With their latest EP PSYCHIC FILE III just released, the seven members of boy band PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE are already preparing for their next adventure: a European fanmeet tour with stops in London and Berlin. Their European tour plans have now been expanded to include exclusive dance workshops in London and Utrecht, and even a visit to Japan Expo Paris for performances, meet and greets and a workshop. Reason enough to talk to the seven gentlemen behind PSYCHIC FEVER.
The questions in this interview are partly inspired by the songs that can be found on PSYCHIC FEVER’s latest EP, as we talk about their latest release, their personal and international growth, highlights and challenges, and what fans can expect from them in the future.
AVO Magazine: It is our first time interviewing PSYCHIC FEVER, thank you so much for your time! Let’s start at the beginning: When did you first realise that music would become an important part of your life?
TSURUGI: Yes and no, in the sense that music has always been a part of life. I just did not know the magnitude of how much. I always liked music growing up, but it wasn’t really until I started performing that I realised how big it could be. Once I saw how it could connect the world, I always knew music would be so important.
REN: For me, definitely yes. I realised it early. I started beatboxing when I was so young, and once I saw the reaction it brought out of people, I was addicted. That connection became something I never wanted to let go of.
AVO Magazine: Was it always your dream to perform in a group like this?
RYOGA: Performing, yes. A group like this? I don’t think in my wildest dreams I could’ve imagined this. We’re more like a family than just a group.
JIMMY: I always dreamed of being on stage, but I didn’t know how powerful it would be to do something as big as this. It has been a blessing in disguise.
From left to right: TSURUGI, REN, and RYUSHIN
AVO Magazine: PSYCHIC FEVER started activities in 2019, with a major debut in 2022 and recently signed with Warner Music Japan. Reflecting on those six years, what have been the most important things you have learned during this time as you have continuously been working on making new music, perfecting the choreographies, performing on live stages, and everything in between?
KOKORO: I think we’ve learned to trust the process. Every part, from practising one move over and over, to writing lyrics that mean something, has helped us become stronger artists.
WEESA: Also, to be patient with yourself and your team, don’t take them for granted. Progress takes time, and what matters is staying committed. We’re on a team, so it’s important to take care of yourself to make sure you can be 100% for everyone else.
AVO Magazine: You have recently been touring the United States and soon you will tour Europe, but have also toured Asia, apart from your performances in Japan. After the European fanmeet tour, you will return to the United States again. What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in reaching fans outside Japan?
RYUSHIN: Honestly, the biggest challenge is the language barrier. But you know, every day we are overcoming it, little by little. But the chance to even have a worldwide fanbase like this is so amazing.
REN: We’ve been able to stay connected with our fans through social media. That way, they can keep up with us, even when we are far away.
From left to right: KOKORO and WEESA
AVO Magazine: The newest release by PSYCHIC FEVER is an EP titled PSYCHIC FILE III, which was released one year after the release of the previous EP, PSYCHIC FILE II. Could you share a bit about the theme for this release (or the themes of the songs separately), and how it was to work on this new release, and also the choreographies for the songs?
JIMMY: For us, PSYCHIC FILE III brings in a new era. We added some Hip-hop, pop, and R&B in a wonderful blend, and each song expresses emotions, such as self-discovery, love, or youth. Reflection, our main song, holds particular significance for us. We collaborated with songwriters from Northern Europe and Los Angeles, and JIGG’s production brought out something different in us.
WEESA: You’ll see a lot of high-energy choreo from us to match the new era. We wanted every performance to bring something new, not just visually, but emotionally too. This EP feels like a big step forward—not just in sound, but in how we express ourselves as artists.
AVO Magazine: Till now, you have been working a lot with songwriters like ELIONE, JP THE WAVY, Billy Laurent, and Daniel Kim, to name a few. In the past, you have also been able to contribute to the lyrics of several PSYCHIC FEVER songs. Have you been able to get more involved in the songwriting process for this new release?
KOKORO: Yes, we are definitely more hands-on this time around. We make music that comes from our hearts, so an important part of that is writing.
TSURUGI: It has been a journey, finding our voice has taken some time. But working alongside different songwriters and producers has helped us learn a lot.
From left to right: RYOGA and JIMMY
AVO Magazine: Inspired by another track of the new EP, EVOLVE, how much do you feel you all have evolved as artists between now and the previous EP release? A lot has happened in a year’s time, from coming to London, but also touring the United States, and releasing several singles, working with various other musical influences.
RYOGA: EVOLVE is special to our hearts, having the same name as our tour, it is a symbol that we are changing day by day for the better to showcase a better version of ourselves as artists. The lyrics truly tell this story, everyone has a part made special for them and their unique voices. This blends together creating an R&B vibe, specifically tailored to us. We have thought about doing each other’s parts for fun, but our voices are so different from one another, and this direction has allowed us to explore our most celebrated parts together as a group.
AVO Magazine: Looking at 2025, it is already a pretty intense year for you guys, and the song titles on PSYCHIC FILE III feel almost symbolic of what the year (and also last year) has brought, with major steps internationally. What promise to your fans do you really hope to fulfil in the coming years?
KOKORO: We’ve achieved so much in these last three years and we’re still learning along the way. This year has been such a whirlwind for us, and the tracklist on PSYCHIC FILE III reflects everything we’ve experienced, from challenges to major milestones, it feels like we’ve done it all and want to do more, especially internationally. Each song carries a piece of our journey, our emotions, growth, and our gratitude. More than anything we want our fans to know that they are our main motivators to climb to the top, and we’re grateful for all of the positive feedback and support that we’ve gotten from ForEVERs, our fans. We want to fulfil a promise of keeping our fans on this journey with us, no matter where we are in the world. We hope to keep expanding globally, sharing more of our sound, and creating a performance, or release, or moment that our fans can be proud to be a part of. We want to be a group that fans can rely on for energy, honesty, and connection, no matter the language or distance apart.
AVO Magazine: One of your recent singles, Gelato, is a perfect song for the upcoming summer. What is an ice cream flavour that you can’t resist during those hot sweltering summer days?
RYUSHIN: Vanilla is one of our favourites. It’s refreshing and sweet, just like our track Gelato. We all have different tastes in the group, but mango is a flavour we can’t resist in the heat, too. Sweet, juicy, and instantly cools you down, like the vibe of Gelato we wanted to exude. But honestly, even something like matcha is great, as long as it brings a smile.
AVO Magazine: After your meet and greet event in London last December, which was clearly a great success, you will return to Europe for fanmeets in Berlin, London, and Paris. Could you share more about what fans can expect during the upcoming mini tour and what is something you look forward to the most?
WEESA: The fact that this was our first ever fan meeting in Europe was incredibly exciting. Meeting them for the first time, we were nervous, but everyone here has been so welcoming to us. It was so unique to showcase our playful, silly sides with our fans, and deeply connect with them. We are excited to see and thank more of our European forEVERS for their support in person for the first and second times. Meeting the people who support us and allow us to ignite our dreams, it is surreal and we can’t wait to hang out with everyone. Each city has its own vibe, and we’re ready to soak it in with our fans.
AVO Magazine: For those who aren’t very familiar with PSYCHIC FEVER’s music, which release is the best place to start?
REN: With PSYCHIC FILE III, this is our exciting, yet challenging, attempt at experimenting with our music. We wanted to showcase our more mature, adult-like concept that contrasts from all of our previous releases. The genre-bending sounds allowed us to express diverse sides of our
charm, allowing us to grow together and individually. We think that this is the most true representation of us, and we think it’s the best place to start.
AVO Magazine: When someone listens to your music, what kind of feeling or message do you hope stays with them?
JIMMY: We hope that they walk away feeling empowered, understood, and energized. Whether it’s about chasing your dreams or overcoming hardship, we just want people to feel like they’re not alone. Our music is a reflection of our own journey, and if it can be a soundtrack to a fan’s
story, it means everything to us.
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Many thanks to the gentlemen of PSYCHIC FEVER for taking the time to answer a few questions. This interview was made possible thanks to SOKOLLAB, for which we are very grateful. More information about the upcoming fanmeet tour can be found here, and their activities at Japan Expo Paris can be found here. PSYCHIC FILE III is available on streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
