Awesome City Club release new mini-album ‘close:to’

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Close:to digial jacket cover


Three-member rock band Awesome City Club has just release their new digital mini-album ‘close:to’ All of the songs have been used in collaboration projects, including ‘hikari’,the theme song for the Wednesday drama series ‘Nursing Aide At Your Side’ currently airing on Nippon Television in Japan.

The mini-album ‘close:to’ includes several songs with the theme of “you and me”, so the spelling of the title is intended to reflect the closeness of the band and the listener. However, using Japanese wordplay, the title is pronounced “closet”, as each song is like a beloved item of clothing that the band have stored carefully in a wardrobe.

The mini-album compiles Awesome City Club’s tracks following their fourth full-length album ‘Get Set’, released in 2022.

Tracklist

1. hikari (Nippon Television Wednesday drama ‘Nursing Aide At Your Side’ theme song)

2. Iolite (TBS Tuesday drama ‘Kissing the Ring Finger’ insert song)

3. Talkin’ Talkin’ (SHIBUYA MARK CITY CITY POP PROJECT)

4. Setting Sail ~MODERN LOVE • TOKYO~ (Amazon Original drama ‘Modern Love Tokyo’ theme song)

5. yume yume yume (Amazon Original drama ‘Modern Love Tokyo’ episode 7)

6. Good Morning (TV Asahi ‘Good! Morning’ theme song)

In April, Awesome City Club will celebrate their ninth anniversary with their first solo concert tour in two years, titled Awesome Talks - One Man Show 2024 -. The tour kicks off with a show at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA in Tokyo on Friday, April 19, followed by a show at Sankei Hall Breeze in Osaka on Sunday, April 21. Don’t miss it across all streaming platforms here, along with the music video for ‘hikari’ below!

Dance-music legend Shinichi Osawa’s duo RHYME SO release new lyric video for ‘UNFOLLOW YOU’, featuring rare sample of Seiko Matsuda’s classic hit ‘Akai Sweet Pea’

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IAFB Jacket Cover

RHYME SO, a duo comprising Japan’s leading dance-music producer/MONDO GROSSO member Shinichi Osawa and Australian poet, DJ, trackmaker and performer RHYME, have released a lyric video for ‘UNFOLLOW YOU’, taken from their 2023 album ‘IAFB’. 

The song includes samples from the 1982 classic hit single ‘Akai Sweet Pea’, which was originally performed by Seiko Matsuda, with lyrics by pioneering Japanese rock musician and Happy End member Takashi Matsumoto, and music by singer-songwriter/national treasure Yumi Matsutoya.

This is the first time a Seiko Matsuda song has ever been sampled, which was made possible by Osawa sending letters directly to lyricist Matsumoto and composer Matsutoya to personally request their permission.

The chorus to ‘Akai Sweet Pea’ features the lyric “I will follow you”, which back in 1982 was meant as an expression of affection for someone special. In the modern age of social media, a “follow” is simply a number to show popularity. RHYME SO’s track leans into this wordplay to warn of an era in which human beings and entertainment alike are at the mercy of the cynical pursuit of follows and likes.

Comment from Shinichi Osawa

“This song is intended to sound an alarm about the current state of the music scene. How can we express individuality in an era where everything is being standardized by algorithms?

With these thoughts in mind, I wrote letters to Takashi Matsumoto and Yumi Matsutoya, and against all odds, they gave me permission to sample their song ‘Akai Sweet Pea’. I hope you will take a deeper look at the meaning behind the lyrics.”


◆ Check out RHYME SO’s recent album ‘IAFB’ to hear their musical take on the modern zeitgeist RHYME SO / ‘IAFB’ here!

MIYAVI to Release “Running In My Head,” Theme Song of Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture, as Single on May 8!

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“Broken Fantasy / Tragedy Of Us” Jacket Cover

MIYAVI’s new song, “Running In My Head,” which was announced as the theme song of Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture at the end of last year, is set to be released as a single on May 8, 2024. This song, which MIYAVI has already performed live, is an up-tempo rock tune featuring his characteristic powerful and thrilling guitar sounds. It is also scheduled to be released with a specially drawn anime jacket, and  fans of Code Geass are eagerly awaiting further information on what the illustration will look like.

Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture, the latest installment in the Code Geass series, is scheduled for a four-part release starting May 2024, and the most recent trailer features “Running In My Head.”

In addition, the artwork and tracklist for part 1 of the recently announced 2-part studio album “Lost In Love, Found In Pain” will be revealed soon. Please look forward to further updates about the album.

Release Information

Digital single “Broken Fantasy / Tragedy Of Us” out now!

1. Broken Fantasy

2. Tragedy Of Us

Second Promotional Video and Theme Song Details Released for TV Anime Mysterious Disappearances Voice Actress/Singer Nonoka Obuchi to Perform ED Theme Song Composed by Popular Vocaloid Producer Neru!

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The second promotional video for the TV anime Mysterious Disappearances, which is scheduled to premiere in Japan in April 2024, was released today. Voice actress and singer Nonoka Obuchi, who won the Special Award in the FlyingDog audition “InuCon!” in the Voice Actor, Singer, and Songwriter category, has been announced as the performer for the ending theme song.

Mysterious Disappearances is a contemporary supernatural mystery that follows Sumireko Ogawa, an aspiring writer and bookstore clerk, and her colleague Ren Adashino as they confront a series of mysterious incidents occurring around town. The story blends elements of the supernatural, the shoujo genre, and human idiosyncrasies to create a tale of brief friendships and farewells amidst supernatural occurrences.

The ending theme song, titled “Akaku Somete Shinzo,” marks Nonoka Obuchi’s first time performing an anime theme song, and she enriches the world of the anime with her rich voice and expressive abilities.

The song is being produced by Neru, a charismatic Vocaloid producer known for creating addictive tunes like “Ashura-chan,” “Lost One’s Weeping,” and “Dappou Rock,” which have racked up millions of views. Despite being an ending theme, the song captivates viewers with its memorable and catchy melody, drawing them into the world of the anime. The fact that Mafumafu is providing the opening theme and Neru the ending theme has also garnered significant attention. This is a combination that fans will not want to miss!

In the second promotional video, a portion of “Akaku Somete Shinzo” can be heard. Alongside the opening theme song “Hazard Symbol” by Yuyu, we highly recommend giving it a listen!

Tomonari Sora tops Billboard Japan’s Heatseekers Songs chart for third consecutive week with ‘Demons Banquet!

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Demons Banquet Jacket Cover

Vocalist Tomonari Sora’s song ‘Demons Banquet’ has taken the No. 1 spot on Billboard Japan’s Heatseekers Songs weekly chart for March 6 – the song’s third consecutive week at the top of the chart.

The original demo for ‘Demons Banquet’ generated huge buzz on TikTok, and the song was released digitally in January this year. The track went on to rank on Billboard Japan’s Heatseekers Songs chart along with Apple Music’s J-pop chart, Spotify’s Viral chart and YouTube’s Music Video chart, in countries and regions worldwide.

‘Demons Banquet’ layers playful lyrics over a quirky, danceable track, conveying the strange sensation of accidentally stumbling into a beastly banquet.

Comment from Tomonari Sora

“This is a song about the will to live. Even if others consider you a misfit, you only get one life, so live it to the fullest. These are the demon’s whispered words. I hope that when you listen to it, you can become immersed in the feast and forget about the worries of the world.”

Be sure to check out the lyric video for ‘Demons Bonquet’ below, along with the streaming links for ‘Demons Banquet’ here!