Gray's Ongaku Go For January 2025

2025 is finally here and we here at Ongaku To You want our readers to know what we’ve been listening to for the month of January. Each song can be found on Apple Music and you can check out our playlist on Spotify.

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“Seikai Wa Iranai” by NANAOAKARI

This song is a bit older, but I recently discovered it because it was used as the ending theme to the anime series Go! Go! Loser Ranger! and I fell in love with this song. It’s a catchy song that moves at a very quick pace. I won’t call it upbeat per se, but it’s definitely not a slow song. I find myself singing this song at work and can’t get it out of my head. 

Check out “Seikai Wa Iranai” in the video below and at this link here.

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“Cuz I” by Hikaru Makishima

This is another song associated with a Super Sentai-themed anime titled The Red Ranger Became A Hero In Another World which recently started airing. If you don’t know what Super Sentai is, I know this is way oversimplifying it, but think Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. “Cuz I” has been a fun song for me, and another one I find myself jamming to at work. Its tone and melody pump me up and give me the inspiration I need.

Check out “Cuz I” in the video below and at this link here.

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“POP UP!” by lol

This is the first release that lol has put out this year, and after a pretty quiet 2024, it is so nice to see this group back. “POP UP!” is a pretty simple tune that is very upbeat and that just sucks me in. I hope this is a sign of many more songs to come in 2025 and I can’t wait.

Check out “POP UP!” in the video below and at this link here.

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“Got Boost?” by FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE

This is a group that, if you’re a long-time reader, you’ll know I’m a big fan of. I’ll admit, at first, I didn’t care much for this song, but it is the current opening for Kamen Rider, which is also one of my favorite franchises. Over time, I started to enjoy this song. And now I love this song, it is very poppy, but they lean into that a bit and that makes me enjoy this song even more.

Check out “Got Boost?” in the video below and at this link here.

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“TOKYO TRIP” by 7ORDER

I love this song, straight-up, and it’s probably 7ORDER’s best song in a while. This is a very catchy beat that is sung expertly, and the chorus is in English, so when it kicks in I start singing along. The saxophone just hits the right spot as well. I hope 7ORDER puts out an album with this song this year so I can include it for the end-of-the-year round-up.

Check out “TOKYO TRIP” in the video below and at this link here.

Luna's Ongaku Go For January 2025!

The cool Winter breeze of January has passed us by, that means it’s time for this months Ongaku Go! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site, along with our Spotify playlist here!

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“Bansaka” by tuki.

tuki.’s “Bansaka” has taken SNS by storm and also resonated with myself as well. I was a bit late to the game checking out tuki., but once I heard her perform “Bansaka” live on the Kouhaku, I was blown away. I love her vocals in this track as she leads you through the song, not to mention, the composition is very easy on the ears. To some, tuki.’s “Bansaka” may feel a bit like your typical girl with a guitar, but tuki.’s own nuances in this song hit you, specially with the chorus. “Bansaka” is a easy tune to karaoke to and also one that resonates with you on a personal level. You can really feel tuki.’s emotions come through.

Check out “Bansaka” by tuki. here and the music video below!

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“Endroll” by Soala

Soala is a newer artist that I had discovered through her collaborations with vocalist AYANE. “Enroll” came out in early December and Soala’s powerful vocals pulled me in immediately. “Endroll” is a gorgeous ballad that starts out with the piano and guitar then brings in Soala’s soulful voice chiming in. The chorus flows beautifully with its relatable and powerful lyrics that captivate you. “Endroll” not only came out as a digital single in November, but is also featured on Soala’s newest EP Bluem, that just released on January 29th!

Check out “Endroll” by Soala here and the song video below!

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“Don’t Mind!!” by Nozomi Kitay & GAL D

Nozomi Kitay is an artist I discovered last year through her collorabation with vocalist AYANE in the track “No Way”. “Don’t Mind” stuck out to me with Nozomi Kitay’s smooth vocals, upbeat composition, and cutesy urban feel. It is a fun track that you can enjoy anytime of the year with its poppy yet funky beat. My only complaint is it’s a bit too short and leaves you wanting more. However, as it’s part of her newest EP Love Letter, it leads right into the next song featured with ease.

Check out “Don’t Mind!!” by Nozomi Kitay & GAL D here and the music video below!

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“Katasumi no Fantasy” by HIRAIDAI

HIRAIDAI has been releasing an overflow of EPs this past year and they have all hit pretty hard. One of his latest happened to hit with the lead track with the same name, “Katasumi no Fantasy”. HIRAIDAI’s vocals are always music to the ears with how his lyrics flow and roll off the tong and resonate with the listener and this song is no different. The composition has that country folk feel, especially when the music piece comes in the middle of the song. HIRAIDAI’s style of mid tempo ballad knows how to hit that right spot.

Check out “Katasumi no Fantasy” by HIRAIDAI here and the lyric video below!

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“No. 5” by LANA

With the release of LANA’s newest single “Cartier” that dropped in December, I went back to her first studio album, 20, that dropped back a month prior (on November 13th). This album had been on repeat, but the track “No. 5” has made it into my weekly rotation as it’s a fun upbeat track that combines hip hop and hop with LANA’s rap, raw vocals, and lyrics. The composition has a more pop feel to it, but LANA’s rap easily brings in that hip pop feel making for a absolutely bop. Not to mention, his song is also so easy to sing to and has easily made it onto my ‘karaoke’ track list as well.

Check out “No. 5” by LANA here and the music video below!

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HARU NEMURI Makes A New Vow with Latest Sinigle!

“Don’t Make Love Vow” Single Art

HARU NEMURI has teamed up with Thailand’s Pyra for a new single called “Don’t make love vow”. Pre-add and pre-save “don’t make love vow” here:

“The song was created from a critical perspective on the system of marriage,” says HARU NEMURI on the lyrics of the upcoming single. “The institution of marriage has historically served as a mechanism to bind and regulate individuals and communities economically, socially, and religiously. In Japan, only heterosexual (men and women couples) are granted the right to use this institution, which could be seen as society imposing normative rules on forms of love and is profoundly unequal. Having to constantly prove one’s relationships to authorities and receive their endorsement is, simply put, strange. So, in this song, from the perspective of if love truly exists, does it really require such a contract? Isn’t this just an obsession by having “no guarantee without a contract”? The song attempts to separate love from the institution, challenging the necessity of the institution itself.

Pyra exploded on TikTok in 2021 with educational and critical videos about Thai society, particularly the conservatism of the junta government that took over in 2014. Her social media activism is a natural extension of her music, which she describes as ‘dystopian pop’, and deals with similar themes. Learn more on Pyra here. NEMURI and Pyra share a passion for social justice, which makes this collaboration so strong and important. HARU NEMURI and Pyra began working on this song after HARU’s December 23 show in Thailand with production continuing in Bangkok.

HARU NEMURI recently wrapped up a run of shows in the United States, with many of them selling out and venues being upgraded due to demand. The New York Times called her show one not to be missed when she performed in Brooklyn, NY at Elsewhere last month. HARU NEMURI has been expanding her presence in both the U.S. and Europe with shows and numerous collaboration releases. On October 4, the ‘SOUL KISS’ collaboration EP with Frost Children was released. A peak moment of both of their efforts, the songs on the EP encapsulate hardcore, EDM, pop, post-rock and indie - transcending borders, genres and preconceived notions. Stream it here

More on HARU NEMURI

Haru has always made music for herself first, but now the world is listening — even if they can’t understand a word of the Japanese language in which she sings, raps, and frequently screams. Not many teenagers are inspired equally by American post-hardcore icons such as Fugazi and Japanese avant-garde music legend Susumu Hirasawa, but therein lies the magic of Haru Nemuri and the work she has created over the past five years.

Her album, ‘SHUNKA RYOUGEN’ out now, was heralded by publications like Pitchfork, The Fader, Paste Magazine, noting, “blending elements of J-pop, rap, and hardcore, the experimental Japanese artist’s latest album presents a convincing balance of nihilism and hope,”. ‘Shunka Ryougen’ is available to stream in full at this link:

After world tours, festival appearances, and two LPs, the 29 year old Japanese rockstar has captivated the world with her idiosyncratic poetry. Haru’s trailblazing music seamlessly blends genres—from the punk magnetism of Karen O and Fugazi, to the glittering shoegaze of Shinsei Kamattechan, or the experimentation of Björk and Susumu Hirasawa. Armed with only her vocals and a laptop, her shows mesmerize crowds from Europe to Asia to America, the great majority of whom don’t even speak her language.

Amidst an intense schedule that included releasing nine works with the latest being the EP 'INSAINT,' and embarking on tour across approximately 30 cities worldwide, began working on this project last year. 'Soul Kiss,' her first release of 2024 and her first collaborative EP, hints at a new and expansive direction for her.

HARU NEMURI SCHEDULE

December 21: Daikanyama UNIT, Tokyo, Japan - w/Knosis

Tickets: https://bnds.us/b60l7n

Tickets for International Oversea Fans:

https://ib.eplus.jp/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=5432&date=1734706800#scrollToPanel

I Don't Like Mondays. 10th Anniversary Interview

I Don’t Like Mondays. (IDLMs.) is a four-member rock band based in Tokyo that was founded in 2012. Despite their 80's sound roots, their meticulous music production and groove transcend boundaries between Japanese and Western music./Their songs evoke a sensation akin to driving through the city. The band members are YU (vocals), CHOJI (guitar), KENJI (bass guitar), SHUKI (drums). We had the honor of interviewing them on the cusp of the their release of the EP FOCUS and the celebration of their 10th Anniversary! Be sure to check out their latest music video, “Shadow” below!

CHOJI

KENJI

SHUKI

YU

Ken: Congratulations on reaching your 10th anniversary! How does it feel to have been making music together for a decade?

YU It feels like it’s been a long journey, yet it also feels like the time has flown by. Over the last 10 years we’ve changed labels, had periods when we couldn’t perform live due to the pandemic, and as the vocalist, I even made some significant changes to how I sing. When we first started the band, we never imagined we’d be doing a theme song for “ONE PIECE” or holding solo tours overseas. We’ve tried a lot of things–it took us 10 years to finally discover what we should be doing.

Ken: Looking back over the past 10 years, what are some of the most memorable moments or milestones for the band?

YU: Writing the theme song for the TV anime “ONE PIECE.” It helped us gain recognition in Japan, of course, but it also immediately introduced us to audiences worldwide. Thanks to that song, we were able to perform in places like Spain, Argentina, and Brazil, places we couldn’t have easily gone before.

“During the pandemic, we focused on creating music meant for listening to alone, at home or through earphones”

— SHUKI

Ken: How has your music evolved since your first album? Are there any particular influences or experiences that have shaped your sound over the years?

SHUKI: In our debut era albums like “PLAY” and “TOKYO,” we put all our passion into producing every single track. We experimented with various genres in a single release—EDM-like tracks, hard rock elements, UK-inspired sounds—hoping our fans would enjoy this variety. While we still incorporate different genres in our music, after a decade we’ve honed our identity as a band, making it easier to convey our character and the sound we want as a band. During the pandemic, we focused on creating music meant for listening to alone, at home or through earphones. We’ve also occasionally been inspired by both traditional and trendy J-POP.

Ken: What challenges have you faced as a band over the past decade, and how have you overcome them?

SHUKI: We’ve faced new challenges every time we write a new song over the last 10 years. We always tell ourselves, “It’s okay! We can do this!” to get through it.

Ken: To what do you attribute the band’s longevity and continued success?

KENJI: Sometimes when we’re all gathered in the music room to compose, we think CHOJI is playing the piano. But then we looked closer and realized he was playing while asleep.

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“ I want to make the next decade one where every single song, album, and tour makes people say, “The current I Don’t Like Mondays. is the coolest.”

— YU

Ken: As you celebrate this milestone, are there any new goals or aspirations you have for the next decade?

YU: I want to make the next decade one where every single song, album, and tour makes people say, “The current I Don’t Like Mondays. is the coolest.”

Ken: For your 10th anniversary, you’re releasing a new EP. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this project?

YU: In our previous album “RUNWAY,” we managed to reaffirm the kind of band we aim to be and the music we want to deliver to the world. The word “FOCUS” also has the meaning of focusing on the ‘band we aim to be’ something we discovered through our previous release. The album has seven tracks which span various genres, and I think it really shows our charm.

Ken: How does the sound and style of this EP compare to your earlier work? Are there any new elements or directions you’re exploring?

CHOJI: “FOCUS” could be seen as a sequel to “RUNWAY.” In producing “RUNWAY,” we regained awareness of the kind of music we want to create. We carefully selected only the songs we need now, keeping in mind that we’d be performing them live. It enhanced the clarity of the “I Don’t Like Mondays” sound, both the lyrics and our sound.

Ken: What was the songwriting and recording process like for this EP? Did you approach it differently than you have with past projects?

CHOJI: This album led to us making the most demos we’ve ever made. We held meetings every few months to discuss what kind of songs we needed for the current version of the band, while keeping in mind that we’d be performing them at concerts.

Ken: What do you hope listeners will take away from this EP, and how do you think it reflects your journey as a band over the past 10 years?

KENJI: Some artists celebrate milestones like these with best-of albums or self-covers of their past hits. But instead of looking back on the past, it’s our intention to “FOCUS” on the future starting with our 11th year, which is part of the meaning behind the word “FOCUS.” We hope our fans will enjoy it as the culmination of our 10 year career so far.

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Ken: How have the relationships and dynamics between band members evolved over the past 10 years?

KENJI: It hasn’t changed much. Sometimes we have differing opinions during production, but as I mentioned earlier, we’ve always maintained a level of distance and respect each other as adults.

Ken: Are there any live performances that stand out as particularly memorable for you? What made them special?

CHOJI: When we performed in Yantai, China. The audience made various flags and held them up during the show. I’d never seen anything like that in Japan so it felt really fresh, and I was happy to see a flag with our logo on it.

Ken: Do you have any memorable stories or messages from fans that have touched you over the years?

KENJI: When we performed the song “Zenbu Anata no Sei Nan Da” while on tour in China. That’s usually a song fans listen to quietly in Japan, so we assumed it’d be the same there. But in China, the audience sang along loudly. I was surprised to see such a big difference in the way the same song could be enjoyed.

“We’ll work hard to perform live in big venues all around the world, so we can do all the on-stage things we’ve been wanting to do!”

— SHUKI

Ken: Are there any new plans or innovations for your upcoming tours or live performances?

SHUKI: We’ll work hard to perform live in big venues all around the world, so we can do all the on-stage things we’ve been wanting to do!

Ken: Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to your international fans?

YU: We may not have many chances to meet, but keep listening to our music and wait for us until we come to your city! Thank you for everything!

HARU NEMURI and New Yorks Frost Children release "Daijoubu Desu" from upcoming collaboration EP 'Soul Kiss'!

Japan’s HARU NEMURI has teamed up with New York City’s Frost Children for the upcoming collaboration EP titled ‘Soul Kiss’ out October 4. Today, fans can hear the new song across all streaming platforms and watch the music video for "Daijoubu Desu". The hybrid-genre song also features cheeky vinyl scratches from A-Trak

“There are times when people reassure me by saying “It’s going to be ok”, when I am overwhelmed, drowning in anxiety and melancholy, when I am stuck in an unforeseeable reality, or when I am at a loss not knowing how to even handle my own soul,” says HARU NEMURI on the lyrics of the song out today.  “Though I deeply appreciate the kindness and the reassurance itself, there are still times when I feel like screaming, "What's going to be okay!!!" (Though in reality, I never actually do that. Instead, I usually suppress all those emotions and with an awkward smile I would just say thank you.) Climate change, inequality, exploitation, discrimination, patriarchy, conspiracy theories, and with all the other various evil constructs created by humanity continue to hold sway in this trash-like world, we are not always ok (Daijoubu).”

HARU NEMURI and Frost Children initially met on tour in 2021 and experienced an instant and surprising musical connection. Subsequently toured together and made plans to reunite in Berlin to record this project. The sessions, initially quite open-ended and experimental, led to internet collaboration/co-writing and then the completion of the tracking in a hyperspeed series of sessions in Tokyo, and ultimately Lulu putting finishing touches in their New York studio (while occasionally testing out works in progress in DJ sets).
The final product has become a five track EP called ‘Soul Kiss’ - a peak moment of both of their efforts. The songs encapsulate hardcore, EDM, pop, post-rock and indie. A really unique and surprising Soul Kiss transcending borders, genres and preconceived notions.

Be sure to check out "Daijoubu Desu” across all streaming platforms here along with he music video below!

 ‘Soul Kiss’ Track listing

1. Daijoubu Desu

2. Burn

3. Supernatural

4. Bad Thing

5. Get Well Soon 

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HARU NEMURI will return to the United States with six shows kicking off at the end of September into early October. Frost Children are currently on a nationwide tour with support from julie and her new knife. Tour dates for both artists can be found below.

HARU NEMURI Live Dates

September 28 - Seattle, WA @ High Dive

October 1 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

October 6 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

October 9 - Dallas, TX @ RBC

October 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere

October 15 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies

Frost Children Live Dates

October 23 - Philadelphia, PA @  Brooklyn Bowl Philly

October 24 - Washington, DC @  9:30 Club

October 26 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

October 27 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East

October 29 - Dallas, TX @ Trees

October 30 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall - Downstairs

October 31 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk

November 2 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom

November 3 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom

November 6 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

November 7 - Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall

November 12 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

November 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre