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 24 of 2024. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
xiexie – UMA
Formed at the start of 2020, this four-piece from Tokyo embodies a blend of modern nostalgia and fresh alternative vibes. The songs alternately sound psychedelic and indie pop, which seems to be catching on with the international indie scenes. In October of last year, they released their first physical work, XIEXIE/33, which is a combination of the two EPs that were previously released digitally. This week they reached a new milestone by releasing their debut album, titled wellwell. — Recommended by Francisca
くしゃみ。。 (Kusyami..) – 夢見るお飾りドール (Dreamy Plastic Doll)
Formed by composer T/s! and vocalist Airi, Kusyami.. can be best described as an embodiment of a whimsical concept of an ‘everyday theme park’, aiming to evoke the feeling of wanting to live each day as if in an amusement park. With one EP released in 2022 and six singles to date, including their latest Dreamy Plastic Doll, they explore themes inspired by mischief-loving demons and Italian folklore tales. The artwork for the latest single and the animation for the music video is done by Maro Tasoya. — Recommended by Francisca
LOT SPiRiTS – エンカウント (Encounter)
From the start of the band, in the summer of 2020, the three ladies of Fukuoka-based rock band LOT SPiRiTS wanted to break free from the confines of the girl band genre. Their appeal lies in in straightforward lyrics, poignant yet robust vocals, and live performances with a lot of spirit. They recently released their first mini-album, titled 衝動を花束に (Shodo wo Hanataba ni) and are in the middle of a national tour. They released a music video for one of the songs on that mini-album, ライクオアリブ (Like or Live), in February of this year, which reached a lot of people inside and outside Japan. — Recommended by Francisca
Dead By Inches – Florida
Formerly known as D.B.Inches, now rocking under the name Dead By Inches, this Tokyo-based band mixes indie rock and dream pop with catchy melodies and ethereal vocals. Just last December they were performing at Maho Rasop Festival in Thailand after becoming the winner of The Global Playground Audition, a collaboration between the festival and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). Will they take their music and fanbase beyond Japan this year? The band’s activities are not limited to music, but also include DIY activities such as video production, design and jacket production. — Recommended by Francisca
Barbican Estate – Barn Burning
Formed in 2019, the psychedelic/noise rock band Barbican Estate’s sound is often described as ‘Dark Psychedelic”. Until 2022, the three-piece was based in Tokyo, but they have since moved to the United Kingdom, London to be precise. And that means they could be pretty active from there, at the moment they are in the middle of their summer tour and that includes an EP launch party on 20 June, as they have just released a new EP titled Viscum. The three-piece draws inspiration from experimental, psychedelic rock, noise music, literature, and Greek mythology. — Recommended by Francisca
Sezyo – salvage you
On 30 May, the Tokyo-based alternative rock band Sezyo released their first EP, titled sorrows, which follows up their first single Ghost which was released in the spring of 2022. Sezyo’s sound blends emo and hardcore punk influences combined with a distinctive songwriting style. To mark the release of their first EP, the four-piece band unveiled their first music video for one of the tracks this week. The rock band has been active for several years and I am curious to find out what their next steps will be. — Recommended by Francisca
QUINCAMPOIX – FRIDAY
The band name intrigued me immediately, where did it come from? The inspiration came from on of the characters in the French romantic comedy film Amélie (and not a place in France. The pop-punk band with rock ‘n’ roll and garage pop elements was formed in late summer 2022. Interestingly, the three girls study German and are keen to perform in Germany. Hereby, I am spreading the word! At the end of May, their first EP was released, titled Go!Go! QUINCAMPOIX, FRIDAY is one of the songs and in it, you can also see some more influences from The Powerpuff Girls (as the logo already revealed). — 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.
