Music Corner Week 139: Shin Sakiura

Shin Sakiura got his start in the Japanese Music industry working in Tokyo as a music producer and guitarist. Sakiura would work on songs for many different artists, the genre didn’t really matter. He also worked on music for Music Videos and commercials for apparel brands and companies. Sakiura spent his childhood in a home where UK rock music was played on a daily basis, which led to him picking up the guitar in junior high school. In high school, he formed a cover band that would play songs from bands like ELLEGARDEN and Straightener. In 2017, Sakiura started fully focusing on his own music career and released his first album, Mirror. In that same year he met fellow Music Corner alumni SIRUP and, since then, has supported live performances as a guitar manipulator, and participated in several works by arranging and composing songs. In 2019 Sakiura released his second album, Dream, and performed his first one-man live to celebrate the release. Sakiura has since gone on to release two more albums for a total of four, and a combined total of 36 EPs, singles, and digital releases.

The years Sakiura spent working for others have really helped him grow as an artist and let him apply many of the lessons he learned over the years to his own music. Sakiura has this great ability to write amazing compositions, his song “Universe” is really good, as it starts with this lovely acoustic guitar, and then the bass suddenly drops with the drums kicking in. “Universe” is only one minute long, but he uses it to the fullest and leaves a lasting impression on the listener. “Parachute” (Feat. Wez Atlus) is really good and has a catchy rhythm to it. It also has a lot of English in the song, so that makes it win points for me. Lastly, his song “Sleepless” (Feat. Matton) is a nice, laid-back, and chill number that relaxes the listener.

Shin Sakiura stays active on his X account and his official website stays up to date on all the latest news. Lastly, check out his latest song “bud” posted in the link below.

Music Corner Week 138: Sundae May Club

Sundae May Club, a three-member pop-rock band, has carved a unique niche in the indie music scene with their dreamy melodies, introspective lyrics, and captivating performances. Formed in the vibrant city of Nagasaki in 2019, the band's history is a tale of artistic evolution and sonic experimentation that has left an indelible mark on their listeners

The band's inception can be traced back to a chance meeting between the lead vocalist and guitarist Ura Koyuki, guitarist Miyahara, and drummer Hiroto during college. United by their shared passion for Jazz, crafting music that transcends genres, and wanting to stand apart from their contemporaries.

Sundae May Club's debut album, Shoujyo Manga, released in 2022, served as a potent introduction to their unique sound. The album's intricate layers of instrumentation and Koyuki’s emotive vocals created a lush sonic landscape that resonated with listeners seeking an escape from the mundane. One of the things that I love about the group is how they are able to go out with their energy with the pop-rock sound. While it might be an overplayed genre at this point, Sundae May Club brings a fresh breath of air to it. Tracks like “Shounen manga” showcase their penchant for infusing their music with emotional depth, while their latest release ”Hareruna" demonstrates their mastery of their craft. Songs like “Haru”, and “Shangli-La” encapsulate their iconic pop-rock sound, with their hazy guitars and wistful melodies.

They currently have two E.P.s released in 2020 and 2022 respectively, along with one single in 2021, with their album Shoujyo Manga in 2022. You can follow them on their Twitter X, Instagram and official website along with the music video for their track “Hareruna” below!

Sundae May Club stars

Ura Koyuki- Vocals/ Guitar

Miyahara- Guitar

Hiroto- Drums

Music Corner Week 137: Hannah Warm

Hannah Warm is a singer-songwriter, designer, and filmmaker from Tokyo. She made her debut in 2019 when she started releasing monthly digital singles beginning with “The Future Is There”. Hannah’s collaboration in 2020 with Tokimeki Records as the featuring artists on the track “Candy” garnished much attention and became a hit. She then followed it up by collaborating with Revo Marty, who has a popular audience in New York and Indonesia. Hannah’s song “MEME” became a sensation on Spotify as it was featured as the top song and cover image for the playlist: Kirakira Pop: Japan. Hannah’s unique vocals, funky beats mixed with relaxing tunes leave you wanting to experience more of her memorable sounds. She is a blend of Soul, R&B, Funk, and City Pop all mixed into one artist.

Hannah’s unique voice and ear catching tunes instantly grabbed me when I first heard her track “Candy” where she was featured as the collaborating artist. Hannah has a mid tempo like voice that fits with the composoition; it feels like you are being taken on a journey with each piece of the track. “Time to Go” and “MEME” have this memorable upbeat sound that immediately pull you into it. Hannah’s voice flows flawlessy with soul throughout while still keeping a steady tempo vocally. Hannah shows that she can slow it down in songs like “Wear Dark Blue” and “Wav of Luv” that showcase Hannah’s vocal range along with her soul/R&B sound.

Currently, Hannah Warm has three studio albums, Warm’s (2020), Coral (2022), and her newest album, JCT (2023); one EP, NEAR (2021), twenty-seven digital singles (which include her collaborations). Check out Hannah Warm’s official website, Twitter, Instagram, and her latest music video “Wear Dark Blue” below!

Music Corner Week 136: tonun

tonun is a singer and songwriter out of Hiroshima Japan who had his first release, Last Love Magic” in October of 2020. tonun is inspired by Western artists and says John Mayer’s “Neon” was the spark that inspired him to begin writing and singing his own music. In 2021, tonun released three EPs over the course of the year. In 2022, he was selected for Spotify RADAR: Early Noise 2022. Spotify RADAR: Early Noise lets users pick artists who they feel are leaders in the global music industry and this feature is particularly popular in Japan. tonun signed on with Univeral Sigma in 2023 and released his first album, Intro, in June of 2023.

tonun has really rich, smokey vocals that he is able to utilize to great effect. I happened to stumble upon his new album and decided to check it out which led me to fall in love with his music. “Sugar Magic” is such a fun track that it is my personal favorite. I love the composition of “Sugar Magic” combined with his smoky cool vocals. I wind up listening to this song on repeat, but on tracks like “Blue Spring” tonun shows off his more chill side which is also well done.

tonun posts all of his latest news on his Twitter and official website. Lastly, be sure to check out his song “Sugar Magic” in the video below.

Music Corner 135: Maika Loubté

Maika Loubté Is a singer-songwriter, music producer, and DJ who currently lives in Tokyo. Spending her childhood and teenage years in Japan, Paris, Hong Kong and After graduating from high school, she discovered vintage analog synthesizers in which started her musical journey. While based on advanced electronic music, she places importance on authenticity of the "songs" themselves, stripped of their textures that is usually found in a majority of electronica songs.

Loubté is consistently exploring both novel and nostalgic music styles. Connecting numerous dots of sound, she creates original yet subconsciously familiar melodies listeners have an emotional connection to. As a multicultural songwriter, producer, and singer, Loubté takes in global influences as she experiments with sound using a number of vintage analog synthesizers in studio and has collaborated with the likes of Ryan Hemsworth and Miho Hatori. As a performer, she captivates fans with her unique vocals while playing a plethora of electronic instruments on stage while relying on her past experiences by singing in Japanese, English and French.

One aspect that sets Loubté apart from her contemporaries is her hauntingly beautiful voice. Her vocal range and controls are simply mesmerizing, evoking a wide range of emotions in her listeners. Whether she sings with delicate vulnerability or unleashes a powerful crescendo, Loubté's voice has an ethereal quality that leaves a lasting impression. Her vocal prowess is best exemplified in tracks like “Nobara” and “System”, where her evocative vocals take center stage, leaving listeners awe-struck.

Another notable aspect of Maika Loubté's music is her keen attention to production and sound design. She seamlessly blends organic instrumentation with electronic elements, creating a sonic landscape that is both familiar and innovative. This fusion of acoustic and electronic elements can be heard in tracks like “Show Me How” and “Ice Age” where Loubté's intricate production elevates her music to a whole new level.

In addition to her solo work, Maika Loubté has collaborated with various artists, further expanding her musical horizons. These collaborations have allowed her to experiment with different styles and genres, showcasing her versatility as an artist. Whether she's collaborating with a hip-hop artist on an upbeat track or lending her vocals to a downtempo electronic composition, wither it be tracks like “Hakumei” from KIRINJI or her latest release (as of this writing) “Blue Bird” from Shin Sakiura, Loubté's ability to adapt and shine in various musical contexts demonstrates her exceptional talent and adaptability.

As of this writing, she has four albums from 2014,16,19 and 21, along with abundant of singles released digitally. Be sure to follow Loubté on her official website, Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest music video “Ice Age” below!