KOHTA YAMAMOTO’s Full Soundtrack (65 tracks) to ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’ Has Been Released
Adam Jones of TOOL Unveils “Sensation," Epiphone Les Paul Features Artwork from Acclaimed Artist Korin Faught
Noel Gallagher: World Renowned Singer-songwriter, and Guitarist, Featured on New Episode of ‘Icons,’ Streaming Now on Gibson TV
WENDY 1st Album ”Don’t waste my YOUTH” & lead track”SCREAM”Music Video is released
Public Image Ltd. Release New Album ‘End of World’ via PiL Official Ltd, Today; Tour of UK and Europe Kicks-Off September 8
Epiphone Announces Limited-Edition Sheraton, Wilshire, Crestwood Custom, and Zephyr DeLuxe Regent, In Celebration of 150th Anniversary
Gibson Records Artist GHOST HOUNDS Release Single/Video for "Last Train To Nowhere"; New Album 'First Last Time' Out July 28
The MV Has Been Released for Voice Actress Azusa Tadokoro’s New Song ‘Private Room’ which Began Streaming on July 4th
Signs that Asobi Doumei Have Scored a Worldwide Streaming Hit with ‘Daremo Karemo Dokomo Nanimo Shiranai’
Dave Mustaine: Legendary Guitarist, Vocalist, and Songwriter, Launches Kramer Vanguard, Available Worldwide Today
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Introducing the new Epiphone Dave Mustaine Flying V Custom and Flying V Prophecy (Limited Edition), Available Worldwide Today
2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Epiphone, a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has now set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations across the globe. Epiphone is proud to announce its first-ever partnership with Dave Mustaine, the legendary guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and founder of the multi-platinum selling and GRAMMY® Award-winning band, Megadeth. Epiphone and Dave have unveiled the Flying V Custom and a limited-edition Flying V Prophecy which are now available worldwide at authorized Epiphone dealers, and on www.epiphone.com. “I have to admit, I knew nothing about the Epiphone Flying V when I was offered my ambassador role with Gibson guitars. I’m happy to say I know a lot more now about Epiphone, the manufacturing, the playability, and the incredible sound that they offer. I am 100% certain the Epiphone signature Dave Mustaine Flying V is a badass guitar! We made the guitar to my exact hand specifications, identical to my Gibson Flying V. My favorite is the red antique model, but we’re just getting started. It’s mind-boggling to think, ‘if I didn’t look at the headstock, I couldn’t tell this guitar apart from my Gibsons’.” –Dave Mustaine of Megadeth Dave demands excellence from any instrument and the new Epiphone Dave Mustaine Flying V Custom delivers the powerful, heavy sound and exceptional playing performance with every note. The 24.75” scale mahogany neck has a gloriously agile ebony fretboard with 24 medium jumbo frets, an Explorer style headstock with Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, and a Graph Tech nut. The mahogany Flying V-style body is equipped with a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, string-thru Flying V tailpiece, and Dave’s signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor pickups that deliver all the high-output mayhem you’d expect from a Mustaine signature axe. The pure metal looks are rounded out with a Black Metallic finish offset with a white binding on the body, neck, and headstock, along with black nickel hardware. A hardshell case is also included. The Dave Mustaine Flying V Prophecy is for players looking to set new standards in speed, sound and technique. Front and center a pair of Fishman Fluence pickups that are custom voiced for the Epiphone Prophecy Collection deliver three distinct tones- a warm “Patent Applied For” vintage humbucker; a hot modern humbucker; and a shimmering, optimized single-coil sound, all accessed by push/pull Volume and Tone pots. A limited-edition model, the Dave Mustaine Flying V Prophecy also includes Grover locking Rotomatic tuners, Epiphone’s LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece for added sustain, and a Graph Tech nut that boots harmonic content and increases tuning stability. The mahognay neck boasts an ebony fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and Dave’s custom “D” profile, and is built for the kind of speed and precision that he’s renowned for. With a AAA flame maple veneer top and sinister Aged Dark Red Burst finish, completmented by crushed black nickel hardward for the ultimate metal look. A hardshell case is also included. Explore the new Epiphone Flying V Custom and Flying V Prophecy: Epiphone is honored to be working with Dave Mustaine, who formed Megadeth at the dawn of the American thrash metal movement. Renowned worldwide and synonymous with metal guitar, Dave Mustaine founded Megadeth in 1984 and less than a year a later debuted with the release of Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! in 1985. Megadeth has gone on to sell more than 50 million albums worldwide, earning many accolades along the way, including a GRAMMY Award for the title track from their album Dystopia, along with 12 additional GRAMMY nominations, as well as five consecutive platinum/multi-platinum albums. Megadeth has headlined many of the biggest stages in the world and the most recent “Crush The World” Canadian tour where they headlined hockey arenas. Also, a New York Times bestselling author and sought after speaker, host, and commentor, Mustaine has remained a standard bearer for metal and heavy guitar rock, combining a musical and technical standard with the punk and rock n’ roll ethos and attitude. As vital as ever, Megadeth debuted at the top of the charts with their new album The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!. The new album premiered at #1 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums, #1 on Top Rock Albums, #1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums, and at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 marking the highest charting Megadeth album of all time and the eighth Top Ten album of their career. The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! released via Ume, features twelve new tracks, and is available on CD, vinyl, and cassette, as well as digitally through all online partners, HERE. Watch and share the Dave Mustaine interview from the Gibson TV’s series “Icons,” HERE. https://megadeth.lnk.to/SickDyingDeadPR Watch and share the Dave Mustaine interview from the Gibson TV’s series “Icons,” HERE.
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Two Tracks from the Soundtrack to ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’, Commence Advanced Streaming
From ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’, which has been streaming since April internationally on Crunchyroll and other streaming platforms, the first two of the BGM tracks that are used on episode 5 of the anime are now released on music streaming services! The titles of these tracks are ‘Sacrifical Princess’ and ‘Kind of Beasts’, and just as you would expect from their names, they thematically examine the main character of Princess Sairphi, and Leonhart, the King of Beasts. This soundtrack has been created by KOHTA YAMAMOTO, who won the Best Anime Score award at “The Anime Awards 2023” for his collaboration on “Attack on Titan - The Final Season Part 2”. In addition to his work on ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’, just this year he has also created music for the popular series ‘Kaina of the Great Snow Sea’ (January) and ‘Dark Gathering’ (due to commence broadcasting from July), making him a musician who continues to garner increasing attention internationally. The soundtrack to ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’ features recordings that include live music such as strings, with the wide range of music adding a depth of color to the world created in the anime. KOHTA, who created a wide range of different music for the anime commented, “[Just like the theme of the anime that explores love for different races] the music leveraged in it is equally diverse”. The soundtrack to ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’ is scheduled to be released on September 27th. In addition to the Standard Edition, which will feature the same 25 tracks that can be found on the domestic Japanese release of the CD version of the soundtrack, an Expanded Edition will also be available to stream, which features all 65 tracks created for the production. The illustration used on the jacket of the album was designed by Yu Tomofuji, the creator of the original ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’ manga. [Musicians] Strings: Koichiro Muroya Strings Violin Solo: Koichiro Muroya Flute, Tin Whistle: Hideyo Takakuwa Horns: Otohiko Fujita / Yu Suzuki / Kenta Yano / Yu Kumai Piano: Keiko Osaki Guitar, Cello: Harutoshi Ito Bass, Double Bass: Toshino Tanabe Drums: Makoto Fujisaki Vocals: Ai Inoue Arrangement & Programming: KOHTA YAMAMOTO [Comments from KOHTA YAMAMOTO] When I approached the creation of music for ‘Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts’, I decided to read the original manga on which the anime is based. What I felt when I did so was that despite the fact that it is a work of fantasy that deals with love between humans and magical beasts, in actuality, it is an emotive and touching work that directly examines how we interact with others in this reality. How we engage with others and whether or not we accept them are very relevant and current problems across the world. This work afforded me the opportunity to re-examine how I behave in my own daily life. I think this is the reason that there are so many fans of this work and why I felt so happy to be involved with it. In creating the music, I was conscious of invoking personal feelings as much as possible in songs that have such themes. Of course, not all the songs deal with isolation and trauma, there are also songs about intimacy and closeness. I created a wide range of songs, everything from gentle songs to funny songs and even battle songs, pouring everything I had into producing songs that match the particular scene and clearly evoke the worldview. I think that in this way the range of songs in the anime matches the diversity of the work itself. I hope that you will enjoy the music in tandem with the images on screen. [KOHTA YAMAMOTO - Bio] KOHTA commenced his work as a composer and arranger in 2015. In addition to arranging and composing songs for artists, he is involved in a wide range of other activities too, such as creating instrumental pieces to be committed to film in dramas, anime and TV commercials. [Major Works（Background music for anime series）] ・TV Anime Series ‘Kaina of the Great Snow Sea’(co-creator) ・TV Anime Series ‘Attack on Titan: The Final Season’（co-creator） ・TV Anime Series ‘Kingdom’Seasons 3 and 4（co-creator） ・TV Anime Series ‘86 -Eighty Six-‘（co-creator） ・TV Anime Series ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’, Seasons 2, 3 and 4, Movie Version of ‘The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh’（all co-creations） ・TV Anime Series ‘Re:Stage! Dream Days’ etc.
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chilldspot Release the Music Video for ‘HIRUNE NO KUNI’, a Collaboration with the Manga ‘Saturn Return’
‘chilldspot’ have released the music video for their new song ‘HIRUNE NO KUNI’ (The Land of Naps). Released to music streaming services today, HIRUNE NO KUNI, was written for a manga music video by chilldspot as part of a collaboration project to commemorate the completion of the manga ‘Saturn Return’, an impactful piece of work from Akane Torikai published in ‘Big Comic Spirits’ (Shogakukan). The HIRUNE NO KUNI music video is grounded in the panels of the manga ‘Saturn Return’. The manga author Akane Torikai created new illustrations for the video, with the crazy and edgy sounds of chilldspot overlaid to faithfully recreate the world of the manga. The result is that both the illustrations and the music come together to deepen one another. Particularly in the chorus, a sense of comfort is drawn from the rhythm of the compounding words in the melody, with the lyrics of Hiyune (Vo&Gt), who read the manga in depth, dripping with her trademark wit. Fans who have read the original manga will enjoy the word choices, and a dance scene in the video in which the protagonist of the manga Ritsoko Kaji engages in a unique dance to the music has garnered particular attention. The video, enriched by the music, is a is a must-see right up until the emotionally charged final scenes. [ Comments from Hiyune (Vo&Gt）] The manga was packed with both the majesty and horror of humanity, and it really made me wonder if it was possible to encapsulate such an extraordinary manga in a song. I believe that the charm of the work is in the sense of crazed exhilaration that emerges all of a sudden from a place of stagnation. We continually worked to combine the charms that we ourselves offer with this addictive feeling, and then pour it into the track. With ‘Saturn Return’, the images and words resonate in the heart, and through their transformation into song they are spread out among the people. This is then, in turn, returned back to the work. I am truly grateful to be involved with such a wonderful network of people. I hope this piece of work and the acompanying song will be shared and loved far and wide. [ Comments from Akane Torikai ] From the point when I originally thought that it would be great for a song to be attached to ‘Saturn Return’, to now releasing a video into the world in which we can see this alternative character Ritsoko Kaji that I created for my manga dancing around to childspot’s wonderful newly composed song ‘HIRUNE NO KUNI’; all I can say is that I think that every step taken to reach this point was a miracle. The result is something that surpasses all my expectations. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to all of those who make music, make images, make pictures move and who put all of these together!
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Dori Sakurada’s Debut Single ‘MIRAI’ Is Now Available to Stream! From 7:00pm Today
Today, Dori Sakurada has released his debut single ‘MIRAI’ to music streaming services. Dori himself lent his talents to the writing of the lyrics for the track, which gives the listener a sense of his determination to face the future without fear of change. In addition, the music video for ‘MIRAI’ will be uploaded to YouTube Premium today, May 12th, at 7:00pm. In advance of the release of the full video to YouTube Premium, a teaser clip has been posted to the official Dori Sakurada YouTube channel. On the day of the release, Dori will be going live on Instagram Live at around 6:45pm, just before the video drops. We hope that you will look forward to the video reveal and imagine what it might look like while perusing newly released photos of Dori and examining the worldview present in the song’s lyrics. ■‘MIRAI’ music video – Released on YouTube Premium at 7:00pm on May 12th https://youtu.be/Be677K6Sd-A ■Instagram Live appearance to celebrate the release of the music video https://www.instagram.com/dorisakurada/ From 6:45 pm on Dori Sakurada’s official Instagram account (@dorisakurada) ※Subject to change based on circumstances on the day. ■Song information Friday May 12th, 2023 - Debut Single ‘MIRAI’ Links to streaming services: https://lnk.to/dorisakurada_MIRAI ■Biography In 2005, Dori Sakurada made his screen debut in the TV drama ‘Ruri’s Island’. Ever since he was chosen to play the role of protagonist Ryoma Echizen in the musical version of ‘The Prince of Tennis’ (from 2006-2007) he has appeared in a wide variety of popular works. In recent times he has appeared in the TV series ‘Coffee and Vanilla’ and leveraging the global popularity of the Netflix series ‘Alice in Borderlands’ he has begun to adopt a global perspective in his work. Dori also appears in ‘Play it Cool, Guys’, currently being broadcast on TV Tokyo, and ‘We’re Broke, My Lord’, which will be released in theatres on June 23rd, in which he takes on his first role in a feature length period film, showing himself to be an actor who continues to expand his range. Since making his on-screen debut in his teens, in addition to honing his craft in a wide variety of televised dramas and movies, the influence exerted by him on social media has been highly praised in fashion circles, gaining massive support from famous fashion houses, a diverse range of creatives and trendy, fashion-forward young people. Through his wide-ranging projects, Sakurada Dori is an artist who has adopted a determined approach to share his thoughts and feelings with as wide an audience as possible. He makes his major label debut on May 12th, 2023, with ‘MIRAI’, released on ‘early Reflection’s new label ‘Pandrec’, operated by PONY CANYON INC. 【Official site】 http://www.sakuradadori.com/ 【Twitter】 https://twitter.com/s__dori 【Instagram】 https://www.instagram.com/dorisakurada/ 【Weibo】https://weibo.com/7314957235 【TikTok】https://www.tiktok.com/@dori_sakurada_official 【YouTube】https://www.youtube.com/@dorisakurada_official
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YOKO TAKAHASHI EVANGELION ultimate Live "TSUKI JYU YA"：The First Solo Concert themed “EVANGELION”
YOKO TAKAHASHI EVANGELION ultimate Live "TSUKI JYU YA"：The First Solo Concert themed “EVANGELION” To Be Live Streamed Globally on May 28, 2023. Enjoy and Listen to the best of Yoko Takahashi. [Streaming Information] YOKO TAKAHASHI EVANGELION ultimate Live "TSUKI JYU YA" [Date] May 28, 2023 (Sun) [Open] 16:00 (JST) [Start] 17:00 (JST) [Archive Stream] From after the performance until June 4, 2023 (Sun) 23:59 (JST) *It may take some time for the Archive Stream to be released. [Viewing Ticket Price] 3,000JPY [Sale Period] May 10, 2023 (Wed) 18:00 (JST) - June 4, 2023 (Sun) 18:00 (JST) [Ticket Purchase (Stagecrowd)] ■For viewers in Japan https://stagecrowd.live/1265352623/ ■For viewers overseas https://intl.stagecrowd.live/7587575737/ [Concert Information] YOKO TAKAHASHI EVANGELION ultimate Live "TSUKI JYU YA" May 28, 2023 (Sun) [Venue] Zepp Shinjuku（TOKYO） [OPEN］16:00 (JST) [START］17:00 (JST) [Yoko Takahashi Official Web Site] -YOKO TAKAHASHI OFFICIAL WEB SITE- [Listen to "A Cruel Angel's Thesis/Soul's Refrain" here] https://lnk.to/YOKO_TAKAHASHI_EVANGELION_2023
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TWO-MIX to catalogue is now available worldwide
TWO-MIX is a musical duo formed on April 29, 1995 featuring Minami Takayama, who performs main vocals as well as composing, and Shiina Nagano, who writes lyrics, composes music and arrangement. The duo has been responsible for the theme songs of a great number of anime and TV dramas, such as ‘NEW MOBILE REPORT GUNDAM WING’ and ‘Detective Conan’, to name but a few. Coinciding with the 28th anniversary of their debut, on Saturday, the April 29th, 2023, 17 of their singles and 9 albums are now available worldwide. While listeners around the world can enjoy ‘Just Communication’, the opening theme for the first part of ‘NEW MOBILE REPORT GUNDAM WING’, they can experience other major hits, such as ‘Rhythm Emotion’ the opening theme for the second half of the series, ‘White Reflection’, the theme song for the straight to video animation (OVA) ‘NEW MOBILE REPORT GUNDAM W Endless Waltz’, ‘Last Impression’, the theme song for the theatrical movie ‘NEW MOBILE REPORT GUNDAM W Endless Waltz -Special Edition-‘, and ‘Truth～A Great Detective of Love～’, the theme song for ‘Detective Conan’. With the release of the ‘TWO-MIX Tribute Album "Crysta-Rhythm"’ on July 27th the duo is continuing to attract attention, even 28 years after making theirl debut. Don’t’ miss their expansive catalogue of famous songs available around the world. ▼Download/streaming links available here: https://king-records.lnk.to/two_mix [Playlist of Original and Cover Version] https://king-records.lnk.to/twomix_kikikurabe [Official YouTube Channel] https://www.youtube.com/@two-mix-25th [Special 25th Anniversary Website] https://cnt.kingrecords.co.jp/two-mix25th/ [Official Twitter Account] https://twitter.com/TWO_MIX25th <Profile of TWO-MIX> TWO-MIX was formed in 1995 by Minami Takayama, who performs main vocals as well as composing, and Shiina Nagano, who writes lyrics, composes music and arrangement. The name of the duo comes from the term ‘TWO-MIX’. which is used in recording to describe the process of mapping a sound source between left and right in stereo. Their music videos have been created using computer graphics and animation. Because of this, the image of the artists was not well circulated in the media. In addition, owing to the fact that they did not proactively perform live concerts, they were sometimes thought of as virtual artists. TWO-MIX has also been responsible for creating the theme songs for many popular anime and TV programmes such as ‘NEW MOBILE REPORT GUNDAM WING’ and ‘Detective Conan’. In 1998, they released a CD on which they collaborated with orchestras from Paris and Warsaw. Throughout the noughties the group diversified their activities, crossing genres with the release of the dance mix project CDs in collaboration with night clubs. In 2021, they released their 25th anniversary greatest hits album, ‘TWO-MIX 25th Anniversary ALL TIME BEST’. As of April 2023, their total sales are more than 7,000,000 units.
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Adam Jones Unveils “Study For Self-Portrait with Rose Skirt and a Mouse"
For 150 years, Epiphone has been a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has now set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Epiphone is proud to announce the long-awaited Adam Jones partnership has arrived with the release of the Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection. This unprecedented, limited-edition collection blends Adam’s love of fine art and music, resulting in seven, iconic and unique Les Paul Custom Silverburst masterpieces which feature the artwork of five distinguished visual artists curated by Adam Jones of TOOL. The Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection is now available worldwide at authorized Epiphone dealers and on www.epiphone.com. The third model to debut in the Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection comes from acclaimed American painter Julie Heffernan and features her artwork titled “Study For Self-Portrait with Rose Skirt and a Mouse.” This guitar displays Heffernan’s piece on the back of the guitar, and the artwork on the rear of the headstock is designed by world-renowned artist Korin Faught. The iconic artwork “Study for Self-Portrait with Rose Skirt and a Mouse” is based on Heffernan’s signature painting by the same title. The nude self-portrait draws on art historical representations of the figure to reflect on pressing contemporary concerns, such as women’s rights, precarity of the environment, and other under-represented and socially relevant topics. Heffernan’s work is represented by Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco (since 2005) and Hirschl and Adler Modern, New York (since 2022). This Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection guitar features Julie Heffernan’s “Study For Self-Portrait with Rose Skirt and a Mouse” on the back, and it is also an exceptional instrument for your next musical masterpiece. It has a bound mahogany body with a maple cap, a three-piece bound maple neck with an Adam Jones Custom profile, and an ebony fretboard. It is equipped with a reverse-mounted Epiphone ProBucker™ Custom humbucker™ in the neck position and a Seymour Duncan® Distortion in the bridge; both are wired to CTS® potentiometers and Orange Drop® capacitors. A Marquee Back Plate with the artist’s name and the name of the artwork is also included. Finished in Antique Silverburst as an homage to Adam’s beloved original Silverburst 1979 Gibson® Les Paul Custom, a Protector hardshell case is also included. The Epiphone Adam Jones Art Collection consists of seven, unique Silverburst Les Paul™ Custom models, each featuring reproductions of different works of fine art on the back. Adam curated all of the featured artwork, and selected five distinguished artists Mark Ryden, Frank Frazetta, Julie Heffernan, Korin Faught, and Ernst Fuchs for the collection; additional artwork designed by Korin Faught, adorns the back of the headstock of each model. Only 800 guitars of each model from this unprecedented, extremely limited edition run will be produced. The Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection guitar with Julie Heffernan’s “Study For Self- Portrait with Rose Skirt and a Mouse” follows the recent, and now sold-out Epiphone releases of Mark Ryden’s “Veil of Bees,” and Frank Frazetta’s “Berzerker.” Watch the video for the Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection. and, explore the collection https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/AdamJonesArtCollection One of the rock’s most talented and sonically innovative guitarists, Adam Jones is renowned as the guitarist for the band TOOL, as well as his work as a visual artist, sculptor, videographer, producer, and special effects designer (Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Edward Scissorhands, Ghostbusters II, Batman Returns, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, 4 and 5, Dances with Wolves, Bride of the Re-Animator, Pet Sematary, Shocker, and License To Kill). The Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul Custom Art Collection guitars are a new take on Adam’s #1 guitar, his prized original Gibson Silverburst 1979 Gibson Les Paul, and Adam was heavily involved in creating the new guitar. Utilizing his extensive experience in visual art, special effects and design, Adam Jones is the director of the majority of Tool’s music videos and creates the visual experience on stage for the band. For the world premiere of the Gibson Custom Shop Adam Jones Les Paul, Adam composed and scored “The Witness” a new song and animated short film. Watch/share the “The Witness,” on Gibson TV.
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25 Recordings Chosen for National Recording Registry
Madonna’s cultural ascent with “Like a Virgin,” Mariah Carey’s perennial No. 1 Christmas hit, Queen Latifah’s groundbreaking “All Hail the Queen” and Daddy Yankee’s reggaeton explosion with “Gasolina” are some of the defining sounds of the nation’s history and culture that will now join the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. The 2023 class also includes the first sounds of a video game to join the registry with the Super Mario Bros. theme, powerful voices of women, important inductions of Latin music, and classic sounds of rock and pop from the 1960s to the ‘80s. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today named 25 recordings as audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage. “The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture,” Hayden said. “The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come, and we welcome the public’s input on what songs, speeches, podcasts or recorded sounds we should preserve next. We received more than 1,100 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry.” The recordings selected for the National Recording Registry bring the number of titles on the registry to 625, representing a small portion of the national library’s vast recorded sound collection of nearly 4 million items. The latest selections named to the registry span from 1908 to 2012. They range from the first recordings of Mariachi music and early sounds of the Blues to radio journalism leading up to World War II, and iconic sounds from pop, country, rock, R&B, jazz, rap, and classical music. NPR’s “1A” will host several features in the series, “The Sounds of America,” on this year’s selections for the National Recording Registry, including interviews with Hayden and several featured artists in the weeks ahead. Follow the conversation about the registry on Twitter and Instagram @librarycongress and #NatRecRegistry. Listen to many of the recordings on your favorite streaming service. The Digital Media Association, a member of the National Recording Preservation Board, has compiled a list of some streaming services with National Recording Registry playlists, available here: dima.org/national-recording-registry-class-of-2023/ Powerful Voices of Women This year’s selections include the voices of women whose recordings have helped define and redefine their genres. Madonna’s 1984 smash hit album “Like a Virgin” would fuel her ascent in the music world as she took greater control of her music and her image. Of the nine songs originally on the album, four became top 10 hits. Queen Latifah is the first female rapper to join the National Recording Registry with her debut album “All Hail the Queen” from 1989 when she was just 19 years old. Her album showed rap could cross genres including reggae, hip-hop, house and jazz — while also opening opportunities for other female rappers. “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the seasonal juggernaut that now sells more records than its 1994 release, is Mariah Carey’s first song to make the National Recording Registry. The delighted pop star told the Library it’s a perfect fit for a little girl from Long Island who grew up wanting a perfect Christmas. But Carey’s childhood was turbulent, beset by her parents’ divorce and difficult family relations. So, when she was a 22-year-old sensation in the music business, the first Christmas song she wrote was about her own wish for the holiday. “I tried to tap into my childhood self, my little girl self, and say, ‘What are all the things I wanted when I was a kid?’” she said. “I wanted it to be a love song because that’s kind of what people relate to, but also a Christmas song that made you feel happy.” She brought the melody and lyrics to her then-songwriting partner and producer Walter Afanasieff, and the pair worked together to create its retro “wall of sound” production, as if it might have been a recorded in the 1960s. A modest hit upon release, it’s grown over time to hit No. 1 on pop charts the last four years, setting Carey’s pop-culture image as the Queen of Christmas. “I’m most proud of the arrangements, the background vocal arrangements,” she said. “‘All I Want for Christmas’ is sort of in its own little category, and I’m very thankful for it.” Reggaeton Revolution and First Mariachi Recordings Join Registry With roots in Panama in the 1980s, reggaeton has been described as Reggae, reggae en Español, dancehall, hip-hop and dembow. But it was Daddy Yankee’s 2004 hit single “Gasolina” that ignited a massive shift for reggaeton with its crossover appeal from Latin radio to broad audiences. “Gasolina” appeal was so great, it even moved some radio stations to switch formats from English to Spanish to tap into this revolution. Some of the earliest sounds in this year’s class are “The Very First Mariachi Recordings,” an album recorded in 1908 and 1909. Four musicians from the Mexican state of Jalisco made this recording in Mexico City and performed for Mexico’s president. Even early recording technology could still capture the spirit of this music. Scholars and sound archivists collected and reissued this album in 1998 to revive an otherwise lost chapter in the history of mariachi. Video Game Soundtrack Joins Recording Registry for First Time Few musicians have had their work become so internationally recognized for decades yet remain so relatively unknown as Koji Kondo, the man who composed the music for the Super Mario Bros. video games in the 1980s. Still today, Kondo is credited for original Nintendo music in the new “Super Mario Bros. Movie” out this month. Kondo, born and raised in Japan, was a college senior in Osaka, interested in the piano and sound design, when he saw a recruiting flyer from Nintendo on a university bulletin board. He answered the ad, and the rest is video game history. His main, or “Ground Theme,” for the 1985 game is a jaunty, Latin-influenced melody that’s instantly recognizable around the world today. “The amount of data that we could use for music and sound effects was extremely small, so I really had to be very innovative and make full use of the musical and programming ingenuity that we had at the time,” he said through an interpreter in a recent interview. “I used all sorts of genres that matched what was happening on screen. We had jingles to encourage players to try again after getting a ‘game over,’ fanfares to congratulate them for reaching goals, and pieces that sped up when the time remaining grew short.” Now 61 and still working for Nintendo, he’s seen his “Mario” music used in films and played by orchestras. He’s designed the world of sound for dozens of other video games. He did, however, have an inkling that they were onto something at the beginning. “I also had a feeling that this game might be something that could turn into a series and continue for a long time,” he said. “Having this music preserved alongside so many other classic songs is such a great honor,” he said. “It's actually a little bit difficult to believe.” Classic Folk, Rock and Pop Music Preserved for All Time Some of the most enduring and beloved music from folk, rock and pop from the 1960s to 1980s tunes many Americans still find themselves singing together every year — also join the National Recording Registry this year. This year’s class includes “Sherry” by The Four Seasons in 1962, “What the World Needs Now is Love,” recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1965 and written by the late songwriting duo of Hal David and Burt Bacharach, “Imagine” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” from 1971, “Synchronicity” by The Police, including Sting, in 1983, and more unforgettable recordings. “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” recorded by John Denver in 1971, might be one of the nation’s favorite singalongs year after year. Denver’s family said they were honored the song by Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert was chosen for preservation by the Library. “Dad has been gone 25 years, and this song continues to be sung at concerts and events around the world, which we’re sure Dad, Bill, and Taffy never imagined when they wrote it so many years ago. Thanks to the Library of Congress for this recognition,” Denver’s family said in a joint statement. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young formed a super-group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their second album, “Déjà Vu,” made the National Recording Registry this year representing folk rock at its peak of influence and popularity. With hits such as “Teach Your Children,” “Our House” and “Woodstock,” the 1970 album also showed the influence of Joni Mitchell, this year’s recipient of the Library’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Mitchell wrote “Woodstock” and Nash, her live-in partner at the time, wrote “Our House” as an almost diary-like entry of a dreary late-winter day at their home in California. Nash said Crosby Stills Nash and Young’s primary rule was that everyone had to agree on every song they released in order to ensure it was a collaborative statement. This led to meticulous recording sessions — Stills once estimated that it took hundreds of hours of recording to finish “Déjà Vu” — but it paid off in beautiful harmonies and melodies that have lasted for decades. “We wanted to tell the truth,” Nash told the Library recently. “We wanted to reflect the times in which we lived. I think that’s the duty of every artist.” Early in the 1970s, Jimmy Buffett was a little-known singer/songwriter when, after a rough night in Austin, Texas, he had a tasty Margarita at a bar the next day. Still sipping, he started scribbling a song on a cocktail napkin, finished it later while stuck in a traffic jam on the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys and played “Margaritaville” for the first time in a little bar in Key West that night when it was “probably six hours old.” By 1977, it was a Top 10 hit and has since become a pop culture staple and the namesake of a chain of businesses and products — including books, restaurants, a radio channel, a cruise line and 55-and-older living communities — that Buffett oversees. Initially, though, he said he was just delighted to have a hit song on a hit record and be “actually making money.” The key to the song’s resonance in American culture, Buffett told the Library, was that people were looking for a song to make them feel good and be happy. “You're lucky enough at some point to put your thumb on the pulse of something that people can connect with,” he said. “It's an amazing and lucky thing to happen to you, and that happened with ‘Margaritaville.’” By the 1980s, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart had been in and out of British-based music groups for some time without much success. Flat broke in 1982, Stewart managed to borrow enough money to buy a couple of synthesizers and a prototype of a drum machine so basic that it was housed in a wooden case. One night in their studio — the loft of a picture-framing factory in central London — he got the drum kit going and hit a couple of chords on the synthesizer. Lennox sat up bolt upright, as if she’d touched an electric wire. She went to her own synthesizer, played a riff against his beat and soon ad-libbed a lyric, a wry comment on their impoverished status: “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” The Eurythmics’ influential, synthesizer-heavy song was born, and soon the duo would have a massive international dance hit and would be a sensation in the new medium of music videos. “It’s a mantra, almost like a Haiku poem, a coded message, a commentary about the human condition,” Lennox said of the song. “You can use it as a happy birthday song or a celebratory song…it could be anything. Looking back, I love the way people have identified with it.” Stewart, who now works primarily as a producer, took a break from working on a musical with Ringo Starr to talk about the song that made the rest of his life possible. “It’s like alchemy, you get two people like Annie and myself” with different skill sets but a united passion for a single sound, he said. “It’s like one plus one equals three.”
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Public Image Ltd. Announce New Album ‘End of the World' To Be Released On August 11th; New Song “Penge,” Out Today
Public Image Ltd. (PiL) have decided to continue plans to announce their 11th studio album and first album in 8 years, End of World, today, following the sad passing of John’s wife of more than 4 decades, Nora Forster, on 5th April. End of World will be released on 11th August 2023 on PiL Official via Cargo UK Distribution, followed by a 38-date UK and European Tour. Earlier this year, PiL released “Hawaii,” the most personal piece of songwriting and accompanying artwork that John Lydon has ever shared. The song is a love letter to John's wife Nora, who sadly passed away from Alzheimer’s on Wednesday 5th April. A pensive, personal yet universal love song that has resonated with many since its release in January, the song sees John reflecting on their lifetime well spent and in particular one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii. John said, “Nora loved the album, she wouldn’t have wanted us to postpone it or change any of our plans.” Previously he has said of “Hawaii,” “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most.” The band began writing and recording End of World in 2018, during their 40th anniversary tour. After The Great Pause, the band regrouped in the studio and “there was just this massive explosion of ideas,” Lydon says. The result finds PiL set to release 13 of the best tracks they have ever written. The announcement comes with the release of new single “Penge,” which John has described as, “something of a mediaeval Viking epic.” Celebrating their 40-year anniversary in 2018, the band is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time. PiL’s music and vision has earned them 5 U.K. Top 20 singles and 5 U.K. Top 20 albums. With a shifting line-up and unique sound - fusing rock, dance, folk, pop and dub – Lydon guided the band from their debut album First Issue in 1978 through to 1992’s That What Is Not, before a 17-year hiatus. Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009, touring extensively worldwide and releasing two critically acclaimed albums This is PiL in 2012 followed by their 10th studio album What The World Needs Now… in 2015, which peaked at #29 in the official U.K. album charts and picked up fantastic acclaim from both press and public. (The album also peaked at number 3 in the official UK indie charts and #4 in the official U.K. vinyl charts). What The World Needs Now… was self-funded by PiL and released on their own label ‘PiL Official’ via Cargo UK Distribution. In 2018 PiL celebrated their 40th anniversary with a career-spanning box set and documentary film, both called ‘The Public Image Is Rotten’, and a 32-date U.K./Europe tour, plus dates in Japan. Track listing for End of the World: "Penge" "End Of The World" "Car Chase" "Being Stupid Again" "Walls" "Pretty Awful" "Strange" "Down On The Clown" "Dirty Murky Delight" "The Do That" "L F C F" "North West Passage" "Hawaii"
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MAN WITH A MISSION & MILET RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘KIZUNA NO KISEKI’
MAN WITH A MISSION and milet have collaborated on the brand new single ‘Kizuna No Kiseki’ out now via Milan Records/Sony Music. The song is of the opener of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba –Swordsmith Village Arc- and is a powerful pop laced rock track sung in their native tongue. MAN WITH A MISSION and milet have also collaborated on ‘Koi Kogare’, which closes the new series on April 17th. Regarding ‘Kizuna No Kiseki’, MAN WITH A MISSION guitarist, vocalist and rapper Jean-Ken Johnny says, “We are honored to be part of the opening track for this extraordinary work Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -Swordsmith Village Arc-, with the diva of the times, milet. We hope you will enjoy our song with the miraculous story of how the characters’ lives cross, spin, and create bonds together.” Featured collaborator and singer milet adds, “I am so delighted and excited to sing for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -Swordsmith Village Arc-. I hope to support this work that is loved around the world with ‘Kizuna No Kiseki’ with the invincible artist, MAN WITH A MISSION. A story of deep, yet fragile bond and love… With all my heart, I would like to cherish and sing the song.” MAN WITH A MISSION & milet ‘Kizuna No Kiseki’ Teaser 1 The ending theme song is joined by Yuki Kajiura who has been creating the ending theme songs for the anime “Demon Slayer” series. While milet sings with MAN WITH A MISSION playing the sound, the band and Yuki Kajiura made the final touches of the song. MAN WITH A MISSION will bring their new song to audiences across the globe when the band sets out on a world tour through North America, the UK and Europe through May/June 2023. The WOLVES ON PARADE tour kicks off in the US in May and hit will UK and Europe for a string of June dates. A full list of tour dates and ticketing information can be found HERE. https://mwam.lnk.to/Live2023 MAN WITH A MISSION HEADLINE TOUR DATES NORTH AMERICA May 14th – San Francisco, August Hall 15th – Los Angeles, The Regent Theater 18th – Dallas, Cambridge Room at HOB Dallas 19th – Houston, Bronze Peacock at HOB Houston 21st – Chicago, House of Blues 25th – Toronto, The Axis Club 26th – New York, Irving Plaza 28th – Boston, Brighton Music Hall UK June 16th – London, O2 Academy Islington 18th – Manchester, Rebellion 21st – Glasgow, The Garage EUROPEAN June 11th – Hradec Kralove, Rock For People 13th – Amsterdam, Melkweg 14th – Paris, La Cigale 25th – Berlin, Astra Kulturhaus 27th – Munich, Backstage 30th – Viverio, Resurrection Festival
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Japanese Vocal Group WITHDOM Achieves a 4th Consecutive Track on an Indonesian FM Radio Station’ s ‘Power Play’ Slot
In 2021, the Japanese vocal group WITHDOM released a cover of the track “Gunjo” by YOASOBI, the most popular Japanese artist outside of Japan. The track has garnered praise online and was reported on by media throughout the world for its chilled-out vibes and unique arrangement, boasting a superb R&B finish owing to the quality of the vocal work. They continue to release music that can be described as unique Japanese R&B, achieving a wide pool of listeners at home and abroad through services like Apple Music & Spotify, as well as being selected for official playlists on these services. The group will release their 5th full album ‘5:8’ (Five to Eight) on digital services on March 22nd, with tickets for their big-city Japanese album tour commencing in Kyoto and continuing to Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka already sold out, a testament to their popularity. In addition, on March 24th, the R&B track ‘Universe’ found on ‘5:8’ was selected for the one-month long ‘J-Pop Power Play’ segment on the FM radio station DJFM in Surabaya, Indonesia. It follows their other tracks ‘Tetris’, ‘RIDE ON TIME (Cover)’ and ‘Trippin’ on you’ to become the fourth consecutive track by the group to be selected for the slot. The love song ‘Universe’ focuses on profound love, with member ROY being involved in both writing the lyrics and music, evoking themes through the use of words related to space, such as black holes and planets. All the while, Chill Trap’s comforting beats, modulations, smooth flow and melody evoke a sense of floating and grandeur, with everything coming together to create a truly superb example Japanese R&B that has been playlisted by YouTube Music in its official Japanese R&B playlist, among other honors. There are numerous genres represented across the tracks on ‘5:8’ with danceable R&B tracks such as ‘Hey Girl’, ‘Vampire’ and ‘ICE CREAM (English version)’ in addition to the aforementioned ‘Universe’, ‘Tertis’ and ‘Trippin’ on You’, as well as the ballads ‘Blue’ and ‘Goodbye’, which have been added to a wealth of playlists. The tracks ‘Blue’ and ‘Goodbye’ follow the story of one man. In ‘Blue’ the group sing about the story of a man experiencing the loss of love, while ‘Goodbye’ revists the mindset of the same man two years later when he is trying to rebound from the break-up, offering a novel approach the composition of two songs. The music of WITHDOM is produced by the president of their production company RoB.inc, TATSUYA, who perfectly blends western tastes with current sub-critical sounds while producing music for both domestic and international artists such as Ryu Siwon, Seo In-guk and CODE-V. Lyrics emerge from group leader SMOOTH who works together with everyone in the group to make the music. WITHDOM’s music is genre-less, ranging from R&B, Rock and chilled out tracks to the type of epic ballad that epitomizes the J-Pop genre. This 4-person group has attracted high levels of praise for their vocal and chorus work which combines three vocalists and a rapper who assists in the chorus, with their the song ‘Goodbye’ from their album ‘5:8’ coming first on a popular Japanese music program on TV. Moreover, they were requested to create ‘We Are’, the theme song for the first train wrapping of the Osaka Monorail Company, the ‘EXPO TRAIN 2025 Osaka Monorail-GO’ which features an original design for the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo. The train commenced operations in November 2022. ‘We are’ was produced by TATSUYA, with group leader SMOOTH taking the lead on writing the lyrics. The official music video for the theme song was recently posted on the official YouTube channel of the Osaka Monorail Company. One highlight of the videos are the scenes where all of the RoB.inc suite of artists; G.U.M, WITHDOM, AGE and U.for join in the singing of ‘We are’ at sites like the area around Bampakukinenkoen Station, the J-League Stadium and Osaka Airport. In addition, because ‘We are’ has the theme of ‘bringing the world together through song and spreading the smiles of the future through song’ people from countries around the world, such as America, India, Korea, Saudi Arabi, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Peru and Poland participate in the chorus. WITHDOM are also active in a number of campaigns both domestically and overseas, including being chosen by Kyoto City for appointment as “Global Supporters of Kyoto Tourism (working to share the message of sustainable tourism in Kyoto to international audiences as part of the ‘Mind our Tourism’ initiative)”. Make sure to keep a close eye on them to see what they are up to next. WITHDOM on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Pfi9Ji3hoWZRuY69MZP8N WITHDOM on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/withdom/1268201452 Music Video for the ‘EXPO TRAIN 2025 Osaka Monorail-GO’ Theme Song ’We are’ ‘Mind Our Tourism’ https://www.moral.kyokanko.or.jp/en
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The White Buffalo’s “Wish It Was True” in “Waco: American Apocalypse” the #1 Hit Netflix Doc Series
The White Buffalo’s song “Wish It Was True” has struck a chord with audiences for its raw emotions and portrayal in the #1 hit Netflix documentary "Waco: American Apocalypse." Intense and beautiful, the acoustic song, a fan favorite, is also the greatest gainer this week on the Shazam USA Top 100, and the third-biggest mover in the U.K., in addition to receiving a massive increase in streams and playlist adds. “This song has taken on many shapes and has become somewhat of an anthem for veterans,” says The White Buffalo, aka Jake Smith. “It’s about missteps and misfortune with family, God, and country. A search for truth through the eyes of delusion.” "Waco: American Apocalypse" filmmaker Tiller Russell adds, “The White Buffalo’s ‘Wish It Was True’ is a rare and precious thing--a beautiful and poignant song that drips righteously with Americana. As soon as we saw it against picture in the edit of ‘Waco: American Apocalypse’, we knew… this is the one.” Released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of this national tragedy, “Waco: American Apocalypse” is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tiller Russell ("Night Stalker") and has gained widespread popularity reaching #1 in the U.S. on Netflix. The limited series is based on the controversial 1993 standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidians, a religious cult led by David Koresh, that took place in Waco, Texas and features exclusive access to recently unearthed videotapes filmed inside the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit, as well as raw news footage never released to the American public, and FBI recordings. Using cutting-edge visual technology, “Waco: American Apocalypse” plunges viewers inside the multifaceted clash between the Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement in an epic drama about God and guns in America. The White Buffalo’s critically acclaimed new album Year of the Dark Horse is available worldwide via Snakefarm, HERE. https://thewhitebuffalo.lnk.to/YearOfTheDarkHorse A collection of 12 musical vignettes individual yet constant in flow, Year of the Dark Horse is The White Buffalo’s most sonically ambitious and well-rounded album to date, with the full scope of Smith’s songwriting craft on view. Recorded at Neon Cross studio in Nashville with producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Brothers Osbourne, Fidlar)--the 10-track album has now debuted to critical praise across the globe. On YOTDH, the Emmy-nominated, Oregon-born, and Southern California-bred artist The White Buffalo aka Jake Smith, took the less-traveled path and embarked on a voyage of discovery. Bassist, keyboard player, and guitarist Christopher Hoffee, and drummer Matt Lynott added to the recordings and round out the group on the road. The Telegraph hailed Year of the Dark Horse “a big, bold, uncompromising album in which Smith’s almost confrontationally honest lyrics, rich melodies and emotional voice have been given the kind of expansive setting they deserve,” while American Songwriter described it as a “tilt-a-whirl of melting soundscapes,” and a “funhouse of melodies that shapeshift in your ears.” Elsewhere, Saving Country Music said YOTDH “goes beyond a concept album, it’s almost like a mini musical of the past year of Jake Smith’s life. …a brilliantly written album.” Centered around the shifting of seasons paralleled with the changes in a relationship. Smith’s evocative storytelling and emotionally weighted songs on Year of the Dark Horse allow the imagination of the listener to play an important part throughout; the music builds on a tale of debauchery and blame, of love and loss, a life lived against the odds, with the whole thing set in one lunar year, and following our anti-hero through the highs and lows of the seasons. From highlights “Kingdom For A Fool,” “52 Card Pickup,” and “Donna,” Year of the Dark Horse offers an invigorating and wonderfully unpredictable listen. Recently, The White Buffalo stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform their new single “C’mon Come Up Come Out” on late-night television for the first time. Watch and share as The White Buffalo, aka Jake Smith, and his band perform the song “C’mon Come Up Come Out” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! HERE. In addition, Jake joined Foo Fighters/Dead Peasants guitarist Chris Shiflett on his popular podcast “Walking The Floor” with Chris Shiflett. Listen as the duo take a deep dive into their diverse musical influences from Outlaw Country to Alt Rock, and Americana to Punk, HERE. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walking-the-floor-with-chris-shiflett/id725700990 The White Buffalo are readying a tour of Europe and the U.K. on May 18. The group will open for the legendary Bruce Springsteen on Sunday, May 21 at Circo Massimo in Rome, Italy before shows in the U.K., Germany, France, The Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland.
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Ghost Hounds Release Captivating Video For New Single "Dirty Angel," Out Today
Is it hot in here, or is it just the new music video from Ghost Hounds? The blues-rock group has released a tantalizing video for their recent single “Dirty Angel,” out now via Gibson Records Ghost Hounds released the new single earlier this month to acclaim from American Songwriter, Consequence, SPIN, and more. “Dirty Angel” is the first single off the band’s upcoming album, giving listeners an exciting look at what they can expect from the new record. The energetic track highlights the band’s signature soaring guitars and powerful vocals. The music video adds a new layer of depth to the track, perfectly capturing the song’s galvanic essence. The video cuts beautifully between the band performing in a massive horse arena and moody shots of stunt-rider equestrian Mia Rae alongside her rearing horse, with the two scenes finally converging to create exciting interplay at the end of the video. On creating the video, guitarist Johnny Baab elaborates, “for the visual, we knew we wanted something that felt unique and would lend itself to the mood of the song, so we filmed it in a majestic horse arena outside of L.A. on a cold and rainy night with a few of our guys and the amazingly talented, Mia Rae. The entire team involved did an incredible job coming together and we are very grateful for them helping the vision come to life.” Blues-rock fans can look forward to Ghost Hounds’s fourth album out this June. Above: Ghost Hounds (L-R): Thomas Tull (Guitar), Blaise Lanzetta (Drums), Tré Nation (Lead Vocals), Bennett Miller (Bass), Johnny Baab (Guitar), and Joe Munroe (Keys).
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Tokyo based Hip hop artist, Wez Atlas has released his 2nd mini album called “This Too Shall Pass”
Wez Atlas has released their 2nd mini album called, “This Too Shall Pass”. The title, “This Too Shall Pass” literally means that current situations and things won’t last forever and will pass with time, and it shows how Wez has grown recently as a person. The theme of his last album, “Chicken Soup For One”, was all about “the troubled matters in daily life” and “healing through music”. This same theme has gotten much deeper and more developed. There are many unique, highly talented creators involved in making this new album. These creators include VivaOla, Kota Matsukawa, starRo, nonomi and uin. VivaOla is his best friend and producer. Kota Matsukawa runs the creative label w.o.u and also produces Salasa. starRo is a Grammy award nominee. nonomi is a backing DJ at Wez’s life performance. uin produced Skaai. Please check their skilful rap music on the various tracks which are written in Japanese and English accordingly. Wez has been very active in 2022 as he released 5 singles and joined 6 works from other artists who are from inside and outside of Japan as a featuring artist. He has gained many playlist covers on Spotify. He is going to has just joined the event SXSW 2023 and his preceding single “Damn!” was selected for the Spotify official playlist “New Music Friday” in Asian countries. Wez is the one of a new generation of rappers who are expanding their stage worldwide. [ Wez Comments from Wez Atlas ] My 2nd mini-album “This Too Shall Pass” is finally out!! This was another very personal project for me following Chicken Soup For One, and it feels like a good ending to that chapter of my life. I struggled, lamented, and overcame. I feel ready now to take on the next chapter. Life’s a game, Ima get up and play it!!! Huge thanks to VivaOla, Kota Matsukawa, starRo, nonomi, uin, Shiota Hiroshi (Salt Field Mastering), Kazumi Watanabe, Misato Iwamoto, Daisuke Taira, Kyoko Utsue, Shogo Kikuta, and everyone else that brought this project together with me! [ The information about the release ] Artist: Wez Atlas “This Too Shall Pass” Title: This Too Shall Pass Release: 2023.3.15 Format: Digital Label: HIP LAND MUSIC Track: 1. Life’s A Game(Prod byVivaOla/ Kota Matsukawa) 2. Damn!(Prod bystarRo) 3. Dandelion(Prod bystarRo) 4. Go Round(Prod bynonomi) 5. Cul-de-sac(Prod bynonomi) 6. It Is What It Is(Prod byVivaOla/ Kota Matsukawa) 7. Me Today(Prod byuin) Smart Link: https://wezatlas.lnk.to/ThisTooShallPass
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Live streaming project called, “Anileap” has officially launched
KING AMUSEMENT CREATIVE(KAC) is a King Records label which was established for producing music and movies for mainly Anime and voice actors. KAC has announced that they will launch the live streaming project called, Anileap, which is streaming anime songs to the world 24/7 for all 365 days. “Anileap” is a project which aims to create a community where everyone in all generations in the entire world can enjoy anime songs casually. Since last June, the Official YouTube channel for KING AMUSEMENT CREATIVE (https://www.youtube.com/c/kin-cr) started streaming as a test with a β version. It has been a place where users can encounter and rediscover Anime songs which are legendary in Anime song’s history or also some of the latest songs from the Reiwa era. Now “Anileap” has launched officially. The system is almost the same but there is additional footage on top of the original animation for the anime songs. So, users might see new animation depending on the time which the users visit the site. 04_LEAPchan_s.jpg The original animation was done by the animation art project called, NOSTALOOK. A girl called “LEAP chan”, who travels the universe, will show her various activities during her stay inside of the spacecraft while she is listening to the Anime songs. Let’s access “Anileap” and find out what kind of loop animation can be seen and how the loop animation changes. Furthermore, at the time of the official launch of the “Anileap”, the promotional video is released! The Animation which is created by NOSTALOOK feels somehow nostalgic and will make you expect the promise of Leap chan’s adventures in the near future. Please check it out! King Records has been supporting the Anime scene tremendously so don’t miss what their Anime Song Live streaming project will achieve. They sincerely wish you a new and re-discovery with Anime songs through “Anileap”.
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HOSONO HOUSE', which gained many fans including artists like Harry Styles, is going to be rereleased on the 25th of May
This year is the 50th anniversary of “HOSONO HOUSE” since its original release on the 25th of May 1973. To commemorate its anniversary, the album will be rereleased as the heavyweight vinyl with a lyric sheet and artwork which are a faithfully reproduction of the original. Haruomi Hosono brought equipment into his own house, which was a former American army house inside of the so-called American village in Sayama city, Saitama prefecture. It was really rare at that time in Japan to do a recording at home. People admire his work and have been talking about it ever since it was their first ever work as the band called “Caramel Mama”, which consists of Shigeru Suzuki, Masataka Matsutoya, Tatsuo Hayashi and of course Haruomi Hosono. Their sound has been very popular among fans of every generation both inside and outside of Japan. Harry Styles mentioned once that the title of his solo album “Harry’s House” was inspired by and originated from the album “HOSONO HOUSE”. Harry Styles won the GRAMMY for “Album Of The Year” for this album at the 65th GRAMMYS. We are sure that Hosono’s reissued vinyl will be the most talked about vinyl in the world. Furthermore, the vinyl of “HOCHONO HOUSE” will be repressed at the same time as “HOSONO HOUSE.” Originally released in 2019, Haruomi Hosono did the arrangement, the programming and the engineering for rerecording all the songs from “HOSONO HOUSE”.
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Kaiga Banba has joined the music video and the cover photo for the cover song,“Fiction Blue” by Singing Cosplayer Hikari
The streaming of the new digital single “Fiction Blue (cover song)” by Singing Cosplayer Hikari have started on the 27th of September to the entire world. Its music video will also be released on the 28th of September to the rest of the world as well. A music video has been also released on YouTube on September 27. Music streaming link: https://linkco.re/B4S3EFn2 Video streaming link: https://linkco.re/BfQE8c76 Singing Cosplayer Hikari is a solo singer who mainly covers anime songs and vocaloid songs and has been active worldwide. The original song, “Fiction Blue”, was composed by Ayase and this is the second time that Singing Cosplayer Hikari has covered Ayase’s vocaloid songs. Last time she covered the song,“Yorunaderu Menou”. Kaiga Banba, who is an exclusive model for the magazine “Popteen”, and is also an actor and an influencer with more than 570,000 TikTok Followers, has joined the cover photo and the music video for this cover song. This is another huge collaboration for Singing Cosplayer Hikari since she last did a collaboration with Nakayama Kinni-kun for the cover song, “Muscle Please!” Their cover song, “Muscle Please!” was released by Yoshimoto Music co., ltd in January 2022 and gained great popularity in music streaming with over 3 million streams. Singing Cosplayer Hikari is supported by many fans from overseas. One of the reasons why she is so successful is due to her amazing music videos full of beautiful Japanese scenery and her gorgeous outfits that she delivers. For example, for the cover song, “Yume To Hazakura”,which was released in April 2021, she wore almost exactly the same color-schemed kimono as Hasune Miku’s illustration from the original animation and sung the song under beautiful cherry blossoms in front of Odawara castle. The song was released in April 2021. The song was a massive hit and ranked No.1 on J-POP charts in 14 countries and has been viewed over 2.55 million times. The music video of the cover song of, “Fiction Blue” was shot with the cooperation of the tourism industry division of Higashiizu town in Shizuoka Prefecture, Inatori Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association and Inatori Tokai Hotel Yuen. The result was an incredible Japanese summer feeling with the sequences of blue ocean, fireworks, table tennis and hot spring inns. The gorgeous Japanese scenery will definitely help to get great attention from oversea viewers. Both Kaiga Banba and Singing Cosplayer Hikari wore Yukata, which are summer kimonos, with the cooperation of the Japanese kimono brand “Furifu”. Singing Cosplayer Hikari started her activity on SNS and YouTube in the New Year of 2021. Since then she has released 38 cover songs of anime and vocaloid songs and 18 of them have been released as music streaming to the entire world.
