Korean Rock band 2Z, consisting of BumJun, HoJin, JungHyun, and ZuNon, have released their ninth EP, Highness, marking another bold step in their ever-evolving sound. The project, unveiled under GOGO2020, sees the band team up with acclaimed DJ and producer plomo to blend their rock-driven foundation with refined electronic textures. Across five tracks, including the standout originals “Borderline” and “Unreal,” the release highlights 2Z’s ongoing exploration of genre and experimentation, combining their raw intensity with sleek electronic layers.
Since their debut in 2020, the group has steadily built an international following drawn to their energetic performances and emotionally charged music. Highness continues this trajectory by offering a fresh yet authentic extension of their identity.
The collaboration with DJ plomo feels like a natural progression of 2Z’s artistic vision. As a senior DJ and producer under the same agency, and a creative influence on member ZuNon, plomo infuses the project with his trademark techno and big beat sound. Together, they present three remixes that reimagine 2Z’s catalog through an electronic lens, alongside the two new original tracks:
The title track “Borderline” unfolds as a two-part narrative: the first half captures the disillusionment of fading dreams while the second transforms that struggle into resilience, drawing inspiration from the steadfast support of FromA. It is a powerful statement of both fragility and strength, reflecting the essence of 2Z’s artistry.
The track’s power is further amplified by its accompanying music video, which visually mirrors the song’s split narrative. Opening in stark monochrome black and white with a pulsing techno backdrop, the video suddenly erupts into vibrant, grungy rock energy at the beat drop. Explosive colors, raw performance cuts, and striking visuals of the band underscore the transformation, capturing the emotional arc from despair to hope in a way that makes “Borderline” both sonically and visually unforgettable.
Meanwhile, “Unreal” takes a more romantic and dreamlike approach, exploring the awe of encountering something extraordinary paired with the fear of losing it. In this track, “she” symbolizes either music itself or the audience that sustains the band, making the song deeply personal while simultaneously expansive.
To dive deeper into the creative process behind Highness and what it represents for them, we spoke with 2Z about their collaboration with DJ plomo, the making of “Borderline,” and their growth as artists.
KPC: Highness is your first EP to include such strong electronic influence. How did the collaboration with DJ plomo come about, and what made it feel like the right direction for 2Z?
JungHyun: DJ plomo is a DJ who works mainly in the techno and big beat genres. Before becoming a DJ, he was actually the bassist of his school band during his student days, and as a DJ he had long dreamed of collaborating with a band. While working under the same agency as us, one day he suggested the idea of a collaboration album with 2Z. From there, together with the GOGO2020 producing team, we officially began production. That was this past February, and step by step, we worked on it until finally we could release it like this.
KPC: ZuNon, since DJ plomo has influenced your own artistic development, what was it like to now create music side by side with him?
ZUNON: In 2Z, I take on the role of DJ. One of the most important parts of that role is arranging tracks the band can’t directly perform and mixing them live on stage. But plomo fulfills the DJ role with more depth and experience; he feels closer to a producer than a performer. That’s why this collaboration was such an important moment for me. Being close to his experience and expressive ability gave me the chance to grow further. Of course, since both plomo and I are DJs, we already had a natural closeness. So when we worked together, we could share and resonate with many ideas. I think those exchanges were a really meaningful experience for how I’ll create and express music going forward.
KPC: Was there a particular challenge or breakthrough moment in blending rock with electronic sounds during the making of Highness?
JungHyun: Rather than difficulties, the process itself was exciting. Big beat was a genre quite unfamiliar to us in 2Z, so at first it was hard to imagine what the collaboration would sound like. But as we moved forward step by step, I thought, “Wow, this is going to turn out really cool” and, “So this is what happens when big beat meets band sound!” The anticipation grew as we got closer to finishing. We believe this album will be a turning point that allows us to show a type of performance 2Z has never displayed before together with DJ plomo. That’s one of the reasons we collaborated, and also one of the things we’re most looking forward to on future tours and concerts.
KPC: “Borderline” is a powerful two-part track. What inspired the split narrative, and how did you approach bringing both sides of the song to life?
HOJIN: The first part of Borderline was inspired heavily by the band Depeche Mode. They’re actually my favorite band, and I admire their vocalist, Dave Gahan, so much that I even got the same tattoo as him.
If you listen to Depeche Mode’s music, you’ll notice a lot of songs closely tied to big beat. That mix of strong beats with beautiful yet melancholic chord voicing and melodies is so appealing. I wanted to create music with that feeling, so that image shaped the first part of Borderline.
The second part, on the other hand, had to be a complete contrast: a hard rock sound. A classic hard rock guitar riff leading the song, with a melody that feels almost like a scream completely different from the hushed, whisper-like atmosphere of the first part. What connects the two parts is the message. At the turning point, the lyrics transform from reflecting anxiety and darkness about our past to expressing hope about reclaiming the essence of 2Z and moving forward.
KPC: “Unreal” feels more intimate and dreamlike. Can you share what the song means to you personally, and who or what “she” represents in your interpretation?
HOJIN: Unreal is literally about what feels “unreal” to me. The most unbelievable, surreal thing in my life has been traveling the world on tour, and seeing people of different skin colors and languages all come together through 2Z’s music.
The “she” in this song is our fandom, FromA. Honestly, I sometimes feel that since our debut, many of the fans who had supported us for so long are no longer with us. Of course, there are still fans who stay, cheer, and love us, but I can’t help but notice the difference sometimes. I know waiting endlessly is hard, but I’ve never stopped thinking about them for even a moment. Every capital “U” in our lyrics has always been about FromA and the fact that we’ve written over 50 original songs proves that. That’s why I wrote the lyrics the way I did.
“Every night I float in space, to find you. Every day I wake, I’m scared you might leave.”
I just wanted to capture those feelings in our music.
KPC: Three of your previous songs were reinterpreted through DJ plomo’s electronic lens on Highness. How did it feel to hear your own tracks transformed in such a different style, and did that change the way you think about them as a band?
JungHyun: When I first heard them, all three had an incredible impact. Each remix had a distinct personality, but the most impressive one was 2020 March (plomo’s Rhythm Institution). In the original track, the bass riff was the main theme, but in the remix version, DJ plomo fused the defining heavy rhythms of big beat with filtered vocal tracks in such a stylish way. From the band’s perspective, the way he added his own synth tracks and re-edited our vocals into new rhythms felt so fresh. That’s why I’d really recommend listening to the original and remix versions together.
KPC: 2Z has been known for raw, high-energy performances. How do you adapt that live-band energy when introducing electronic elements into your music?
ZUNON: Through this Highness album and our collaboration with DJ plomo, we’ve been able to express a much wider range of sounds through DJing. On stage, it feels like we’ve added a sixth member, which strengthens the visual impact as well. Above all, the combined vibe of 2Z and DJ plomo creates a powerful sound and a powerful energy.
KPC: Each of you brings different strengths as musicians. How did your individual roles shape Highness?
HOJIN: As the band’s messenger and singer, I wanted to take part in the lyrics. Jay (our CEO and producer) writes many of our lyrics, he’s like a father, colleague and teacher to me. He’s the one who taught me how a band can develop its own philosophy, and how to put our true message into music. I keep learning how to write better lyrics, and when I see songs coming out with my words, it brings me so much joy.
ZUNON: As the band’s DJ, I managed the sound by preparing multi-tracks or stem files for mixing during performances. I also recorded sub-vocals wherever they were needed, as I always do.
JungHyun: As the bassist, I focused especially on the second part of Borderline, which features the rock sound. Bass guitar is a rhythm instrument, but at the same time it sets the mood. So I thought a lot about how to play in a way that would really make listeners move, especially since it had to feel completely different from the first part. Recording bass is always exciting, I discover new aspects of my own playing that I didn’t realize before.
BUMJUN: I focused on how to make the transition into the rock sound in Borderline more impactful, and we had many discussions about how to best bring that across.
KPC: FromA play a big role in your music, “Borderline” even draws strength from their support. How do you see the relationship between 2Z and FromA evolving as your music grows?
BUMJUN: FromA are our absolute source of strength. Because of that, sometimes they even feel a little intimidating, we worry whether our words or actions might disappoint them. Just two weeks after our debut, the world was hit by COVID-19. I can honestly say that what kept us going through those hard times was the presence of FromA.
When people first fall in love, their hearts race and burn with passion. But over time, the heartbeat slows, and the heat turns into a comfortable warmth. Does that mean the love is gone? I don’t think so. Love simply changes shape to match the flow of time. Deeper love comes from truly knowing each other. That’s how it is with 2Z and FromA. As the years and history between us grow, our love will deepen all the more, rooted in trust.
KPC: What encourages you to push forward creatively?
HOJIN: Whenever I come across something new, I always look it up on Namu Wiki. It’s almost like a compulsion to feed information into my brain but I really enjoy that process. Learning about musicians or bands I didn’t know before, and finding out their stories and ideas, is so fun for me. Since my members and I are still in the early stages of creating, everything feels exciting and new. What amazes me most is that there are still so many great songs out there I haven’t discovered yet. That makes me feel lucky and happy. For me, the biggest driving force and joy is the desire to become like someone I admire. And the thrill of discovering something that’s uniquely mine along the way, that’s a feeling only those who’ve experienced it can understand.
KPC: With Highness marking such a bold step, where do you see 2Z’s sound going next?
HOJIN: Through Highness, I discovered a new appreciation for electronic music. But what I felt even more strongly was the importance of chord voicing, which is one of 2Z’s defining traits. The harmony that comes from melody and voicing is, after the message itself, the most important part of our music. That’s why I don’t want to limit our direction or define 2Z’s genre too strictly. Just as people don’t really categorize U2 by genre but simply accept them as “U2”, we want to be recognized simply as “2Z”.
KPC: If you could collaborate with another artist, Korean or International, who would it be and why?
JungHyun: Every time we’ve released a new album, we’ve been asked this question in interviews, and our answers have always been similar because of course, we always dream of certain collaborations. But since this release is a collaboration with a DJ, my answer is different this time: I’d love to work with David Guetta. I’m curious what it would sound like if he remixed our songs and I’d love to perform with him on a huge festival stage. Just imagining us doing a mash-up of our tracks together on stage is thrilling.
KPC: Finally, what message would you like to share directly with FromA around the world?
HOJIN: Hi, FromA! How have you been? I wonder if you’re doing well, if you’ve forgotten about us, or maybe fallen for someone else. Thinking about how hard it must have been to wait for us hurts, and I also feel bad for always asking you to wait. At the end of every interview, I always find myself writing the same thing:
“Thank you, FromA. Let’s meet soon. I love you, FromA.”
But now, I want to say those words while looking into your eyes in person. Somehow, half of my twenties have already passed, and I’m so thankful and happy that I could spend that time as part of 2Z. That was my GloryDayz. I’m also deeply grateful to have spent Unreal moments with you.
ZUNON: I’ll never forget the places we toured and the sight of FromA cheering for us there. I want to meet more FromA and have more experiences together, but it’s a pity that there are still so many places we haven’t been yet. I’m sure FromA feels the same. But we’re making many plans to meet you, so please wait just a little longer!
JungHyun: FromA! Thank you so much for staying with us since our debut in 2020, it’s already been over five years. Whenever we had issues that were less than positive, I was always reassured by your unwavering support. I hope you’ll welcome and embrace the new member who will soon be introduced. We’re working hard to make sure our tour plans for early next year go smoothly. We’ll always be in the same place, so I hope you’ll stay by our side too. Let’s meet soon!
BUMJUN: With this comeback, we’ve been promoting through radio and music shows, and early next year we’ll be going on an overseas tour. I can’t wait to see FromA in each country. I hope the tour comes quickly. Please wait just a little longer!