Music Corner Week 6: MAN WITH A MISSION

MAN WITH A MISSION is a five-member hard rock/dance pop group that began performing in 2010. Frontman Tokyo Tanaka provides strong and powerful vocals; great guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny often provides well-defined riffs and is the lone rapper of the group; bassist Kamikaze Boy often harmonizes well with Tanaka with his amazing backup vocals; DJ Santa Monica, well, DJs and samples (check out his work in their amazing song “Raise Your Flag”); and drummer Spear Rib provides hard-hitting beats.

“Dead End in Tokyo” is a really good starting point for anyone who is interested in checking out MAN WITH A MISSION. It was co-written, co-composed, and co-produced by Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. This led to the entire song being in English but in it you hear a lot of MAN WITH A MISSION’s signature style; Jean-Ken Johnny has some really good riffs throughout the song and Spear Rib executes some intricate drum-work which gives the song an industrial feeling. Tokyo Tanaka also has some excellent vocal work in this song which can be heard during the “dream on” part of the chorus; his voice not only harmonizes with the backup vocals but with the background instrumental as well.

Over the years MAN WITH A MISSION has released a total of five studio albums and two compilation albums. Their music has also been used for several anime, dramas, and TV commercials. More recently their single “Break the Contradictions” was used as the theme for New Japan Pro Wrestling’s 2018 G1 Climax.

MAN WITH A MISSION shows no signs of slowing down having already announced a new single titled “Remember Me” which is due out June 5 along with a tour. You can check out MAN WITH A MISSION on their official website along with their Facebook and Twitter. You can also pre-order your copy of “Remember Me” here.

Music Corner Week 5: RIRI

RIRI got her start in the music industry in 2011 when became a finalist on the program Next Star Generation Star, which was an audition show hosted by David Foster, a famous music producer. In 2012, RIRI performed in New York for the first time at the Dream Support Project and she got to meet her idol, Japanese R&B singer AI. In 2016 RIRI got her career started professionally with AI’s record label MIC-A-HOLIC Inc with AI as her producer and mentor. In 2017 RIRI was signed to Sony Music Japan and debuted with her first album, RIRI.

RIRI’s music style incorporates the use of R&B and pop tunes which flow with her powerful vocals. RIRI’s vocal ability far precedes her years. In her song “RUSH” you hear the power in her voice mixed with the R&B style and use of English, making it a more a western style song. “HONEY” showcases RIRI’s vocal abilities alongside the mid-tempo R&B/pop music style.

With several releases under her belt, RIRI isn’t stopping now. In an interview with music producers while performing for auditions at Hard Rock Cafe she stated her goal is to bring her music to the world and win a Grammy. Currently RIRI has two EPs which were released in 2016 and 2017 (“I love to sing” and “RUSH”), two studio albums both released in 2018 (RIRI and NEO), and a new EP dropping May 22! She recently collaborated with rapper Junoflo on her latest song “luv luv”.

We previously announced RIRI’s upcoming EP Summertime, which you can pre-order here.

You can follow RIRI on Twitter, Instagram, and her official website.

Check out RIRI’s powerful vocals with her song “luv luv” below:

Music Corner Week 4: SHE IS SUMMER

SHE IS SUMMER, which got its start back in 2016, is the solo act of MICO. MICO got her start in the music industry in music group Phenotas in 2012. She conceptualized the SHE IS SUMMER project stating that while being in Phenotas was fun, if she wanted to make her mark in the music industry she would have to do it by herself one step at a time.

Although MICO doesn’t do the actual composition of the tracks herself, her vocal range is just impeccable and constantly differs track to track, which goes to show that she is no one-trick pony. While her higher pitch vocals might deter some listeners, it's her versatility in style and genre—along with her vocals—and how she works with composers of said styles and genres that are the keys to how she attracts others. With tracks like “出会ってから付き合うまでのあの感じ” (Deatte kara Tsuki Au made no Ano Kanji”),  “会いに行かなくちゃ” (“Aini Ikanakucha”), and “CALL ME IN YOUR SUMMER”, MICO’s over-energetic pop style can shine in one track while her more strongly vocal R&B fusion style is put on the pedestal in the next.

With several releases under her belt, MICO is looking to make that mark she promised she would many years ago. Currently she has released two EPs in 2016 and 2017, album WATER in 2017, and mini-album hair salon  back in August of last year. While only on the third year of her SHE IS SUMMER solo project, MICO has worked with several up-and-coming artists such as Music Corner’s own SIRUP, along with TENDRE.

We also previously announced that SHE IS SUMMER will be releasing a new EP, “MIRACLE FOOD”, which you can pre-order here.

Check out SHE IS SUMMER’s official site and Twitter, along with her latest song “君をピカソの目でみたら” (“Kimi wo Pikaso no Me de Mitara”) below!

Music Corner Week 3: MADKID

MADKID is a five-member hip-hop and rap group founded in May of 2014 which originally went by the name J-Boys-5. Just a couple of months later in July they changed their name to MADKID.

Currently the members feature leader YOU-TA, one of the vocalists; rappers YUKI and LIN, both bilingual and producers of music for the group; and KAZUKI and SHIN, both vocalists. For awhile the group was comprised of just four of them after the original leader of the group decided to leave, but in 2017 SHIN joined the crew. LIN and YUKI really serve as the backbone of this group; while they both have slightly different rap styles, one never feels out of place, no matter the song. The vocalists harmonize especially nicely and pull everything together, too.

On December 8, 2014 MADKID released their very first single “I Don’t Care “Madkid””. A couple of years later on December 14, 2016 they then released their very first studio album MADKID. Since then the group has been periodically releasing singles and, in fact, just released their “RISE” single, which is the first opening for The Rising of the Shield Hero anime. Also, due out at the end of April is MADKID’s second studio album, CIRCUS.

You can check out their official website here and follow them on Twitter here.

If you are interested in pre-ordering their latest album you can do so below.

Type A

Type B

And before you go, be sure to check out their most popular song on YouTube with over six million views.

Music Corner Week 2: Dream Ami

Dream Ami is a pop artist who got her start in 2002 with then-eight-member girl group Dream. Dream Ami stayed with dream throughout their member changes. She also joined avex trax’s mega girl group E-girls in 2011. In 2015 Dream Ami made her solo debut with the single ”ドレスを脱いだシンデレラ” (“Dress wo Nuida Cinderella”). Dream Ami’s cute pop music style mixed with her sweet vocals brings charm to her music. Ami shows off how her sweet-yet-powerful vocals mix perfectly with her music style in songs like “アマハル” (“Amaharu”), ”はやく逢いたい” (“Hayaku Aitai”) , and ”ドレスを脱いだシンデレラ” (“Dress wo Nuida Cinderella”).

While in the early stages of her career, Dream Ami brought us five singles within the first two years, one of which was used as the Japanese theme song for the popular animated movie Zootopia. Two years into her career, Dream Ami brought us her first album Re:Dream, released October 2017. Re: Dream gave us a glimpse of her vocal capabilities along with a solo version of her group activities such as in “Follow Me”. Her catchy, saccharine vocals sink into listeners’ ears and are total earworms. She emanates a positive vibe in her music that lifts spirits and hooks listeners, leaving them wanting more. From ballads to upbeat sugary-sweet pop songs, Dream Ami keeps your attention.

Check out her official website here and give her a follow on her official Twitter here and Instagram here.

You can order Dream Ami’s first album and her newest single at the links below:

Re:Dream

Good Goodbye

While you are here, check out Dream Ami’s “Dress wo Nuida Cinderella” below: