from a slightly different perspective, I feel like that tension actually makes me shine brighter on stage. I always get so excited when I stand on stage, so I consciously try to stay grounded so I don't mess up what we practiced. While I always aim to show exactly what we worked on, I believe that kind of tension adds a special flavor and atmosphere unique to a live stage. It’s that exact thrill that makes the performance of "SEITA" feel more real and genuine.

YUKI Everyone might see it differently, but my definition of "nervousness" is "lacking confidence in whether this direction is right, which makes you pause and freeze up momentarily." I feel like if I let that directionless anxiety take over on stage, the audience might pick up on that awkwardness too. That’s why during live performances, I try my best to just go with the flow of the moment and enjoy it based on what I feel right then!

Some artists say performing feels like becoming a different version of themselves on stage. Does that feel true for you, or do you feel most like yourself when you perform?

TOMOYA I've been dancing since I was really young. When I was a kid, dancing was just fun and joy. But at some point, as it became my profession, it wasn't always just fun. It requires a lot of research, thought, and effort as a job. There are times when I manage stress or frustration through dancing, and in those moments, it hits me: "Ah, I really am a dancer." Those moments come together to make me whole. In that sense, rather than becoming a different person on stage, I feel like the moment I'm completely lost in the music and dancing is when I am most truly myself. It’s my way of releasing stress and the joy of my life. You know how eating your favorite food makes you feel better when you're stressed? For me, dance is exactly that.

HYUI It might differ for each member, but for me, I definitely feel like a different side of me awakens when I perform on stage. In daily life, I’m quiet and not the best at expressing myself, but the moment I step onto the stage, I feel myself shifting from my usual introverted self into NEXZ's HYUI, someone who unleashes immense passion and becomes rich in expression. And I really love that version of myself lost in the music. Rather than defining which one is the "real" me, I think both sides are fundamentally who I am.

SO GEON I’m usually quite shy and find myself subconsciously reading the room, but strangely enough, the moment I get on stage, I completely immerse myself in the song. I stop caring about what others think and just freely unleash everything I want to express. Because of that, when I complete a perfect stage and head back to the dorm at the end of the day, I feel completely drained in the best way possible. I always fall asleep thinking, "Today was a truly great day!"

Is there a moment in your career so far where you felt you grew the most as a performer? What changed in you after that?

YU I feel like my personal performance identity has become much more distinct since our debut. I've been dancing since I was young, but because I spent most of my time working on the B-BOY genre, I didn't have many opportunities to challenge other styles. During the two years as NEXZ, I've learned various genres and styles, mastered the choreography for our tracks, and promoted albums. Through this, I was able to find my own color by blending b-boying with choreography and hip-hop-based routines. This gave me the confidence that I have a distinct area that only I can showcase as a member of NEXZ.

YUKI Rather than thinking, "One specific stage made NEXZ grow immensely," I believe all the experiences of performing on stage over the past two years have contributed bit by bit to our growth. Instead of feeling a massive leap triggered by a single moment, I try my best to ensure that today’s me is a better version than yesterday’s, and tomorrow’s me is better than today’s. I occasionally rewatch our debut videos from early 2024, and that's when I truly realize how much we've grown.

SO GEON I feel like I've grown steadily as a whole over the past two years. It wasn't a sudden leap in a single moment, but rather growth absorbed over a long period. What I notice most is that, unlike during our debut days when I was just pure nerves, I’ve now learned to truly immerse myself in and love the music we present to the audience from the bottom of my heart. Also, while our teamwork as a whole group has become more synchronized, each member’s individual color has become much more distinct. So, if you closely follow our stage formations and flow, you’ll find a lot of different, interesting elements to enjoy.

Your individual fashion styles are very distinct. Where do you find inspiration when you are developing your own personal style?

SEITA When I think about fashion, the silhouette is the very first thing I prioritize. I believe everyone has a specific fit or shape that suits them best, so I look at the silhouette before the color scheme. I also pick clothes while thinking about what kind of impression I want to give people. Sometimes, I reference styles I randomly come across on social media. I also frequently check what styles or items are currently trending and naturally blend them into my own look. That’s my approach to fashion.

YU I really love clothes, and I tend to get my fashion inspiration from many different, random places. Whenever I have some free time, I'm always searching for styles online to the point where the staff around me ask, "Are you looking at clothes again?" If I find a style I like on social media, I save it right away. I’m always serious about archiving styles.

HARU I really love art forms with infinite possibilities that allow you to clearly express your identity, like fashion, composing, choreographing, and interior design. Among them, I view fashion as a weapon that can further highlight my charm. No matter how pretty a piece of clothing itself is, if it doesn’t bring out my personal charm, I tend not to choose it. I try to wear clothes that look uniquely right on me, paying close attention to the color, sizing, and fit.

Is there an emotion or a feeling you haven't been able to express yet in your music that you really want to explore?

HARU I’ve been training in rap for a long time, but when it comes to songwriting and composing, I’m entirely self-taught. Through that process, I’ve created so many of my own stories using my unique lyrics and flows. My hope is that one day, I can share the messages hidden deep in my heart with a much wider audience through my music. That would make me truly happy.

HYUI I know we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but if we're given the opportunity, I'd love for all of our members to sit down together, craft our own melodies, and infuse them with our genuine emotions and the actual messages we want to convey to our fans.

TOMOYA This is such a meaningful question that I can’t answer it lightly. It’s actually quite tough! When I think about our NEXZ members, I truly believe we can pull off any concept. We’ve actually shown that versatility through various cover performances. While I’d love to take on distinct concepts like being completely cute or incredibly cool, what I want most is to write songs that tell NEXZ’s authentic story. For instance, since we just got our first-ever music show win in Korea, wouldn’t it be fun to express that hunger - questions like "What's the next stage?" or "We want to go even higher "- through our music? Just imagining gets me so excited.

If you could collaborate with any artist – from any country, any genre – who would it be and what do you think that music would sound like?

YUKI Collaborating with anyone would be an absolute joy and an honor in itself, but I can't help but look forward to a potential collaboration with Stray Kids. They are from our same label, so they’re close to us, yet they are at such a high level. Watching them receive so much love from global fans with their unrivaled style always makes us think, "We want to become a cool group like them." Since this is just a fun imagination for now, I’m not sure exactly what kind of song we’d make, but personally, I’d love to do a track where we can showcase a breathtaking performance together.

HARU I’m a huge fan of hip-hop and rap, so I’ve always looked up to artists like Kendrick Lamar, as well as pH-1 and lIlBOI. There are so many artists I deeply respect, and they feel like heroes to me. I’m going to keep working hard every single day until the day comes when I can finally collaborate with them.

HYUI Honestly, it would be an absolute honor to collaborate with any artist. I believe every artist around us, whether senior or junior, has their own unique charm and strengths. But among them, I really admire Stray Kids for how they consistently and clearly express their team's color, which is why they are loved by so many people worldwide. I would love to have the honor of working with them and expand the world of NEXZ and level up musically. With Stray Kids's unique musicality and NEXZ's intense performance style, I think we could create an incredible stage together.

We've noticed a lot of passionate support coming from Brazilian fans online recently. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans in Brazil and South America?

SEITA We always feel the passionate support from our NEX2Y in Latin America, and it never fails to amaze us. Every time we see it, we just want to fly over and meet you in person as soon as possible. Thankfully, we now have the chance to perform in Latin America, and we want to make sure we give you an unforgettable, spectacular stage. I still have a long way to go and need a lot of practice, but because I really want to greet our fans directly, I’ve been studying different languages little by little! I’m preparing this with the hope of conveying NEXZ’s heart, even if just a little bit. Thank you so much for always loving and supporting us from so far away. We’ll work hard to give you the happiest memories when we finally meet!

SO GEON First of all, thank you so much for supporting and loving NEXZ. Even though we are physically far apart, every time I read our fans' messages, it makes me feel like our hearts are so close, and it gives me so much strength. It’s also incredibly fascinating to me that our music is being loved by people in Latin America, which is on the other side of the world. To be honest, since we haven't met face-to-face and shared that energy yet, it doesn't fully feel real just yet (laughs). But we’ll be heading to Latin America in the second half of this year to show you some amazing performances, so please look forward to it! See you soon, NEX2Y in Latin America! I love you~

TOMOYA Lately, we’ve really been feeling the passionate love and support from our fans in Latin America, including Brazil. At fan-signs and various offline events, people always tell us, "There are so many NEX2Y supporting NEXZ in Latin America," and we see it a lot through social media reactions as well. We are so grateful, and we’re beyond thrilled to finally meet our Latin American NEX2Y through our performances this year for the first time. The members, including myself, are studying languages very hard. I hope you look kindly on our efforts as well as our performances, and most of all, I hope you gain great energy from watching us. I can't wait to meet you in person and make unforgettable memories. Thank you so much! See you soon!

You'll be performing at The "STRAYCITY" Latin American Tour with Stray Kids, a brand new festival created around the idea of self-expression and discovering a different side of yourself. You'll be performing at all three shows across Latin America this September. What are you most looking forward to feeling when you step out on those stages?

YU Just imagining it gives me goosebumps, and it’s a huge honor and privilege just to be part of such a stage and perform there. What I'm looking forward to the most is definitely the energy of the stage and the audience. We are going into this with the determination to turn everyone who watches our show into a NEX2Y through our signature performance style. We are preparing so hard, so please look forward to it!

YUKI At first, it felt surreal that we’d be performing our own songs in a completely new place that I’ve never been to in my life! I think it's truly an honor, and I'm so grateful and happy. I’m especially looking forward to the energy of the Latin American crowd. We’ll do our absolute best on stage so that everyone coming to the festival can fully enjoy our performance!

HYUI What I'm looking forward to the most is the passionate energy and the roaring cheers of our fans in Latin America. Watching many senior artists perform there, I could really feel how intense the fans' passion for the stage is. Just thinking about experiencing that burning energy firsthand on stage makes my heart flutter already. I’m really nervous and anxious, but since we’ve been given this amazing opportunity to perform in Latin America, I will prepare with everything I've got to showcase our team's charm.

Do you have a bucket list city – somewhere in the world you haven't performed yet but really dream of playing one day?

TOMOYA First of all, I am incredibly excited about Bogotá, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City, which we are visiting for "STRAYCITY." It’s our first time going there, and there will be a massive crowd! Just thinking about performing in those cities already gets my heart racing. Also, when I was a trainee, I went to LA for about a week, and I had such an amazing time. The food, culture, and scenery were great, but above all, the people's energy was so bright and warm, leaving me with wonderful memories. I’m so happy that we’re going together as a group for KCON LA 2026! Even though it’ll be a busy schedule, I definitely want to find some time to eat delicious food and make great memories. And our ultimate big goal is a world tour! I want to visit every single NEX2Y who supports us across the globe.

YU My biggest wish is to meet NEX2Y in as many cities as possible. As for a dream stage, I’d love to perform at the ‘Billboard Music Awards’, where so many legendary artists have graced the stage.

HARU The places I’ve always wanted to visit are Los Angeles and New York City. They are the birthplaces of the artists I really love, and above all, I want to see those cities with my own eyes at least once in my life, since I’ve seen them countless times in movies. It feels incredibly exciting to think about people in LA and NY recognizing NEXZ.

SO GEON I’ve loved soccer ever since I was a kid, so I used to look up the childhood stories of star players from Latin America and look up what the cities they grew up in were like. Because of that, I am so incredibly excited for the "STRAYCITY" stages this September!

SEITA We are so, so grateful to be able to visit Latin America through "STRAYCITY," and it makes me incredibly happy! Since this will be our first time performing outside of Asia, I am filled with anticipation and excitement. And one day, I hope we receive enough love to host our own solo world tour so we can visit all the cities we haven't been to yet and meet even more NEX2Y!

HYUI The city that comes to mind right now is LA! It’s a city I’ve been curious about and wanted to visit since my trainee days, but since I’ve never been there, I want to go even more. TOMOYA often told me stories about going to LA to learn dance when he was a trainee, and I thought it would be so much fun to dance in a city with such a free-spirited vibe like LA. That’s why I’m so happy that we get to showcase our stage to the local NEX2Y through KCON LA 2026.

YUKI I really want to go to New York. I’ve never been there, but ever since I was young, I’ve always vaguely thought that New York is a place I must visit. I want to experience the fast-paced life in New York and really feel the city’s huge energy. I hope the day comes soon when we can meet New York NEX2Y as NEXZ and perform there!

Is there a lyric from your music that you feel really captures where NEXZ are right now as a group?

SEITA I think the lyrics that best represent NEXZ are from the chorus of "Next Zeneration," a track from our first mini album NALLINA. The ambitious message of opening up a closed world in our own way, combined with lyrics about not being bound by anything and just enjoying the music, feels exactly like the free-spirited nature of NEXZ!

SO GEON I’d say it's the line "Just keep walking and we’ll see the light" from "Run With Me," a track on our second mini album O-RLY?. To be honest, right after our debut, there were moments of frustration because the results we wanted didn't appear instantly. But as we kept working hard consistently, we started seeing better results with each album release, and we could see our growth trending upward. Feeling more and more people love our songs made me realize that this lyric perfectly mirrors our current journey.

HYUI Like SEITA, I also chose a lyric from "Next Zeneration" from our first mini album NALLINA. I especially love the line "A masterpiece complete with every detail." I love it because it carries a clever double meaning in Korean. "NEXZ is a masterpiece that has it all" and "NEXZ is a masterpiece that performs incredible choreography." I think it perfectly captures NEXZ's strengths and confidence.

Your group name, NEXZ, stands for 'the next generation.' In what ways do you hope to lead or represent the next generation as artists?

TOMOYA We want to show everyone how NEXZ freely does what we love while achieving our dreams one by one. We want to be artists who inspire people when they look at us, giving them the courage to think, "Nothing is impossible," and "I should try doing what I want to do, too." Above all, we want to be the happiest team and the happiest people in the world!

YU So far, many people have described us as "Stage Genius." Living up to that title, we want to become the ultimate representation of "Stage Genius," where anyone who watches our performance even once can't help but fall for our charms.

HARU I want us to be artists who are loved for a very long time, the kind of proud group where people think, "I want to be like NEXZ." To make that happen, we will work tirelessly to deliver the best music and stages so we can introduce ourselves to more people around the world.

SO GEON Ultimately, I hope we can become a group that deeply moves people. Personally, when I am moved by something, it stays with me for a long time and makes me want to experience it again. That’s why we want to be a group that leaves a lasting impression and a deep, meaningful afterglow.

SEITA I want all of our NEXZ members to continue enjoying music just as we do now, without losing our current feelings and passion, while achieving even greater goals. I would be so happy if more people discovered us, enjoyed our music together, and loved us. I want to lead the generation while staying true to ourselves - free-spirited and unbound by anything.

HYUI Rather than following trends, we want to be a team that shows our own color through NEXZ's unique style. We are constantly brainstorming and putting deep thought into the stages that only we can create, so if you watch us live, I believe you’ll find it incredibly fresh and thrilling. We want to be a team that people just naturally fall in love with. While we show an intense and cool side on stage, we also want to be a team that has a completely different, cute, and comfortable side off stage. Our goal is to be a group where fans can feel not only our skills but also the approachable and lovely charms of each member.

YUKI To the question of how I want to lead the next generation as an artist, I want to answer with just one word: "Stage." I want to lead the next generation with our stunning, addictive, and original stages filled with charms that you can't escape once you fall for them. We will keep pushing ourselves until everyone automatically says, "When it comes to the stage, it's NEXZ!"

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This feature is taken from our fifth printed issue, available for purchase here.