Bandcamp Friday returned last September for several months and we have now landed in seemingly the very last edition today, 2 December. Whether it will stop here, we don’t know yet. But for now, let’s close this year properly with some Bandcamp suggestions, as we have been doing for a while. Since 2020, Bandcamp Friday has been a way to support artists and labels that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On these days, Bandcamp waived their revenue share meaning that there is more money for the artists and labels.
Since it is Bandcamp Friday, it means that we will be highlighting a couple of Japanese artists and labels in an article. Do you want to know who we have highlighted in the past? There have been quite a few, so be sure to check to read our articles listed here. Let us know who you are going to support today!
KUUNATIC
Tribal-psych trio KUUNATIC recently finished their second European tour of the year to promote their most recent album, Gate of Klüna. The members of the Tokyo-based band come from quite distinct musical and cultural backgrounds and combine several musical genres to convey their bizarre universe. Think of dub music, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, traditional Japanese music, Latin music, and music from horror films. In addition to their music releases, they also have some merch on their Bandcamp page.
SPOOL
Just in time for Bandcamp Friday, the Tokyo-based four-piece rock band SPOOL decided to put up their third album (image for) drawing on canvas on their Bandcamp which is only a digital release. The album is said to consist of 11 colours and stories that blend together to form a painting, with the band taking an own route and disregarding current trends in the music scene. Active since 2007 with a break in between, their musical styles are heavily influenced by Japanese rock bands like THE NOVEMBERS and ART-SCHOOL, as well as shoegazer music and indie rock from the United States and the United Kingdom.
99LETTERS
Behind 99LETTERS is Osaka-based electronic producer Takahiro Kinoshita who already has quite a career behind him. As 99LETTERS, he has mainly released EPs on international vinyl and cassette labels. For his solo project, Kinoshita uses traditional Japanese instruments and through additions of electronic elements transforms this into a music genre described as gagaku techno or wagakki techno. 99Letters’ latest release is an album, Kaibou Zukan, which serves as a kind of audio diary of the artist during the lockdown.
Tokyo Shoegazer
Recently seen at Bangkok’s big indie festival Maho Rasop, Tokyo Shoegazer, a name from which it is immediately clear what to expect from this band. They have been active since 2010 – originally as a band for a one-off show. That tasted like more and it continued until October in 2013. Still, things began to itch and the band returned in 2020 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. One of the releases on Bandcamp is the first album since the reunion, 月世界遊泳 (Moonworld Playground), although for this Bandcamp Friday they have two temporary releases: Gyoninzaka in the Four Seasons and the remastered version of 1st Demo.
Virgin Babylon Records
Started in 2010 by Katsuhiko Maeda, better known for his work as world’s end girlfriend, to provide a supportive haven for projects that were having problems selling music with the result that the label has released a diversity of musical content. That also means that it has the effect of bringing out a variety of musical genres through this label, yet it mostly falls under alternative music. From his own project, which falls under post-rock and electronica, to the brutal orchestra Vampilia, from the rock band Have a Nice Day! to the instrumental band about tess, enough to choose from.
It is good to know that on Bandcamp Fridays, an average of 93% of your money reaches the artist or label (after payment processor fees). On other days, an average of 82% reaches the artist or label. Who are you going to support on the upcoming Bandcamp Friday?
