With a large music industry such as Japan, the second largest in the world, music fans will inevitably 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 48 of 2024. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
rilium – その手が (that hand)
After releasing a couple of singles last year, this week saw the release of the first EP of vocalist, trackmaker and composer rilium, titled Was it hummanm？/人間だった. The new release is also a good reason to publish a new music video, more than a year after the release of the video for Evelyn. With influences from hyperpop and electro, rilium manages to lyrically weave melancholic melodies with atmospheric ambient productions. — Recommended by Francisca
MON/KU – 産毛 (Fluff)
MON/KU is a versatile artist who has been composing music since 2018. His first track S I N K, released on SoundCloud in 2019, quickly attracted attention thanks to his avant-garde style. With no musical training or experience with instruments, he creates his sound entirely digitally, balancing between experimental avant-pop and dark pop. In 2024, MON/KU expanded its horizons further by contributing to the soundtrack of the anime series Kaiju No. 8. — Recommended by Francisca
ミケル (Michel) – subliminal⁇
Niigata-based mixture-psychedelic band Michel is just a young band, only starting activities in May 2023, with the entire music production and artistic aspect being done by vocalist Keigo Sakao. The three-piece has a psychedelic sound as its weapon but manages to blend it with different musical genres, such as rock and electro, with ease. The band’s quirkiness can be seen in Michel’s new music video, filmed in the vocalist’s home studio. — Recommended by Francisca
Launcher No.8 – Mediocre
This is the first music video by Osaka-based five-member easycore band Launcher No.8, formed in late 2022. Easycore is a combination of pop punk and metalcore. The song Mediocre was re-recorded for Launcher No.8’s second EP, titled Stylebender, which was released in June this year. Meanwhile, the young band, which judging by the social media interactions is also getting a lot of attention from fans outside Japan, released a split EP in November with the bands 195 ich-kyu-go and SUBLIMINALS, IVY. — Recommended by Francisca
ガラスの靴は落とさない (Garasu no Kutsu wa Otosanai) – Mr.FRIDAY
Garasu no Kutsu wa Otosanai, aka Glass Shoes Girls, but that is not the meaning of the band name, as it is definitely a reference to Cinderella. They are a two-member pop-rock band from Sapporo, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Oyasumi-chan and bassist Runa. Having been active since 2023, the two were also active as nurses. In a world where there are no princes or wizards, they couldn’t give up on their dreams and started creating their own Cinderella story. — Recommended by Francisca
Nagakumo – スウィート・スペース (Sweet Space)
Nagakumo’s activities began exactly on 1 January 2021, almost four years ago. They have since released several EPs, a mini-album and singles, Sweet Space being the most recent. The band members of Nagakumo describe the band’s sound as neo-neo-acoustic, while neo-acoustic is a cross-section of indie pop and jangle pop, it is interesting to note that the band wants to present an evolved version of the existing neo-acoustic genre with a mix of Shibuya-kei and guitar pop. — Recommended by Francisca
ロッカ (ROCCA) – Mother
Last week saw the release of the double single puzzle/pallet from sentimental pop-rock band ROCCA, this week the quartet decided to release two music videos, one in a home video style (puzzle) and one that the band spent more than half a year preparing but the result is worth it. Mother was released as a single in June. To date, the band, active since 2021, has yet to release a full-length album and it remains to be seen what they plan for the new year. — 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.
