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 50 of the year 2021. Enjoy the new discoveries!
mophing people – Be Myself
After Litsuko decided to leave Shonen Knife, the bass player started a solo project, but far before that all, earlier in 2021, she got involved in an indie band project called mophing people, with vocalist and guitarist Makoto Miyoshi (rumania montevideo). After publishing the music video for Fades Away in April, the rock duo came up with a video for Be Myself. We can expect an EP with four tracks from them soon. — Recommended by Francisca
チロと衛星 (Chiro To Eisei) – pink!
The Tokyo-based punk rock band Chiro To Eisei started activities in January 2021, making the band still brand-new. After releasing an EP in March, the three-piece released their first album, ロマンス全共闘 (Romance Zenkyoto) in September of this year, filled with nine tracks, including the song that received a music video. — Recommended by Francisca
TYTW – IKEAH
Formed in 2018 and from the city Koga, the alternative rock band is influenced by grunge and shoegazer and consists of guitarist and vocalist bobtomato (ex-Vulpes Vulpes Schrencki), bassist and vocalist OASIS and drummer GAWARA. In January, the three-piece will release their second single, titled Youth Youth. Their previous release, titled T with three tracks, can be listened to on streaming services, but if you buy it on Bandcamp, you will support the live venues in Tokyo. — Recommended by Francisca
kolks – LOOP
In January, the band project kolks will release their first mini-album, titled LIKE(S), through RAFT Records. The band started out as a solo project of icelandblue frontman Atsushi Kuge, after inviting support members, it changed earlier this year into a band project. The four-piece, whose sound is influenced by American indie dream pop and other foreign music, but instead of singing in English what you hear more often, they choose to sing in Japanese. — Recommended by Francisca
Lil Public – イノセント (Innocent)
Brand-new – as in, they have revealed themselves more than a week ago – Tokyo-based band Lil Public released their first music video to present themselves to Japan and the rest of the world. According to the three band members, they are an effective mixture band and even though there is not much music available from them yet, it is quite evident in their first video with their alternative pop-rock sound. — Recommended by Francisca
SAGOSAID – Long thinking
Led by vocalist and guitarist SAGO, the four-piece indie unit SAGOSAID is for those enjoying alternative rock, punk, lo-fi music and indie music in general. Before releasing the digital mini-album REIMEI, SAGOSAID released three self-produced cassette singles, which have sold out in record shops across Japan. The songs are written by SAGO itself and are honest and personal songs. Hence the band name. — Recommended by Francisca
ARTiCLEAR – 誰が為のNew World (Daregatame no New World)
Formed in the winter of 2018 and consisting of members previously active in bands as THE BLACK SWAN, SCREW and AUTO-MOD. The visual kei band has released their long-awaited third digital EP, entitled 仮現の月読 (Kagen no Tsukuyomi), after a small delay. As to whether the five-member rock band will release another album after this… we can only wait and see. Definitely a band to keep an eye on! — 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.
