Indie Corner Week 8: the shes gone

the shes gone are a four-member rock band that formed in 2016. Their hope is to have their song come close to what one feels through one's daily life. They have an interesting style that really brings the bass line to the limelight along with vocalist Kumaru’s unorthodox--yet soothing--singing voice that brings it out even more. Their song "想いあい ("Omoi Ai" exhibits a prime example of this synergy.

Currently they have one EP, town, which was released on 2017. In 2017 they won the “RO JACK for COUNTDOWN JAPAN 17/18” competition, which brought them to “COUNTDOWN JAPAN 17/18 (MOON STAGE)”. They only recently released their first single, “想いあい / young”, back in March.

You can check out their official site here , and their official Twitter here.

the shes gone stars Shono (Drums)

Daishi (Bass)

Kumaru (Vocals, Gutair) 

Masaki (Gutair)

You can check out their song “Omoi Ai” below! 

Indie Corner Week 7: CHI-NA

CHI-NA is a five-member pop band created in 2007. What makes them stand out from other bands are the types of instruments they use. The lead vocalist, Kyoko Shiina, also doubles as a pianist, and two other members play violin and upright bass. With these three instruments along with a guitarist and drummer, you may be thinking that it’s a very abnormal clash of styles. However, Kyoko Shiina’s soothing vocals bring it all together, making it work out quite nicely; such an intriguing composition is very apparent in the song "おへその目指す方へ ("Ohe Sono Mezasu Katahe")" and "シラバス ("Syllabus")".

Currently, CHI-NA has two albums released: the first from 2012, GANVILLE, and the second from 2017, PULL. In 2015 they debuted a side project, CHI-NA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA. Along with CHI-NA themselves and ten other members, the orchestra plays various types of instruments including a harp sax and trumpet tambourine.

You can check them out their official site, and also their Twitter.

CHI-NA stars Kyoko Shiina(Vocals & Pianist)

Yukako Shiba (Violin)

Leader (Guitar)

Eri Hayashi (Bass)

HAPPY (Drum)

You can check out their song "Ohe Sono Mezasu Katahe" below!

Indie Corner Week 6: SWEESWEESWEETS

SWEESWEESWEETS are a three-member techno-pop unit that wants to introduce an interesting style of music, calling it “Pikopiko Kirakira” style. With this style they transcribe using only one guitarist with the rest of the music played by someone they term "design". The design plays the song through a music board. “Pikopiko Kirakira" is a very interesting style because sometimes the guitar and drums can be heard full-force, such as in songs like "ゴーゴーハッピーストライクエンド ("Go Go Happy Strike End")", then the existence of a guitarist can barely be even heard in songs such as "プールループ ("Pool Loop") ". SWEESWEESWEETS' vocal style is very similar to group Perfume’s style, as they also feature heavily electronic processed vocals in their songs.

Currently they only have only two singles released, "Yellow" and "Go Go Happy Strike End", both available through Apple Music right now. Go ahead and give them a listen!

You can check out their site here  and their official Twitter 

SWEESWEESWEETS stars Kano Sasaki (vocals),

Asuka Tanimoto (design),

and Yohei Goto (guitar).

You can listen to thier latest song “Go Go Happy Strike Loop” below!

Indie Corner Week 5: layla

layla is a four-member rock band that formed in 2016. Vocalist Ariake’s unique singing style harmonizes very well with main guitarist Taiki Miura’s melody, which helps the group stand out amidst a very crowded, guitar-heavy band scene. Their songs “Aparto no Nakade” and “Itoshi Hito” exhibit great examples of this harmonization.

layla currently only has one single, “さよなら、いとしい人 (“Sayonara, Itoshi Hito”)”, released in February of last year. Their mini album, あなた色に染まりたいの (Anata Iro Ni Somaritaino), was released later on in the year. Last year they were also in the semifinals of the RO JACK for ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2017.

You can check them out on thier Official Site and their Twitter 

layla Stars Taiki Miura (Guitar)

Usushio Makino (Bass) 

Ariake (Guitar/ Vocal)

Suwa (Drums) 

You can check out the music video for “Aparto no Nakade” below! 

Indie Corner Week 4: ecke

ecke is a four-member band formed in 2012 that produced a fusion of both R&B and rock; a very interesting fusion that surprisingly works very well in several of their songs. ecke’s guitar and keyboard mix very well as a base with vocals courtesy of Nao Mori's soothing voice, which helps the listener drift away to the beat of the song. Most of their songs--in particular, “Classic” and “ACCESS”--show great examples of this.

ecke has three EPs total, the first from 2013, with their first album, BYPATH, releasing  in 2017. They also collaborated with another indie band named the Lucy for a live called Milestone Vol. 1 & 2 which took place in 2016 and 2017. They started 2018 with a bang by performing a major live with fellow Indie Corner band Emerald at Shibuya WWW.

You can check out ecke on thier official site and twitter! 

ecke stars Yasuyuki Sugawara (drums),

Jun Okuyama (guitar),

Nao Mori (vocals, keyboard),

and Naoyuki Fukuda (bass).

Check out thier latest music video for their song  “ACCESS” below!