C9 Entertainment, known for artists such as CIX, EPEX, YOUNHA and Lee Seok Hoon, debuted a new boy group, NAZE (formerly known as C9ROOKIES), on May 4th. The group began introducing themselves to the public around 2024 through the Japanese drama Dream Stage ahead of their debut, and now they are confidently greeting the rest of the world since then.The group consists of seven lovable members Ato, Kaisei, Younki, Turn, Yuya, Kimkun and Dohyeok. The daring boys have been nothing but active and released their first pre-debut song “Wanderlust” on November 27th, followed by “BABYBOO” on January 17th, “Little Star” on February 14th, and “Isn’t She Lovely?” on February 28th this year, all of which served as OSTs for the drama Dream Stage.
Now, the members have met with ZAPZEE to discuss just how nerve-wracking a fresh debut can be in a sea of new modern idols! The competition may be fierce, but the boys of NAZE are determined and eager to continue making music and showcase their various talents in both Korean and Japanese with their new mini-album. See their special greeting video for ZAPZEE’s readers and check out more of their journey in our exclusive interview.
Q. Tell us about the release of your debut song. How did the group feel about the first mini-album ‘NAZE’ and the concepts and songs made for it?
TURN: Our debut album isn’t about grand dreams or fantasy stories; rather, it’s an album that captures NAZE’s time as we pass through this present moment. I think enjoying the present can be easy for some people and hard for others. That’s why our debut track, “People Talk,” carries the message that we’re happy no matter what others say, alongside a sense of comfort and encouragement that holds our hopes for everyone living through this moment to find their own happiness without being swayed by outside opinions.
ATO: The first track, “Pretty Pink Socks,” is a song about how a small curiosity leads to a special moment. We wanted to capture that moment when an ordinary day suddenly feels a little more special and exciting through a small spark of curiosity that sprouts from a single pink sock that happens to catch your eye one day. The song captures that fresh feeling and light flutter in your heart with its bright, upbeat piano sound and catchy melody.
YOUNKI: Our third track, “Awesome,” is about confidence and courage, and it best reflects our wish to share positive energy with the listeners. I think the song’s mood of moving forward, without hesitation, conveys NAZE’s passion very well.
KAISEI: The last track, “Seoul,” is about the moment you feel a sense of familiarity in a place that once felt unfamiliar. All seven of us were born and raised in different places, but now that we’re one group, I think it shows a very honest and natural side of NAZE.
Q. How does it feel after debuting just a month ago? Do you still feel nervous on stage or used to the attention from fans? Do you think the song “People Talk” was well received?
ATO: Every day has been feeling new and fresh since our debut. I love doing things I haven’t done before, so each day has been precious to me, and I’ve spent every single moment happily. Also, it’s more fun doing new things with my members, and our fans have been our driving force, which has made every day feel even more precious.
DOHEYOK: I believe NAZE is a free-spirited team, and that we show our incredible energy on stage. I think our fans have a lot of fun with that side of us and love us for it. Seeing our fans enjoy has become our driving force and has made us work harder.
Q. Do you feel any pressure to do your best since you are rookies in a company with many stars? Have you received any advice or help from your seniors and peers like EPEX or Younha?
YOUNKI: They tell us to stay humble and to enjoy our journey in music. They also told us they monitored all of our activities in Japan, which we were so grateful for, and that gave me a lot of confidence.
KIMKUN: They often give us a lot of advice and encouragement, and we want to move forward on the path they paved with pride.
Q. Tell us about your pre-debut song “Wanderlust” – why was this song used to promote the group first and what does it mean to you?
DOHYEOK: “Wanderlust” was the first pre-release song from Dream Stage, the TV drama series we were on before our debut. It tells the story of the members moving toward their dreams step by step throughout the series, and the song expresses the excitement and hope of chasing a dream, as well as the feeling of that moment when you set out on a new journey. We thought it was the song that best captured the series’ message and the moment NAZE first came out to the world, so we released it as our first track.
KAISEI: This track means a lot to the members too, since it’s our first song. It was the first song we recorded and prepared choreography for, and we practiced a lot, so the whole process stays with me as a new and exciting memory. Especially when I first heard the song, it was hard to predict what melody would come next, so the more I listened, the more I wondered what would come next. So even now, when I hear “Wanderlust,” the moment we first set out toward our dream is the first thing that comes to mind.
Q. Were there any memorable moments from your time performing in Japan?
YUYA: Hardly anyone knew us when we first went to Japan and stood on stage. After the drama series aired, we had the chance to stand on the same stage three times, and while there were almost no fans at the first show, there were a lot of fans right in front of us holding up signs with our names on them and cheering us on at the third show. I felt so happy and grateful to see that, and this experience gave me a lot of confidence. Furthermore, that made me think that we’d be able to perform on stage with more ease and fun after our Korean debut too.
Q. NAZE has Korean, Japanese and Thai members – What are some unique differences or similarities the members have shared together?
TURN: At first, there were some difficulties because of language barriers and cultural differences. But as we lived and worked together as one team, we started connecting more through hearts than words, and now I think we’re so close together, like brothers and friends. Living together, there were both hard and fun moments, but I think there were more fun times involved. In terms of music and dance, we each pursue different styles and have diverse opinions. But rather than such a difference becoming a source of conflict, it became a synergy where we talk things through with much interest and find better directions together.
YUYA: There were times when I wanted to say something but couldn’t because of the language barrier, so I’d keep it to myself. But as time passed and the seven of us came together to share all the challenging and exciting moments, the members gradually grew more comfortable with each other. Everything is still a challenge, but it’s fun because I’m with many members.
Q. Are there any K-Dramas the members are watching lately?
YUYA: We’ve been very busy lately, so I haven’t had much time to watch the recent dramas, but I usually watch anime more than drama series.
After all the fuss over their debut, the boys of NAZE were excited to come together and share a warm-hearted message for their new fans.
KIMKUN: Thank you so much for always cheering us on and loving us, from our pre-debut and the drama series onward. From now on, we’re going to show you a lot of the cool things and the stages only NAZE can do, so please keep cheering us on and looking forward to our activities.
Now, NAZE has successfully completed their showcase activities in Japan and are working hard to promote “People Talk,” an upbeat song with melodic English lyrics to match the repetitive beat. NAZE will continue to adore their fans and share their emotions through their versatile music. With some pressure from their seniors driving them to do their best, without a doubt, NAZE will become a new powerhouse force within C9 Entertainment and in the Korean music scene.
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Don’t forget to follow the fantastic boy group’s journey on NAZE’s official social media and also follow ZAPZEE for more exclusive interview content. If you can’t get enough of your favorite K-Dramas, don’t forget to watch trending shows for FREE on Amasian TV.
