FEMM today released new single “Tic Toc”, produced in collaboration with trending R&B singer Vedo, whose hit track “You Got It” was recently certified Gold. The release of “Tic Toc”across all digital music streaming platforms, is accompanied by a music video directed by visionary photographer Liam Wong. The mannequin duo have been pioneers of Japan’s female rap scene since their 2014 album Femm-Isation blew up globally and entered the US Billboard World Albums Top 10 chart. The new release comes hot on the heels of their November EP release, 404 Not Found.

The lyrics to “Tic Toc” were written by the members of FEMM and tell of their desire to return to the live stage, where one fleeting night together with their fans can create a moment that is eternal. The lyrics draw on FEMM’s experience touring in the United States, Britain, Italy, Indonesia, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, China and Taiwan. As the world continues to face unprecedented anxiety that even the festive season cannot completely alleviate, this emotional R&B/hip-hop track speaks to the need for connection we all feel right now. The beautifully shot music video for “Tic Toc” shows the members of FEMM in the deserted nighttime streets of Tokyo in 2020, which is the year following the events of cyberpunk masterpieces Blade Runner and Akira, both of which were made in the 1980s but set in 2019 and envisioned a near-future world that echoes where we are today.

The video was directed by Liam Wong, who is a trailblazer of real-world cyberpunk-style photography. Wong is a globally renowned game designer who worked on the Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry series, as well as an art director and photographer who was selected as part of the 30 Under 30 list of influential people by American publication Forbes. Wong’s work draws on the essential elements of the cyberpunk visual design philosophy set out in movies like Blade Runner, a style that is currently enjoying a worldwide resurgence online fueled by visual art and video games, with artists sharing photographs and illustrations of nighttime city scenes bathed in blue, purple and pink neon. Wong posts his photos of decadent and emotive night views of huge cities such as Tokyo on his Instagram account, while his photo book TO:KY:OO received praise from revered Blade Runner concept designer Syd Mead and esteemed ‘Metal Gear’ game series creator Hideo Kojima.

The “Tic Toc” video was filmed by Wong in February 2020 during a visit to Tokyo, around the time the outbreak of COVID-19 was beginning to reach Japan. Like a scene from a science-fiction movie, the video shows the overwhelming visual beauty of a seemingly near-future Tokyo, with only the two sentient mannequins of FEMM on the otherwise empty streets. The neon lights shining brightly in a deserted city devoid of human life is a surprisingly prescient image, as though predicting the socially distanced streets of the pandemic that would follow.

The lyrics to “Tic Toc” contain a line that can be translated as “Nothing stays as it is forever” – but the refrain “Goodbye” that follows is not necessarily pessimistic in spirit. The line recognizes that sometimes we need to break apart to move on; time comes to all of us equally, and everything is finite. It’s sad when something good comes to an end, but in difficult times like these, an ending is sometimes welcome. As the sound of the seconds hand of a clock plays out underneath the track, this reminder that nothing lasts forever brings hope for the future.

Be sure to check out the music video for “Tic Toc” below, along with digital steaming link here!

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