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 selection of videos released in the first week of 2024. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
Yuètù – muse
Formed on the exact date of 24 December 2021, the band Yuètù (the band name could refer to the Moon Rabbit in Chinese mythology) can be best described as an alternative band with influences ranging from ambient to shoegaze to post-rock. A year after the formation, the four-piece released their debut EP, titled good night angel baby, which was followed up by a single, exactly one year later. The band states to be exploring natural phenomena and social issues from academic perspectives such as aesthetics and psychology, the band translates the essence of this into their music. — Recommended by Francisca
ルサンチマン (Rusanti-man) – 荻窪 (Ogikubo)
Last summer marked the fifth anniversary celebration for the alternative rock band Rusanti-man, this was also the reason for the four band members to announce their very first album. Titled ひと声の化石 (Hitokoe no kaseki) / rebury, the album was released last October and is a double-disc set featuring 10 songs with Japanese titles on the first disc and 10 songs with English titles on the second disc. Originating from their high school days, the band came together and swiftly found themselves performing at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2019. With every release, including this album, the band pursues to explore the realms of alternative music using the sensibilities of each Rusanti-man band member. — Recommended by Francisca
Switchblade – 誰かの声 (Dare Ka No Koe)
Last December, three-piece indie rock band Switchblade released their second full-length album, titled Obscure Heart, a year after the release of their first album, which means they pumped out a new album in a year’s time. Which is rather speedy, yet in that time the three band members have honed and refined their interplay more and in addition the introspective lyrics contain a lick more punkish and a darkly perspective. Nevertheless, it does not say nearly enough about what this band has to offer, as a diversity of musical genres such as alternative, pop, punk, emo(revival), math rock, post-hardcore and post-rock are associated with this band. — Recommended by Francisca
LAUTRIV – アイリス (Iris)
This is the second single for the virtual rock band LAUTRIV (which is the word virtual backwards). The four-piece started activities in the spring of 2022 where they started publishing covers via YouTube videos before venturing into producing original music. This was followed up by the organisation of their first LAUTRIV Fest in the summer of 2023 and this is where the song Iris was heard for the first time. The band aims to deliver a sound and performances that feel real, challenging the boundaries between reality and virtuality. Fun fact, for the music video, musicians Lily Kanon and Noisern (Alternoise) were featured as actors. — Recommended by Francisca
夜明けの明星 (Yoake No Myojo) – 遠日点 (Aphelion)
Yoake No Myojo (although on streaming platforms described as Yoakeno Myojo) are a four-piece band based in Tokyo, creating songs characterised by a fresh, somewhat sad atmosphere despite their fast pace. With a recent focus on diverse arrangements, they venture into music beyond genre constraints. Aphelion is the point at which a planet is farthest from the sun, signifying distance and remoteness from a source of light. The song reflects on the experience of living without a clear goal, acknowledging the value of the journey and the importance of mutual support. — Recommended by Francisca
リーガルアットサンズ (Regal at Sans) – Wonderland!!!
The Nagoya-based band Regal at Sans started only a few years ago with several singles and an EP in their discography. Specifically the EP, titled character and released in the fall of 2022, drew more ears to their music. The four-piece stated that they defy genre boundaries, blending rock, jazz, and hip-hop to create a dynamic by constantly exploring new sounds for their songs while also using the versatility of the vocals, heavy bass, powerful drums, and classical, playful melodies on the keyboard in their advantage. — Recommended by Francisca
Ribet towns – カーテンコール (Curtain Call)
We’ve highlighted Ribet Towns before, a 12-piece ‘toy pop’ band from Kyoto. The band is still going full steam ahead and released their very first album a few days back, titled ism. Curtain Call is one of the tracks on this album and seems to reflect the joy of being on stage. And that is quite impressive with the number of members this band has, with vocalist Asayo Miyachi surrounded by musicians playing a diversity of musical instruments, from bass guitar to melodica, (acoustic) guitar to metallophone, percussion to mandolin (and believe me there is more they make use of). — 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.
