So you want to listen to Takeru's solos?
…and you don’t know where to start? Well I got you. I like talking about my favorite bands and I love recommending music. I'm back with my recommendations and skipping a few letters, this time, since Takeru's live with Shou is coming up.
As always, I won’t go into details about who he is and all, you can look that part up. All I will say about him is that his current solo project is rather recent and that he's had 2 more solo projects before that. Here I will cover suggestions for all 3 of his solo projects, out of which I think he won't be performing many tbh ^^'>. Just from his current one cause he has to promote himself. Let's go!
[side note: Some fans might disagree with my choices or think I should add 1-2 more songs, but this is just an opinion. If you wish to make a list of your own go ahead, every person has different criteria on what feels easier to listen to first, or showcases a band’s colors best.]
Uwakimono
Uwakimono was Takeru's solo project while still being a SuG member and he essentially wanted to showcase modern Japan, without completely disregarding the past but like...how things are now (or then anyway). He'd said he thinks Japan likes to promote itself based on its past like kimonos, samurais, geishas and all, when there is a lot to show about current times as well.
Undeniably, I Kyou U is his most popular Uwakimono song and for a good reason. The song is catchy and it plays well on his street gothic aesthetic while not forgetting about the more folkish aesthetic and even sound, a little bit before the bridge. So far he's performed it at his shows abroad, so I think there's a good chance he will do so during his summer EU tour as well.
It appears that the 2nd most popular song from this project of his was Hell Yeah, but I personally find it too difficult to listen to, so I'm here with a counter offer, and that is Undermine. It's so underrated imo and it's my favorite from this album cause of all the up and downs in the music as well as the sole time I actually heard him scream. xD It's more electronic, with rock undertones...seriously if you have big speakers with a good bass feature at home or a woofer it sounds so much better. You hear the drums and low beats to your soul! xD
Sleepyhead
I am so bitter people slept on this cause of it's not really being visual kei. This project came after SuG's disband and it appeared to initially focus on Takeru's dealing with the grief of losing SuG, that he considered to be a family for him, his dream and starting everything from 0 which then branched out to his darkness in general and making art out of it and whatever dark thoughts he had, in a way. He described it in a really good way in his linktree/linco.re(whatever the Japanese linktree is anyway they have like 3) bio but it's no longer there for me to share it with you, so you'll have to settle with my half-assed description. xD
This was his first single as Sleepyhead, which although simple, did the trick of pulling you in, as it's easy to listen to and not that different from SuG's last releases. It's not on the top of my list of favorites but it is a good starter and most likely one of the songs he'll perform from his Sleepyhead project at the tour.
1 2 3 for hype sex heaven is actually a very fun song that is different from what you're probably used to if you were a SuG fan but is worth a listen, in my opinion. It's easy, uplifting and gets you dancing.
Meitei...if you are a millenial and you don't like this song, you're a fake! xD Kidding. But it's such a good song, I don't know why it didn't go as well as other songs of his! I love it, it takes you places, it makes you dance and the aesthetic is so late 90s early 00s.
Endroll is probably his most epic songs to me. The melody is insanely good and dramatic and contrasts so well with the softness of Takeru's and Takuya's voice. I love having it play loudly in my room and it's so inspiring too. I know this most likely won't be performed live but if he did play it I'd cry. If you like cinematic instrumentals you might like this one.
He hasn't uploaded this anywhere and I think it's a crime. A sweet ballad with a lovely piano in the back and the random electronic voice soars in the back too, ugh! Sleepyhead was very much based on mood and emotions and I think it shines in most of his songs, especially from this album.
TAKERU
Takeru's self-titled solo project is his current project and his comeback to visual kei (from what I've understood at least). Still it appears to be focusing a wee bit too much on collabs and continuing his Sleepyhead vibe more than being fully visual kei, but dude's been confusing me with labels lately xD.
Truth be told it's still a bit too early for me to pick favorites from this project and it is a bit further away from my style of sound than Sleepyhead, so my only recommendation so far is his latest single To Be Like Thriller. If you don't like it first try, try again xD. I don't think it's one of the easiest songs to start with, but it is my only favorite so far. Also knowing how picky I am and that I actually loved it the 3rd try, I think it's worth it. xD "But Maria when a song is good it should sound good first try" no. When you try by force, maybe it's not for you, but if the song itself keeps pulling you back to try, it actually means it's got sth in store for you and you should trust your insticts xD. Also it's fun to learn and sing because it's faster than it sounds and rather playful.
I hope you find sth you like, if not, it’s ok, we all like different things, but yeah, this was my attempt to entice more people listen to one of my favorite artists, Takeru.
