Good indie music in Asia✨
Text: Tomohiro Yabe “This is impossible.” In early April, when BELONG Media founder Tomohiro Yabe sent an email to London indie label Bella Union about a listening session, that’s what people around him whispered. The project to deliver the album by “Goddess”—the new project of Fay Milton, a member of the four-piece women’s post-punk band […]
For me, SAVAGES is one of the greatest bands since 2010. The band itself has been on hiatus since 2017, but this interview is truly a miracle. I want to once again express my gratitude to “Bella Union” for setting up the interview and to Fay Milton for her sincere answers. Goddess is the solo […]
BED is a multinational band formed in Berlin in 2022. Its members are Argentine bassist Sol Astolfi, Chilean vocalist Nicolás Astorga, and German guitarist Ema Schiller. BED’s music creates a peaceful euphoria by challenging creative expression that reflects musical elements from bands like My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Grouper, and Hole, and influences from Berlin’s […]
My conversation with Masafumi Gotoh of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION was a reunion for me, yabori (Tomohiro Yabe), after 10 years. My musical journey began here, encountering AKG’s music and opening the door to Western music by listening to ASH’s “Burn Baby Burn” from the Nano-Mugen Fes compilation CD. And now, NANO-MUGEN FES. 2025, revived after […]
Miso Extra is a British-Japanese singer-producer with roots in both Japan and the UK. She layers Japanese and English rap over eclectic beats, blending sounds from K-Pop to UK garage and R&B, creating ear-pleasing music that has garnered praise from talents like Thundercat and Fabiana Palladino. Furthermore, Miso Extra’s “POP” has ranked high on J-WAVE […]
“I want to go to Fuji Rock in Japan someday!” Have you ever hesitated because of language barriers or distance, despite holding onto that thought? “Concerty” is the tool that gives you the courage to take a step towards that dream. Not only can you search for nearby concerts while you’re there, but it also […]
Dirty Projectors, a leading American indie rock band based in Brooklyn, released their 5th album “Bitte Orca” in 2009. It’s an undisputed masterpiece that still garners support even after more than 10 years. Participating as a former member on this masterpiece “Bitte Orca” was the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Deradoorian, whom we interviewed this time. Although […]
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Singer-songwriter/guitarist Mei Semones, originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a Japanese mother. Having studied guitar performance focusing on jazz at Berklee College of Music and possessing experience as a Japanese kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn, Mei Semones is a young artist featured by media outlets like Rolling Stone and Paste in 2024 and is scheduled to […]
Tapeworms, a trio from Lille, France, blends the charm of electronic music and indie-pop. In this column, two unique characters, music expert Dr. Aria and music novice Slime Punipon, will unravel their music, new album “Grand Voyage,” and cultural background, from France to their current stay in Tokyo. This article is a new attempt to […]