With Bandcamp Friday’s return, it is time to start highlighting a couple of Japanese artists and labels in an article. In the past, there were suggestions done in a sort of a shortlist or series of tweets. But it has been time to put it all into an article to spread the word some more.
Bandcamp Friday is a way you can support artists that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming edition of Bandcamp Friday is planned for the 6th of August. Time to focus on five suggestions with short introductions, so you can directly dive into the music.
Kubine
Kubine is known, among other things, for her activities as the singer of the grindcore band Self Deconstruction. After leaving the band, the musician worked on a solo project. Two years later, she released a debut of this project, an EP consisting of three tracks filled with industrial metal.
ICHION
ICHION’s music is based on Ainu and Zuni music in combination with electronic experimental music that incorporates homemade instruments and environmental sounds. At the end of 2020, they have released a new album through HIGHFeeL, which was made possible by crowdfunding.
Optloquat
Optloquat are a shoegazer four-piece that started activities in April 2018 and released a mini-album in July of this year, titled From the shallow. The Tokyo-based band draws influence from post-rock, dream-pop, daily life and even the Japanese radio.
Nerd Magnet (ナードマグネット)
This four-piece is known for their high energy music, considering they fit into the power-pop category, it is not surprising. The Osaka-based band recently celebrated the 2nd anniversary of the release of Dear My Invisible Friend, their second album, although in the meantime they have been releasing a couple of singles and added a new member to the line-up.
MiMi Records
MiMi Records is a label based in Portugal and focused on releasing music of Japanese and Portuguese artists in digital format. Until now, they have a very extensive catalogue with almost 300 releases. The latest release by a Japanese musician through this label was Way by Masaru Saito, an Osaka-based electronic artist who also has his own techno label, different10.
It is good to know that on Bandcamp Fridays, an average of 93% of your money reaches the artist or label (after payment processor fees). On other days, an average of 82% reaches the artist or label. Who are you going to support on the upcoming Bandcamp Friday?
