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 2 of the year 2022. Enjoy the new discoveries!
aoni – DRAMA
Tokyo-based alternative rock band aoni will soon release their second single, which has the same title as the music video linked below, DRAMA. This release is recorded at the home base of the four-man formation, Shimokitazawa ERA, and is packed with the energy and quality that you can expect from a live performance and reminiscent of the early 00s or even earlier on. We can only look forward to more music from this young band. — Recommended by Francisca
melt into the cream – INSIDE
The four-piece rock band melt into the cream got formed in 2017 and has the city of Kagoshima as its home base. In October of last year, the band melt into the cream released the digital mini-album chameleon with 6 tracks filled with lyrical words armed with a rugged and energetic band sound. Prior to this release, they released two more mini-albums. Now we have to wait for a full album from this rock band. — Recommended by Francisca
ROCHE’ – 世界が終わる夜に (Sekai ga owaru yoru ni)
Three-piece rock band ROCHE’ restarted its activities in February 2021 after adding two new band members. Soon after that, the guitar rock band released their second EP and for the rest of that year, they have been working hard on putting out new music. Soon they will release EP number 4, titled 雨のち春 (Ame nochi haru). The music of the Tokyo-based band gets often described as youthful singalong tunes with straightforward Japanese poetry. — Recommended by Francisca
美晴 (Miharu) – Mama
Miharu is a singer-songwriter based in Osaka and has been active as a musician for several years. She is seen regularly seen on the street as a busker in that same city. She has released several demos, mini-albums and singles, including an acoustic single. In the summer of 2021, she decided to go on tour around Japan and had her first one-man shows planned in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. She is planning to do this in 2022 as well, to celebrate the release of her mini-album LEVEL2. — Recommended by Francisca
ilill light more room – Reunion
Shortly before the release of their second mini-album, titled NEO, the post-rock band ilill light more room shared the music video for Reunion. In addition, the band announced that it became a three-piece with the addition of bass player Mizuki. Originally from Kobe, the band has been active since May 2019 and has gained quite a bit of attention for their atmospheric music videos that enhance the music. — Recommended by Francisca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE2TV0a1lV4
MARKET SHOP STORE – SCISSOR
SCISSOR is the first song that is released by the revamped four-piece MARKET SHOP STORE. The band is known for organising a free one-man and releasing a music video within three months after starting activities and decided in 2018 to organise a live event for 8 consecutive days. The band has a wide range of musicality in which they obviously like to be inspired by different music genres, but they also know how to cover different aspects visually. — Recommended by Francisca
Griev fib – ハッピーマインドコントロール (Happy mind control)
While we are waiting for a brand-new release from the four-man formation Griev fib, the Tokyo-based rock band with two female vocalists has decided to release a music video for one of the tracks found on their first EP that was released in April 2020. Before that, after only 7 months since their formation, they won the first prize at RO JACK and were selected to perform at COUNTDOWN JAPAN 19/20. — 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.
