Last Updated on 2025-06-06 by a-indie
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 SAVAGES—from a small local café in Japan to listeners worldwide via ZOOM seemed impossible to realize without major backing.
We at BELONG Media have been keeping a small flame alive since our establishment in 2012, dedicated to bringing indie music from around the world and the stories behind it to Japanese listeners.
Thirteen years. It hasn’t been a smooth journey, but we’ve moved forward with only our love for music and respect for artists as our compass.
And now, our accumulated thoughts are about to take one big form.
Fay Milton, former drummer of Savages and currently an active climate change activist.
Her new project “Goddess” and its self-titled debut album ‘Goddess’.
The album features gems including the collaboration track “Shadows” with Ex:Re (Elena Tonra).
The decision has been made to hold an online listening session that will deliver this analog record from Japan to the world with the finest acoustic environment.
And now, to share this special experience with even more people and to connect with Fay’s thoughts, online participation will be free (donation-based), and we have prepared even more special plans. (Added June 4, 2025)
It Began with a Magazine Article and a 10-Year Dream
BELONG Media representative Tomohiro Yabe has an unforgettable memory.
“When I read the Savages feature article in the July 2013 issue of HUgE magazine, I was struck with intense impact. The desire to interview them someday has been one of my dreams since launching the media. I still cherish this issue.”
That dream, in a different form, has now connected to direct communication with Fay Milton herself after more than 10 years.
One email sent with trembling hands. It contained years of admiration for Savages, expectations for her new project Goddess, and above all, the pure wish to “bring her music to Japanese fans.”
Surprisingly, warm replies came from Fay herself, and also from Abbey Raymonde, co-founder of the prestigious indie label “Bella Union” where she belongs, wife of Simon Raymonde (also a co-founder and former member of Cocteau Twins), and president of the label.
Fay Milton: Wonderful! I’m excited about this project.
Abbey Raymonde: I love this idea. Thank you, it’s an honor to be contacted!
“It was like a dream,” says Yuuki Takita of BELONG Media’s editorial team.
“Bella Union, founded by former Cocteau Twins members Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie, home to Beach House, Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes… To be able to plan something together with them…!”
Why an Online Analog Listening Session?
Fay Milton has made the decision not to conduct large-scale tours with her project Goddess, based on her strong awareness of climate change issues.
I’ve exhausted every means to make people recognize that climate change affects us
Fay told us this in our interview.
With maximum respect for her stance, we thought: How can we deliver Goddess’s music, along with all her convictions, to Japanese fans?
The answer was “an online analog record listening session.”
As Fay says, “Goddess’s sound starts from our drums and bass,” with the rock-solid rhythm section with Ayse Hassan (also Savages’ bassist) at its core, creating a sound where delicacy and hardness coexist.
This is precisely music that reveals its true value in the analog record format.
The venue for the listening session is “Coffee Kadoya” in Niigata City.
Owner Watanabe’s precious audio system, centered around JBL Project K2 S-9500 speakers refined over many years, carefully picks up every sound carved into the analog record and fills the space with rich resonance.
The project captures this sound with high-quality microphones and delivers it to listeners worldwide via ZOOM.
We want to deliver this wonderful musical experience to as many people as possible, in a way that respects Fay’s decision not to tour.
Therefore, this online listening session will be principally free to attend. If you resonate with this project, Goddess’s music, or the activities of BELONG Media / A-indie and would like to offer your support, we would be grateful for donations. (Added June 4, 2025)
Video Message from Fay Milton and Real-time Translation
In conjunction with the online listening session, a special video message screening from Fay Milton is also planned.
We’ll also prepare ZOOM’s paid plan real-time translation feature.
English will be displayed with Japanese subtitles, and Japanese with English subtitles, allowing you to enjoy sharing album impressions with overseas listeners.
Realizing Cross-Border Musical Experience with DIY Spirit
The analog record used in this listening session will be purchased by BELONG Media at our own expense from Bella Union.
The record has arrived at our office after a 13,471 km journey via London Gatwick Airport.
For a small media company, purchasing analog records at our own expense is no small burden.
However, we believe this project has even greater value.
In our interview, Fay spoke about her debut album as follows:
This album was made with a lot of trust and fragility. It’s like a playlist, with different sounds but a single thread running through it.
We want to follow that thread together with Japanese listeners.
Please join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Saturday, June 7th, from 10:00 AM Japan time for one hour.
Online Listening Session Details
Event Name: VVAVESS Vol.1 (BELONG Media / A-indie presents ‘Goddess’ Online Analog Listening Session)
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM JST / 2:00 AM – 3:00 AM BST / 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM CEST / 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT (June 6) / 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT (June 6)
Streaming Method: ZOOM (High-quality mode: 48kHz/192kbps recommended)
Venue (Streaming Source): Coffee Kadoya (2 Chome-1-20 Shichikuyama, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture)
Program:
・Album ‘Goddess’ A & B sides listening
・Special video message screening from Fay Milton
・Impression sharing time ※ZOOM real-time translation feature available
Participation Fee:
・Online Participation: Free
※If you wish, please consider making a donation to support our future activities (optional). Donations can be made via the link below.
Important Notes:
・Fay Milton herself and other ‘Goddess’ participating artists are not scheduled to attend the online session
・Please keep your camera and microphone off during album listening
・If possible, please listen in high-quality mode: 48kHz/192kbps
・For those who cannot watch due to internet connection issues on the day, we are considering video distribution on YouTube later (content may be adjusted due to music licensing)
How to Participate
How to Participate:
・Online Participation (Free): Click the button below to join.
Meeting ID: 899 4791 1881
Passcode: 849884
Join Online Listening Session (ZOOM)
If my music can be heard in Japan, I feel very honored and blessed. Music is communication, and I hope to convey something magical to you from the other side of the world.
With Fay’s words in our hearts, we are preparing to deliver the best musical experience.
A small media’s big challenge. We hope you will experience this moment of fruition together with us.
Writer: Tomohiro Yabe (yabori)
Editor-in-chief of BELONG Media/A-indie. Since 2010, has been writing for the music blog “Timeless Masterpieces” which became the predecessor to BELONG. After writing for “only in dreams” hosted by Masafumi Goto, vocalist of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, studied music business at a music vocational school. Has been writing articles about Japanese and international music for over 10 years. Previously worked at a music CD rental shop with over 100,000 album titles, specializing in garage rock, psychedelic rock, and Japanese indie rock. Drawing on these experiences, published 26 issues of the music magazine “BELONG Magazine” themed around “roots rock.” Currently writes articles based on SEO strategies learned at a web production company. Hobby is watching “Kaiun! Nandemo Kantei-dan” (a Japanese TV appraisal show). Articles written so far can be found here Twitter: @boriboriyabori
- is a music media platform run by BELONG, a Japanese music organization. We publish music articles with a focus on indie music.