With a large music industry such as Japan has, second largest in the world, it is inevitable that music fans will be inundated with a profusion of good (and also less good) music from this country. It is impossible to keep track of this and write a review about it per video. But to avoid missing out on gems, it is time for a weekly list of new music videos from lesser-known Japanese musical acts that are definitely worth watching. We are now looking back on a couple of videos that were released in week 10 of the year 2021. Enjoy the new discoveries!
Eversolitude – OVERWRITE
Eversolitude, formerly known as SOLITUDE A SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, are a five-piece rock band from Tokyo. Recently they added a new vocalist to the line-up, Tayori. This is their first release with the new band name and band member, a new start. The music they make fits into several boxes, such as post-hardcore, math and post-rock. — Recommended by Francisca
tonari no Hanako – 春逝きし晴れ (Haru yukishi hare)
‘The sadder you are, the more you love life’, that is the theme of the five-piece band tonari no Hanako. Active since 2019, the band has released 2 EPs with the third on its way. The band is centred around ame, who is the producer and songwriter for the band. All members prefer to work behind the scenes, so they are rarely seen in the public eye. — Recommended by Francisca
miida and The Department – wind and sea
A brand-new music unit named miida and The Department introduced themselves with this music video. Behind miida is guitarist and composer of the in 2019 disbanded rock band Negoto, Mizuki Shada. Recently she started collaborating with the music project The Department, consisting of Taro Kibata and Yoshihiko Inami from the rock band avengers in sci-fi. This is their first release together. — Recommended by Francisca
MIOSIC – Why don’t you come back
Vocal duo MIOSIC, consisting of MIO and SHO, released a new music video to promote their third album, titled MAZIQ. The background of both musicians can be found in Los Angeles, specifically the music school where they met each other. The focus was jazz, blues, R&B and rock, elements that they now incorporate into their music unit. They themselves describe their aim in making a kind of pop music that has not been heard before. — Recommended by Francisca
ルサンチマン (Rusanti-man) – ニヒリズム (Nihilism)
The Tokyo-based four-piece band Rusanti-man will soon release their first mini-album, titled memento. The alternative rock band has been active since the summer of 2018 and reached a good amount of ears and eyes by their upbeat and technical rock tunes and fun music videos, but also their performance at the festival ROCK IN JAPAN in 2019. — Recommended by Francisca
polly – Laugher
Active since 2012, polly are a four-piece shoegaze band based in Utsunomiya in the prefecture of Tochigi. Ryoma Koshikumo, vocalist, guitarist and programmer, can be seen as the core of the band. The band has released several mini-albums, of which one was produced by Yusuke Kobayashi of THE NOVEMBERS, two albums and a couple of singles. — Recommended by Francisca
レイラ (Layla) – Flyaway!
Rock band Layla got formed in 2016 centred around guitarist Taiki Miura. The four-piece started the new year with the release of three singles in three consecutive months, which Flyaway! is their third. What the next step will be for the Yokohama-based band is unknown but will surely be shared with the audience soon. — Recommended by Francisca
Next week we will be back for a new list of new music videos to check out. But you can also look back to the earlier editions of this weekly article series for when you yearn for more musical gems!
