LOVEBITES Return with JUDGEMENT DAY a Brand New Album Out February 2023!

LOVEBITES, one of Japan’s most important names in heavy metal, return from their hiatus with a new member, a new music video and news of a fourth studio album coming in February 2023. The album is also available to preorder today from JPU Records, and is available physically in three editions.

JUDGEMENT DAY, the fittingly titled album will be the first to feature the band’s new line-up, which includes bassist Fami, who was selected after an audition process and is just 20 years of age. The fast, melodic and heavy metal sound that LOVEBITES has excelled at since their debut is still burning strong, but has been sublimated further. Newcomer Fami also brings an added charm to the quintet, including her signature slap technique. The album contains ten completely new songs, mixed and mastered by Finnish masterminds Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila, who have worked on all of the band’s studio albums. Fans can get a taste of the new LOVEBITES today with the release of the digital single and music video to the album’s title track, available to download, stream and watch now:

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The cover art for the album features a wolf, an incarnation of the band that has appeared on all of LOVEBITES’ previous albums. This time, as the title suggests (JUDGEMENT DAY), the wolf clutches scales that weigh good and evil within its jaws, and is captured sprinting between the sun and the moon. Further meaning from the cover art can be discovered in the title track’s music video, and further details will likely be revealed in the future too.

The album will be released digitally worldwide on 22 February 2023, and released on CD from our friends at JPU Records from 24 February 2023. A video on Demand and CD bundle is also available directly from JPU Records’ website. It features a documentary of the bassist auditions which includes interviews with the members of the band, as well as Fami while she was still one of the finalists – all with English subtitles. It also includes four studio sessions; ‘The Hammer of Wrath’, ‘Golden Destination’ and ‘Shadowmaker’ from the audition finals, and ‘Bravehearted’, the first session with Fami as an official member of LOVEBITES. There is also a third edition that includes the CD, the video on demand content and a JUDGEMENT DAY T-shirt. Additionally, 50 orders of this latter bundle will randomly receive a sleeve case that has been signed by the members of the band.

The World’s First Label to Produce 2.5D Artists: RIOT MUSIC Launches “Kigenshou Records”!

Brave group, and its subsidiary SuperYellow Inc. who operate the internationally renowned RIOT MUSIC, are pleased to announce the Virtual Music Agency has launched the “Kigenshou Records” Sub-Label, the world’s first to focus on 2.5D Artists; Existing as entities in both the virtual and real world.

Additional Details:

To broaden the creative and musical output of The RIOT MUSIC Virtual Music Agency, the Sub- Label “Kigenshou Records” has been established. Connected two dimensions never before so seamlessly linked, “Kigenshou Records,” headed by the production team behind existing and beloved 2.5D Artist Yuka Nagase, will further explore the artistic potential in fusing the second dimension (illustration, traditional and CG animation) with the third (live action, film).

Connecting Dimensions

RIOT MUSIC through “Kigenshou Records” hopes to manifest an entirely new type of experience through connecting 2D with 3D. Fans will be able to appreciate a new degree of tangibility through this new project; They will feel these performers right next to them in a way only made possible by these artists who meld dimensions. The project plans to incorporate a vast array of Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality experiences, in addition to Super Yellow’s ongoing metaverse development.

Connecting Music

The “Kigenshou Records” Sub-Label project won’t be content with doing the bare minimum on the musical side. Not only will the project collaborate with established creative teams who’ve seen success with virtual artists, but working with established labels and creators in the world of Japanese music is paramount. The goal is to appeal both to fans of virtual culture, and music listening audiences alike.

Connecting Experience

Cat Nap, the team behind Yuka Nagase and her 100 Million TikTok hit “Torokeru Tetsugaku” will be responsible for the overall direction of “Kigenshou Records.”

The team will strive to leap into new territory for both Yuka Nagase herself and a new generation of 2.5D artists. Taking what’s already been learned and accomplished with Yuka Nagase to this point, the team will incorporate an independent production style that can foster new developments in music.

Connecting To The World

In conjunction with the establishment of “Kigenshou Records,” RIOT MUSIC will hold an ongoing series of auditions for each of its Sub-Labels. RIOT MUSIC hopes to hear from singer-songwriters amongst other kinds of performers who see themselves able to transcend dimensions! The “Kidenshou Records” production team is committed to working with their talents’ own individual vision and artistic history for this project!

Audition Details

Please consult the site below if interested in applying.

Audition Site: https://riot-music.com/virtualartistaudition/

Music Corner Week 122: Kana Adachi

Kana Adachi is a singer/songwriter from Gifu prefecture who made her debut back in 2017. She claimed fame back in 2014 via the LINE X SONY MUSIC audition event which Adachi ended up being a Grand Prix finalist. Throughout 2017 she worked with LINE on various projects such as commercials and variety shows, in which she had also debuted as an actress as well. In August of that year, Adachi had signed with SME Records with her debut single “Kimuchi Egaono Tsukurikata/ Kikuchi Kokoro” and has been wowing listeners through her amazing vocal and composition usage ever since.

Dabbling with the ‘girl with the guitar’ bit from time to time, Adachi brings that traditional style with a more modern flare with this cheerful style of vocal range that is rarely used to make her stand out. Tracks like “Good Day”, “No make”, “WALK”, and “Hitoyogari” brings out the best of her style to show individuality in the genre that is currently in a resurgence. While I do love a lot of her solo stuff, it has be said, her collaboration work is absolutely fantastic and brings out a side that I really like seeing. “Like it” “Wings to fly” and recently “Yurari Futari” from artists like Tani Yuki, MaRuRi, Mizuki and fellow Music Corner alum Rude α bring the best out of her and are some of the things I wish I could see more of.

Currently, Kana Adachi has seven physical singles, eight digitally released singles, and three studio albums. A fourth album, Seeker, is coming out in February of 2023. Be sure to check out her Official Website, Twitter, and Instagram along with the music video for her digital single “WALK” below!

StarryResonance, A Virtual Idol Project by RIOT MUSIC’s SuperYellow, To Hold Auditions This Month!

Brave group, and its subsidiary SuperYellow who’ve operated the internationally renowned RIOT MUSIC, are thrilled to announce their ambitious new project “StarryResonance” which is set to launch following a series of audiences held from December 1st.

SuperYellow originally came to be as a subsidiary of Brave group in order to strengthen development within the realms of IP creation and the Metaverse. Until now, SuperYellow’s main focus was on “RIOT MUSIC,” a Virtual Music Agency that boasts over 150 million views across its channels and over 1 million cumulative fans.

Now, in further expanding SuperYellow’s horizons, they’re taking on the challenge of crafting their next IP: “StarryResonance,” the second virtual music project from the SuperYellow team.

In the footsteps of the RIOT MUSIC Virtual Music Agency comes the Virtual Idol Project “StarryResonance.”

It will be animated by the drive to put on live performances that strike at the hearts of those who attend them. However enjoyable performances alone aren’t the goal alone, but additionally building a welcoming community and together broadening the larger “StarryResonance” through our collective resonance.

● Introduction

Idols, not just objects of beauty.

Inspiring a new dream, fighting for that dream,
never giving up on the dream,

Let your brilliance resonate everywhere!

● Concept
Idols come to be when stars merge together with a resonating voice, emitting a stupendous bright light. The live performances that resonate with audiences longest manifest as the culmination of an idol’s never-ending efforts bettering their singing and dancing presented amidst the latest and greatest in industry technology.

Shimmering audiences with the charm of idols by delivering to them heart-striking unforgettable live performances drives the “StarryResonance” Virtual Idol Project.

Hand in hand with those fleeting, forgotten dreams, we’ll move past the blinding shine of the biggest starts and reach towards those unknown souls who sparkle in the darkness.

Performances All Around Japan and Beyond!

“StarryResonance’s” first live concert will coincide with their debut, here in Tokyo!

Going forward, live performances are being planned across all of Japan, not just in Tokyo. Come see “StarryResonance” at one of their many frequent live events and experience first hand their idol magic face to face!

Many have requested for shows to be held outside Tokyo, admittedly a common problem with conventional content these days, and the project aims to eliminate the need to have to come to Tokyo to experience the best in performance. Eventually this Virtual Idol Project hopes to perform overseas, on the world stage! Of course, expect streaming performances and events as well.

Crafted by Experience

SuperYellow takes pride in their live event production and management teams, who’ve handled the many RIOT MUSIC concerts until now. They’ve planned a variety of events at a multitude of venues, and have experience incorporating live bands and working with movie theaters to deepen the live experience.

These teams have produced many high quality set pieces and virtual live performances, using the latest and best technology in the industry. “StarryResonance” will be produced by an all-star team, who possess unparalleled prowess in planning, production, and technical capability.

Produced with Expertise

Executive producer Koki Tokeda has led RIOT MUSIC to success since the inception of the Virtual Music Agency, and he’ll take on the head-producer for “StarryResonance.” In charge of each individual RIOT MUSIC member, Koki Takeda will utilize his past experience to develop this completely new Virtual Idol Project.

About Producer Koki Takeda:

Koki Takeda has worked for a consumer game production company, a PC game production company, and a VTuber management company overseeing production, planning, PR, event planning, merchandise planning, and various other positions.

He joined Brave group Inc. in 2019.
After being in charge of setting up the New Business Development Department, the MD Department, and the Event Production Department, he assumed the role of producer in January 2020, developing and unleashing the RIOT MUSIC project.While serving as the direct or SuperYellow Inc., he continues to be an executive producer of RIOT MUSIC, responsible for its total execution.

If you are interested in auditioning for this once in a lifetime project check out their official website here (Japanese only), with the application forum here!

INTO1 SANTA follows viral success in China with dance video for new single ‘I’m from…’, out now! Self-produced choreography and lyrics tell his personal story!

I’m from… Digital Jacket Cover

INTO1 SANTA has released a ‘Live Show’ dance performance video for his new single, ‘I’m from…’. With its gorgeous flowing melody and autobiographical lyrics that tell INTO1 SANTA’s own personal story, the recently released single ‘I’m from…’ has already become a hit, and in China it has entered the top rankings on various charts. The day after its release, the track hit No.4 on the overall chart on NetEase Cloud Music and No.2 on QQ MUSIC's trend index chart. It also ranked in the overall trending word chart on China’s largest social media platform, weibo.

The song was inspired by INTO1 SANTA’s life to date, and not only did he help write the lyrics, he was also involved in the choreography of the new music video. He previously performed the song during a guest appearance in the final stage of the popular Chinese dance program ‘Street Dance of China 5’; in this video, the performance has been moved into the studio, presenting a whole new style. In addition to the rich setting and dance moves, the video is crammed with meaningful details, featuring photos of treasured memories and illustrations drawn by INTO1 SANTA himself, making this a personal work that is not to be missed.

Be sure to check out the live show video below along with the single here!