Sumire Uesaka Brings A New Life with Latest Release!

“Seikatsu Konkyu Dame Dinero” Jacket Cover

Voice actress-turned-vocalist Sumire Uesaka’s latest single EASY LOVE has been a smash hit across the globe. It’s had over four million streams on Spotify, 25 million plays on YouTube, and became the opening theme song to popular anime Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro. Now the artist and voice actress has announced her next single!

“Seikatsu Konkyu Dame Dinero” (‘Life Is Hard DAME DINERO’), it will be Sumire Uesaka’s 12th single and will comprise of six-tracks. The title track is available across all digital music streaming platforms now, and has been selected as the second opening theme to anime series The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!.

The track is an intense, hyperactive burst of energy with the message “to do your best being positive in this difficult world”. It’s composed by Kenichi Maeyamada, one of the leading creative forces in the Japanese entertainment world. He’s produced for the likes of Dempagumi.inc, Momoiro Clover Z and AKB48, and his remixes of classic video games, anime and more have been played over 63 million times from her Youtube channel, and millions more on Nico Nico Douga. He’s also a pillar in Sumire Uesaka’s distinctive sound, frequently working with her since her debut as an artist eight years ago.

The second track is titled “Monodomo No Utage”, a digital rock track written by Uesaka herself with theme of “dancing until you fall asleep”. It’s also the theme song to Uesaka’s weekly talk show on YouTube.

Third track “Drops” is also written by  Uesaka and is an emotional song about the feelings of faint love. Instrumental versions of all tracks are also included with the single, which will be available from 27 October 2021.

Be sure to check out the music video for “Seikatsu Konkyu Dame Dinero” below along with the track here!

Kiyotaka Sugiyama and Omega Tribe Kicks Off Their 40th Anniversary with A Visit to AQUA CITY!

The long running band Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe, who were active and very popular around the 80s, will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2023.

Tetsuji Hayashi is a composer who created many hit songs and is one of the key figures of  the music scene in the 80s. He made a recent revival hit song, “Mayonaka no Door/Stay with Me” by Miki Matsubara. With Hayashi’s direction, Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe,The 40th anniversary project has started by remixing original songs with the latest technology. As a first project, AQUA CITY ,which is a remix of their debut album AQUA CITY, has been released the past week across all digital music streaming platforms.

Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe made their major debut in April 1983 with the single, “SUMMER SUSPICION”, from the record label VAP. Summer, sea and resorts are main themes of the band and their hit songs are well known inside and outside of Japan as “summer songs” and in the genre of city pop.

After the band released 7 single vinyls and 5 albums, they moved on to forming the successor band, 1986 Omega Tribe was born with new singer, Carlos Toshiki. 

The album cover of this new album is a remix version of the original so it is very familiar to the people who know the original album. And the song “SUMMER SUSPICION”, which is remixed by Tetsuji Hayashi, was specially included as a bonus track. So old fans who know the original album can enjoy this new addition in the tracklist.

Furthermore, special websites, official Twitter of the 40th anniversary, and the official Facebook are all open! All latest news will be updated frequently and special content like the band's interview are planned to be released on a special site and be sure to check out AQUA CITY REMIX here!

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AQUA CITY REMIX Jacket Cover

Kiyotaka Sugiyama & Omega Tribe『AQUA CITY REMIX』

1. SUMMER SUSPICION

2. PADDLING TO YOU

3. MIDNIGHT DOWN TOWN

4. LIGHT MORNING

5. UMIKAZE TSUSHIN

6. TRANSIT IN SUMMER

7. TRADE WIND

8. SEXY HALATION

9. ALONE AGAIN

10. SUMMER SUSPICION　Re-Arranged ver.

Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Voice Actresses Natsumi Murakami and Chiemi Tanaka Debut as A Duo!

“Fortune Teller” Digital Jacket Cover

Natsumi Murakami and Chiemi Tanaka, voice actresses who also voice the members of Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, have formed a unit of their own and made their debut through Lantis, the music label of Bandai Namco Arts.

The name of this unit, NACHERRY, is a combination of their first names (Natsumi & Chiemi) and represents the idea of “two-in-one” like a double cherry. Natsumi and Chiemi came up with this name based on the desire to “have twice as much fun and make up for each other’s shortcomings.” The logo is pink, their favorite color, and features the cherry in their name. 

NACHERRY is based on the concept of “Constant excitement with girls who are straightforward about what they like and never forget their sense of fun.” These two colorful, poppy girls will sing positive American-style rock songs and bring excitement to audiences.

Their debut single “Fortune Teller” will be released digitally on October 6. This song was written by Maria Okada and composed by Takahiro Yamada, bassist of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION. In true NACHERRY fashion, “Fortune Teller” is a speedy rock song that expresses the idea of “being yourself and doing what you like” to encourage people who lack confidence and are worried about what others think.

As we look forward to the upcoming debut be sure to check out their NACHERRY’s Official website and Twitter also with the artist debut video below!

w-inds Teases A New Strip with Latest Release!

“Strip” Digital Jacket Cover

The dance and vocal group, w-inds.’s early released streaming song “Strip” has been released across alll digital streaming platforms. This song will be in the track of their original album called, 20XX “We are”, which will be released on Wednesday the 24th of November. “Strip” is the second song of the newly reborn w-inds., which now consists of Ryohei Chiba and Keita Tachibana. This song is the latest creation since the release of their first song “Beautiful Now” which was released last December.

This song is produced by Keita Tachibana. In this song you can see their sincere attitude towards the music and the way they still keep evolving even after 20 years of their exciting career. They have always been inquisitive in creating their own music and they put their determination into this song to show that they will be fighting just as they are.If you read their lyrics it is obvious that they have been developing their skills.

On the Official YouTube channel of w-inds. the music video of the song “Strip” has been released. The two members from w-inds. and 6 other back-up dancers are showing their very sophisticated and solid dance. The choreography was done by Sota(GANMI). You can see this especially in the scene where the dancers are sitting on the chairs and dancing like they are trying to take off the past which has bound them, which is a must see.

20XX “We are”, will be their 14th album and it will be released 3 years since they released their last album 100 as an original album. And this is the first original album as the newly reborn w-inds. which restarted as two members. 

This album is planned to include 10 songs including “Beautiful Now” and “Strip” and all songs are produced by Keita Tachibana continuously from the previous album.

The tracks of the new album will be released soon. As it is to celebrate their 20th anniversary of w-inds. this album has been raising fans' expectations. Be sure to check out the music video for “Strip” below along with the streaming link for the track here!

Kaz Brings A New Type of Code with Latest EP!

CODE LOVE Digital Jacket Cover

Kaz from the boy group INTERSECTION has released his very first solo EP, CODE LOVE across all digital music streaming platforms. Kaz himself was directly involved in the production of every song on the new EP. Its release follows the June 2021 single “White Stallion”, which broke records on its release in China, becoming the first song by a Japanese artist to simultaneously hit No.1 in four separate category charts on Chinese download sites.

Kaz is currently studying at Harvard University. With roots in jazz and classical music, He is expanding his horizon so the new EP takes in such diverse genres as alternative, chill, trip-hop, lo-fi rock, lo-fi pop and more, to create music that is not tied to stylistic boundaries. It is a challenging work that will surprise listeners with Kaz’s musical essence. Producing this EP at the age of 21, Kaz has set a new standard for Generation Z artists, and this release proves he is well on his way to becoming an icon himself.

Kaz commented on the work stating 

“The title of this EP ‘CODE LOVE’ explores the sentimental and subtle emotional complexities of love. I wanted to express my thoughts about life and love outside of stereotypical expressions of romance by exploring the various feelings that surround love that stay in people’s hearts for better or worse. For this EP I got to work with many talented artists and musicians, and it represents my musical journey specifically expressing a wide range of genre-blending musicality. I hope everyone is able to feel and relate to all of the new dimensions of my sound as I continue to grow and develop as an artist and continue my journey of discovering myself.”

The release of the EP was preceded by three single releases. “White Stallion” broke the sales record for a Japanese artist in China on its first day. “Drown feat. Hikari Mitsushima” was released last month. Most recently, he released “Summer is Over feat. Mai Anna”, which attracted attention from revered media outlets such as The Associated Press and Sweety High.

Be sure to check out the streaming link for CODE LOVE here, along with the music video for “Drown” below!