The Tunes from The Other Side
When it comes to the music industry, I barely know much about it. But what I am aware of is that, there are two scenes in existence. The mainstream and popular ones you hear on the radio and the ones that is niche within the Indie scene. Since in forever, I’ve always been a bit of a Weeb. Searching for Japanese music that is either mainstream or underground to mumble sing in my bedroom or in my car.
For this Odin’s Wednesday. I want to share about some of my favorite musicians that hails from the land of the Rising Sun. Since its founding, Japan has become the home to a wide range of young and aspiring musicians. So, let’s talk about a few. Starting with the woman who rolls dice with demons.
[Source image credits to Demondice]
- Excuse me a Moment of Unfiltered Honestly -
Demondice aka Karen is an American artist and animator who, after her studies decided to pursue her love for music in Japan under the rap/ hip-hop genre. Karen’s music in a nutshell, can be described as harshly sharp and realistic, riddled with unfiltered language. Started out in 2013, DD’s music mixes two languages of English and Japanese layered with catchy background music and the rap style that is reminiscent to other influential rappers like, Eminem with her own unique ethos (soul)
Aside from her own music, Karen is a talented artist and animator whose works can be seen through the music videos of other underground musicians that has also gained a boost in popularity recently; [TOPHAMHAT-KYO] and [FAKE TYPE] being the most popular of them all.
To give a taste of her own music. I turn your attention to her latest EP, under the track titled [Take The Bait] Karen used that song as an opportunity to dish out her unfiltered anger and opinions. Calling out the audience that has nothing better to say but just to provoke a reaction. Taking no crap for nonsense.
In a much older song; [You’re an Ace, Kid] Karen shares about the realistic hardships of starting out. Asking the audience, encouraging them and perhaps herself that the road is yet to reach its end, get up and go again. Her songs reflects her realistic and unflattering views on life and career as a musician which I think is more important than to show all the benefits and fame that comes with the job. As mentioned, the underground scene has achieved a rise as of late which (in time) could help others like Karen, rise to the surface for a bit of mainstream taste.
- 告白されたの、しょうがない… -
Translation: He asked me out, it ain't my fault
The girl group; ATARASHII GAKKO is one of the many successful examples of the Anti-Idol culture movement in the Japanese music scene. Using the typical school uniforms to represent the youths of tomorrow. The group writes and produces upbeat songs that expresses an often unseen view, the broken wonderland of Japan.
The group is made up by four members; MIZYU, RIN, SUZUKA, and KANON with MIZYU being the leader of the bunch when technically, its SUZUKA who sings the most. Since opening its borders, there’s always this so-called idea that Japan is a utopian society of technological advancements and perfection but ATARASHII GAKKO rejects that belief. Calling out the many terrible norms that occur in the country. Commenting on sensitive topics such as; Teacher-student relationships, school dramas and social pressures faced by the Japanese youths of today.
These girls are not your typical [AKB48] group. In fact, they are pretty much plain in contrast and yet, they’ve blown up to the western side as a cult favorite for their peculiar humor and messages of embracing the strange and the random. Suggesting SUZUKA as the potential successor to (the somewhat offensive in today) Filthy Frank.
As a group, ATARASHII GAKKO songs are complete bangers. Their dance said to have been inspired by the various sub-genres in hip-hop. Vocally speaking, ATARASHII GAKKO’s lead singer; SUZUKA’s range is filled with emotion in almost every note and very rarely, you get to hear the other girls sing as well. The girls are oddly quirky and they have their fair share of admires who loved the group’s randomness and complexity of iconography.
I would highly recommend [恋の遮断機 - Love's Railway Crossing Gate] to witness to their rather...odd dance cerography and I highly suggest their other popular song that got me into their music [恋ゲバ - Love Rebel] Bear in mind, its a little inappropriate since it deals with grooming but its more on the tame side.
- 愛してる, 愛してるなんて -
Translation: I love you, I love you
While to most people, Japanese music is often times associated with a certain anime and yes, I am one of the many dummies who started with that journey. It may come as a shock to you that Japanese music is not Anime music. Its just music in the country it is from.
While I would love to talk about some B-list or C-list Anime op that is made by great established or rising bands like [Lie and a Chameleon] which revived my love for J-rock back in the day with [UVERWorld] but I want to focus on a relatively new artist, Moka Sato.
I actually discovered Sato by accident through an Indie Japanese playlist as a way to chill but since hearing her hit single; [さとうもか - melt bitter] its been stuck in my head since. For about a year now, the song is just stuck on repeat replaying over and over. The message of the song is your typical “caught my man cheating on me” song but it also ends with a somber note. Saying that the victim of the cheat is more than happy to cut ties with her partner.
Thanking him for his time and passively wished him to burn. When its not about crap partners. Sato wrote calming songs; [さとうもか - Lukewarm] about falling in love with someone and the sensation of it as well as the song about the warm and unique color; [オレンジ - Orange]
Her music videos are adorably 2-bit like. Similar to games like Super Mario and other Game Boy based games. Vocals wise, Sato belongs in the, annoyingly high pitch range as commented when I played her songs in the car to my family. Nevertheless, I find Moka Sato’s voice adorable but its nothing new to the industry of poppy Japanese music.
What makes her in a sense, unique to the others is her use of child-like iconography to display a rather haunting feeling that a woman has lost her innocent and gleeful view on love and in life.
- Are you Ready for Dancing? -
Cha’know what? Let’s give UVERWorld more love! Starting out as early as the 2000s, the name of the band is a combination of the German word "über" (meaning "over") with the English word "world" to form a phrase that means "crossing above the world". I heard about UVERWorld way back when the song [D-tecnolife] was used in the second opening theme for the anime < Bleach > and heard their voices again in < Gundam 00 > and the now meme worthy OP that is used in the show < Blood+ >
The band’s lead singer has changed several times in its early days but, thanks to their permanent lead; [TAKUYA∞] The band has made its mark on the anime sphere and in the music sphere in general as a versatile band. Combining rock music or alternative music with electronics, a very sexy saxophone; Seika as support and the mad drummer, Shintarō
Outside of Anime OPs or EDs, UVERWorld has produced a fairly good amount of songs not related to Anime such as [IMPACT] and of course, a song that I talked about in the past [7日目の決意 Vol.2] Its a rather personal song about those who left and those who stay. Asking the question “what are we going to do next?”
I highly recommend finding the music video and reading the lyrics as it may help with coping the losses we suffered collectively for these past two years since the pandemic. Things live and things die. Its a part of nature but nothing is gone forever as long as we remember them.
The band is still making Anime songs as found in the popular anime; < My hero academia > and < The Promised Neverland > I can go on for just how good their music is for headbanging and how good TAKUYA∞’s vocal range is. The band’s stage presence is incredibly fun to watch and to be a part of but, I believe its time I stop right here.
What I will end with is, Japanese music is more than just anime OPs and EDs. They transcend past its show, with each artist being unique to the other. There is a lot more that I want to talk about so, I’ll leave you with a playlist of mine that I made and organized [RIGHT HERE] but now I’m curious.
What’s your go to Japanese musicians to listen to? Also if you’re into K-pop, give me some recommendations.
Thanks for reading
-Caw4B-
