“We are not clowns.” That single line may say everything there is to say about The Parade. Based in Sweden, they released their debut album 『City of Dreams』 without ever sharing a clear artist photo or revealing who they are. A pub, a darts match, a woman’s voice singing along to a song long after […]
Interview
molar system on Their First Japan Tour and EP 『system malfunction』
“I once whispered it almost like a wish — that I hoped to perform in Japan someday — and before I knew it, it had come true.” It was a chance encounter with members of the Japanese band bed that set the wheels in motion for molar system’s first visit to Japan. This Seoul-based indie […]
deary Interview | Bella Union Debut and the World of ‘Birding’
deary is a dream pop trio based in London. Blending shoegaze, dream pop, and trip-hop sensibilities into something disciplined, harmonious, and dignified, they release their debut album 『Birding』 on London’s prestigious independent label Bella Union. An interview that confronts deary and their debut album head-on: the roots of a band forged through childhood solitude and […]
Bedroom Pop from Fukuoka, Japan | A Happypills Interview
“Not quite sky, but not quite space either.” That is the kind of distance you feel listening to Happypills. Yuki Kondo has been committed to expressing bedroom indie pop in Japanese, and now, five years on, he is releasing the EP 『happypills (dream)』. From the influence of Galileo Galilei and The Drums, to connections made […]
Nation of Language: Memory Is a Dance — Interview
A band from Brooklyn, New York has arrived with a strange and beautiful gift: music that makes you want to dance and cry at the same time. Nation of Language is a three-piece built around synthesizers, but carrying the raw warmth of punk and the clarity of pop. Since their 2020 debut, they have earned […]
Sunflower Bean | 10 Years Since “Human Ceremony”
On February 5, 2016, Brooklyn, New York-based trio Sunflower Bean released their debut album 『Human Ceremony』. Ten years since that debut album, Sunflower Bean has experienced many changes. Nick (Nick Kivlen) relocated to Los Angeles, Olive (formerly Jacob Faber) came out as transgender, and Julia (Julia Cumming) began writing songs on her own. Despite their […]
GIRLFRIENDZ Interview: Japanese Indie Pop’s Third-Gen Goth Revival
Emerging band GIRLFRIENDZ is launching their first live show in Okinawa just one month after formation. Their meeting was through something rare today: a member recruitment bulletin board. Ido Kyo, who holds goth as a life goal, Spanish producer Miguel with experience working on the music for “METAL GEAR SOLID V,” guitarist Hitomi with unusually […]
Pacifica Interview | From The Strokes Covers to Sold-Out Japan Shows
Pacifica, an indie rock duo from Buenos Aires, Argentina, consisting of Inés Adam and Martina Nintzel, who met on Instagram through their shared love of The Strokes. Despite their still-short career since forming in 2021, they have already achieved remarkable success, including performing at Lollapalooza Argentina and serving as the opening act for Måneskin. Furthermore, […]
the hatch『333』Interview – Chaos Crystallized into Pop
There are bands that are difficult to describe in one word when asked, “What kind of music do you play?” the hatch from Sapporo is exactly that kind of band. Just when you think it’s intense hardcore, beautiful piano resonates, and Latin rhythms move your body. Their new album『333』has become an album where their chaos […]
Just Mustard on ‘We Were Just Here’ & Irish Music Scene
Ireland has undoubtedly been the hotspot for indie rock since the 2020s. Led by Fontaines D.C., bands like Inhaler and NewDad are achieving global success, and remarkably, every album released is outstanding. What they share in common is a reassuring aggressive stance that continues to discover new possibilities in indie rock, and everything is dark, […]
