Recently, Vice’s music blog Noisey interviewed up and coming singer Seiko Oomori. This article exposes her to a larger audience of indie music listeners outside of Japan. In the interview she discusses her image, her sound, what bores her, and much more. Check out the full interview after the jump!
Kanjani∞ has entered their 11th year from debut since releasing a Kansai limited CD on August 25, 2004. They just finished their Jussai anniversary celebrations last August 23 and 24 at Nagai Stadium in Osaka and the referenced ‘risks’ in speeches and longer than usual emotional Thank You to staff are now making sense.
Actor Masaki Suda stars as a boy who challenges gender roles by preferring to dress in drag in the upcoming film adaptation of ‘Princess Jellyfish’.
Getting into character was a challenge for Suda. He had to get comfortable with showing off a bit of leg and learn how to walk in high heels.
He commented, “I had to worry about my skin, body type as well as control my sleep and meals. It felt like my ribs were repositioning when I put on my costumes. Women have to endure a lot!”
Reggae singer MINMI is set to release a new best album on September 27. The album is called “ORIGIN” and will be released 3 days after her 6th studio album “BAD.” “ORIGIN” is being released in a 2 CD + 1 DVD set. The audio portion of the album is split between the upbeat “STARTUP” disc and the slower “MELLOW OUT” disc. The DVD portion of the album will include music videos as well as live clips from throughout her career. Check out the covers and tracklist for both “ORIGIN” and “BAD” after the jump!
On the 23rd, a dormant Hikaru Utada took to her Twitter to commemorate mother’s death last year on August 22nd.
Worried about how she would spend the first anniversary of her mother’s death, she asked a friend who lost her father at a young age. As advice, her friend replied with a positive outlook, “My older brother commemorates the anniversary of our father’s death, but I celebrate his birthday!”
Her mother, popular enka singer Keiko Fuji, died at age 62 by jumping off the 13th floor of her apartment building in Shinjuku the morning of August 22, 2013. After her death, Utada commented, “I’m proud to be the daughter of my mother.”
All-girl band Negoto is set to release their new single “Ammonite! / Tasogare no Rhapsody” on September 24. The single will come in a regular edition and a limited edition. The limited edition single will feature the band’s lead singer and keyboardist Sachiko Aoyama on the cover. This will be the first time a single band member is appearing alone of the cover of one of their releases. Both covers feature a citrus fruit with innards that replicate the appearance of an ammonite, the prehistoric sea creature. Check out the covers and tracklist for the single after the jump!
Influential independent rock band syrup16g have uploaded the music video for their comeback track, ‘Ikiteiru Yori Mashi-sa’ to the official UK Project youtube channel. ‘Ikiteiru Yori Mashi-sa’ is serving as the promotional song for the band’s first studio album in over 6 years.
The video finds the band performing the song in a series of dimly lit rooms and corridors, the performance inter-cut with footage of the band’s singer, Igarashi seemingly searching for the remainder of the group, taking a brief stop on the building’s roof before he finally finds them.
Check it out below the cut!
Hitomitoi is set to release her newest digital single “Toki o Tomete Koi ga Odoru” on August 27. The song will be exclusively released to iTunes. This will be her 3rd digital single of the summer, following “Glass no Summer Holiday” and “Natsu Kosen, Kira.” This song sees her teaming up with her frequent collaborator Dorian on production. Check out a clip of the song after the jump!