Runner’s High
Music of Japan #11
Start today on a high with some sparkling city pop, latin-charged tones and a legend of underground hip-hop 💪
Hello everyone!
Earlier this week, glass of wine in hand, I took a dip into the hottest new alternative releases flowing out of Tokyo as well as some excellent modern city-pop🍷.
Coming up is a new single from one of Japan’s fastest-rising pop acts, a samba-influenced track from one of the best band names I’ve heard of, as well as a classic from the world-renowned late hip-hop producer, Nujabes.
Pop your headphones on and enjoy an eclectic selection of Japanese music.
“I’d be happy if running and I could grow old together” - Haruki Murakami (Best selling author and marathon runner), aged 74
“Runner’s High” by DURDN
🎶 pop 📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 26th july 2023
Blending upbeat and catchy pop with introspective lyrics, DURDN have attracted a lot of attention within the Japanese music scene over the past few years. Formed in 2021, the band consists of South Korean-born vocalist Baku, and producers SHINTA and yacco.
Their name is said to be taken from Tyler Durden, the antagonist of the iconic novel and film, Fight Club. Baku will often mix Korean and Japanese vocals, giving DURDN a unique voice.
The group have impressed this year with recent dance hits “TOKIDOKI” (Sometimes) and “Drink!”. “Runner’s High” is their latest single of 2023, released in late July.
Runner’s High” is a motivating, groovy pop song about the euphoria that comes with excercise. The lyrics are an abstract ode to a strong workout, describing the physical and mental sensations that come with it, along with the sense of accomplishment which follows it.
The track powerful track starts off slowly with a steady beat that gradually builds with intensity and is elevated by Baku’s powerful vocals.
Although it’s just as fun to listen to with a drink in hand, maybe try turning this one up next time you’re at the gym or out on a run - I’m sure it will enhance your workout. Don’t forget to hydrate though.
Check out DURDN’s stylish website here and follow the band on Instagram here.
“Sunset” by BLU-SWING
🎶 city pop, jazz-fusion, electronic 📍tokyo 🗓️ released november 20th 2013
A genre-bending 5-piece formed in 2004, BLU-SWING are a versatile group that mix elements of jazz, rock and electronica into their music. The band consists of Yuri Tanaka (vocals), Sho Kohima (guitar), Shinjuku Hasuike (bass), Yusuke Nakamura (keyboard, programming) and Tomoaki “Bhutan” Miyamoto (drums).
BLU-SWING’s sound is characterised by Tanaka’s soulful vocals, the group’s tight instrumentals and their innovative use of electronic elements. Having toured extensively throughout Japan and Asia, the band have also performed at several major jazz festivals in Japan, United States and Europe.
“Sunset” was released as part of the band’s third album, “TRANSIT”, in 2013. A mid-tempo jazz-fusion number with an electronic backdrop, the song is about the beauty of a sunset combined with the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to someone special, sung from the perspective of watching the sunset with a loved one.
The song combines the jazzy undertones of Japanese 80’s pop with modern dance music. Tanaka’s vocal hooks on this track are beautifully melodic and clean, supported by a shimmering piano melody, a funky retro bass line, and a jazz-infused instrumental.
Learn more about BLU-SWING via their website here and discover their latest release “Spectre” here.
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“tradition” by CHO CHO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN
🎶 electronic, experimental 📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 19 july 2023
What a name.
This onomatopoetic name is described by the band to represent “strange sounds coming from outside”..
According to the band’s profile on their official site, CHO CHO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN are simply ”a funky artist group founded in the time of COVID-19.“
This eccentric three-piece fuse electronic musical prowess with experimental curiosity to create wild songs. The band began releasing music on streaming platforms in 2023, with two upbeat singles in June followed by their debut album “tradition” in July. Despite their small catalogue of music, it is already evident that this group is not afraid to explore new styles in their music and use electronic experimentation to develop their sound.
The song “tradition” caught my attention for its Latin-inspired undertones, sounding almost like a samba number. The depth of instrumentation used in “tradition” is spectacular. Its driving percussive backbeat are overlayed with lively Japanese vocals, forming a creative blend of genres and influences. The melody plucked on what could be a ukulele throughout lends the song an additional authentic DIY sound.
A song drenched in sunshine, “tradition”, much like the rest of the band’s debut album, is fun, lively, immensely creative and very well produced.
Check out more of CHO CHO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN’s music, videos, photos and even sculptures on their website here.
⭐️ Japan’s Rednecks
By Hidden Japan
Of course, Japan has its own version. They’re just a little different.
Read about their appearance and “habits and habitats” in the latest post from Hidden Japan below.
“Spiritual State” by Nujabes (ft. Utamaro Hiroto)
🎶 lo-fi, hip-hop, jazz-hop📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 3rd december 2011
Jun Seba (AKA Nujabes) - a man who needs no introduction.
An influential record producer, audio engineer, DJ, composer and arranger, he was the pioneer of what has now become lofi hip-hop music, a mellow, nostalgic and atmospheric genre of music that nowadays fills living rooms, bedrooms, coffee shops and bars worldwide with a chill atmosphere.
He was renowned for his atmospheric instrumental mixes which sampled from hip-hop, soul and jazz, whilst incorporating elements of trip-hop, breakbeat, downtempo and ambient music.
During his extensive career, he brought a lot of what was happening within the underground hip-hop scenes of Japan, USA and UK together by collaborating with a range of influential artists such as Fat Jon and Funky DL. Lofi hip-hop’s traces to anime and the culture surrounding can be sourced from the iconic soundtrack that Nujabes provided for the internationally praised 2003 anime series, Samurai Champloo.
Tragically losing his life in a car accident in 2010 at the young age of 36, he is dearly missed by the international hip-hop community but continues to inspire and influence artists to this day.
The joy and pure vibes that he brought to others with his beats can be felt in this short video of one of his live DJ sets:
“Spiritual State” is the title track from Nujabes’ third and final studio album of the same name, released posthumously in 2011 following his death. With the album incomplete upon his death in February 2010, this closest to him were inspired to see it finished and released. Collaborating with Nujabes on this track is his dear friend Uyama Hiroto, a fellow producer and DJ of ambient-influenced jazzy hip-hop.
The title track has a mellow, serene and peaceful ambiance to it. The shaker-led percussion (sampled from Pharoah Sanders’ “Hum Allah Hum Allah Hum Allah, 1969) and Hiroto’s breathtakingly intricate piano combine to form a magical piece. The song is later led by a crooning saxophone with a warm tone.
“Spiritual State” is a personal favourite of mine and a testament to its late composer.
Discover Nujabes’ beautiful musical catalogue on YouTube here.
“thaw” by luvliminall
🎶 electronic, indie 📍tokyo 🗓️ released on 31st january 2023
Formed in 2022, luvliminall combine elements of rock, pop and electronica in their music with touches of jazz and classical. Their name is a combination of the words “love” and “liminal” (referring to liminal space - a state of transition or uncertainty).
Following the release of their well-received debut EP, “liminality”, the band began touring Japan and have since released three new singles since. My favourite is their early 2023 single, “thaw”.
The song’s charging acoustic drum-beat, trebly acoustic guitar and heavy piano chords cuts through your headphones/speakers like a knife upon pressing play. Soft vocals then provide a catchy guiding melody before some rich ambient tones rinse through the song’s instrumentation later on.
I haven’t been able to find a great deal of information on luvliminall - I will be keeping an eye out for them in the hopes that more will emerge in the near future.
Check out luvliminall’s website here and explore more of their music on YouTube 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.