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 Japanese music acts that are definitely worth watching and need some extra focus, with an emphasis on the lesser-known names.
We are now looking back on a selection of videos released in week 21 of 2024. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
NUMBERNINE – New Phenomenon
A new EP by hardcore band NUMBERNINE will be released on 10 June, this release bears the same name as the song that got a music video this week via Human Cage Protocol, a long-time collaborator. This band has been active since 2012 and has become a leading band in Osaka and Japanese hardcore with a career that spans more than a decade! Judging by the social media, this release seems to mark a brand new start for the band, given that social media (except Facebook) was completely thrown blank before they came out with the news of the very latest release. Compare the old songs with this new track (or the EP when it is out) and judge for yourself. — Recommended by Francisca
ホロトニア (Holotonia) – ウソつけカス (Usotsuke Kasu)
This year, this five-piece band is celebrating their tenth anniversary and they are doing so by releasing their first release in two and a half years, a mini-album titled 綺麗に見えた残りカス (Kirei Ni Mieta Nokorikasu). The rock band’s home base is in Niigata, but they always intended to expand their activities beyond the local scene. Their ambition paid off when they got the chance to tour Japan in 2021, after releasing the album ひと- ごと (Hito-Goto). The origin of the band name intrigued me, after digging for a while for more information, the origin turns out to be an amalgamation of two favourite characters from the anime series Spice and Wolf (Holo) and Gurren Lagann (Nia). — Recommended by Francisca
Stroll – 1966
After releasing a live video of 1966, indie pop band Stroll decided to release their first-ever music video for the same song. This song can be found on the double A-side single 1966/Coz You Are Shy, which is simultaneously the fourth single by indie pop band. The second track on the single is Stroll’s first English-language song. The indie pop band has not been around for very long; the Tokyo-based band, consisting of vocalist Maria and multi-instrumentalist Ryota Kii, was formed in October 2023. We look forward to this band’s further moves in the near future. — Recommended by Francisca
LilyClone – Down Somebody
This electronic band project based in Aichi started activities in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, and is led by vocalist Yamataneko (also programming) and guitarist pon. Their music blends inorganic and organic elements, drawing inspiration from art rock, post-rock, and classical music. In 2023, they became a trio with the addition of drummer Kosuke and they transitioned to a more rock style and have been active performing on stage. Looking at their discography, they were able to put out an EP in 2021, followed up by several singles in 2022 and 2023. In June, they will add their first album to that same discography, titled UltraSonik. — Recommended by Francisca
DRAW INTO DISORDER – Dying country
Formed in 2006, the home base of the alternative rock band DRAW INTO DISORDER is in a rural town named Wakayama. While being heavily influenced by the great artists representing the grunge scene of the 1990s, such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, they also incorporated many elements of the neo-grunge style. The heavy grunge band now has several releases to their name, including several albums, and a mini-album titled SIGH was added at the beginning of this year. This is their first music video as a three-piece since they recently added a third band member after being a duo for about three years. — Recommended by Francisca
ソムニウム (Somnium) – ノスタルジア (Nostalgia)
Rock vocalist and guitarist Renge has written a short explanation about this music video by the band Somnium. This band is the predecessor of the band Hanayoi, a girl band that started early this year and in which Renge is currently part of. The song Nostalgia is the work of Renge and has already been performed by Hanayui on stage. Somnium’s version, at the time of recording a five-piece band, is yet to be released digitally, but for now, the idea has been given that this band is inactive and Renge’s focus is on Hanayui. So we’ll keep an eye on that band! — Recommended by Francisca
Hibiya – Imaginary Tokyo
In case you have an interest in songs from Japan that bring you back into time, you should definitely listen to this new track by singer-songwriter Hibiya. This week saw the release of her very latest music video for the song Imaginary Tokyo, the third single for the musician. Her music features vintage synth sounds from instruments like the DX7 and Poly-800, along with electric piano sounds, catchy and nostalgic melodies and authentic, catchy vocals. Hibiya is heavily influenced by the culture and music of the 60s to 80s and she incorporates these influences in such a way that it becomes her own original style. — 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.
