MORISAKI WIN Dazzles in First International Concert at Anime Central!

As the lights started shining bright, the crowd was buzzing with excitement in anticipation for MORISAKI WIN’’s first International concert held at Anime Central. The stage was all set, waiting for MORISAKI WIN to arrive and greet his fans and convention goers. The announcer came out, the crowd was getting even more pumped awaiting his arrival on stage. I was one of the many fans eagerly anticipating MORISAKI WIN’s entrance onto the colorful stage after discovering his music recently. MORISAKI WIN is not just a talented singer, but an actor and an all around entertainer, who is most known for his role as “Daito” in Stephen Spielberg’s Ready Player One and for several songs in featured in the popular series Avatro Sentai Donbrothers to name a few.

Photo credits by columbia jp

From the first moment the first track, “Orekoso Only One” beamed through the speakers, the crowd went crazy, Super Sentai fans singing along with MORISAKI WIN. The energy he brought to the stage right as he stepped on it, dazzled fans and new comers alike. MORISAKI WIN’s set list was displayed in stages as he performed a mix of original tracks including his most popular, covers of anime and famous Japanese songs. As soon as “Zankoku na Tenshi Teze” starting playing, every single person sang with MORISAKI WIN, showing him so much love and he followed it up by “Day1”, the theme song for Reborn to Master the Blade anime.

MORISAKI WIN broke up his set list into, sections while mixing in his original tracks with those segments. One of my favorite segments was the ‘City Pop’ one as its been on the uprising in the last several years. One of the stand out tracks that he sang a cover of in this segment was “Mayonaka no Door/stay with me” by Matsubara Miki. His version was beautifully sang, bringing the full swing of emotion. What amazed me, was how many in the crowd knew this song and sang with him.

One of the most iconic moments of the concert is when MORISAKI WIN started singing the Anpan man theme song and asked if anyone knew it. When several fans raised their hands, he choose one of those fans and brought them on stage to sing with him together. This made me smile so much as you could see the joy on MORISAKI WIN’s face being able to sing together with a fan. The chosen fan seemed a bit shy but you could see in their eyes, that they had fun singing with him together. Its not often you see a musician include the fans in their performances. I loved that he did this and made an impression on fans and those who were just experiencing his music for the first time.

MORISAKI WIN brought the energy throughout his concert, he radiated with bombastic energy, a genuine smile and entertained the crowd thoroughly. He also knew how to capture the audiences’ emotions with a touching ballad. When he slowed things down with his track “Love won’t die”, you could feel his emotions coming through to the venue full of con-goers and fans alike. “Love won’t die” is a beautiful ballad and he captured every moment of this track that it brought myself to tears. I could hear others singing along with him and feeling the emotions run through their bodies. Personally, this was my favorite song of the evening.

MORISAKI WIN included more of his original songs such as “Fly with me”, “Parade”, and “Wonderland”, all which were amazing to see live. Fans and first time listeners of MORISAKI WIN’s were mesmerized by his charisma, vocals, and also his interaction with the crowd. MORISAKI WIN’s band was phenomenal, how he introduced each one of them and had a you could see the bond he has with each one of them. After his last track, all went quiet for a a few mnutes, many of us awaiting and hoping for an encore with the crowd yelling “one more song”. When he came back out, the crowd went wild with excitement! The encore song was obviously a favorite among the crowd, it was “Orekoso Only One” from Avataro Sentai Donbrothers. Everyone started singing and dancing along with him, relishing in every moment with him. It was an unforgettable encore with the amount of energy from MORISAKI WIN and the crowd together.

MORISAKI WIN did more than just dazzle at Anime Central, he owned the stage with his charisma, his energy, his humor, and his love for his fans. There were so many wonderful memorable moments, from MORISAKI WIN’s jokes with the crowd (he has a great sense of humor), his positivity and energy is infectious, his interaction with the crowd and fans, his dance moves were reminiscent of Michael Jackson, and his vocals were absolutely perfect capturing each emotion. To say I was mesmerized by his performance is an understatement, he absolutely captured me completely and I will be looking forward to his future endeavors hoping it leads him back to America for another wonderful show.

KAF Returns With All-New EP “GSA” The Virtual Artist Explores A Dizzying Array Of New Sounds On Latest Release!

Vocalist KAF has released her EP GSA across all streaming platforms, her first new collection of solo material since 2023. The three-song set finds the pioneering virtual artist exploring new terrain, as this set marks the first time the 20-year-old creator has worked on a solo release with producers besides longtime collaborator Iori Kanzaki. The resulting tracks find KAF dabbling in a variety of uptempo sounds, placing her emotional singing against a fresh sonic backdrop.

GSA zips into dizzying musical mash-ups right away on opener “Gestalt.” KAF dashes over speedy guitar and piano melodies, while detouring into trap-accented passages and festival-ready EDM, her voice matching the mood of the mutating sounds around her. It’s one of her most ambitious works to date, and one of her most urgent. “Swimmer” plays out as a ballad with electronic touches, placing the emphasis on the versatility of KAF’s singing as she moves from a whisper to a soar. Closing number “From Apocalypse” picks up the pace once more, KAF finding reasons to push forward despite emotional challenges, set over a rippling beat.

With GSA, KAF offers a hint at where she will go next as she preps more music for release in 2024, while also reminding that one of her defining characteristics as an artist is an openness to experiment. She’s musically curious, and open to challenge new sounds in order to grow.

Be sure to check out GSA here!

ABOUT KAF:

Debuting in 2018, KAF uses an anime-style avatar to present herself to the world, while creating music centered around her versatile and powerful voice. She’s become one of the most prominent virtual singer’s in Japan, with her original songs and covers earning millions of views. In March 2023, she released her third full-length album, further showing her artistic growth and ability to capture the complexities of growing up in 21st century Japan. She’s performed at some of the country’s most celebrated venues, including a sold-out night at the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo and the first-ever arena show by a virtual artist in January 2024. 

Ikimonogakari’s new single ‘Unmeichan’ releases today An additional tour date this weekend will be broadcast live overseas for the first time!

Unmeichan Jacket Cover

Popular duo Ikimonogakari’s 35th single ‘Unmeichan’ was released this past week across all streaming platforms.
This new track was used as the theme song for the anime series ‘Mission: Yozakura Family’. This up-tempo track evokes the worldview of the series while bursting with intense color and personality.
A preview video of their ‘Amazon Music Live: Ikimonogakari’ performance from October last year which includes the single will also be made available on Youtube. A performance of ‘Koisuruotome’ exclusive to this event is included in its entirety in the release, making this disc a must-buy for fans. And that’s not all, there are also four tracks recorded for the Youtube channel ‘THE FIRST TAKE’ included. Performed in December last year, audio from ‘Blue Bird’, a massively popular track both inside and outside Japan, and ‘TOKIMEKI’, the opening theme of the TV anime ‘Kibou no Chikara Otona Precure ‘23’ are included in the package, along with ‘Kimagure Romantic’ and ‘Kyoukara Kokokara’ from a previous performance on the same channel, for a total of four tracks.
Moreover, an additional tour performance to take place this weekend ‘Ikimonogakari’s Hello Everyone Tour!! 2024 –You, Me, Everyone, Let’s Sing! - Yokohama Good Job Performance’ will now be streamed online. Centered around tracks like ‘Blue Bird’ and ‘SAKURA’, there are many songsincluded which are popular with overseas fans, making this the long awaited first headline performance by Ikimonogakari that will be streamed overseas. 

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For details on live streaming abroad, check out the special site below:  
〇https://w.pia.jp/a/ikimonogakari24engpls/

‘Ikimonogakari’s Hello Everyone Tour!! 2024 – You, Me, Everyone, Let’s Sing! - Yokohama Good Job Performance’
Date of the Performance: Sunday, May 26   Doors: 16:30  On stage: 17:00　※No recording
Ticket price ¥5,000

Contact details for PIA LIVE STREAM customers：
event@linkst.jp

NOTE:
For viewers intending to stream from overseas, please note that in some regions this service is unavailable.
In addition, in countries where streaming is available, due to the nature of internet services it is possible that a smooth viewing experience may not be achieved because of lag or international internet restrictions.  
If planning to view from abroad, we recommend that you confirm you are able to view the stream prior to the event.  

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Please note that the organizer does not take any responsibility for the experience of those unable to view the stream due to their internet environment or their viewing environment.
Moreover, we cannot accept ticket cancellations, changes to tickets, or issue refunds for these reasons.
Information about our recommended viewing environment and how to check your equipment is included in the below link.  
https://pia-live.jp/requirement

ASH DA HERO to Release “Beast Mode / Octave,” Insert Songs for Blue Lock -Episode Nagi-!

The five-member rock band ASH DA HERO, who belong to the MoooD Records label within Bandai Namco Music Live, have announced that their double A-side single “Beast Mode / Octave'' will be released on May 29, 2024. “Beast Mode” and “Octave” were written specifically for Blue Lock -Episode Nagi-, and both songs are used for important scenes within the movie.

“Beast Mode” is centered around the concept of “awakening.” It is an “egotistical” song filled with respect and love for Blue Lock, uniquely crafted by ASH DA HERO, who were also responsible for the theme songs of the Blue Lock anime series. It serves as the anthem for the “awakening” of Team Z, led by Isagi, and we highly encourage you to watch this pivotal moment in the theater.

“Octave,” on the other hand, is a song specifically written for Nagi, the protagonist of the movie. The lyrics accurately capture his initial feeling on encountering Reo and Isagi during a period of boredom and apathy in his daily life, as well as how his emotions gradually change as he fights for survival within Blue Lock. While it may seem like a straightforward rock song when paired with scenes from the movie, it carries an emotional undertone that evokes tears.

Both songs were available for early streaming on various distribution platforms from April 19, coinciding with the theatrical release of Blue Lock -Episode Nagi-. We hope you will listen to them many times after watching the movie.

Furthermore, a music video for “Beast Mode” was  released at 20:00 on the same day. In this video, the protagonist desperately runs from “something,” while ASH DA HERO delivers an intense performance amidst intertwined cables and lighting that disconcertingly pulses like a beating heart. As the song progresses, the dynamic between the protagonist and the unidentified entity gradually changes. ASH DA HERO’s performance is pivotal to conveying the theme of “awakening” depicted in the song. Please observe the fate of these intertwined characters through the intense cut-ins featured in the video.

Last year, ASH DA HERO experienced rapid growth through a series of collaborations and nationwide tours, and there is no doubt that they will continue to evolve and “awaken” further in 2024. Don’t miss a single moment of their journey!

Be sure to check out the streaming link to both “Beast Mode” and “Octave” here, along with the music video for “Beast Mode” below!

SANTA releases lead song from upcoming first album ‘Prologue’!

Prologue Jacket Cover

Popular artist SANTA, who has a huge fan base across Asia, released his first solo album ‘Prologue’ on May 20.

The lead song ‘Let em Out’ have been made available on streaming services as an early taste of what’s to come. This will be SANTA’s first full-length album since beginning his solo career last year. The album includes songs based on the four most important milestone ages in SANTA’s life: ages 14, 17, 21 and 25.

On the album, SANTA expresses his life through music, inviting listeners to experience his unique mindscape in all its glory. Lead song ‘Let em Out’ also release has a music video released as well, which you can check out below, along with the streaming link here!

[SANTA profile]

SANTA is a top-level dancer from Japan, a prodigy who began making a name for himself as a kid. He has won numerous dance contests, becoming the youngest ever champion of the prestigious global dance battle SDK. Since 2023, he has built a successful solo career based in China, where he has also become an ambassador for various brands and appeared on popular TV shows including ‘Street dance of China’ and ‘Great Dance Crew’.