MAKI GOTO celebrates 25th anniversary with long-awaited new original album ‘prAyer’, her first in 13 years, out now!

2024 marks the 25th anniversary of J-pop star MAKI GOTO’s CD debut, and she has been announcing a number of anniversary projects to mark the occasion. Following the digital release of GOTO’s long-awaited new single ‘CLAP CLAP’ – her first in around 13 years – she has now released a completely original mini-album, ‘prAyer’, on September 4 across all digital streaming platforms.

 ‘prAyer’ is GOTO’s first long-play release since her digital covers album released two years ago, and her first all-new original work since 2011. This mini-album, which contains seven songs, marks the full-fledged return of MAKI GOTO on her 25th anniversary year, and is sure to thrill fans old and new.

From the album title ‘prAyer’ to the strong yet delicate psychological lyrics and GOTO’s own outlook on life, she sings beautifully about her experiences past and future. While incorporating a new approach to her sound that mixes multiple genres without clinging to the past, it is an ambitious album that shows she has evolved to something more powerful than the catchy sound of her idol days, as showcased by the single ‘CLAP CLAP’.

Be sure to check out the streaming link for ‘prAyer’ here, along with the music video for the track “prayer” below!

 About MAKI GOTO

MAKI GOTO was born on September 23, 1985, in Tokyo. Over the course of her career, she has been a successful singer, YouTuber and model. She joined the legendary J-pop idol group Morning Musume as a third-generation member after passing their second supplementary audition in 1999. After she joined, the group’s single ‘LOVE Machine’ was released, selling over a million copies. In 2001, she made her solo debut with the single ‘Ai no Bakayarou’. She graduated from the Hello! Project collective in 2007 and joined a new agency in 2008. After this, she released ‘SWEET BLACK feat. MAKI GOTO’ in 2009. On YouTube, GOTO’s channels include Gomaki no Guild, which focuses on video game “let’s plays”, and Gomaki to Ouki☆, which provides lifestyle and beauty information, with both channels drawing a large number of subscribers and viewers. In September 2024, she will hold a special solo live tour to celebrate her 25th anniversary.

HIRAIDAI releases the 3rd ‘LUCKY BAG’ series EP ‘Summer Princess’.

Since this June, Japanese singer-songwriter HIRAIDAI has been releasing a series of monthly EPs titled ‘LUCKY BAG’, with each EP including a mix of new songs, past songs selected by HIRAIDAI to match the new ones, and sometimes even home demos recorded in one take on an iPhone. The 3rd EP in the series, ‘Summer Princess’, was released back on August 14.

This 3rd EP includes the new song ‘Summer Princess’, along with five older songs specially selected by HIRAIDAI, with the beach-friendly theme of “songs that will make you feel the waves”.

The EP features six songs in total, including the classic summer tune ‘Summer Queen’ from his 2015 album ‘Slow & Easy’, the bittersweet broken-hearted love song ‘GIRL FRIEND’ from 2020, and the timeless track ‘Thinking of You’ which was released in 2014.

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▼ EP ‘Summer Princess’

1. Summer Princess

2. Summer Queen

3. RIDE THE WAVES

4. To the Beach

5. GIRL FRIEND

6. Thinking of You

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The brand-new title track ‘Summer Princess’ is a sweet, refreshing summer love song for the princess with whom the singer walks on the journey of life. The modern neo-acoustic sound and endlessly smoothing vocals blend perfectly to create a song only HIRAIDAI could make.‘Summer Princess’ is currently airing on radio stations across Japan, along with comments from HIRAIDAI himself.

To coincide with the ‘LUCKY BAG’ series, HIRAIDAI’s official LOSL app is currently offering monthly calendar-style wallpapers that show such as his tour schedule and release information, so don’t miss out. 

▼ Comment from HIRAIDAI

“I decided to create the ‘LUCKY BAG’ series as a way to share my latest songs along with a selection of older songs that suit the new material when heard together, and demos that I have created as rough works at home. I hope you’ll enjoy seeing what’s in the bag each month.”

I Don’t Like Mondays. release new single ‘Sunset Girl’, ahead of 10th-anniversary EP ‘FOCUS’ in October!

Four-piece rock band I Don’t Like Mondays. (known to their fans as IDLMs.) have released new single ‘Sunset Girl’ on August 21. This is a pre-release track from their upcoming EP ‘FOCUS’, which is set for release in October to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band’s debut.

This summer anthem has an organic, comforting sound enhanced by singer YU’s lyrics, resulting in a song that brings nostalgic late-summer vibes. Be sure to check out the track on all streaming platforms here!

About I Don’t Like Mondays. 

I Don’t Like Mondays. are a four-piece rock band from Japan. With their musical roots in the 1980s and a meticulous sound and groove, they transcend the boundaries between Japanese and Western music. Their songs are filled with the feeling of exhilaration you get when cruising through the city streets.

Known to their fans as IDLMs., the group are renowned　for their sophisticated and passionate concerts that recreate the atmosphere of attending an exclusive overseas high-end fashion sh

Kumi Koda teams up with producer Tetsuya Komuro for summer smash ‘Jump to the Breeze’!

Celebrating the 24th anniversary of her debut, pop diva Kumi Koda is currently on her greatest hits tour KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2024 ~BEST SINGLE KNIGHT~, with shows in 26 locations across Japan.

As her 25th anniversary year approaches, Koda continues to take on new challenges – and on August 2 she released the new digital single ‘Jump to the Breeze’, under the name Kumi Koda with Tetsuya Komuro. This song was first released on Bilibili in China in 2023 to mark the 6th anniversary of the mobile game ‘Azur Lane’, which currently has 230 million players worldwide. At the time, the song became a hot topic among gamers and music fans in China.

The lyrics, composition and arrangement were all handled by legendary Japanese music producer Tetsuya Komuro. When he was given the chance of working with any Japanese diva singer for the song, Komuro personally chose Koda. At the time, the song was only made available on the Chinese platform Bilibili, so the global release of this summer classic by two of Japan’s most beloved music artists has been eagerly awaited by fans.

For this 2024 digital release, Komuro has personally created a new arrangement of the song. The result is a summer smash featuring a Latin house arrangement with live percussion, with Koda’s unmistakable vocals blending perfectly with TK’s heartrending sound. Don’t miss this special collaboration between Kumi Koda and Tetsuya Komuro – their first since the release of ‘the meaning of peace’ in 2001.

Be sure to check out the single here!

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Comment from Kumi Koda

“‘Jump to the Breeze’ was my first chance to collaborate with Tetsuya Komuro in about 22 years!! We’re releasing the song together as Kumi Koda with Tetsuya Komuro! The song was first released in China about a year ago, but this time we are releasing a newly arranged version. The song has the kind of nostalgic and beautiful melody you’d expect from Mr Komuro, so I hope you will listen to it over and over this summer.”

Comment from Tetsuya Komuro

“Long ago, I had a recording studio in Bali. When I was producing this song, the scenery and feelings from that place came flooding back, as clear to my eyes as a tapestry. It’s the sound of those good old midsummer days that we haven’t heard in a long time. On a southern island, with no care for time, reflecting on life as an adult and the experiences that led there, walking slowly along the sandy beach, step by step to the rhythm of the waves, swaying to the song… Koda’s voice has finally reached maturity. I think you’ll find this to be a bittersweet song.”

BE:FIRST Reflects on Their Journey with New Song “Blissful” Out Now!

Popular boy-group BE:FIRST takes a fresh spin on their discography with their new single, “Blissful” - out now.

“Blissful” is the lead single from BE:FIRST’s long-awaited second album 2:BE, set for release on August 28th. The track is produced by SKY-HI and ZEN (INIMI) and is a simple and comfortable track that references the sound of mid-2010s hip-hop. As BE:FIRST shared their journey of triumphs and challenges, “Blissful” becomes a celebration of their bond and their unforgettable experiences they’ve shared.

Alongside the release of the track, is a music video which is set in New York and is BE:FIRST’s first overseas shoot. BE:FIRST takes you on a journey through the vibrant streets of New York City such as Coney Island, Times Square, Prospect Park, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Set against the backdrop of the city’s iconic landmarks, the members showcase their unique talents and deepen their bond as they explore their passions and look ahead to their future.  With a nostalgic undertone and forward-looking spirit, “Blissful” is the perfect soundtrack to sign off the summer.  

BE:FIRST shows no sign of slowing down as they head off to dominate the global market. As the group powers through their growing success both domestically and internationally, they are sure to be artists who should be on everyone’s radar for 2024.     

You can listen to “Blissful” here and watch the music video below!

About BE:FIRST

BE:FIRST is a Japanese boy group managed by BMSG and signed to B-ME, a joint record label between BMSG andAvex. The group was formed on August 13th, 2021 through a reality audition program ‘THE FIRST’, which was hosted by Japanese producer and rapper SKY-HI on Hulu Japan. They debuted on November 3rd, 2021 with a final lineup of seven members: SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO with their song, "Gifted.", which topped the Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart and ended up becoming the most-discussed song on Twitter. The song also topped various music charts in Japan, including the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. Just recently, BE:FIRST partnered with Amazon Prime to release their concert film BE:FIRST LIVE in DOME 2024 Mainstream - Masterplanfilmed at the Tokyo Dome which sold out in three minutes after general tickets went on sale.  By blending elements of dance, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, BE:FIRST showcases their artistic versatility and talent to create a musical sound that is unique and innovative for listeners to enjoy. With their fandom, BESTY, supporting them as the next global powerhouse group from Tokyo, Japan, BE:FIRST's dynamic sound and charisma are one to watch.