Music Corner Week 85: Who-ya Extended

Who-ya Extended is a dubbed creative unit group, built around their lead singer who goes by Who-ya. Who-ya is a young vocalist who works with a core group of people that changes depending on which song the group is performing. Who-ya Extended debuted in 2019 with their single “Q-vism” which was used as the opening theme to the show Psycho-Pass 3. On October 25 “Q-vism” would go on to hit number one on Apple iTunes. In March of 2020, Who-ya Extended released their first album titled wyxt. In January of 2021, Who-ya Extended released the song “VIVID VICE'' which was used as the second opening theme for the very popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen. They have a brand-new song titled “Icy Ivy” which will be the opening of the anime Night Head 2041 which started airing in July.

Who-ya is a very talented vocalist who has really put a lot of work into his vocals. According to himself, Who-ya stated that he was a poor pitch singer until his primary school days. But listening to his work it’s hard to believe that he struggled with this in his youth. One big influence of Who-ya is Chester Bennington from Linkin Park and that influence is definitely heard as some of their tracks have a Linkin Park feel to them. Who-ya’s vocals really shine through in songs like “memorized” which was featured on his album wyxt. “VIVID VICE” was the first song I had heard by Who-ya Extended, and the chorus kept getting stuck in my head.

Who-ya Extended keeps all of his latest news on his website and on his Twitter as well.  Be sure to check out his song “VIVID VICE” in the video below!

Music Corner 84: Rung Hyang

Rung Hyang is a singer/songwriter from Fukuoka that got her start back in 2005. Being of third generation Korean decent in Japan, Hyang brings a unique taste as a "soul" writer who continues to evolve with an "omnivorous" style that incorporates various genres such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Soul, and folk, with realistic lyric styles that fans can relate to. Just by one listen of her works, fans of the genre will instantly will fall in love with her with the unbelievable arrangements and vocal range. Either it could be the more emotionally vocal heavy track like “Fall” and “Rain” or a more beat heavy song like “Movin’ & Groovin’” and “Umbrella”. One thing is for sure, Hyang is sure to have a work that fans can always jam to. 

While her solo work is phenomenal, her collaboration work is some of the best work I have heard in the pandemic era, rather it be the slow and butter style of “Low Key” with SIRUP or the more up-beat style of her latest release PARK with Taichi Mukai and claquepot. Like other singer/song writers in this era, Hyang shows she can versatile both in front of the mic and behind the scenes as well.  She has produced a live concert supported with various artists, and is currently active as a member of the R&B Soul group TOKYO CRITTERS. She is also a founding member of the event "DRAMATIC SOUL",  which became a hot topic in the music scene in Shibuya since 2015. 

Currently, Rung Hyang has released one album titled Asia Monsoon back in 2009 with four EPs in 2009, 2019, 2020, and 2021 along with being a podcaster herself. Be sure to check out her official website, Twitter, and Instagram along with her latest music video “So Good” below!

Music Corner 83: BRIDEAR

BRIDEAR is a all female five member metal band from Fukuoka that formed between 2011 and 2012. Their current members are KIMI (Vocals), MISAKI (Guitarist), AYUMI (Guitarist), HARU (Bassist), and NATSUMI (Drummer), with AYUMI and NATSUMI being the most recent members joining in 2019. The band’s style of music is a combination of metal, progressive rock, and power metal - which makes their exact genre difficult to pinpoint. The power BRIDEAR brings to the music scene is immense, from the dueling guitars and riffs (MISAKI and AYUMI) to KIMI’s smooth and empowering vocals to HARU’s lightening bass and NATSUMI’s sharpness on the drums. BRIDEAR has taken not just Japan by storm with their impactful music but Europe as well. In 2017, BRIDEAR had their first live concert in Europe, ever since then, they have performed in 11 countries including Metal Matsuri in 2019 which was Europe’s first J-Metal music festival. In 2021, BRIDEAR was signed to SETSUZOKU RECORDS and released their first international album titled Bloody Bride, currently available in the UK/EU.

BRIDEAR’s track “Ghoul” is a engaging track as KIMI’s vocals pierce through your soul, MISAKI and AYUMI create mesmirizing guitar riffs that stay with you after this song is over, leaving you wanting more. “Ghoul” is the first track I listened to by BRIDEAR and it left a lasting impression on me due to how each girl puts her all into this song. “Light in the Dark” is a very interesting track as KIMI adds screaming to it in addition to her vocals. I love how KIMI shows her vocal range in such various capacity and the mixture of her singing and screaming flow together so well and its composition is the icing on the cake. “Bloody Bride” is BRIDEAR’s newest song and is part of their debut international album under SETSUZOKU records. “Bloody Bride” shows off all the girl’s musical talent with guitar riffs, heavy drums, and KIMI’s rich vocals that bring this track to life.

Currently, BRIDEAR has three albums, BARYTE, Expose Your Emotions, and Bloody Bride; three mini albums, Overturn the Doom, Helix, and Rise; two singles, “Thread of the Light/Roulette” and “Light in the Dark/NO SALVATION”, and one digital single “IGNITE”. Check out BRIDEAR’s official website, Twitter, Instagram, along with the music video for “Bloody Bride” below.

Music Corner Week 82: yayuyo

yayuyo is a four-member girl rock band from Osaka formed in January of 2019. The group originally consisted of three members: Rico, who does vocals and guitar; Peppe, who is also on guitar and sings backup; and Hana, the bassist and other backup singer as well. Recently Su-chan joined the group as drummer and she also provides backup vocals. All four members attended the same high school and graduated together. Since yayuyo’s forming they’ve gone on to release two EPs and one single.

The motto for the group is they “want to make everyday sounds. Music is forever fun” and that really comes through in their The Ordinary Life EP. Their track “Hoshi Ni Nagaio” has this light upbeat feeling to it that really puts a pep in your step. Rico has nice soft vocals that really complement the composition. Their track “Yellow wave” is also really good and the rhythm guitar is worked in very well and gives Peppe a chance to truly shine. Su-chan might be a recent addition but she’s been with the group unofficially for awhile and her drumming style fits in nicely with the group’s composition. Hana is also given some fantastic basslines. 

yayuyo’s official website stays up-to-date with all their latest news, as does their Twitter. Lastly, be sure to check out their song “Yellow wave” in the video below.

Music Corner Week 81: WurtS

WurtS is a solo artist that got his start in 2021. Dubbed a solo artist born in the 21st century, he self-produces everything from songwriting, composition and arrangement to artwork and video. One of the things that I absolutely love about this artist is that his songs transcend the boundaries of various genres and is undergoing daily changes. With the more energetic rock composition songs such as 分かってないよ “Wakatenaiyo”, “MAGICAL SOUP, and “檸檬の日々” (Remon no Hibi”) to the more electro-pop style of “Talking Box”, and “Subtairrain People”, shows that this artist isn’t one to be stagnate in his style and always perceives a new sound.  While the composition on some tracks such as “Mighty Minority” and “SIREN” isn’t braking the bounds in terms of what it means to being a rock artist the flexibility of this artist and his range can’t be denied.

WurtS comes out of the gate with two singles and tw album releases in the six month that he’s been active. His Youtube channel also should also be noted as, not only does WurtS direct or produce a majority of his music videos, but he also shoots vertically to stand out from the group just a bit more. 

Be sure to check out his official website, Twitter, and Instagram, along with the music video for the song “MAGICAL SOUP” below!