Did you miss the first episode of HYPER JAPAN TV in 2021? Don’t worry, the video from the live stream can still be found!
What is it all about?
In December, the UK convention started with a new project on their YouTube channel under the name HYPER JAPAN TV. It is an online Japanese culture streaming show, which spans all sorts of Japanese popular and traditional culture. During such streams, they have live guests talking about their area of expertise or interest.
On the 6th of January, the first livestream on the channel of HYPER JAPAN of the new year, I, as editor-in-chief of AVO Magazine, got interviewed about the web magazine, Japanese music and could share my top (indie) bands/acts from the year 2020. The interview will start at around 33.00 minutes (but do check out the interview with KOTO, this will start at 11.50 minutes).
Click here when the video does not work.
About the Japanese musical acts
HYPER JAPAN made a special playlist with the music videos that got shared in part (when that was possible) for you to enjoy. The music videos got chosen by myself on their visuals and are not lyric-heavy.
For the interview, I made a couple of notes about the bands and acts that were discussed. They are added below.
Velladon
This musician started his solo project in 2019 after being active in other music projects. This multi-instrumentalist knows to produce many songs a day and that is also why he has a lot of releases on his name in 1 and a half years. A very intriguing musician that I could interview very recently.
Mississippi Khaki Hair
I have a weak spot for post-punk and when this band came across on my path with their music video of Moonshadow, I wanted to hear more of it. Their first full-length album, titled From Nightfall till Dawn, was released last November. A must listen!
COLLAPSE
For those loving shoegaze, must listen to COLLAPSE. They have been reaching more and more music fans outside Japan, but until now it seems that they have not released a full album, yet. Mostly they have released singles and joined music compilations. So I look forward to their future releases.
Boris
Boris does not need an introduction, a three-piece, recently released an album with Merzbow to say goodbye to the year 2020, but before that, they released an album titled NO. That album was brilliant and heavy and that is why this is in this list. If the live shows return and you are able to catch them live, I am sure you will enjoy them!
STRAM
This band started activities in 2016. When I found their music video, I was directly hooked. Heavy, slow and dreadful in a positive way. They released their first album in the summer of 2020, titled All Happy, which seems sarcastic to me. But if you enjoy some goth, punk, doom and post-punk, STRAM might be interesting for you.
THE NOVEMBERS
This alternative rock band has been active for 15 years, but I found out about them maybe more than 5 years ago. Saw them live in Japan, they are brilliant. At the Beginning was their latest album, released in May of 2020. The album has a different feel than the previous album, but it might have something to do with the year it was released in.
SITHA
This band started activities in 2005. When their first album got released, NEW CLEAR VISION, it is a sort of compilation of old and new tracks, it was March 2020. The CD that I pre-ordered could not leave Japan at all, so I had to wait longer to finally listen to the mixture of noise, punk, new wave and more. They have worked together with some vocalist, since they seem to be totally instrumental.
