MUSIC

Why are people in Korea talking about money? Artist and novelist Lang Lee on why she started selling insurance.

In this series, Tsuya-chan writes about contemporary music with a focus on Japanese hip-hop. She breaks down the relationship between music and fashion, as well as fashion trends and youth culture. In her sixth installment, she talks about Chanel’s “unexpected partner” that rappers have been rhyming about.

In this article, we ask Hitsujibungaku about their recent contract with a major label, and the production and release of their new album POWERS, filled with their troubles, as well as their hopes. The trio also shares their experience with online live performances and the making of POWERS.

Soushi Sakiyama, who made a splendid appearance in the music scene with his knack for playing guitar and singing, has released his long-awaited major debut album. We are closing in on the background of his new masterpiece, that entails the band arrangements of his past unplugged songs and self-made electronic tracks—showing his great leap forward as a creator.

Ichiko Aoba’s new album is a soundtrack to a fictional film. How was it made? The following is a discussion between Ichiko Aoba and her two collaborators.

Keiichiro Shibuya’s newest opera piece, Super Angels, is going to be shown for the first time this summer. We look at the innovation behind the new voice of singing android Alter3 in said opera.

On February 10th, the rock band, Honjitsu Kyuen, is going to be releasing its 4th album, MOOD. Take a close look at the anecdote of the production of their new songs, and what the frontman—Takujyuro Iwade—seeks in music.

The wave of Japanese music now termed city pop has broken international ground in recent years, and its mass appeal continues to reach new ears. Mark McNeill, a producer at Seattle label Light In The Attic, shares some of his view on the genre and its future with Tokion.

Kan a.k.a GAMI faced two consecutive arrests on drug-related charges last year, but he isn’t letting it get him down. In this interview, the rapper talks about his hip-hop style, his present situation, and the future.

Yutaro Furutachi, is a musician who began his music career when he was a teenager and has recently been active as an actor. We unveil the current life and auspicious future of the man, who turned thirty this year, morphing into a grown-up from a young lad.