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 27 of the year 2022. Enjoy the new discoveries!
情緒16号 (Josho 16-go) – 街角、ディストーション (Machikado, distortion)
After searching for some more information about this rock band, we can conclude that this four-piece band has been a bit mysterious. They have been giving occasional performances in and around the Kansai area to hone their live performance abilities, but until now they didn’t have any releases. Their debut release ノスタルジックシックステ (Nostalgic Sixteen), which combines alternative, poetry, pop, and everything in between, has six songs plus a bonus track. — Recommended by Francisca
NEMURENU. – アンタレス (Antares)
Based in Tokyo, the alternative rock band NEMURENU. got formed in 2020. Backed by two support musicians, the two band members draw inspiration from both Japanese and western music, including shoegaze, dream pop, and garage rock. With this in the back pocket, creates a hybrid rock band with a fragile, pale, dreamy, and decadent worldview as well as a powerful sense of power. Their double-A single Antares/Linaria, was released earlier this year. — Recommended by Francisca
DEERMAN – エンジインハイ (Enji in Hai)
In April 2022, singer-songwriter Toma Kobayashi and drummer Eikichi Iwabuchi started this two-piece band in response to the pandemic’s anxiousness and impulsiveness. The band decided to make this their first audio release in the three months since its formation and to make it special they will be selling it in T-shirt form. The four songs, including Enji in Hai, can be downloaded by scanning the QR code on the back of the band’s T-shirt. — Recommended by Francisca
僕とジョルジュ (Boku to George) – 百年は孤独 (momotose wa kodoku)
Boku to George started out as a self-produced project by Tama Himeno who has been active in multiple fields as an idol (in Hime to Mahou, Friendly Spoon), writer of books about underground idols, model and an MC, to name a few. It took some time before the project was revived, now as a six-piece band and with a new album on the horizon, set for release in August with the title Boku to George 3. The debut self-titled album was published in 2015, followed by Boku to George 2 two years later. — Recommended by Francisca
Aland – 危険は危ない (Kiken wa abunai)
After releasing their first music video in 2020, which we highlighted on the website, Tokyo-based futuristic pop band Aland did not stand still at all. The trio, currently signed to independent label KOGA RECORDS, released two singles this year in addition to a mini-album in 2021. So what should fans of this band expect later this year? That’s still a matter of wait and see, but it’s definitely a band to keep an eye on. — Recommended by Francisca
YeYe – 確かな午後 (Tashikana gogo)
It’s been a while since we wrote about singer-songwriter YeYe. The melancholy pop song ゆらゆら (Yurayura) from YeYe’s fourth album, MOTTAINAI, which has nearly 12 million views as of this writing, is what first drew me to her and many others with me. She’s certainly not a small player in the Japanese music business, and over time, she has been active solo for 11 years by now, her popularity has increased significantly, especially in the past year with various collaborations. — Recommended by Francisca
Midgal – blue eyes youthful dragon
This two-piece formation, consisting of Mamana on vocals and Kazuhito fukai on guitar, is completely new. Midgal suddenly appeared on the 5th of July, only a few days ago, and their introduction to the outside world is the music video for the song blue eyes youthful dragon. The punk rock band decided to come up with this song as the first because it is catchy and a mish-mash that represents the group. Even though there isn’t much information available about this band yet, the initial impression is positive. — 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.
