5 upbeat toe-tappers 💃🏻 + a smooth bonus track 😎
Hi everyone!
This weekend, I’ve been listening to a mix of energetic and danceable tracks, new and old. This issue’s artists have a way of infusing their genre with elements of funk and soul to create incredibly rhythmic songs. Look out for the bass lines on the songs to follow - the bass players for each artist throw in some wild riffs.
My “Dansu!” mix includes new and original waves of Japan’s famous “City Pop” genre, which is characterised by its Western influences, along with a soulful number, a driving post-punk track and a dance-pop floor filler.
You will also be getting a bonus track, selected by Japanese pop culture newsletter, City Game Pop.
It would be a sin not to mention the abundance of oddly explicit band names later in this issue. Never thought I’d have needed to give a newsletter a mature rating!
Enjoy the mix!
私は踊れません。 I can’t dance.
“AWA” by Life Sonice
🎶 acid jazz, neo-city pop📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 3rd april 2021
Life Sonice are a Tokyo based neo-city pop group. This lively 5-piece were formed in 2011 by Tokyo natives Kento Morikawa (vocals, guitar) and Shunsuke Kobayashi (guitar). Since 2013, the band has consisted of the two founding members, along with Koichiro Sato (bass), Akinori Takigawa (keys) and Shugo Onasa (drums).
The band describes their artistic style as a blended mix of Morikawa’s influences along with the various styles that have influenced the band members - funk, rock, acid jazz, fusion, and modern jazz. This has led Life Sonice to a groovy sound with memorable melodies and sophisticated, complex arrangements.
“AWA” is a 2021 single and the group’s most streamed song to date. Ushered in by a flawless disco-inspired drum beat from Shugo Onasa which is ridden by Koichiro Sato’s masterfully complex funk bass line, the song instantly lifts you off your feet. The sound is certainly recognisable - it brings UK acid jazz pioneers Jamiroquai to mind, minus the arrogance from the lead singer.
As Morikawa’s passionate and strong vocals ring out, and Kobayashi and Takigawa complete the song’s jazzy arrangement, the positive energy of the song only intensifies. It makes for a fun party number (it could also easily work as an Anime theme song) with a series of instrumental fills that are a pleasure to listen to.
Life Sonice released a new single, “Toku”, on June 2nd. Check it out here.
You can follow Life Sonice on Instagram for updates here and discover more of their music on YouTube here.
“私達を信じていて” (Believing in Ourselves) by CINDY
🎶 pop, city pop 📍yokohama 🗓️ released on 25th june 1990
What you’re hearing above, in my opinion, is 90s J-Pop at its finest. The beautiful vocals come from CINDY (real name Mayumi Yamamoto), who released 3 albums from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Sadly, she met an untimely death from cancer in 2001 at the age of 43.
Having worked with many Japanese fusion artists throughout the 1980s, Yamamoto had the one and only Stevie Wonder produce her debut album. Yamamoto was also a prolific songwriter, said to be best known for composing some of the biggest hit songs for idol singer Miho Nakayama.
“Believing in Ourselves” is a single from CINDY’s 2nd album, “Angel Touch”, released in 1990. The lyrics articulate the push through self-doubt and fear and into a state of moving forward, no matter the obstacle. The jazz-inspired chord progression, a core characteristic of Japanese pop in this era is a joy to listen to and I particularly like the main instrumental section, led by the 80’s keys and funky guitar riff.
Learn more about Mayumi Yamamoto via this beautiful official Instagram page, run by her loving son, here.
For further information, you can visit her Wikipedia page here (needs translating from Japanese via your internet browser).
⭐️ Supported by City Game Pop
City Game Pop is a wonderfully curated Japanese pop culture newsletter, focused on the nation’s music and video games. Visit City Game Pop’s homepage by hitting the big link below!
City Game Pop is written in Spanish - for non-Spanish speakers, each edition can be translated using your internet browser 👍
One of this week’s new singles featured in City Game Pop’s newsletter is “わたしたち“ by ELAIZA, a Philippines-born Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and model. Check it out below!
“笑い話の夜” (That Night We Laugh About) by OYAT
🎶 soul📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 5th july 2023
OYAT is an acronym for “Omoide Yarou A Team” which translates to “Memories Bastard A Team”, although the band is often referred to as just Memories Bastard.
Formed at Tokyo’s Tamra Art University in 2009, this energetic soul band have released 4 albums to date. “That Night We Laugh About” comes from their most recent release “Parade” (19th July 2023) and was released as the album’s first single on 5th July 2023.
Perhaps complimented by the wholesome-looking album artwork, this song has a community feel to it. Naturally, from its title, I can imagine it reflecting a fun and memorable night at a party with friends. A sense of nostalgia is infused by the smooth keys and vibrant horn section.
What stands out the most, however, are vocalist Hajime Takahashi’s gruff vocals. I love how authentically they are projected and they give the song a touch of life, character and of course, soul!
Check out OYAT’s official website here and follow the band on Instagram here.
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“outside of the house” by OGRE YOU ASSHOLE
🎶 indie, post-punk 📍nagano 🗓️ released on 30th june 2023
Influenced by the likes of Modest Mouse, Talking Heads and CAN, OGRE YOU ASSHOLE are a rock band formed in Nagano in 2001.
They have strong connections to the Western alternative music scene, crediting their unusual name to a drunken suggestion (a line from the movie, “Revenge of the Nerds”) from Modest Mouse bassist Eric Judy and being highly praised by The Smith’s lead guitarist, Johnny Marr.
The band consists of members Manabu Deto (vocals, guitar), Kei Mabuchi (guitar), Takashi Shimizu (bass) and Takashi Katsuura (drums). Their new song, “outside of the house” has been released on an EP of the same name on the 30th of June, following 12 albums and 9 previous single releases.
The song is a new-wave-inspired semi-electronic track characterised by a pulsing bass line, funky guitar licks, a four-to-the-floor drum beat and atmospheric synthesisers. I love how ominous the song sounds, whilst serving as a danceable song, almost like a muted disco track. Deto’s calm, collected vocals add volumes to the sense of suspense driven throughout this song.
Learn more about the band via their official website here, follow the band on Instagram here and discover their back catalogue of music via their YouTube channel here.
“Do you remember” by Shiggy Jr.
🎶 pop rock, dance pop 📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 23rd may 2018
Poppy Tokyo four-piece Shiggy Jr were formed back in 2012 and took the roots of their sound from a mix of influences, notably Motown, Blue-Eye Soul and Rock. The group consisted of Tomoko Ikeda (vocals), Shigeyuki Harada, (vocals, guitar), Natsuhiko Mori (bass) and Kazma Moroishi (drums).
After releasing 3 albums, 4 EPs and 4 singles, the group essentially broke up when Tomoko Ikeda opted to have vocal cord nodule surgery (which was thankfully successful) and said that she needed a break. The band played their final live show on Saturday 7th September 2019.
“Do you remember” is from Shiggy Jr’s 2018 EP, “Kick Up!!”. It’s a bright dance-pop track, held by a disco beat and funk bass line, laced with an infectious horn section and graced by powerful vocals from the duet of Ikeda and Harada. I think Ikeda’s lead vocals are particularly catchy on this track, her clear and clean voice leading the song’s melody beautifully.
Visit Shiggy Jr’s website for more information here and discover more of the band’s music via their YouTube channel here.
Thank you for reading! I hope you discovered some music you may have liked in this edition.
If you have any thoughts on how I can improve this newsletter and your experience with it, please get in touch at musicofjapan@gmail.com.
Music of Japan has once again delivered a captivating and immersive experience for music enthusiasts, offering a harmonious journey into the realm of Japanese music and culture. This edition was a delightful celebration of the contemporary music emerging from Japan.
The layout and design of the newsletter were visually appealing, with a perfect balance of vibrant colours and elegant imagery that resonated well with the theme.
The artistic touch truly reflected the essence of Japanese aesthetics, making it a pleasure to read from the start.
In conclusion, Music of Japan remains a commendable platform for music lovers to delve into the captivating world of Japanese music and culture, with its engaging content, visual appeal, and informative articles.
It continues to be a must read for anyone seeking to broaden their musical horizons and deepen their appreciation for the melodies from Japan.
Whether you are an aficionado or curious novice, this newsletter is bound to leave you craving for more.
Rating. 4.5/ 5 stars!