Tag: Japan

Song of the Day: Rin-Pun – Riku

I really admire Japanese singer/songwriter RIKU – whose name means insanity and unite – for using his quirky sound (which may appear fun on the surface) to deliver hard-hitting issues that exist in today’s society and gets the listener thinking about how these issues may potentially affect one’s mental wellbeing. In his latest single, ‘Rin-Pun,’ he challenges the listener to go on a journey to question the perception of beauty.

Among the raging guitar riffs (which is so soul-satisfying) paired with bitter-sweet vocals, ‘Rin Pun’ tells a story of a lady who feels she does not live up to society’s perfection of beauty and will do whatever it takes to squash any insecurities she may experience.

Vulnerable yet beautifully raw, which mirrors the sad reality many women face today, ‘Rin Pun’ is now available across various music platforms. Have a listen to the thought-provoking piece below…

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Song Of The Day: What’s Perfect? – Grace Ami

Japan-born songstress Grace GRACE AMI presents lo-fi single ‘What’s Perfect?’ paired with a soulful and spirited vocal display. Grace’s jazzy intonation practically hovers above the bedroom-style beat as her delivery melts into a delicate groove.

‘What’s Perfect?’ arrives on the heels of her 2021 debut EP PICNIC, which amassed over one million streams. Merging the intimacy and imagination of bedroom-pop with the lush and languid grooves of R&B, PICNIC includes previously released singles like ‘True Feelings (a sweetly melancholy piece laced with bluesy acoustic guitar work), and ‘My Eyes’ (a piano-driven song that landed on Apple Music’s New in Pop playlist). In addition, PICNIC opens with Grace’s debut single “Eternal Sunshine,” a gorgeously quirky meditation on the meaning of happiness. All throughout the EP, Grace shows her gift for crafting unforgettable melodies, as well as her soft and subtle but endlessly commanding vocal presence.

Why not check out the video for the trance-like video below…

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Song of the Day: Lazy Light (Remix) – Mieko Shimizu

Remixed by Mercury Prize winner Mike Lindsay (Tunng) and co-written with William D Drake of The Cardiacs, MIEKO SHIMIZU‘s single, ‘Lazy Light’, goes on a laid-back journey through a smoke-filled landscape.

The track opens with pitch bending guitars, much like Connan Mockasin or Mac DeMarco and simmers down into a super chilled stoner backbeat. Mieko’s easy liquid style, backed by haunting vocals from William D Drake create a cocktail perfect for a lazy, hazy summer afternoon with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

Mieko and her brother, Yasuaki Shimizu (also a critically acclaimed artist), arrived in London with a singular goal in mind – to subvert all expectations of a Japanese female artist. A statement of intent, Mieko broke into the UK electronic movement under the moniker of Apache 61, garnering plays by John Peel and quickly building a name across the underground scene dominated by male contemporaries. She soon signed to Haruomi Hosono’s (Yellow Magic Orchestra) label releasing her eponymous album and led to her remixing tracks for YMO. She is an enigmatic live performer and has supported the likes of Goldfrapp, Massive Attack with Riz MC at their Meltdown Festival and with Kraftwerk at Sonar, Barcelona.

‘Lazy Light’ is taken from her album, ‘I Bloom’ released earlier this year… have a listen below…

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