Without any context, the phrases “coming soon” and “pieces” might sound random at first. But lately, they’ve been front of mind for fans of wave to earth, also known as Planktons.
After weeks of mysterious teasers and lyric hints posted online, South Korean band wave to earth have made their anticipated return to the indie rock scene. Giving fans a glimpse into their upcoming album, the trio dropped their lead single, “heaven and hell,” on May 15. The release also included visuals with a music video filmed in Mexico, featuring two brothers to depict the complexities of love in the real world.
Since the conclusion of their last world tour in 2025, the trio have been quietly working behind the scenes to showcase a new side of themselves. Before the rollout of their next project, we chatted with wave to earth on what this new era of their lives means to them musically and personally. Read our exclusive interview with the group below.
Sweety High: Rather than featuring all three of you in the “heaven and hell” music video, what was the thought process in delivering the song’s message through other actors?
John Cha: For this song, we felt that the emotions and message could become more relatable if they were expressed through different characters and narratives rather than focusing only on ourselves. Since “heaven and hell” talks about the way people judge, divide and search for their true selves, we wanted the story to feel universal enough for anyone watching to see themselves in it.
SH: How did your partnership with director Maureen Hufnagel come to life?
Daniel Kim: We came across Maureen’s work while searching for a director who could naturally capture the emotions and atmosphere of “heaven and hell.” We really connected with the sincerity and subtle emotional tone in her visuals, and felt that her style matched the message of the song well.
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SH: How did you go about bringing the themes of the song to life through the narrative that unfolds in the music video?
Dong Q: The song is centered around questioning binary judgments and trying not to lose your true essence. We wanted the music video to reflect those emotions in a way that felt natural rather than overly direct. Through the characters and atmosphere, we tried to show moments of confusion, reflection, and emotional release while holding onto a sense of sincerity.
(Photo credit: Ted Min)
SH: What’s one lesson you want viewers to take away from the “heaven and hell” music video?
DK: We hope people can take a moment to reflect on themselves instead of immediately judging everything around them. More than anything, we want the video to remind people not to lose the childlike purity and honesty they still carry inside.
SH: What words would you use to tease the title of the new album?
DQ: This album feels like a shelter for people who are exhausted by the world. It’s about imperfect pieces finding comfort together without pretending to be complete.
SH: What emotions and themes can fans expect to be introduced or expanded upon?
JC: This album explores emotions related to sincerity, reflection, purity and human connection. We’ve also been experimenting with a wider range of sounds while still trying to create music that people can lean on or rest with. A lot of the songs came from deeply thinking about ourselves, our relationships, and the emotions we experience while growing together.
SH: Since your last album, play with earth! 0.03, why did this summer specifically feel like the right time for this new chapter?
DK: Over the past couple of years, we spent most of our time in the studio experimenting with different sounds and thinking deeply about what we wanted to express next. As the album started coming together, this summer naturally felt like the right moment to share this new chapter with everyone.
SH: After all the years of hard work and success you’ve received globally, in what ways have you grown the most?
JC: We think we’ve grown the most through understanding ourselves and each other more deeply. While working on new music, we’ve continued reflecting on who we are as artists and people, and through that process our friendship and trust in one another became even stronger. Professionally, we’ve also become more open to experimenting and challenging ourselves without losing what makes wave to earth feel like wave to earth.
(Courtesy of Wavy International)
SH: It’s been a few months since your last tour wrapped up, so how are you guys feeling about getting back out on the road again?
DQ: We’re really excited to meet fans again and share the new music live. Touring always gives us a different kind of energy and inspiration, and every city leaves us with memorable experiences. It’s something we genuinely missed while spending so much time working in the studio.
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SH: At this point in your careers, how do you challenge yourselves to switch things up each tour while staying true to who you are?
JC: We always try to create new experiences through the arrangement, atmosphere and emotional flow of the set while still staying honest to our sound. No matter how much we experiment, the most important thing for us is keeping the sincerity and emotions that define our music.
SH: During performances, what special piece or quality do you think each member brings to the table?
DQ: Each member brings a different emotional color and energy to the stage. Because we’ve spent so much time together both personally and musically, we naturally understand how to support one another during performances, and we think that chemistry is one of the most important parts of our live shows.
SH: Out of all the confirmed cities so far, is there anything in particular you want to try out that you haven’t yet?
DK: Every city has its own unique atmosphere and charm, so we’re excited to experience new foods, scenery, and little moments in each place again this tour. Even small things like walking around a city or discovering local spots always end up becoming really memorable for us.
SH: Lastly, is there anything else you want the fans to know that we didn’t ask about?
JC: We’re always grateful for everyone who listens to our music and supports us from all around the world. We hope this new album and tour can become a comforting memory for people, and we’re excited to share everything we’ve been working on together soon.
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