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 46 of the year 2021. Enjoy the new discoveries!
玉名ラーメン (tamanaramen) – The light behind my eyelids
A Tokyo-based electronic audio-visual unit by the sisters Hikam and Hana. They create soundscapes with whispering vocals by Hikam and delicate colours and visuals by Hana, which reflect the natural texture and fluidity of the environment. Creating works that seamlessly transcend various genres and scenes and that question nowadays’ sensibility. Many of their singles and EPs can be found on several streaming services. — Recommended by Francisca
Elresphy – Call
The five-piece Elresphy got formed earlier in 2021, still a brand-new band based in the metropole of Tokyo. They describe the band as a day-escape rock band, with an alternation of a rough and fragile band sound by intertwining jazz and metal-inspired melodies with an essence of ennui. For the rock band, it was finally time to put out their first music video. — Recommended by Francisca
Hammer Head Shark – Dummy Flower
This Tokyo-based rock band says that this song is perfect when you are enjoying the clear autumn air while walking around the city. With their flowy shoegaze sound and lyrics that speak to the heart, the band is reaching more and more eyes and ears through their new work and performances. They have just released their second single, Dummy Flower, accompanied by a new music video. — Recommended by Francisca
NEIRRA – DirtyHymn
NEIRRA are an alternative four-piece rock band based in Tokyo. In 2019, they did a mini-tour in New York City, and last month – two years after their mini-tour – they did a showcase, digitally, at the American event Mondo.NYC as a sort of return to the country. NIERRA recently put out their first full-length album, containing 12 songs with nostalgia, melancholy and power, strongly influenced by 90s British rock. — Recommended by Francisca
Rip Van Winkle – 一匹のオオカミ (Itsupiki no okami)
The first full-fledged album for the rock duo Rip Van Winkle – consisting of guitarist and singer Taku and drummer Satoshi Morishita – will be released in a few days. It will be a self-titled one and several guest artists, such as HAPPY’s Alec and Ric, cellist Shiori and saxophonist Sakamoto, have contributed to it. The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Taku and drummer Satoshi Morishita. In 2018, Rip Van Winkle toured Europe. — Recommended by Francisca
Rilly Enda – ロマンスビート (Romance beat)
All the way from Fukushima prefecture comes the rock and roll band Rilly Enda, consisting of four members, they released their first EP in 2019, titled Strelitzia. In the meantime, the band has been active doing shows and making (live) videos to show more of themselves. A couple of days back, it was finally time for them to put out an official first music video with (beautiful) scenes from the prefecture. — Recommended by Francisca
PSYCO LOGIC BOX – Fault
Founded in 2010 under a different name and active under its current name since spring 2015, the Fukuoka-based freestyle rock band has released a small body of releases, with the EP hibiki as their latest in 2019. Lately, the band has focused on performing on stage. The band’s name was coined from the words psychology and logic. The song Fault is a different arrangement than the previously released version found on their first EP, when the band was still called Psycologic A Box. — 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.
