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 34 of the year 2021. Enjoy the new discoveries, some are fittingly summer themed!
KINJINAL – 回転寿司 ~Conveyor Belt Sushi~
KINJINAL’s third single got presented earlier this week. The five-piece band is brand-new as the band got formed in the summer of 2020. All of the members met each other at the jazz club of the university or the session scene. The band is centred on Wataru Okubo and the band pushes forward with the spirit of punk. — Recommended by Francisca
ジャンキー58% (Junky58%) – chocolate
Junky58% can be best described as a punk rock band with a big influence from the American punk rock scene. The three-piece started in the summer of 2018 and is mostly active in Osaka. The dream of the band is to make the whole world laugh with punk. In September, the three girls will release their first album, titled naked. — Recommended by Francisca
KOSAME – CORD
After being a trainee of a dance & vocal unit, the musician Kosame decided it was time to walk a different path as a solo vocalist. With CORD, Kosame presented her debut single, a metal song that showcases what the vocalist is capable of with her voice, from grunting to clean vocals. The video is directed by the musician herself and contains elements that are emotionally heavy. — Recommended by Francisca
NONMALT – FUYU
Instrumental rock band NONMALT started its activities in 2020. The band’s music is described as a whirlpool of raging grooves and pleasing melodies that transcend borders and induce nostalgia and sublimates the soul of the listener thanks to the blend of several musical genres from post-rock, jazz, club music and more. NONMALT just released their first album, titled Healthy Jack’s Good Smile. — Recommended by Francisca
Submarine Dog – Drive To The Future!
The four members of the rock band Submarine Dog get influenced by country & western and English rock, which can be certainly heard in their sound. The band was formed in 2016 by vocalist Iwamoto and his high school classmates. In addition to the band’s own music production and live performances, they also support singer-songwriters by arranging songs and playing in backing bands. For their latest song, Drive To The Future!, they have created a short film. — Recommended by Francisca
さめざめ (Samezame) – あいまいみー (Aimaimee)
Samezame is the name of a band project by musician, writer, lyricist and accessory artist Saori Fueda. After releasing a couple of albums and a single with Victor Entertainment, the musician decided to release music independently at the end of 2015. This song was part of three consecutive releases earlier this year. When Fueda named the backing band Banana and Doughnuts. — Recommended by Francisca
BAD BABY BOMB – SHINE
Formed in November 2019 by four members with different personalities and musical backgrounds, two band members were formerly active in the metal band Moth in Lilac. In BAD BABY BOMB, the members are not confining themselves to one genre, but they seem to go on a poppy rock route with their first releases. The latest release has a more summery dance vibe. — 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.
