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 27 of 2024. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
ガールズオアボーイズ (Girls or Boys) – 狂愛乱舞 (Kyouai Ranbu)
This four-piece rock band from Okinawa, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Muziki, guitarist Nakamatsu, bassist Fujita, and drummer Na-ri, was formed in 2019. While they work hard to deliver a diverse sound with emotional lyrics, it is interesting to note that all band members contribute as composers for the band’s songs. Looking at the discography, it features a mini-album and several singles, of which 狂愛乱舞 (Kyouai Ranbu) is the quartet’s fourth single. — Recommended by Francisca
トップシークレットマン (Top Secret Man) – キミマインド (Kimi Mind)
According to the description on their social media pages, they don’t want their parents to find out they are active in a band, so the name Top Secret Man is fitting. As long as they are not concert-goers and are fans of music in the same vein as Top Secret Man, they will be fine. The band has been active since 2019 and the four-piece creates songs that are characterised by a mix of punk, hip-hop, noise and alternative music influences (to name a few). The latest track has been a collaboration with Anaru Rairai of the idol group PLANCK STARS. — Recommended by Francisca
Namitape – Full Color
With the announcement of a new album on the way, Vocaloid synth wave producer Namitape has released a new music video for the song Full Color, five months after their previous video. The video for Full Color is simple in concept with a black-and-white animation of a girl walking entire distances, past buildings across the streets with occasional bursts of colour. This visual style perfectly complements the electropop track, characterised by a hefty bass and the voice of the Vocaloid character Kaai Yuki. — Recommended by Francisca
icontinew – ERROR
In October 2023, icontinew popped up on social media, branding themselves as neo-future-girls rock. After releasing two music videos to give a taste of what the three girls have to offer, the trio performed their first live show at the beginning of the new year, including the release of FIRST IMPACT, the title of their first mini-album. Last week, the trio released their third music video, ERROR, which is not included in the mini-album. This suggests that the three-piece band, along with their support drummer, is likely gearing up for another new release. — Recommended by Francisca
Bunsui Miyoshi – Now There
Singer-songwriter Bunsui Miyoshi spent his childhood in the United States but is now based in the metropolis of Tokyo. While at college, he started writing songs and in 2022 decided to take the plunge and start his career as a musician. Last week, he released his new EP, titled 日ぐれ泡だつ (Higure Awadatsu), which at the same time is his first self-produced work on which the musician shows that he has taken a different path in terms of style compared to the album released in 2023, ひとり眠る (Hitori Nemuru). — Recommended by Francisca
Tam Yos Ten – Youth
After releasing the band’s single Beach girl, the five-piece indie band has released a new single titled Youth. Self-described as neo-bayside pop, Tam Yos Ten started activities in 2023 but has already garnered the attention of local indie music fans with their first single and their self-organised event Tuk!Tuk!Tuk! in March of this year. The newest single is seemingly perfect to enjoy during the summer activities and contains elements of surf rock paired with nostalgic melodies and pure vocals. — Recommended by Francisca
killmilky – シニフィアンが溶け出す (Signifiant Melts)
The last time we wrote about the four-piece noise rock/shoegaze band killmilky was in 2022 and I wrote about the diversity of descriptions about the music collective which is led by guitarist and vocalist Manako Komori (ex-BiS), so then it’s nice to take a look at what they’ve been up to in the meantime. After releasing their first EP in 2022, the follow-up EP came a year later titled 虚構のサンクチュアリ (Kyokou no Sanctuary). This year, they are doing things differently, releasing mostly singles, but there is sight of their first full-length album in December. — 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.
