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 51 of the year 2022. Enjoy the new discoveries!
BLOOD PICK ME – PEOPLE
After giving hints that something new was on the way, the alternative rock/shoegaze band BLOOD PICK ME made a comeback earlier this week with a new song, PEOPLE. The music video for this song shares a story with the theme of destruction and regeneration with scenes of the mysterious five-piece band playing in an abandoned location. The music is made with a DIY mentality, which means that they do everything themselves from producing to mixing, and continue to enhance their music themselves. — Recommended by Francisca
LADY FLASH – アストロちっく・アラスカ (Astro Chic Alaska)
On 11 January 2023, the second album by Osaka-based indie band LADY FLASH, どこにもいけないドア (Dokoni mo ikenai doa, The Door to Nowhere) will be released seven years after the release of album number 1. It has already been noted that this band can be described as Kirby meets punk (Think of Kirby inhaling everything around him to use to kill his opponents, but punk), which might give a better idea of what they have to offer. The band which seems to have a love for indie pop, post-punk and noise, describes itself as a plastic band where Pixies and Yasuyuki Okamura meet. — Recommended by Francisca
Lenalee – Yes-No ワルツ (Yes-No Waltz)
The activities of this ‘bombastic reality’ rock band started in 2021, they celebrated their first anniversary this summer with a show in Shimokitazawa, which is where they are mainly active. The band’s debut EP, titled 舞台にあがれ (Go up on stage) , which was published in October, allowed them to express their unique vision to the world. Want to hear more? You can listen to their music very easily as it is released digitally. — Recommended by Francisca
ELECTRIC MAMA – Dystopia Parade
Electric rock unit ELECTRIC MAMA’s newest release is an album, Dystopia Parade, released on Winter Solstice (21 December), their first new album in three years since the release of Moment. In addition to new songs and songs that have been distributed before, the Osaka-based duo also has re-recorded The Wall, which was originally released in 2008. The idea behind Dystopia Parade is that even in a dystopian society, people would still parade through life. — Recommended by Francisca
yaw roll pitch – empty days
This is the first music video by the alternative/groove guitar rock band yaw roll pitch, a brand-new band from the San’in region (in the prefectures of Shimane and Tottori). After formally establishing in November, as stated they are really brand-new, they have just performed their first live gig a few days ago. The four-piece gets described as: Simple but exuding beauty of construction, alternative and beyond. This is just the beginning! — Recommended by Francisca
THE VALVES – MIDNIGHT VOID
Don’t confuse it with the now defunct Edinburgh punk rock band from the seventies (first search result in Google), this is Japanese rock and roll band THE VALVES, who celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2020. The band’s most recent album, REFUSE, was released in 2019, and it appears like they have huge plans for 2023, including the release of new music. They have also put out a request with their desire to perform in Asia, outside Japan, such as Thailand, China and Taiwan. — Recommended by Francisca
BabBubble – Kiss My Ass
BabBubble, a completely self-produced four-piece rock band, got formed in the summer of 2021 and started with live activities in October of the same year. The concept of “hard rock made by women who are independent, strong, and cute at the same time” serves as the foundation for the four women’s activities. (And maybe some humour too?) They have their first one-man show scheduled for April 2023. — 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.
