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 14 of the year 2022. Enjoy the new discoveries!
flagbearer – Fire
The Tokyo-based band flagbearer started activities in the summer of 2020 with the intention of challenging the rock scene with their electro-rock sound and poppy and catchy melodies. To date, the three-piece has released several singles and music videos to show what they can offer. This week they have released the music video for their fifth single, Fire. — Recommended by Francisca
DOLL PARTS – 夢の底 (Yume no Soko)
Rock band DOLL PARTS started out as a solo project of vocalist and guitarist ARISA and this evolved into a band formation in 2019. In April 2021, the duo from Tokyo released a mini-album, titled THE FIRST TASTE OF ME, and at this very moment, they are working on new music. DOLL PARTS recently did a successful crowdfunding campaign for the production and release of an album and music video (and that specific music video is linked below). — Recommended by Francisca
salmon pinknows – world’s end carnival
The in 2021 formed salmon pinknows, a solo project of multi-instrumentalist, designer and illustrator MIZ-C, has released an EP with the past as its theme. This release is on the occasion of the solo project’s one-year anniversary. Given the fact that the EP is titled At that time 1, it is expected that this will be a series full of music that combines soul, dance, jazz, funk and rock. Keep an eye out for more new music by this musician. — Recommended by Francisca
春ねむり (Haru Nemuri) – 生きる (Ikiru)
The name Haru Nemuri is not an unfamiliar name anymore as the poetry-rapper has been going around the world, digitally and physically, since her debut album caught a lot of attention, and the messages she conveys in her music and intense performances have received a lot of positive responses by fans and media. Currently, we can wait for her second album, SHUNKA RYOUGEN, which will be released later this month. — Recommended by Francisca
ボナンザグラム (BONANZAGRAM) – カステラ (Castella)
Castella is the first track on the first album of Tokyo-based rock band BONANZAGRAM, entitled WONDER. And to top it off, it looks like this video is the first official music video for the four-piece formation. The album WONDER will be released later this month and is the first release in 9 years for the rock band. The release will be celebrated with a show at Shimokitazawa ERA. — Recommended by Francisca
killmilky – メロンソ (Melonso)
How to describe killmilky? The four-piece band released a couple of descriptors for their music project on their homepage, including avant-garde musical violence collective, a morbid synthesis art collective and non-existence and auditory hallucination, there are a few more to choose from. But what it truly is is up to you. Clearly, they are interesting. The band recently released their first EP, titled If you kill milky me. Let us know what you think! — Recommended by Francisca
BURNABLE/UNBURNABLE – 灰になって空に舞う (Ash in the Sky)
We highlighted the debut track from dark pop unit BURNABLE/UNBURNABLE last year, since then they seem to have been doing well as they have released many more videos, singles and an EP, music in which the musicians confirm the negative feelings you want to throw away. Their latest song, Ash in the Sky, while not entirely new as it was completed at the time of their debut last year, was kept until it was the right time to release it. — 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.
