Mannequin duo FEMM runs through the world, dropping final EP ‘CHERRY’

CHERRY Jacket Cover

As a closure to their 10-year career, Japanese mannequin duo FEMM release their last EP “CHERRY” on November 15.

In the music video for the lead track “CHERRY on TOP,” they wear iconic costumes from their past. The video reminds us of their whole history, like the twerking choreography from their signature song “Fxxk Boyz Get Money,” and an homage of fan-favorite track “Kill the DJ. They also appear at iconic Tokyo locations where the origin of FEMM first began. By revisiting these scenes that are uniquely FEMM, the video offers a poignant final curtain call that will touch your heart.

The EP also includes each member’s first ever solos. RiRi sings “Living in the Spotlight,” which is strong and vulnerable at the same time. It can really illuminate her colorful character. Meanwhile, LuLa’s “Butterfly to the Moon” shows gratitude to FEMM agents (fans), while embracing her past and still try to move on to a new future. Other songs are “SUN,” which lightens our darkest hour, and “We Flood the Night (MYLK Remix),” a rerub of a classic FEMM track with a new touch.

FEMM has been traveling worldwide to deliver their songs and messages to their agents. This year began by performing in Poland at “Magnificon Expo,” followed by a headline performance at “Hyper Japan,” UK’s largest Japanese-culture festival. Then flew to Germany’s “Geek Festival” and “Anime Weekend Atlanta” in the United States. FEMM will also appear at “Comic Con Arabia,” which will be held in Saudi Arabia from November 30 to December 1, as they make one last farewell lap of the world.

Be sure to check out “CHERRY” here, along with music video for ‘CHERRY on TOP’ below!

I Don’t Like Mondays. release new single ‘What’s going on? feat. Celina Sharma’

‘What’s going on?’ Jacket Cover

The popular rock band I Don’t Like Mondays. released their fifth digital single of 2023, ‘What’s going on? feat. Celina Sharma’, on Wednesday, November 15. The song is a collaboration with rising Australian diva Celina Sharma.

Sharma is a female singer with huge potential, having already received high praise from top US artists such as Snoop Dogg and Ne-Yo. How will Sharma’s beautiful singing voice enhance the music of I Don’t Like Mondays.? Listen to find out!

I Don’t Like Mondays. will release their fifth studio album ‘RUNWAY’ in fall 2023, and the band are currently on a national domestic tour. All performances of their solo tour held earlier this year sold out, while their shows as part of the more recent Billboard Live Tour 2023 sold out on the first day of ticket sales. Additional dates were added, and these sold out too. 

The band intend to build upon this success with their first world tour. The first date took place at the BubblePop festival Barcelona in July, and the band also played in Yantai, Bueno Aires and Seoul. On November 12, they played their first solo concert in Taipei. The band gained sudden attention from music fans around the world when their song ‘PAINT’ was used as the theme song for the anime series ‘ONE PIECE’, leading them to perform a concert in Brazil. With the 10th anniversary of their debut just around the corner, I Don’t Like Mondays. look set to keep expanding their horizons.

Be sure to check out ‘What’s going on? feat. Celina Sharma’ here!

The Initial Artist for the Uta Kohaku Gassen has been Revealed!

With the end of 2023 creeping upon us, NHK has finally unveiled the initial list of artists for this years Kohaku Uta Gakusen. The hosts are Hiroki Ariyoshi, Kanna Hashimoto, and Minami Hamabe, plus a total of 44 performers were announced along with the theme of “BORDERLESS- Connecting Beyond the Borders”, NHK looks to make the 74th Kohaku a memorable one. The below list contains all the announced artist with the number of times they have been featured on the Kohaku in the past.

RED TEAM

AIMYON (5)

Atarashii Gakko! (First)

Ado (First)

ano (First)

Sayuri Ishikawa (46)

Ran Itou (First)

Fuyumi Sakamoto (35)

Sakurazaka46 (3)

Shina Ringo (8)

JUJU (2)

Superfly (7)

Yoshimi Tendo (28)

NiziU (4)

Nogizaka46 (9)

Perfume (16)

MISIA (8)

MISAMO (8)

Kaori Mizumori (21)

Milet (3)

Ryokuoushokushakai (2)

LE SSERAFIM (2)

WHITE TEAM

ELEPHANT KASHIMASHI (2)

Yo Oizumi (First)

Official Hige Dandism (4)

Tatsuya Kitani (First)

Hiromi Go (36)

Masashi Sada (22)

JO1 (2)

Jyunretsu (6)

Masayuki Suzuki (6)

Sutopuri -Strawberry Prince- (First)

Stray Kids (First)

SEVENTEEN (First)

10-FEET (First)

BE:FIRST (First)

Masaharu Fukuyama (16)

Fumiya Fuji (6)

Gen Hoshino (9)

MAN WITH A MISSION (First)

Mrs. GREEN APPLE (First)

Hiroshi Miyama (9)

Keisuke Yamauchi (9)

Yuzu (14)

We at Ongaku to You look forward to the upcoming Kohaku Uta Gassen!

moya, Global Brand Ambassador for the High School Girl Uniform Brand Lucy Pop, is Releasing the Song ‘This Is My Story’, with Lyrics Entirely in English! She Even Helped to Write the Lyrics!

In recent times, middle schoolers have been making waves on Japanese social media, such as ‘Hikiniku’ from the popular middle schooler Youtube channel ‘Kozou tyonmage’, which has 1.54 million subscribers, and the 15-year-old middle school student tuki. who scored a number one hit on the domestic Spotify virtual chart with her song “Bansanka”.

Against this backdrop, the 13-year-old middle school student moya, who began working as a global model for the high-school girl uniform brand almost exactly six months ago on May 12th, 2023 released her original single ‘This Is My Story’ on streaming services worldwide on November 12th, 2023. She did this on her own record label, moya records. This marks her debut as a recording artist.  

Seeking to emulate Bruno Mars, with a dream to be an international artist moya came to her father hoping to translate lyrics that she came up with in school into English. Her father spoke with his friend, English native speaker and music producer U-SKE ASADA to translate the lyrics and to lead the composition of the track. 

Dai Hasegawa, who teaches the bass to moya, worked as the director of the music video, using the school where moya came up with the lyrics as a location, and focusing on scenes of moya in a uniform from the Lucy Pop brand for which she works as a global model. moya arranged the camera work, lighting and editing all on her own. The choreography was created by natsukiii, who moya takes lessons from. Viewers will get to see scenes of moya dancing on the roof of the school.

Moreover, as evidenced by how she is learning to play the bass, moya is interested in playing instruments, so along with her father, she found other musicians on TikTok and YouTube and approached them in English; such as Ecuadorean guitarist John Carpio, the Spanish drummer Darío de la Rosa who now lives in the U.S.A. and the Canadian bassist Colin Sankey. Combining the work of these international artists with U-SKE ASADA on keyboards, they created special instrumental tracks to accompany the song, making both instrumental and karaoke versions of these tracks available on streaming here, and be sure to check out the music video below!

Dance and Vocal Group, BE:FIRST, Triumphs at the 2023 MTV EMAs as "Best Asian Act"

Seven-member dance and vocal group, BE:FIRST, has made history by clinching the prestigious "Best Asia Act" award at the highly-acclaimed MTV Europe Music Awards 2023 (MTV EMAs). The group emerged victorious in a fiercely competitive category, beating heavyweight nominations from across the Asian music scene, including TREASURE (Korea), BRIGHT (Thailand), Moira (Philippines), and Tiara Andini (Indonesia).

The MTV EMAs is held annually to celebrate and honour outstanding achievements in pop culture and the music industry. These awards serve as a global showcase of the international and continental music scene, recognising artists for their geographical origins and accomplishments in diverse musical genres and disciplines. Since the 2007 ceremony, fans have been able to cast their votes for their favourite artists in various categories by visiting MTV's website.

BE:FIRST's triumph at the MTV EMAs 2023 is a significant milestone, and coincides with the group's celebration of their 2nd anniversary since their debut. In a recent announcement, BE:FIRST has revealed their eagerly awaited first-ever dome concerts scheduled for Tokyo and Osaka, Japan for next spring. These concerts represent a culmination of the group's hard work and dedication over the past 2 years, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their journey.

Message from BE:FIRST to fans, BESTY:

“This accomplishment means everything to us. It means people outside Japan are listening to, and enjoying our music even though we have not been able to play live for you yet. We are elated. Thank you for your support, and thank you for your votes!”

“And BESTY! Once again, it was you who made this possible for us. You continue to be there for us and we cannot thank you enough. From all of us to all of you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Watch the message video from BE:FIRST here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lU6aKzqNTvI

BE:FIRST has also released a new digital single, titled ‘Glorious,’ which is now available on all major digital streaming platforms. ‘Glorious’ was penned by the CEO of BE:FIRST's management company, BMSG, and renowned rapper SKY-HI, along with BE:FIRST’s member, LEO. The track was further put together by BE:FIRST members MANATO and JUNON, together with SKY-HI and a producer UTA. ‘Glorious’ has been designated as the official theme song for the 2023 All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.

BE:FIRST's remarkable achievement at the MTV EMAs 2023 underscores the group’s rising prominence in the global music industry, and their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional performances and music.