With a large music industry such as Japan has, the 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 33 of the year 2021. Enjoy the new discoveries, some are fittingly summer themed!
ヨークシン (Yorkshin) – 車馬 (Syaba)
This week, the 2019 formed alternative rock band Yorkshin released two videos, a music video and a live video. Earlier this year, the Okayama-based three-piece released their first EP, titled Syaba. The videos are made to promote the release, and the video linked below is officially their first music video, and soon the band will be touring in the surroundings of Okayama and Osaka. — Recommended by Francisca
may her sleep. – しずむ (Sink)
The fragile song Sink received a remaster for the release of The Sleeping Beauty, the first album by future-garage/chill-step music unit May Her Sleep. The music video has also received a re-release. The group consists of vocalist nemu and trackmaker rahiro. The name of the Tokyo-based unit comes from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, The Sleeper. Other videos of this new digital release can be viewed on the YouTube channel of may her sleep. — Recommended by Francisca
YENMA – 炎天下のサイダー (Entenka no Cider)
Formerly active under the name Charles, the band got renamed to YENMA in the summer of 2020. Active since 2013 (with a break) and based in Tokyo, the four-piece has been working hard since the renaming to release new music, such as an album release filled with songs born during the pandemic, titled Piñata. It seems that they will release another music video in a few days. Something to look forward to. — Recommended by Francisca
KUUNATIC – Tītián
KUUNATIC will be releasing a new album on the 29th of October and Tītián is the first single to promote the upcoming release. In addition, the band will be touring Europe next spring. The three members of KUUNATIC integrate traditional Japanese music, Latin music, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, dub music, horror film soundtrack music and more elements and expresses their outlandish world. — Recommended by Francisca
Pulplant – 仮面 (Kamen)
Pulplant are a four-piece rock band from Tokyo and got formed in 2020. Kamen is the second single for the young band. The four members create a dramatic and technical rock sound and do not fear using odd time signatures. The music video for Kamen is the band’s first music video and the song is about the struggle with self-consciousness. — Recommended by Francisca
サーカス船のプッケ (Puqque on the Circus Cruise) – サーカス船のプッケ (Puqque on the Circus Cruise)
This song is the first track presented by a brand-new band, comprised of two ex-LUNCH-Ki-RATT members Kurumi Tanaka and Hiromichi Yamada. With the first track, the band shared a cheerful song that has the same title as the band, Puqque on the Circus Cruise, where they sing that the ‘show must go on’. If you are familiar with LUNCH-Ki-RATT, you might know what to expect from this new band. — Recommended by Francisca
poor man’s rose – in the blue
The alternative rock band poor man’s rose started the distribution of the second single, titled in the blue, a song with a positive note and summer sound. To date, the Fukuoka-based band released two singles and an EP and gained quite some attention with the release of their second music video, エンドロール (End roll). Keep an eye on them for their next steps. — 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! Want to read more about how this project started or check out the YouTube playlists? Click here for all the information.
